PHExpoIL: Teddy’s Initial Impressions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today was an exciting day of action in Aurora for the Prep Hoops Illinois Expo. It was great watching some of the best 2026 and 2027 prospects go at it at one big venue. There was plenty of talent on every team. Here's some of my initial thoughts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rising Star out of Jacobs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One name to really catch my attention for the first time was Jacobs 2027 combo-guard [player_tooltip player_id='2925830' first='Elijah' last='Bell']. He transferred from Harvest Christian not long ago. The athleticism really stood out to me from the moment he stepped on the floor. Flying down the lane for a pair of ferocious dunks in transition. As that game went on, I saw a creative passing side from him, which included a slick no-look dime to an open teammate cutting in. His ability to shift with the ball and explode down the lane was also present. He'll be a player we'll surely rank in the next update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2425702' first='Magnus' last='Johnson'] Shines</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll talk a bit more about Johnson in my evaluation piece later this week. But DePaul Prep's 6'7" forward had an outstanding day. Especially on the defensive end where he picked up so many blocks and forced countless misses near the paint. He's an outstanding complementary piece for what might be the best basketball program in Illinois right now. Johnson will be a key piece for the Rams to win a fourth consecutive state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552460' first='Bryce' last='Wegrzyn'] Catches Everyones Attention</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wergzyn is one of Illinois top stock risers. All four of us scouts in the gym got a good glimpse of what he can do. I think we all agree that it's still shocking to see he has ZERO D1 offers at the moment. Worked really well with the team he was on. He showcased an impressive ability to finish athletically inside while watching him play. He's a lengthy forward, but he's also got the ability to shoot efficiently from anywhere on the floor. This is a guy D1's should definitely keep on their radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Look at DePaul Commit Lockett</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the biggest names I couldn't watch this spring and summer was [player_tooltip player_id='1552438' first='Mason' last='Lockett IV']. The 2026 SG out of Oswego East and Young and Reckless put on quite the show today and I was really happy to see it live. He's super explosive with the ball and can finish inside in so many ways. He also showcased a great ability to shoot efficiently from outside and get it done as a defender. Lockett recently committed to DePaul and is a top-10 player in Illinois. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->