What Prospects Sparked Friday Morning at The Tune Up: Illinois?

***Use 4th of July Code “Fourth50” for 50% off your subscription. Code Only Good Through Weekend***   Prep Hoops Illinois Tune Up kicked off Friday morning with plenty of young talent on display. Evaluators got an extensive look at the class of 2027 and a few emerging 2028 prospects putting in high-level work. Here are the prospects who set the tone early on Friday morning.   The Headliners   [player_tooltip player_id='2829613' first='Danny' last='Ruffin'] | [program_tooltip program_id='2075515' first='Hoops' last='4 Health'] | 2026   Ruffin is a stocky, physical guard who did a fantastic job of getting to his spots whenever he wanted. He flashed an impressive overall feel for the game, especially when showcasing his vision as a passer. Ruffin proved to be a reliable three-level scorer, notably getting excellent elevation on his mid-range pull-up. He plays with a high-revving motor and a natural aggression that keeps defenses on their heels. Ruffin finished with 11 points in a tough battle.   [player_tooltip player_id='2814168' first='Sam' last='Fuller'] | [program_tooltip program_id='2075515' first='Hoops' last='4 Health'] | 2027   An incredibly intriguing prospect who caught eyes back in June with Loyola Academy, the 6-foot-5 guard is highly versatile with his ability to operate both on and off the ball. Fuller possesses great size and functional strength, allowing him to muscle his way into the lane and effectively shield off defenders on his hip while driving to the rim. He is especially dangerous attacking to his right, finishing with long, sweeping layups. Fuller dominated the morning session, dropping 23 points.   Colin Tobin | All In | 2027   Tobin caught fire early on Friday, drilling a trio of three-pointers in the opening six minutes of play. Beyond his perimeter shooting, he was highly impactful on the glass for a guard, ripping down strong rebounds and immediately firing accurate outlet passes to spark the transition game. Later in the contest, Tobin showcased his inside-out versatility by getting deep paint touches and converting tough turnaround jumpers. He put together a highly efficient, complete performance.   [player_tooltip player_id='2832362' first='Orville' last='Cross Jr']. | All In | 2027   Cross proved to be a highly effective screen-and-roll big man, diving quickly after ball screens to generate easy buckets. He played "bully ball" in the low post, consistently giving up size but making up for it with sheer strength and poise. Upon catching the ball down low, he displayed great footwork, utilizing a soft baby hook and fluid spin counters. Cross can back down any defender regardless of height, but what makes him truly dangerous is his complementary ability to stretch the floor from the perimeter.   [player_tooltip player_id='2439344' first='Chas' last='Ontiveros'] | Illinois Outwork | 2027   Standing at 6-foot-4, Ontiveros was a force on the glass who immediately turned defensive rebounds into transition offense. He displayed excellent court vision both off turnovers and within dribble-drive actions. Ontiveros uses a quick first step to blow past his initial defender and possesses an elite second gear when accelerating with the ball. He excelled at attacking gaps and kicking out to open shooters, drawing several shooting fouls in the process. He capped off his stellar day with a dramatic two-handed slam, leading his team with 21 points in a nail-biting win over [program_tooltip program_id='2076257' first='Illinois' last='Heat']/Hoopstars.   [player_tooltip player_id='2540149' first='Tobyus' last='Banks'] | [program_tooltip program_id='2076257' first='Illinois' last='Heat']/Hoopstars | 2027   The slick Curie High School guard loves to push the tempo and get downhill in a flash. Banks plays with an excellent natural feel, operating smoothly within the flow of the game without forcing the issue. When getting into the paint, he relies on creative step-throughs and fluid Euro-steps to leave rim protectors frozen, showing off elite body control in tight spaces. Banks poured in 19 points in a tight, down-to-the-wire loss to Outwork.   Nick Brzezniak | IL Flight | 2027   Brzezniak is a fundamentally sound 6-foot-6 forward who can really stretch the defense out to the perimeter. He opened his day in rhythm, knocking down his first three attempts from beyond the arc. However, he is far from just a spot-up threat; Brzezniak made several impressive drives to the cup, proving he can finish through heavy contact. He does a great job using shot fakes and disciplined footwork around the rim to manipulate defenders, and he isn't afraid to get physical when battling on the glass.   Other Notable Standouts   The morning session featured several other prospects who left their mark on the game through high-energy plays, defensive execution, and scoring bursts:    [player_tooltip player_id='2349619' first='Brady' last='Harris']– [program_tooltip program_id='2078449' first='Meanstreets' last=''] (2027)    [player_tooltip player_id='2860531' first='George' last='Gray'] – All In (2027)    [player_tooltip player_id='2879381' first='Mekhi' last='Young']– Blueprint (2028)    [player_tooltip player_id='2415541' first='Owen' last='O'Reilly']– [program_tooltip program_id='2075515' first='Hoops' last='4 Health'] (2027)    [player_tooltip player_id='2393484' first='Miguel' last='Gaspar'] – Illinois Outwork (2027)    [player_tooltip player_id='2822689' first='Nate' last='Munson'] – IL Flight (2027)

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