Ridgewood Live Event: Saturday Notebook

The Ridgewood Live Event featured a full day of games and PrepHoopsIllinois was in the house for all of it from 8 AM until the 9 PM games concluded. Here is our jam packed Ridgewood Live Period: Saturday Notebook!   Fenwick Dominates to Open Day The Frairs looked really good in their first game of the day on Saturday defeating Maine South 65-28. The state’s #2 2021 prospect Bryce Hopkins was solid in the win showing his skilled game with strength on a couple of strong drives and getting on the offensive glass. Class of 2022 lead guard Trey Pettigrew is a smooth handling sophomore that can score along with threading the needle. A couple of quality role players stepped up as Tyler Wildermuth and Eian Pugh contributed in a major way each knocking down their fair share of shots. For Maine South there weren’t a lot of bright spots, but one was Sean Gallery. The wing is a plus three point shooter that will play at the small college level.   Leo Defeats Stevenson in OT Next up Stevenson and Leo tangled in a low scoring contest that Leo ultimately won 44-42. For the victorious Lions it was 2020 post Kendale Anderson who was an absolute beast on the interior. He mauled his opponents on the glass for put backs and and-1s. Such a physical player in the paint. Finishes well around the hoop. He had 20 points. For Stevenson their star Matt Ambrose had his moments as the 2020 guard drilled a couple threes while displaying improvement scoring off the bounce. John Ittounas is a 6’2” two guard that consistently connected from three throughout the game.   Morgan Park Picks Up Win Without Adam Miller The state’s top 2020 prospect was not in the building on Sunday for Morgan Park, but Adam Miller said he will be back Sunday. In pool play without him Morgan Park got a 65-59 win over Lincoln Way East. The story was Brandon Weston. We saw the 2021 wing for four days in St. Louis at Nike Elite 100. He was at his best on Saturday playing maybe the best we have ever seen him. He was aggressive from the jump taking it right at the defense looking to throw down monster jams. He did just that a few times. Quick second jump to the offensive glass. He had 20 points. Top 2020 post Seryee Lewis was also excellent in the win. He was assertive on the offensive boards snatching rebounds in traffic. Hit from mid-range and played above the rim for 16 points. Marcus Watson ran the show at the point with a lot of assists especially on drive and kicks. A new name to track is 2023 point guard Darrin Ames. The shifty lefty guard can let it fly from three! For Lincoln Way East 2021 point guard Jhei-R Jones played with the speedy Mustangs guards pushing the pace in his own right and being a fantastic mid-range shooter. Another junior to watch is Ryan Sucha who can let it fly from deep!   Timothy Christian Records 68-56 W Over Carmel During the high school season a team I was intrigued by was Timothy Christian. Josh Harris is an athletic lefty scoring wing who is best slashing and scoring in transition. Class of 2022 6’3” shooting guard Ben Vanderwal put his name on our radar with a 19 point performance. Plus shooter spotting up from the wings. Carmel 2021 point guard Kimahri Wilson is a shifty lead guard that is flashy with the ball in his hands. Improving slowly, but surely as a shooter. Playmaking lead guard had 15 points.   Cary Grove Survives Rolling Meadows 61-60 This was one of the better games we saw on Saturday. Cary Grove got all they wanted from Rolling Meadows. It came down to a few plays late and Cary Grove made them. Beau Frericks went for 26 points in the win. The 2020 point guard is one of the premier snipers in the state both pulling up and off the catch. Put on a clinic from deep! Frank Jakubicek has been gaining momentum on the recruiting trail in recent weeks. We see why with his play. He has gotten stronger in his upper body and playing more assertive around the hoop. Finishes well in the paint with strength and catches passes in traffic. Fights for position down low and can extend the defense as well for 17 points. The best prospect in the state regardless of class Max Christie went for 16 points in a loss. He is a smooth scorer that can get buckets in a variety of ways.   Bloom Narrowly Wins Over St. Charles North Another fun game on court 1! Bloom used their star power depth to win this one. Keshawn Williams made the biggest play of the night on a drive late where he was fouled and then clinched the game at the line. Athletic guard scored from deep and with athleticism at the rim. Martice Mitchell showed flashes again on the glass, rim running in transition, and a right handed hook shot. Dante Maddox creates space with a lethal pull up jumper. Donovan Newby was a steadying force again. On the other side Luke Scheffers started out on fire with a pair of early threes along with a mid-range pull up. Physical five man Connor Linke showed flashes carving out deep post position, getting on the glass, and had an emphatic block. Christian Czerniak scored with creativity while Colin Nelson stretched the D with his shooting.   