Grit Region Kickoff: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook

Action continued at the Grit Region Kickoff on Saturday in Louisville with another full day of games in the first event of the Prep Hoops Circuit season.  We break it all down here in Grit Region Kickoff: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook!   Northern Kentucky Legends 15U Depth of Guards Leads to 8 AM Win   We began the day with a 15U clash between border foes as Northern Kentucky knocked off the Illinois Bears Haar squad 49-34.  It was a pretty balanced effort.  The most eye popping prospect for the Northern Kentucky squad is Braylon Bilton.  This shooting guard brings plus athleticism and is so slick with the ball in his hands.  Flashes as a shooter and can defend.  Mac Cogswell and Cole Coppage are crafty finishers around the hoop that can knock down an open shot.  Eddie Marx is a lefty wing that has a crisp pull up game and crafty handle.   Waltonville wing Jager Mayville was the standout in their first game of the day.  The 6'5” four man brings good length and skill to the table.  Lefty hit a couple threes, turnaround jumper, and showed a diverse skill set.  Solid outing from Wesclin guard Bryce Harr as the 6'2” guard with a strong frame drained several threes in the defeat.   Faison Puts on Show Carrying Midwest Pumas 17U Past Crossover Hoops   Next up was the Kal-El Faison show as he absolutely took over for his Midwest Pumas Burgett in their win against Crossover Hoops 85-77.  Faison is a strong slashing guard from Ohio that loves to finish around the hoop whether it is off the bounce, in transition, or cutting to the rim or acrobatic conversions.  We had him for 25 points in the win.  His running mate Tate Davis is a sharp shooting guard that can really let it fly from distance.  Plus three point marksmen that is scrappy going to the rim and getting to the line.  Logan Tharp is another guard to track as he can really knock down shots from three and two.   For Crossover Hoops it was actually a duo of unsigned seniors from Kentucky that were their top performers.  Micah Shelton and Noah Sowders are playing on the circuit to secure a college opportunity.  Definitely can see a small school taking them after what we saw on Saturday.  Sowders had 20 points hitting a pair of threes, mixing in mid-range jumpers, and several nice straight line takes from his guard spot.  Shelton is another guard that loves to get to the charity stripe.  He lived there all game long with his crafty handles and sneaky burst netting 22 points.  As far as 2025s it is Jayden Bentley to track here with his three point marksmanship.   Illinois Bears Survives Comeback by Tennessee Travelers in 15U Play   The Illinois Bears Harr bounced back after losing the morning game to score a 58-56 victory despite a comeback by Tennessee Travelers in 2nd half.  Breese Central 6'4” post Bennett Becker was ready to roll from the get go in this one.  Uses his strength and positioning to score in the post with good touch and boards well.  He had 11 points.  Bryce Haar shot it well from three again in this one draining four of them en route to 15 points.  Okawville 2027 point guard Braylen Turner showed flashes making key plays down the stretch in the win notching 11 points.   Will Crowley was outstanding for Tennessee Travelers.  The 2027 guard threw down an alley oop on baseline out of bounds to open things up.  A plethora of nifty takes to the rim from the combo guard and hit several threes.  He had 17 points.  Cam Lawson is a crisp shooting threat from his guard spot and Lincoln Tummel is a skilled face up four with broad shoulders that can stretch the floor.   Illinois Warriors 15U Shoot Lights Out Over Evansville Finest Led by 2028   It was an all out assault from behind the three point line for Illinois Warriors 15U in their 78-61 victory against Evansville Finest.  The most impressive was 2028 guard Rhett Mclain who was phenomenal as a sharp shooting playing up a year.  The 8th grader drained four from distance along with others inside the arc, got on the offensive glass and got a couple conversions at the rim.  His future teammate at Central A&M Ace Spinner is another knock down shot maker as he hit three of his own along with several in the 15 foot range.  Brody Lipa out of Mt. Zion is another guard with some projectability worth tracking.   Evansville Finest got a big performance from Elijah Chinn.  The smaller and stocky scoring guard was a straight bucket in this one!  His jumper was falling as he hit five from distance along with getting in the lane for multiple tough finishes.  Elijah Ortiz is a great glue guy for this squad with his passing, rebounding, and defense.   West Aurora Trio Mesh Posting Win for 88 West 17U   Three prospects from West Aurora shined for 88 West in their 60-43 victory over Illinois Warriors 17U.  Early on it was 2025 6'2” shooting guard Kewon Marshall who went to work.  Powerful and athletic slasher that was a force getting to the cup!  