Scouting the State: Wednesday Notebook

Use code BlackFriday2024 for 50% off Prep Hoops Subscription This Week!   Wednesday I popped around different events checking out six contests with high level prospects all over!  Here is our recap of the day and prospects that made an impression in Scouting the State: Wednesday Notebook!   Rockford Guilford Opens Up Game in 2nd Half   Caught the West Aurora vs Rockford Guilford game at Hoops 4 Healing. Couple prospects for Rockford Guilford caught our attention as names to monitor. Class of 2026 point guard Branden Chatman is a slick ball handler that can get his own shot off the bounce and from three. Good length and projectability. Solid looking jumper hitting multiple mid-rage shots and threes. Went for 23 points. Also like Rickey Woods Jr who is a big bodied post that at 6'5” gets on the glass and can score from 10 feet in. He had 9 points. They blew it open in the third quarter with a 24-6 run winning by a final of 72-40.   West Aurora class of 2027 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2125687' first='Travis' last='Brown'] continues to impress backing up his top 5 ranking in the sophomore class.  Such a smooth ball handler that can get wherever he needs on the floor with his handles.  When he gets in the teeth of the defense he can kick it out to shooters with crisp dishes.  The jumper is definitely a weapon for the young guard as he can hit from three along with pull ups.  They are missing senior star [player_tooltip player_id='1545116' first='Terrence' last='Smith'] who is out until the holiday tournament.   Benet is Who We Thought They Were   Next up we saw Benet travel to De La Salle where two squads loaded with 2026 talent squared off.  It was Benet from the jump and they more than lived up to their #3 preseason ranking.  They won in dominant fashion 68-47.  The starting five of this team is one of the best in the state.  Their front court has a chance to be the best in Illinois.  SIU commit [player_tooltip player_id='1598682' first='Daniel' last='Pauliukonis'] was awesome in this one as the skilled inside/outside four man stretched for a trio from beyond the arc while showing his athleticism on drives and running the floor.  Went for 22 points.  [player_tooltip player_id='2105376' first='Colin' last='Stack'] is the top center in the junior class and he looked like it in this one completely owning the glass and protecting the rim on the interior.  The seven footer is also a scoring threat with put backs, alley-oops, and finishing out of the dunker spot going for 13 points.  Big time veteran  backcourt as well for Benet led by Truman State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1598658' first='Blake' last='Fagbemi'].  He is a magician with the ball in his hands getting others involved with his on point passing off live dribbles.  Also can score with euro steps, mid-range jumpers, and acrobatic finishes off the bounce for 13 points.  Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2105390' first='Jayden' last='Wright'] also is a legit prospect with his plus shooting hitting a super deep three along with his much improved passing. Liked how he got others involved while still picking his spots to score.  Shifty takes off the dribble for tough finishes in the paint.  Went for 13 points.   De La Salle got a big second half out of 2026 small forward [player_tooltip player_id='1552445' first='Charles' last='Barnes Jr'].  Lefty wing had a slow first half, but turned it on in the third quarter.  He looked comfortable shooting it draining a pair of mid-range jumpers along with a couple threes.  Creates space well for his shot when creating on his own.  Slashed it for a bucket, layup on a give and go, and got to the line finishing with 19 points.  In the first half they got solid contributions from 2026 wing [player_tooltip player_id='2323307' first='Lucas' last='Johnson'].  The Meteors wing hit three off the catch for his 9 points.  3 and D wing!   Morgan Park Wins Big over Belvidere North   Caught the second half of the Mustangs 62-35 wing against Belvidere North.  Their star is [player_tooltip player_id='1552476' first='Nasir' last='Rankin'] who is the #2 overall football prospect in 2026, but also a high level hooper as well.  Explosive shooting guard that can get to the rim and has a clean looking jump shot from distance.  Expect him to put up big numbers this season as he had 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 dimes in this one.  He has a couple of other guards next to him to track in 6'0” junior [player_tooltip player_id='2734410' first='Jacque' last='Lewis'] and 6'3” senior [player_tooltip player_id='2724282' first='Pierre' last='Stevenson'].  Lewis had a nice outing with 12 points.   Whitney Young Picks Up Quality Road Win vs Rockford Auburn   The next game at Rockford Auburn was the host school against powerhouse Whitney Young.  Rockford Auburn kept it close, but a run in the second half by the Dolphins stretched the lead as they won 62-51.  In the early going it was a pair of under the radar wings that were doing the damage as unknown sharp shooter Gabe Aaragon put his name on the map with a strong performance as a spot up shooter knocking in three triples en route to 11 points.  Also versatile senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2617351' first='Alijah' last='Little'] had several strong slashes for acrobatic finishes along with a three going for 13 points.  