Freshman Showcase: Team 3 Prospect Breakdown

The 2030 class got an early chance to show what they could bring at the Freshman Showcase at Supreme Courts in Aurora. With plenty of new faces competing across the event, there were several prospects who stood out through their approach to the game. While there is still plenty of development ahead for this group, the event provided an early look at some names worth keeping an eye on. Here we break down the prospects of Team 3.    Good effort throughout, getting ahead in transition and consistently filling the perimeter. Liked his movement without the ball and willingness to keep things moving offensively, swinging the ball to the opposite side rather than letting possessions stall. Defensively, did a nice job turning his hips to stay in front of the ball and showed good discipline closing out, staying down on shot fakes and contesting with a high hand. Also showed a good arc on his three-point shot.     Spencer will be attending Oswego High School. Showed a blend of defensive activity and offensive control. Defensively, did a nice job providing gap help, coming away with steals and deflections. Offensively, showed deep range from the top, use of step-back threes, and connecting on a pull-ups. Liked his rebound-and-go mentality, looking to push the ball himself and lead the offense in transition. Played with good calmness and patience with the ball, showing an ability to control the tempo.     Going into his freshman year at University High in Normal. Revealed ability to create off the bounce, using hesitation moves to get downhill and attack. Did a nice job collapsing the defense and finding kick-outs, while also showing poise passing out of traps and tight pressure. Started to find a rhythm and build confidence throughout the day with one-dribble drives and finishing through contact.     Wagner showed a strong overall presence on the defensive end, playing with active hands and quick feet to make things difficult for opposing ball-handlers. Liked his on-ball pressure and ability to stay in front while maintaining good space, consistently making the offense work. His activity carried over to the glass as well, where he competed for rebounds and loose balls. Also showed some ability to turn his defensive plays into offense and make things happen in transition.     A mix of activity and toughness on both ends of the floor. Defensively, competed hard on the glass, used his physicality to push drivers off their lines, and showed some rim protection ability. Offensively, showed promise with his three-point shot and passing feel, making quick reaction passes to cutters and off-ball curlers. Also displayed the ability to grab rebounds and get the offense moving in transition, while crashing the offensive glass when opportunities presented themselves.     Purvis shows a mature feel for the game, playing with his eyes up and making good reads without forcing plays. He kept the ball moving with swing and skip passes while also getting ahead in transition and finding open windows. His off-ball movement stood out, beating defenders on cuts, curling off screens, and consistently finding ways to stay involved with or without the ball. Defensively, played with good intensity and used his length, active hands, and ability to slide to make an impact. The way he plays above his age gives him a bright future at Yorkville Christian.     Perkins had a strong interior presence with good positioning and an ability to take advantage of mismatches. He did a nice job sealing defenders down low and showed a developing midrange game to complement his ability to score inside. His athleticism was a plus, allowing him to finish through contact and from difficult angles. Defensively, competed hard in transition and showed some rim protection ability, either coming up with blocks or making shots difficult around the basket.     Another Yorkville Christian product, played with a high motor and brought plenty of activity to the floor. He played with a loose, confident approach and looked like he was having fun making plays. His energy showed up in transition, where he could turn defensive plays into offense, while also consistently looking to crash the glass on both ends. Showed some versatility offensively with his ability to work out of pick-and-rolls, find kick-outs, and attack off the bounce. Touch from the midrange and the ability to make plays defensively with his activity and effort.

The 2030 class got an early chance to show what they could bring at the Freshman Showcase at Supreme Courts in Aurora. With plenty of new faces competing across the event, there were several prospects who stood out through their approach to the game. While there is still plenty of development ahead for this group, the event provided an early look at some names worth keeping an eye on. Here we break down the prospects of Team 3.