Inside 6'8” 2025 center Gabriel Gonzales that proved to be a big time rebounder and post defender while flashing offensively.  Drew Lundberg emerged as a 2026 to watch with his sharp shooting draining five from beyond the arc in the win.  Plus shooter with upside!   Decatur St. Teresa unsigned senior Ryheem Tyus is a 6'5” wing that brings athleticism on both ends of the floor.  Uses length blocking shots and getting steals while offensively he gets to the line at a very high rate and uses his bounce in the paint.   Ballers Elite 17U Dynamic Duo Pushes Past Nova Village   It was an impressive showing from Ballers Elite in their 72-61 victory against Nova Village Twinam.  Garrett James has proven to be an elite shot maker with size and fluid wing that can score in the lane on runners and soft touch finishes.  Did just that in their win on Saturday.  Rico McFadden was impressive on the defensive end.  Such an elite level athlete blocking shots and using his length all over the floor.  Plays above the rim offensively consistently.   Noah Nichols shined for Nova Village.  Springy guard that has good strength and broad shoulders.  He threw down some big dunks exploding off the floor in tight spaces.  Rebounds very well for a guard and runs floor hard.  Nolan Fedak is a big man with potential.  Finishes out of dunker spot and displayed nice moves along with touch on the block.   Team Mack 17U Protects Home State In Impressive Fashon   In their home state of Kentucky it was Team Mack that put on a show in a 82-54 victory over Dangerous Alliance out of St. Louis. So many weapons for this Team Mack squad. Let's start with the guards. Bodin Radulovic is a skilled combo guard that is a plus passer and very skilled all-around. Eli Craig turned it on in the second half with his defense getting out in transition. Tay Ashford is a smooth lead guard with good handles and a sweet looking shot from three. Rashad Faulkner is a tough combo guard that made an impact on both ends. Up front Dylan Ready has pop! He is a four man that can stretch with his shooting, push in the open floor, and get on the offensive glass for put backs. Antowon Burton and Brunley Fon bring size and athleticism up front leaving their mark on the glass and defensively.   It was Clopton 2025s Kain Evans and Cash Evans from Missouri that were the standouts for Dangerous Alliance.  Kain Evans is a four man that hit multiple threes and was effective putting it on the deck for several slashes along with slot cutting for layups.  Cash Evans is a wider bodied undersized five man that can really shoot it with a soft touch draining three triples along with a 15 footer.   606 Elite 15U Is Already Clicking on All Cylinders   I came away so impressed with what we saw out of 606 Elite 15U.  In the first weekend of the circuit, they looked like they have been playing for months.  Mostly an all guard lineup with one big man.  They pass, cut, play team defense, have active hands, and share the wealth.  They were up 38-12 at half winning by a final of 66-28 against a Midwest Pumas squad that was significantly taller and more physically gifted.  Pumas couldn't buy a shot and 606 Elite got deflections and steals one after another turning them into points on the other end.   Jonah Bartley is a slick passer that brings toughness and shot making.  Brody Little, Cole Slone, and Caden Justice all did their parts.  Got after it on defense.  Flipped turnovers into touchdowns on the other end.  Knocked in threes when they presented themselves.  So well coached!  Colten Buck Young is the lone post on this team.  The big man is a solid area rebounder that got on the offensive glass for put backs.   More 15U Notes   It was a tough game for Spartans Sports Basketball Elite as they fell 62-34 to Northern Kentucky Future.  Bright spot was Maine West 2027 guard Anthony Spain.  Strong and stocky guard won on straight line takes getting downhill and flashed as a shooter.  Anthony Aguillar is a rangy 6'2” wing from Maine West with projectability.  Hit a mid-range jumper with side spin.  Dusan Jelaca has a mature body at 6'4”.  Used his strength and physicality on power drives and rebounding.   We caught the first half of one game of Midwest Pumas Wilson and the second half of another.  The prospect that caught our attention the most long term was CJ Kent.  Wing that has good strength along with solid projectability.  At times he was a bit out of control, but the athleticism and skill potential is definitely there.  Scores in transition, decks it on the baseline, and flashed as a defender.   Samme Lewis Elite 15U point guard Te'Jay Daley was outstanding!  Powerful guard that can flat out score the rock!  Kid plays with speed and burst with the rock in his hands.  Steals and would take them coast to coast.  Capable shooter as well.

Action continued at the Grit Region Kickoff on Saturday in Louisville with another full day of games in the first event of the Prep Hoops Circuit season. We break it all down here in Grit Region Kickoff: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook!