Teddy’s Friday Ridgewood Notebook
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Glenbrook North Rolls Past Christie-less Meadows I Started the day with rolling. Meadows facing Glenbrook North. I had only watched each team once the previous week. Rolling Meadows superstar Cam Christie was sitting out today. Glenbrook North got off to a…
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Continue ReadingGlenbrook North Rolls Past Christie-less Meadows
I Started the day with rolling. Meadows facing Glenbrook North. I had only watched each team once the previous week. Rolling Meadows superstar Cam Christie was sitting out today. Glenbrook North got off to a hot start. Pat Schiller had some great plays on both ends early. He showed off some excellent footwork in the paint, and had a great touch at the rim. His defensive awareness was also tremendous. Ryan Cohen Ryan Cohen 6'3" | SG Glenbrook North | 2023 State IL had two three’s early too. So many players contributed early. They were up 21-5 at one point. Not having Cam Christie, who had just traveled back after seeing his brother Max get drafted last night, was costly. He averaged 30 ppg the previous weekend at riverside brookfield. The spartan defense was extraordinary. The Spartans led was 27-7 at halftime. Ryan Cohen Ryan Cohen 6'3" | SG Glenbrook North | 2023 State IL had 8 points. Meadows went on a little run to start the 2nd half. Their other top controvutors, Foster Ogbonna Foster Ogbonna 6'4" | PF Rolling Meadows | 2023 State IL , Ian Miletic Ian Miletic 6'5" | SF Rolling Meadows | 2025 State IL , and Mark Nikolich-Wilson Mark Nikolich-Wilson 6'7" | C Rolling Meadows | 2023 State IL were making plays. Ogbonna showed me towards the end his ability to take advantage of his build. He has underrated potential and displays lot of quickness and explosiveness with his feet. But Rolling Meadows would still fall 38-22. The all-around effort from Glenbrook North was terrific.
Cooper, Younger lead Bolingbrook Past North Lawndale
Mekhi Cooper Mekhi Cooper 6'0" | PG Bolingbrook | 2023 State IL and Donaven Younger Donaven Younger 6'8" | C Bolingbrook | 2023 State IL did so much right from the very beginning for Bolingbrook. They never seem to make bad plays and have lots of trust in their teammates. Mekhi Cooper Mekhi Cooper 6'0" | PG Bolingbrook | 2023 State IL has contributed all over the offensive end to give Bolingbrook an early lead. He displayed tremendous speed cutting to the basket for an easy layup, made two three’s, and played very unselfishly. Cooper closed out the half grabbing his own rebound and finishing an and-one through contact. Donaven Younger Donaven Younger 6'8" | C Bolingbrook | 2023 State IL opened the game with a dunk and got a contested midrange bucket. He also made some nice passes and forced tough shots on defense in the first half. He’s surely more than just a big for the Raiders. Meanwhile, the guard trio of Damarion Wyatt Damarion Wyatt 5'8" | PG North Lawndale | 2023 IL , Ronald Chambers Ronald Chambers 6'1" | PG North Lawndale | 2023 State IL , and Jemarje Winfield were been super explosive for Lawndale. Wyatt’s showed off some terrific ball handling as he dribbled pst an opponent and exploded down the paint for a difficult basket through contact. His layup package is also one to watch. Winfield and Chambers showed they can score from all three levels through contact. Winfield had a very difficult 3-pointer falling down early in the 2nd half. His speed in transition allowed for other easy baskets. But Bolingbrook was the better team throughout. Mekhi Cooper Mekhi Cooper 6'0" | PG Bolingbrook | 2023 State IL hit two threes and continued to share the rock. Younger continued to take advantage os his size. Crashing the glass on both ends and had a really nice dunk over a smaller defender. He also did a terrific job cutting towards the basket.