The defensive intensity and passing was on point for senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1545124' first='Damajay' last='Richardson'].  The stars for the Dolphins are #3 overall senior [player_tooltip player_id='1385300' first='Antonio' last='Munoz'] and #2 junior [player_tooltip player_id='1552475' first='Marquis' last='Clark'].  Munoz brought the intensity from the jump in the first half on the defensive end and the boards.  Used his length and athleticism to cover a ton of ground.  As the game went along he began to get points on spin moves and transition finishes.  Went for 12 points and double digit boards.  Clark only had 3 points through the first 3 quarters, but was a big part in them sealing the win in the fourth where he scored 12 of his team high 15 points.  Slick ball handler who gets in the lane for scores and makes trips to the line.   Rockford Auburn was led by their star [player_tooltip player_id='1845353' first='Amir' last='Danforth'].  The 2026 shooting guard is a bucket getter!  Opened the game with a drive where he banked it in.  Then hit a pair of threes which is one of his strengths.  We liked what we saw out of him off the bounce as he didn't settle as much for the three instead taking it to the rack for euro steps and soft touch finishes in the paint.  Finished with 19 points in the loss.  [player_tooltip player_id='2105407' first='Champ' last='Parker'] is another 2026 guard to watch.  He has some passing feel and can score in the lane on floaters.  Went for 7 points.   Freshman Phenoms Clash as Neuqua Valley Tops Oswego   Back at Oswego for this one as the host school took on Neuqua Valley.  The storyline behind this one was that two of the premier incoming freshman in the state Neuqua Valley small forward [player_tooltip player_id='2531981' first='Cole' last='Kelly'] and Oswego guard [player_tooltip player_id='2125627' first='Ethan' last='Vahl'] going head to head.  Oswego opened up strong with a big lead, but from that point on it was all Neuqua Valley as they came back behind Kelly to win 53-44.  Kelly took over the game in the second half.  The 6'5” wing is a plus shot maker from three with deep range and a clean shot making three of them.  Gets on the offensive glass for put backs and is more than willing to post up weaker defenders.  Plus rebounder that goes after them aggressively.  Has good passing instincts for a young forward.  Went for 23 points and 14 rebounds in the win. The hype is legit as next big thing from Illinois!  [player_tooltip player_id='2217987' first='Whitman' last='Charboneau'] is a skilled 6'2” wing that can really shoot it from beyond the arc.  Hit an array of them notching 14 points.  Should definitely be on the small college radar.   The other star 2028 Vahl started off fast draining a pair of early threes along with a runner off a drive.  Feathery touch on his shot.  The projectable freshman hit another one late in the game off movement finishing with 12 points.  Plays with a lot of poise and composure for a freshman with a lot of eyes on him.  Ton of potential long term physically and in his game.  Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2617379' first='Dasean' last='Patton'] had a great outing.  He scored 21 points as the athletic wing posted up defenders using his quickness to score around the hoop.  Spin moves on the block and seals for buckets.  Also got to the line and hit a three.  Small college gem that has an inside/outside game and plays within a team concept.  [player_tooltip player_id='2382447' first='Mariano' last='Velasco'] caught our attention as a 5'10” lead guard with flair.  The lefty is creative with the rock in his hands as a passer and finisher as he had 9 points.   Top Sophomore in California Shines in 2nd Half Win over Morton   It looked like we were going to see a big national upset as really good 3A team Morton led La Miranda (CA) throughout the first half.  The California squad is a top 50 team nationally and features the #1 sophomore in the state Gene Roebuck.  They came out a different team in the second half as La Miranda took the intensity level up winning 58-48.  There was a stretch where we got to see what the hype is about with Roebuck.  He is a big bodied 6'5” wing with skill.  Can really handle the basketball and create off the bounce on spin moves and hesitation takes.  Mixed in a three along with a couple cuts to the hoop for buckets finishing with 16 points.  They got a spark from King-Riley Owens who shot it well from three draining a trio of them for 9 points.  Texas Rio-Grande commit Julien Gomez drained a pair of threes and was rock solid all around going for 15 points.  Super athletic and well built 6'5” small forward MJ Smith had some highlight moments with a big dunk off a steal and playing above the rim going for 10 points.   Morton got a big first half from their standout [player_tooltip player_id='1232827' first='Wes' last='Gudeman'].  Thick bodied lefty has an old school crafty game where he posts up guys for buckets and can deck it from the high-post for scores.  Solid looking three point shot as well.  Scored 12 of his team high 15 points in the first half.  [player_tooltip player_id='2734458' first='Alex' last='McKie'] caught our attention with his shot making and toughness notching 10 points.  Tripp Rugaard is the floor general of this squad that is quick with the rock and has active hands defensively finishing with 8 points.

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