Great Lakes Finals: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook

***Use Code “ScottyB30” for 30% off your subscription***     It was a busy day of hoops on Saturday for the second day of the Great Lakes Finals between bracket play and showcase games.  We saw tons of prospects from Illinois and around the Midwest.  Let's examine what we saw in Great Lakes Finals: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook!       All-In Williams 16U Has Star Power and New Names in 2-0 Morning     I got my first look at All-In Williams 16U and they shined in both wins going 77-36 over Pure Hoops then 71-49 against Midwest Mayhem.  The second game they had to fight tooth and nail to get back in it and then hit the gas with their defense and transition scoring.  Libertyville combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='2540198' first='Terrence' last='Davis'] is the headliner of this group.  Top 20 player in the 2028 class is a skilled guard who is effective on or off the ball.  Shined with his improved playmaking as a passer along with athleticism in transition.  He had 10 points in the first followed by 19 against Mayhem.  His high school teammate is going to be a problem to deal with in emerging 2027 post [player_tooltip player_id='2390523' first='Evan' last='Okey'] who has excellent skill down low and is tough to deal with his physical strength as he dropped 16 points and 12 points in the other game.  At 6'8” he can finish, rebound in area, and passes it well.  OPRF wing [player_tooltip player_id='2366141' first='Owen' last='Towne'] is a long and rangy wing that is a great glue guy.  Connective piece who makes extra pass, defends, and hits the open shot as he had 7 points and 11 points in the two contests.  Vernon Hills 6'1” point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2403305' first='Michael' last='Schaechter'] put his name on the map with a strong day with his creativity as a passer, crisp handles, and shot making from deep.  He had 11 points and 12 points on the day. Haze Massey from Warren had a massive showing. Explosive scorer that plays above the rim throwing down big slams, hitting multiple threes, and was an impactful defender.   Ohio Reign Phenom 17U Guard Outstanding in W vs [program_tooltip program_id='2956191' first='Slam' last='City Elite']     It was the AJ Griffin show in Ohio Reign Phenom 17Us 63-42 win against [program_tooltip program_id='2956191' first='Slam' last='City Elite'].  The guard from Lima is only 5'9”, but man does this kid have some juice to his game!  He blew past defenders all game long as no one could stay in front of him getting to the rack over and over for acrobatic finishes.  He dropped 15 points in the victory.  [player_tooltip player_id='2950194' first='Gavin' last='Howell'] is another name to know for this squad as the guard put it on the deck getting to the foul line for scores in the paint and the line along with hitting an early long ball.  Went for 11 points.   Rockford Guilford point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2440418' first='Cooper' last='Pozzi'] is a 6'1” point guard who plays with nice pace and is a crafty finisher around the rim netting 9 points.  Fellow Guilford big man 6'7” [player_tooltip player_id='2919101' first='Ethan' last='Jones'] was the breakout player for Slam City as the post sealed, spinned, and rebounded in his area for 12 points.  Hononegah 6'0” shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='3647489' first='Jay' last='Gilbertson'] also caught our eye with his sharp shooting notching 13 points.       McHenry Post and Wisconsin Guard Shine in All-In Drobnik 17U Victory vs [program_tooltip program_id='2452458' first='Ayo' last='Dos Elite'] 16U     Next up we saw All-In Drobnik 17U top a talented [program_tooltip program_id='2452458' first='Ayo' last='Dos Elite'] 16U squad 56-53 with a ton of quality Illinois prospects on both sides.  McHenry 6'6” post [player_tooltip player_id='2831286' first='Nathan' last='Ottaway'] had a breakout performance showcasing his soft touch around the hoop, turnaround jumper, and outstanding passing netting 13 points.  Hersey guard [player_tooltip player_id='2403595' first='Eli' last='Leyva'] caught fire in the second half getting buckets on cuts, slashes, and getting after it defensively.  A Wisconsin product in Montavisus Griffin was in attack mode from the point guard spot pushing off his steals defensively for scores along with shooting it well from deep for 10 points.     It was neat to have Ayo Dosunmu actually on the bench for his team on Saturday coming off a monster close to his season for the Timberwolves and will be one of most coveted free agents on the market this NBA offseason.  [player_tooltip player_id='2929886' first='Thatcher' last='Lee'] out of Dunlap is a face up four from central Illinois who continues to peak our interest.  Stands out with his finishing, rebounding, athleticism, and defensive instincts as he had 6 points.  Whitney Young point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2834050' first='Jaivyn' last='Richardson'] is a quick and shifty point guard that who plays with a ton of speed as he led the way with 13 points.  Galesburg wing [player_tooltip player_id='2751064' first='Cesaire' last='Bile'] is such a great connective piece as a passer, multi positional defender, and solid shooter as he had 9 points.       [program_tooltip program_id='2260998' first='Phenom' last='United 3SSB'] 16U Can Score in Variety of Ways     One of the event headliners in the showcase games was [program_tooltip program_id='2260998' first='Phenom' last='United 3SSB'] 16U who went 2-0 with a 60-37 W vs Chicago Fire then following that up with a nail biter 84-82 against Zero Fears. Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2194986' first='Jashawn' last='Coffey'] brings physicality to the guard spot and is such an explosive/powerful downhill slasher. Kind of like a running back wearing you down that can also shoot it pretty well from three. He had 17 points in the first game and 24 points against Zero Fears. Sharp shooter [player_tooltip player_id='2416898' first='Chance' last='Derossett'] brings plus positional size on the wing and a flame thrower from deep along with bounce throwing down a nasty dunk as he had 10 points in one game and 13 points in another. In the first game [player_tooltip player_id='2737006' first='Dontay' last='Chivers'] was a 5'10” wrecking ball using his physicality and toughness to notch 15 points. Lima 6'8” post [player_tooltip player_id='2992827' first='Elynn' last='Stearns'] proved to be a skilled back to the basket player that was crafty around the cup with his footwork and post moves scoring 13 points in the second game.       