Great Lakes Finals: Parham’s Saturday Evening Stars

The energy inside the gym shifted into another gear on Saturday night at the Great Lakes Finals. With bracket play heating up and collegiate eyes watching, several prospects put on absolute clinics. From deep-range shooting displays to high-flying finishes, these stock-risers made the most of the prime-time stage.   Here are the standout performers from Saturday night's action in the Windy City.       Bernard Gnjatic | TNBA 2027   Gnjatic put together what might have been the premier shooting performance of the entire weekend. He caught absolute fire against a highly competitive All In Denard squad, torching the nets for 8 three-pointers** en route to a team-high 24 points** in a narrow defeat. Gnjatic possesses a lethal, lightning-fast release and does not need to be set to do damage; he gets his shot off cleanly even while flying full speed off flare screens and pin-downs.     [player_tooltip player_id='2860531' first='George' last='Gray'] | All In 2027   Gray is an absolute Swiss Army knife on the defensive end, consistently proving he can guard almost any position on the floor. Utilizing a long, lanky frame, he operates as a premier ball hawk in the passing lanes and displays excellent timing as a rim protector. Offensively, he is incredibly slippery around the basket and pairs that movement with a soft touch. Gray dominated the interior against TNBA Select, racking up 24 points and a hefty workload on the glass before unfortunately being sidelined by an injury.     [player_tooltip player_id='2125668' first='Nedas' last='Venckus'] | [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] 2027   Venckus provided the undisputed highlight of the night, driving the baseline with bad intentions and throwing down a thunderous two-handed poster dunk over a Geek Squad defender. Beyond the fireworks, Venckus is a highly underrated guard who plays with a relentless motor and excellent situational awareness. He runs his lanes perfectly in transition and plays a highly efficient brand of basketball, making quick, smart decisions the second the rock hits his hands. He finished with a clutch 19 points in a gritty win.     Orville Cross | All In Denard 2027   At 6-foot-5 with a thick, powerful frame, Cross is a physical nightmare for opposing defenses. He loves to put the ball on the deck and intentionally initiate contact, using his sturdy build paired with surprising mobility to overpower defenders. Cross had multiple sequences where he went right through two defenders to score, completely altering the defensive demeanor of the opposition. He walked away with a dominant 17 points and 8 rebounds.     [player_tooltip player_id='2675420' first='Quinn' last='Carroll'] | [program_tooltip program_id='2078448' first='Illinois' last='Wolves'] 2029   Carroll looked exactly like the highly skilled, poised guard we caught last year. He was the definition of consistency on Saturday, knocking down shots from beyond the arc, displaying poise at the lead guard spot, tight handles off the bounce, and willingly sharing the rock. A solid overall athlete, Carroll set the tone early with a smooth 13-point performance in their opening game.     Jashawn Coffey | Phenom United 2028   Coffey is a powerhouse of a guard who plays a bruising, downhill style of basketball. He is an explosive, physical slasher who simply wears opposing guards down over the course of 32 minutes. While his bread and butter is attacking the paint, he also kept defenses honest by shooting it at a high clip from three-point range. Coffey stood out as Phenom United's most consistent offensive weapon, leading them in scoring in both Saturday matchups.     [player_tooltip player_id='2632058' first='Karon' last='Shavers'] | Geek Squad 2027   Shavers is a terrific shot-maker who finds incredibly creative ways to finish around the rim against size. Defensively, he has a natural nose for the ball and always seems to be in the middle of the action, turning several deflections into easy steals and [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] buckets in the open court. He did everything he could to keep his team in it, dropping 20 points in a tight loss to [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''].     Qyntin Woods | Phenom United 2029   Woods put on one of the most spectacular individual shooting exhibitions you will see all season, putting the defense on skates and draining 7 three-pointers in a highly anticipated matchup against the [program_tooltip program_id='2078448' first='Illinois' last='Wolves']. But characterize him as just a specialist at your own risk—the dynamic combo guard pairs his elite jumper with plus athleticism and a creative handle. He led all scorers in the contest with a staggering 29 points.     Mikey White | All In Denard 2027   White went on an absolute tear during the late-evening session, proving to be a certified big-time shooter by matching the day's high with 8 triples. Standing at 5-foot-11, White utilizes a rapid-fire release that is particularly lethal off the dribble, though he is equally dangerous in catch-and-shoot scenarios. He showed glimpses of true lead-guard potential, creating offense for others and proving he is far more than a one-trick pony. He wrapped up the night with a spectacular 26 points.     Daeleon Wofford | [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'] 2027   A slick, creative guard who plays with an abundance of passion, Wofford is a pure floor general who thrives in the primary phase of the offense. He is a quick, scrappy facilitator who builds tremendous momentum on the fast break, distributing the ball with pinpoint efficiency both on the run and in half-court sets. Bringing infectious, positive energy to his squad, Wofford chipped in 15 points while masterfully pulling the strings in a tough loss to All In.     [player_tooltip player_id='3437783' first='Vincent' last='Allen'] | [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'] 2027   After drawing praise during our high school holiday coverage around Christmas, it was excellent to get another live evaluation of Allen this spring. He has a great feel for the game, consistently finding the soft pockets in the defense to make a major impact. His relentless work on the glass in heavy traffic and his second-chance scoring provided a massive second-half lift for [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose']. Allen turned in a classic, blue-collar stat line, finishing with a hefty 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The energy inside the gym shifted into another gear on Saturday night at the Great Lakes Finals. With bracket play heating up and collegiate eyes watching, several prospects put on absolute clinics. From deep-range shooting displays to high-flying finishes, these stock-risers made the most of the prime-time stage.