Great Lakes Finals: Guards and Wings Who Made Their Presence Felt

The Great Lakes Finals brought out plenty of talent this past weekend. I was able to watch teams compete at Wintrust Sports Complex and Batavia High School, and guards and wings stood out with their ability to impact the game in different ways. Some players made their mark as scorers. Others stood out with defensive pressure, athleticism, playmaking, or toughness.    Kwapil is an athletic combo guard who impacts both sides of the floor. On offense, he stayed active without the ball, moved well within the flow of the game, and found ways to get to the basket. He also showed touch in the mid-range area, giving him another way to score when defenders cut off the lane.   What stood out most was his two-way ability. Defensively, Kwapil was active on the glass and showed the ability to block shots from the guard spot. Those plays helped his team get out and run in transition. He has the tools to affect the game even when he is not the primary ball handler.     Lojeski showed clear three-level scoring ability. He knocked down catch-and-shoot threes, got to his spots for dribble pull-up jumpers, and ran the floor hard for easy finishes at the rim. His ability to score in different ways made him a consistent offensive threat.   He did not look like a player who needed everything drawn up for him. Lojeski found his offense naturally, stayed aggressive, and gave his team reliable production throughout the game.     Sweeney brought activity on that end of the floor. He got his hands on passes, created deflections, and came up with steals that helped change possessions. He also showed a willingness to go to the glass, which is always valuable from a guard.   Offensively, Sweeney has the ability to score when needed, but he does not have to force shots to make an impact. His defensive energy and toughness helped him stand out among the guards I watched.     Lee can get downhill to the basket, shoot from the perimeter, and create space off the dribble. What stood out was his confidence as a shooter. He is not afraid to take tough shots and looked comfortable shooting over defenders.   His handle allows him to create separation, and his scoring ability puts pressure on the defense. Lee also showed that he can be a solid team defender, which adds value to his overall game. He has the type of offensive package that can really catch attention.     He was also vocal as a floor general. That leadership stood out. Vosters was not just looking to score; he created his own shot, attacked the basket fearlessly, and got teammates involved. His ability to balance scoring and distributing made him one of the more complete guards in this group.   He finished the weekend with 15 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals, showing his ability to impact the game as both a scorer and facilitator. Vosters was a tenacious on-ball defender and brought toughness to the guard spot.    The Great Lakes Finals had several guards and wings who showed real promise. [player_tooltip player_id='2415735' first='Charlie' last='Kwapil'] brought two-way athleticism. [player_tooltip player_id='2822748' first='Matthew' last='Lojeski'] showed three-level scoring ability. [player_tooltip player_id='2819780' first='Calvin' last='Sweeney'] made his impact on defense. [player_tooltip player_id='2347956' first='Albert' last='Lee'] displayed shot-making and creativity. [player_tooltip player_id='2140900' first='Cayden' last='Vosters'] controlled the game as a productive point guard.   Each player stood out in a different way, but all five showed traits that translate: confidence, toughness, skill, and the ability to impact winning.

The Great Lakes Finals brought out plenty of talent this past weekend. I was able to watch teams compete at Wintrust Sports Complex and Batavia High School, and guards and wings stood out with their ability to impact the game in different ways. Some players made their mark as scorers. Others stood out with defensive pressure, athleticism, playmaking, or toughness.