High Level 15U Backcourt Powers [program_tooltip program_id='2260998' first='Phenom' last='United 3SSB'] to 2-0 Day     The Phenom United 15U backcourt was spectacular on Saturday.  They got a pair of Ws 69-51 against the [program_tooltip program_id='2078448' first='Illinois' last='Wolves'] then a 72-63 victory against Zero Fears.  Their 6'2” guard Qyntin Woods was a flat out star!  One of the most impressive shot making displays I have seen in a while as the Kentucky native poured them in one after another in both games.  Drained five in a row against the Wolves.  More than just a shooter the combo guard brings plus athleticism and handles to the table.  In the two contests he had 29 points followed by 22 points.  Codey Bush has big time potential in the state of Michigan.  Combo guard that is such a slick passer with one handed passes cross court and making reads look easy off live dribbles.  Rises up for monster dunks along with a sweet soft touch finishing game.  Impressive day with 7 points then 20 points in the second game.  [player_tooltip player_id='2919166' first='Jack' last='Howard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2965213' first='Isaiah' last='Hill'] both out of Ohio had their moments on the day as well with Howard dropping 10 points in the first game.  Hill was a force defensively along with his activity on the glass.   Zero Fears 15U and 16U Both Impressive in Defeat with Emerging In-State Prospects     We got a good look at the Zero Fears 15U and 16U teams on Saturday as the 15U fell to Phenom 72-63 and the 16U put up a real fight narrowly losing 84-82.  First up was the 16U as their backcourt was sensational in this game.  Peoria point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2834186' first='Nigel' last='Moore'] was in his bag as the lefty was slick getting anywhere he wanted on the floor, utilized his passing feel, and hit threes in bunches.  One of the best PGs in central Illinois had 22 points.  Marist guard JJ Nash had a breakout performance as the spot up shooter banged in five triples en route to 22 points.  Definitely  name we are going to be tracking.  Fellow Marist guard Amari Brown is a name that has a lot of buzz with his slick ball handling and shot making showing both off on a step back three off a double cross for 7 points.  Charles Hardiman from Merrillville (IN) was impressive with his mid-range game and acrobatic finishes off the bounce for 20 points.   The 15U put up a nice effort in their game against Phenom.  Homewood Flossmoor point guard John Starks is a spark plug guard who puts buckets up in a hurry!  Shifty handles, spin moves, and pull up jumpers for 14 points.  Plainfield East 5'11” guard Logan Redditt flashed in this one scoring 18 points with his quickness off the dribble and converting on cuts off the ball.  Leo wing [player_tooltip player_id='3472210' first='Kierre' last='Brooks'] is one to watch as the three and D wing made a couple of threes along with bringing intangibles for 14points.       [program_tooltip program_id='2078448' first='Illinois' last='Wolves'] 15U Features Plethora of 2029 Talent     The [program_tooltip program_id='2078448' first='Illinois' last='Wolves'] 15U group went 1-1 when I watched on the day (2-1 overall) falling to Phenom 69-51 then winning against M14 N1 65-35.  Lyons 2029 combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='2675420' first='Quinn' last='Carroll'] had a consistent day as the skilled guard knocked in shots from deep, displayed crisp ball handling off the dribble, and shared the rock.  Solid athlete who had 13 points in both games.  Rockford Guilford guard Darion Lopez also had a nice day as the strong bodied guard with long arms posted 12 points in each game.  Brings a toughness to his squad on both ends of the floor.  Marist 2029 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2940657' first='Duece' last='Johnson'] had 7 points against Phenom and 14 points vs M14.  Johnson is a silky smooth creator for himself and others which really impressed me.  Pull up shot maker that has burst to the rim and creativity finishing around the cup.  In the first game St. Laurence wing [player_tooltip player_id='2369925' first='Evan' last='Lemons'] displayed his elite athleticism attacking off the bounce and making some nice reads as a passer for 8 points.  Big man Zyler Mason at 6'7” has a bright future ahead of him.  Long and rangy frame that presents shot blocking, instincts as a passer, and the ability to get on the glass.  Ton of upside here!       Quick Hitters   Pure Hoops fell in the opener of the day, but a couple of 2029 prospects continue to emerge for this 15U squad.  Brother Rice guard [player_tooltip player_id='2853757' first='Case' last='Cosme'] can really let it fly from distance as he has super deep range on his shot notching 12 points all from the land of three.  Will Claussen out of St. Laurence brings a long and wiry frame to the table with shot making upside as he dropped 8 points.       Midwest Mayhem 16U has had a really nice spring on the PHC.  The Wisconsin squad has several prospects to monitor.  It starts with Charlie Kwapil who had it rolling early against All-In.  Skilled and tough scoring guard that got in the lane for nifty finishes and turnaround jumpers.  Attacks with strength as he had 11 points.  Kalvin Johnson also had a nice outing banging in a pair from beyond the arc along with putting it on the deck for an aggressive straight line take finishing with 10 points.  Matt Lajeski is a sound three point shooter along with scoop shots in the lane.       Maxwell Rasmussen of M14 N1 16U had a solid outing against the [program_tooltip program_id='2078448' first='Illinois' last='Wolves'] with 10 points.  Good athlete that is tough on the glass and an active defender.       Rich Township 2028 point guard TJ Smith is a lead guard that plays with a ton of speed getting in the lane and pressing the issue.  Body control around the cup is impressive as against Phenom he dropped 9 points.

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