Ray Milnes Shootout: Underclassmen Shine

Steve Parham June 6, 2026 @ 07:00 PM

Every June, the Ray Milnes Shootout at Stagg High School provides an early look at some of the top talent from the South Suburbs. In this article we highlight the 2028 and 2029 players from this year's event.   [player_tooltip player_id='2531973' first='Brady' last='Pettigrew'] | Bolingbrook | 2028   The number one player in his class—and soon to be in the state—Pettigrew got things started with his defense. He consistently jumped the passing lanes, leading to wide-open dunks, and later drained a smooth pull-up three from the wing. His high energy and activity fueled multiple runs for his team. He is a highly coveted guard who is already pulling in offers from schools across the nation.   [player_tooltip player_id='2467517' first='Darrius' last='Hawkins'] | Homewood-Flossmoor | 2028   "D-Hawk" put together a stellar run midway through the second half. He started things off with locked-in on-ball defense before jumping passing lanes, hitting from the midrange, and dropping a couple of nice drive-and-dish passes. He looked like a much more poised point guard this morning. Sporting a deceptive change-of-pace game, Hawkins looks every bit the part of a facilitator who can score at will whenever asked.   [player_tooltip player_id='2532021' first='Mason' last='Williams'] | Bolingbrook | 2028   This was my second time catching Williams, and he continues to impress. He is shifty with the ball and stays low when attacking the cup, showing great body control when finishing in the lane. A crafty guard, he routinely uses high-arching layups to score over taller rim protectors. He took charge as a primary scoring threat in the late stages of the game. As a downhill driver who excels at getting into the paint and finishing, Williams plays under control and serves as a pesky defender.   [player_tooltip player_id='3660868' first='JJ' last='Nash'] | Marist | 2028   Nash is quickly becoming one of the premier catch-and-shoot wings in the state. A lengthy sniper from deep, he doesn't need a ton of time to get the ball out of his hands, knocking down four triples in the game I watched. He is absolutely a player to track in this class.   [player_tooltip player_id='2540205' first='John' last='Brown IV'] | Homewood-Flossmoor | 2028   The always-active and springy Brown didn't have a ton of offensive highlights in the first game, but he made his presence felt with several big blocks on the defensive end. He remains a lanky forward with immense upside who consistently shows flashes of potential on both sides of the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='2531964' first='Angelo' last='Adams'] | St. Rita | 2028   Moving into the starting guard spot for St. Rita, Adams showed distinct flashes of a varsity lead guard. He did a great job of getting his teammates involved and knocking down open shots in the half-court. If he stays locked in, this should be a major breakout season for him.   [player_tooltip player_id='2940657' first='Duece' last='Johnson'] | Marist | 2029   "Deuce" earned some quality varsity reps in the second game for the Redhawks. Set to be a sophomore next season, he is really starting to stretch out physically—which is a scary prospect given that he is already 6'3" with a strong handle package. Johnson was at his best forcing turnovers with his on-ball defense and finishing plays strong in the lane. When things broke down, he excelled at setting his teammates up for easier looks. He has a tremendous future ahead of him.   Derell Jackson | Homewood-Flossmoor | 2029   Jackson is a taller guard in the Vikings' rotation who put together a couple of impressive scoring spurts during the second game. He will be a key piece of a talented young group fighting for varsity minutes this coming season.

Every June, the Ray Milnes Shootout at Stagg High School provides an early look at some of the top talent from the South Suburbs. In this article we highlight the 2028 and 2029 players from this year's event.