Ridgewood Live: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>***Use Code “ScottyB30” for 30% off your subscription***</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was quite a weekend at Ridgewood!&nbsp; 230+ games with teams from all over the state!&nbsp; Let's look at the games I took in on Saturday along with the prospects that made an impression in <strong>Ridgewood Live Event: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stasys and Tchiegne Continue to Shine for Benet</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benet made a strong case this month to be the top preseason team in the state.&nbsp; Their star big man [player_tooltip player_id='2323620' first='Ed' last='Stasys'] also made the same case to sit at the top of the board in 2027 rankings.&nbsp; Stasys went for 24 points and was significantly the best player on the floor in their 59-39 win over East St. Louis.&nbsp; Scored out of post, finished out of dunker spot with explosiveness, pick/roll dunks, hook shots, sweeping and-1, put backs, and more.&nbsp; Also had a sick spin on the baseline along with a corner three.&nbsp; His running mate [player_tooltip player_id='2425956' first='Perry' last='Tchiegne'] was diming him up all game long putting the ball in the perfect position for Stasys to finish in perfect spots.&nbsp; High level decision maker that gets two feet in the paint finding shooters or Stasys inside.&nbsp; Slick ball handler that hits the hole getting to the cup.&nbsp; Sweeping finishes in the lane and has great speed going coast to coast.&nbsp; Also had an excellent defensive game forcing tough looks while scoring 20 points.&nbsp; Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='2426052' first='Cormac' last='Hanus'] continues to boost stock each time out.&nbsp; Love his ability as a role player that can shoot it from three.&nbsp; Same can be said about strong bodied guard [player_tooltip player_id='2125689' first='Tyler' last='Cibulka']!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Veteran perimeter players for East St. Louis had solid games.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2962335' first='Phillip' last='Jones'] athleticism and shot making jumps off the floor every time we saw him putting a strong month of June together from the lead guard spot.&nbsp; Elite speed!&nbsp; Devrice Johnson is a strong and stocky combo guard who plays with physicality downhill, is a solid perimeter defender, and can knock in a shot.&nbsp; Terryion Webster boosted his stock in June with this shot making and ability to get to the rack in the open floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kenwood Scores Narrow Win Behind Stephens</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next we saw Kenwood get a comeback win against St. Viator in a low scoring contest 36-35.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2323622' first='Damari' last='Stephens'] is a powerfully built big bodied small forward that is at his best playing bully ball downhill with solid handles and nifty footwork on drives.&nbsp; Knocked in a few jumpers and showed some passing instincts scoring 13 points.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='3625295' first='Colby' last='Irvin'] also contributed in the win with his passing, rebounding, and soft touch game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2125608' first='Dawson' last='Charles'] is the go to guy for St. Viator.&nbsp; Athletic undersized two guard has burst with the rock and poured in mid-range jumpers.&nbsp; A small school senior PG emerged as [player_tooltip player_id='3636506' first='Miles' last='Waddell'] is a slick passer with excellent feel for getting others involved.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kelly and Martin Continue to Roll with Neuqua Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Neuqua Valley 2027 shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='2839878' first='Mason' last='Martin'] and 2028 small forward [player_tooltip player_id='2531981' first='Cole' last='Kelly'] are two of the elite prospects in the state.&nbsp; They teamed up to get Neuqua Valley a 58-53 win against East St. Louis.&nbsp; Kelly is a highly skilled point forward who makes elite reads with the rock, shoots it well from deep, and was explosive on straight line takes.&nbsp; High-major all the way in 2028!&nbsp; His 2027 running mate Illini commit Martin is an elite shooter who can really knock down shots at a high level on a consistent basis moving well to get open off the ball along with pouring in turnaround jumpers.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2415557' first='Carter' last='Coviello'], [player_tooltip player_id='2392385' first='Arshil' last='Khimani'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2532320' first='Eli' last='Poulakidas'] are three excellent role players as tough guards who can knock in an open shot off the other two's creation and compete defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2962335' first='Phillip' last='Jones'] had a huge game for the Flyers with 24 points.&nbsp; The three ball was flowing in this one as he knocked in four from beyond the arc.&nbsp; Athletic lead guard also got to the rim in the open floor and drained stop/pop 15 footers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fridman Shines in Glenbrook North Win</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Fridman will be leading a tough Glenbrook North team this season in 2027 6'0” lead guard Nate Fridman.&nbsp; Lefty has a strong and stocky frame playing with strength.&nbsp; Solid passer and is a knock down three point shooter.&nbsp; Irakil Kipiani is a 2028 6'6” five man who caught our attention with his broad shoulders and mobility on the interior along with rebounding at a nice clip.&nbsp; That duo was a big reason for their 44-39 win over Buffalo Grove.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the other side [player_tooltip player_id='2411146' first='Edwin' last='Karnauchovas'] proved to be a crafty scoring guard at the point with a thick frame.&nbsp; Did a lot of damage in the paint along with a deep pull up three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Burlington Central Gets Close Win over Walter Payton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although it was a low scoring game it was a fun one between Burlington Central and Walter Payton with Central coming out on top 40-37.&nbsp; Class of 2027 6'3” shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='2415547' first='Cash' last='Cumpata'] was the breakout performer as the wing with size knocked in multiple threes also with skilled moves on drives.&nbsp; Like the length and projectability.&nbsp; Their top prospect at Burlington Central is 2029 power forward [player_tooltip player_id='2536509' first='Declan' last='Wilson'].&nbsp; Lanky four man that got to the line, scored on put backs with a quick second jump, and flashed defensively as a rim protector.&nbsp; Look for him to be among the top posts in our first edition of the 2029 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2532344' first='London' last='Rome'] made the move over from Whitney Young in the last couple weeks and the point guard shined in our first look at him in his new uniform scoring 14 points.&nbsp; Slick handles off the bounce along with being effective creating his own shot from three and mid-range.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='3010128' first='Carter' last='Slaise'] shined as a lengthy 2028 wing with projection.&nbsp; Sliced for scores finishing with his off hand.&nbsp; Strong rips into finishes above the rim.&nbsp; Mid-range pull ups and has a lot of intriguing defensive tools.&nbsp; Their top prospect 2029 shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='2947403' first='Orlando' last='Bohlen'] is a lengthy wing who banged in a corner three along with one off a dribble handoff.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->