Evanston Dominates Oak Lawn This one wasn’t ever in doubt. Evanston looked like they were in regular season mode. Top 10 2021 prospect Jaylin Gibson displayed his all-around game. He is the ultimate utility weapon in the junior class being able to do a little bit of everything. Scored at the rim and got to the line at a high rate. Excellent passer and defends at a high level. Went for 16 points. His junior running mate Blake Peters drilled a trio from deep. Elite three point shooter! Sami Osmani is a gritty wing that had a few nice plays in the loss for Oak Lawn. Evanston won 62-28.   Mundelein Wins Over York to Clinch Pool This game could have gone either way. Mundelein features an inside-outside 2021 duo of point guard Conor Enright and post Scottie Ebube. Enright is a plus shooter off the move and is a crisp ball handler getting where he wants on the floor. Ebube was a force on the glass rebounding with strength and scoring inside. Trey Baker drained an array of threes for Mundelein. York point guard Nate Shockey is a sound perimeter shooter that moves well without the ball and makes scoop shots going to the hoop.   Niles Notre Dame Tops St. Laurence 59-50 in Talent Laded Contest The pool these two teams were in could be the Ridgewood version of the “Group of Death.” Along with these two Plainfield East and OPRF were in it which makes each team having at least one D1 recruit. The star of this game was the best 2021 point guard in Illinois Anthony Sayles. He was dynamic doing what he wanted when he wanted. Sayles shot it the best we have seen him in his career. Made five from beyond the arc on his way to 25 points while also displaying his elite attacking ability. Sayles did a nice job distributing too. Troy D’Amico is a top 15 2021 prospect who is a versatile scorer. Moves well without the ball scoring on curls and threes off the catch. Louis Lesmond is one of the more intriguing 2021 wings in the state. Size for position and can shoot it. Showed more toughness inside and scoring in the paint than we had seen in the past. St. Laurence’s star 2020 Jeremiah Williams was solid rebounding at a high rate from his wing spot along with scoring on a few difficult threes. Finn Walsh was a bucket getter hitting from three and using his speed to get to the rack.   Smart Shows Out Against St. Ignatius Niles North 2020 combo guard Aquan Smart has his stock soaring after a strong spring and quality June. He continued that at Ridgewood. The athletic slasher led the way with 22 points. He got pretty much wherever he wanted on the floor including several takes to the hoop and deep jumpers. Defensively he is a game changer with steals and blocks. Elijah Bull is a difference maker with his perimeter shooting. For St. Ignatius Dan Florey got it going in the second half from three. Senior Luke Collins was the ultimate glue guy and 2022 AJ Redd has a lot of upside! Niles North won 52-49.   Bolingbrook’s Guard Depth Shines Against Schaumburg It seems like every single year Bolingbrook reloads with more guards. After the graduation of two D1 prospects Coach Rob Brost brings another group of guards along that will make an impact on the high school level and beyond. It all stars with 2020 Darius Burford. The senior combo guard is such an explosive athlete that gets to the rim at a high level. Myles Cooper is a sleeper 2020 point guard that displayed a quality mid-range jumper. Then you have the 2021 trio. Kai Evans brings the power and slashing. Kyonte Thomas has the passing and defense covered. Isaiah Stafford is an ultra-smooth scorer! They won 71-60. Schaumburg’s top 5 2021 Chris Hodges is the highest ranked post in the junior class. He was assertive scoring on the block with big time post moves. Also handled it some winning off the dribble. Went for 21 points.   Poulakidas Shoots Well in Front of Lots of Coaches You know when it is a 9 PM game and there are an array of D1 coaches still there they are still watching for a reason. That reason was Neuqua Valley 2021 small forward John Poulakidas. He is one of the hottest names on the recruiting trail right now reeling in a handful of offers in recent days. He displayed his silky smooth shot connecting on four from beyond the arc. The lefty is such a smooth scorer! Finished with 23 points in a win over King! Also have to make sure we mention the lights out shooting from Connor Davis of Neuqua Valley as well.     Quick Hitting Notes Clark has a nice group of sleeper prospects. Coby Weekly is a 2020 power forward who mauls inside with his toughness. 2022 duo Daurise Perryman and Sulieman Agiste put their name on the map. Perryman did it with his shooting and Agiste with his projectability and upside.   Hillcrest’s star Julius Rollins played better on Saturday than when we saw him Friday night. The jumbo forward used his strength and athleticism to score in the paint on euro steps, runners, and mid-range jumpers. Hamahrie Bowers is a 2021 slick handling wing to watch at 6’5”.   Alton has a quartet of quality guards for Coach Dana Morgan. They are scrappy and can make an impact on both ends of the floor. Moory Woods is a senior that made explosive plays at the rim. Ky’Lun Rivers was another scoring threat for the Redbirds. Ja’Markus Gary and Andrew Jones are two others to watch.   Conant has a pair of college prospects in Devon Ellis and Sean Beckman. The 2021 duo have solid size and flashed in the half we watched against Alton.