Ridgewood Live: Steve’s Saturday Stars

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday's morning slate at the Ridgewood Shootout featured several prospects who made their mark in different ways. Whether it was efficient scoring, playmaking, defensive activity, or toughness, these players helped elevate their teams with strong performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2531981' first='Cole' last='Kelly'] | 2028 | Neuqua Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kelly didn't post huge scoring numbers, but he controlled the game with his passing, rebounding, and overall toughness. After a slow start, the 2028 guard settled in by threading pinpoint passes to teammates cutting to the basket and making the right reads throughout the game. He knocked down a couple of perimeter jumpers, but it was his all-around impact, especially on the defensive end and on the glass, that helped power Neuqua Valley to the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2386611' first='Luke' last='Alvarez'] | 2027 | Loyola</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The savvy senior guard once again showed why he's such an efficient offensive player. Alvarez consistently made the right decisions with the ball and wasted no time getting into his shooting motion. His quick release and college-range shooting were on full display as he opened the game with six quick points before finishing the half with seven. He also showcased a deceptive first step that allowed him to get downhill when defenders overplayed the jumper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Phillips Jones | 2027 | East St. Louis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones put together a strong shooting performance, knocking down five three-pointers in a close loss to Neuqua Valley. The stocky, physical guard was a constant perimeter threat while also flashing his athleticism by attacking through contact. His combination of strength, shot-making, and explosiveness made him one of the top offensive performers of the morning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2441084' first='Noah' last='Hester'] | 2028 | Taft</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hester, a 6-foot-5 wing, spent much of the morning playing the five for Taft and made his presence felt all over the floor. He generated steals near midcourt that led to transition layups, attacked the glass aggressively, and frequently pushed the break himself after securing rebounds. Hester also stretched the defense with his perimeter shooting, ran the floor consistently, and finished multiple tough and-one opportunities around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2125659' first='Kristopher' last='Mporokoso'] | 2027 | Waubonsie Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The smooth-shooting 6-foot-5 wing made scoring look effortless. Mporokoso gets into his jumper with ease and quickly found his rhythm after knocking down an early wing three. He continued to make timely perimeter shots before bringing the crowd to its feet with an emphatic dunk in transition, showcasing the athleticism that complements his polished shooting ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2531973' first='Brady' last='Pettigrew'] | 2028 | Bolingbrook</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pettigrew looked completely healthy after battling an ankle injury this spring. He attacked the basket with confidence, displaying his trademark explosiveness and body control on acrobatic finishes. His mid-range pull-up game was also effective, and overall he looked like the dynamic scorer that has made him one of the top prospects in Illinois' 2028 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chad Carter | 2030 | Joliet West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the younger prospects in attendance, Carter continues to show intriguing long-term upside. The 6-foot-3 guard has a solid wingspan, shifty ball-handling ability, and the confidence to score from both beyond the arc and the mid-range. He also flashed advanced court vision, delivering several drift passes to the corner right on target. Carter is definitely a name to monitor in the 2030 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Additional Contributors</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Nate Woods | 2027 | Bolingbrook</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Sammy Fuller | 2027 | Loyola</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- [player_tooltip player_id='2839878' first='Mason' last='Martin'] | 2027 | Neuqua Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Darion Butler | 2027 | Waubonsie Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- [player_tooltip player_id='2125687' first='Travis' last='Brown'] | 2027 | West Aurora</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->