5 2031 and 2032 Ballers Ready to Make a Splash: Midwest Edition

The Pangos Chicago Premier 80 Showcase brought 80 of the top middle school players in the Midwest together for a day of competition. From Russell Westbrook to Kyle Lowry to Demar Derozan, Pangos is known for highlighting elite talent at a young age and this year's showcase was no different. It's clear that some of the prospects highlighted this past weekend will make their mark - let's see which young players throughout the Midwest stood out. For <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/09/5-2031-and-2032-ballers-ready-to-make-a-splash-chicago-edition/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prephoops.com/2026/09/5-2031-and-2032-ballers-ready-to-make-a-splash-chicago-edition/">top 5 Chicagoans at Pangos, read here.</a>    My other stand-out player in the entire Pangos showcase - in addition to rising offensive star [player_tooltip player_id='2896040' first='Decari' last='Palmer'] from Chicago - was Parker. Parker's combination of length, ball-handling skills, and downhill scoring ability made him one of the most difficult players to contain all day. He was dangerous slashing to the hoop and showed range from beyond the arc. His wingspan pops as an asset for high school play and beyond. His handles are already advanced and will improve even more with coaching at the next level. I was most excited to watch Parker's team with the ball in his hands – that type of electric playmaking bodes well for his future.     Rodgers has the length and frame that immediately give him the look of a prospect, and he backed it up by knocking down some impressive shots from the perimeter. His free throw stroke was another encouraging sign, showing good touch and a foundation to build on as a shooter. Continued coaching around shot selection to take full advantage of his size and unique skill-set could unlock another level of his game. Just as importantly, continuing to develop his composure after missed shots will help to maximize Rodgers' natural basketball talent.     Stevens may still be undersized, but that doesn't mean he should be overlooked. A sixth grader, Stevens looked silky smooth on the court – the type of player who lets the game come to him rather than forcing up the ball. He made some nice steals in traffic and demonstrated finishing finesse with several scoop and scores. For how talented and mature he is at such a young age, Stevens is definitely a player to watch.     An emerging two-way player, Warren really came alive in the second half of game 2. He knocked down multiple threes and showed creativity getting to the basket, including a crafty sequence where he turned two full-court passes into scoring opportunities. On the defensive end, Warren popped all day long. He excels as an on-ball defender and played with noticeable intensity, straight up tearing the ball out of opposing players' hands. A two-way contributor with room to grow.     Beamon may not have been the flashiest player on the floor, but he consistently made his team better when the ball was in his hands. No, he's not on the Top 16 list, but his floor general skills were hard to overlook. His team was more composed when he set up the play and the offense ran through him. Beamon is undersized and his athleticism wasn't off the charts. But he played with noticeable hustle, rebounding over much taller players and playing defense even when other members of his team took plays off. He reminded me of TJ McConnell - the type of guy who just comes in and does everything he can to help his team win.

The Pangos Chicago Premier 80 Showcase brought 80 of the top middle school players in the Midwest together for a day of competition. From Russell Westbrook to Kyle Lowry to Demar Derozan, Pangos is known for highlighting elite talent at a young age and this year's showcase was no different. It's clear that some of the prospects highlighted this past weekend will make their mark - let's see which young players throughout the Midwest stood out. For top 5 Chicagoans at Pangos, read here.