Young Marist Beats Waubonsie Valley
I got to take a look at 2026 F Stephen Brown for the first time. The 6’8” Marist product has a great frame and build. Two early buckets and rebounding well. He stripped the ball away from a player and finished it home with a two-handed slam. His hands and playmaking abilities are also noticeable Guard Mason Ross knocked down several shots for Marist in the first half. He showed some great off ball movement and distribution. Made several no-look passes and quick decisions.6’6 F Jackson Langendorf responded well for Waubonsie. Foufjt through contact down low for a couple baskets. He ended the first half with a smoothe left- handed layup. The 3-pointer was dynamite for Waubonsie in the first half. I saw several players hit shots from long range to give them a close advantage. 2024 wing Treshawn Blissett Treshawn Blissett 6'5" | SF Waubonsie Valley | 2024 State IL was one of those players who let it fly. He made an early impact on both ends, and knocked down two 3’s in the first half. Waubonsie led 26-21 at half. They continued to let it fly with two more 3’s to start the second half. But Marist would respond. Forward Marquis Vance has quietly impressed. Plays super physical in the paint and fights for tough baskets. He responded with a second chance basket. Mason Ross also knocked down an open look to keep it close. They regained the lead off another Ross triple with 8 mins to go. It was followed up by an and-one by Marquis Vance. Marist 2026 PG Adonis Vassilakis is another Freshman to look out for. He hit several shots today, including two 3’s in the 2nd half. He came through clutch at the end. Vassilakis Had a 2nd chance bucket down low with about 3 mins to go to hold the lead. It was 44-42 Marist with a minute and a half left. Eric Chtlianov hits a big 3 for Waubonsie. But Vassilakis responds to regain the lead with 6 seconds to go. Marist would win 47-45.
Rita Big 3 Outlast Benet in Debut
James Brown James Brown 6'9" | C Link Academy (from Chicago) | 2024 #66 Nation MO and Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL returned after sitting out of the R-B shootout last week. It was the first time I saw Indrusaitis, Brown, and Johnson all played together live. They faced a tough test to start against a tough, well-coached Benet squad. Nonus Indrusaitis started things with an and-one layup in transition. He also scored off a baseline drive to the hoop a few minutes later. James Brown James Brown 6'9" | C Link Academy (from Chicago) | 2024 #66 Nation MO followed up the opening backet with a Second chance bucket down low off a tough rebound. He took advantage of his size well with several tough boards and nice post-ups in the first half. Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL had a block and midrange jumper early. For Benet, G Brady Kunka Brady Kunka 6'4" | SG Benet Academy | 2023 State IL hit a few shots and got to the line early. Niko Abusara, who’s stock has heavily risen lately, displayed great physicality. He fought hard for rebounds and got his teammates involved. It was mostly defense in the first half, as St. Rita led 18-15 at halftime. Brown had another post-finish to begin the 2nd half. St. Rita slowly grew their lead as Brown continued his strong play down low. Benet wouldn’t quit. Different players hit shots and they made it a 5 point game in the closing minutes. Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL continued his terrific defensive outing with a clutch block in the final minute. St. Rita won 32-29. James Brown James Brown 6'9" | C Link Academy (from Chicago) | 2024 #66 Nation MO was terrific in the paint was was surely the game’s MVP.
DePaul Prep Defense Dominates Downers Grove North
It’s always nice to catch my alma mater play. Tom Kleinschmidt has built a tremendously successful program the past 10 years. The Rams had just completed an impressive OT comeback over Springfield Lanphier. 2025 Makai Kvamme is an underrated point guard to look out for. Has a great feel for the game and displays excellent ball control and footwork. Opened the game with a spin-move layup. 2023 PG Maurice Thomas Maurice Thomas 6'1" | PG Depaul Prep | 2023 State IL showed off some great awareness with two assists and an intercepted pass on defense to start. Jaylan McElroy Jaylan McElroy 6'7" | PF DePaul Prep | 2024 State #262 Nation IL contributed even more down low. He does a terrific job beating defenders down low with his off ball movement and rebounding abilities. There’s lots of upside to his game. But what stood out was their defense. They didn’t allow a basket for the first 10 minutes of the game. But They led only 11-6 at half. Maurice Thomas Maurice Thomas 6'1" | PG Depaul Prep | 2023 State IL hit two three’s and McElroy converted free throws to start the 2nd half for DePaul. Thomas has a great release and a nice build. Thomas really exploded in the 2nd half as he added an and-one to his scoring totals. Another McElroy basket down low made it a double-digit game. DePaul was rolling. Then, Thomas exploded in transition an assisted McElroy down low on two possessions in a row. DePaul led 30-11 at this point. Young 2025 star Jonas Johnson Jonas Johnson 6'6" | PF DePaul Prep | 2025 State IL blocked a shot and hit a three to extend the lead into the 20’s. DePaul would 40-21. Payton Kamin Payton Kamin 6'7" | SF Worcester Academy | 2025 State New E was out with an injury.