Fall 2023 New Names to Emerge: Part 2
Prep Hoops Illinois dives into what we saw from a variety of events during the fall months. We saw tons of basketball over the last few months and now we recap that. Check out our Fall 2023 New Names to…
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Continue ReadingPrep Hoops Illinois dives into what we saw from a variety of events during the fall months. We saw tons of basketball over the last few months and now we recap that. Check out our Fall 2023 New Names to Emerge: Part 2!
Tyler Van Gorp Tyler Van Gorp 6'10" | C New Trier | 2023 State IL (New Trier)
Event: Hoops 4 Health 3 on 3 Fall League
Van Gorp has showed progress in each setting we have evaluated him over the last couple months. He stands at 6’10” with a very thin frame. Did a nice job throughout the afternoon of garnering deep post position on the catch despite his lack of ideal strength. Once he is only a couple steps from the hoop he is about impossible to cover. Excellent hook shot over either shoulder which he went to over and over for buckets. Sealed in the high/low and had one big dunk. Solid passer out of the post to cutters. In the second game we caught him he was money in the mid-range drilling one after another. Good rebounder in his area.
Sherod Dent Jr. Sherod Dent Jr. 6'6" | PF Chicago Curie | 2023 State IL (Providence St. Mel)
Event: Hoops 4 Health 3 on 3 Fall League
Dent was a breakout player for sure. The 6’6” Providence St. Mel power forward has a great frame with a strong body. He did a nice job defending in the post. Lefty is a power player with good length on the offensive end. Can hit an occasional three and slashes with strength.
Chikosi Ofoma (Joliet West)
Event: Hoops 4 Health 3 on 3 Fall League
This was my first look at the 6’6” strong bodied combo forward from Joliet West. Long arms and good strength. He was dominant when he slashed to the basket using a nice combination of handles, power, and athleticism for buckets. Finished through contact and had good body control at the hoop. He hit a couple threes showing he could make them, but was rather streaky from the perimeter with his shot. Much more effective in the paint. Good rebounder in his area that snatched them with two hands.
Alex Engro Alex Engro 6'2" | SG Loyola Academy | 2023 State IL (Loyola)
Event: Hoops 4 Health 3 on 3 Fall League
Engro put himself on our radar with a strong performance. The 6’0” two guard is a plus shooter that knocked them down with regularity from behind the arc in both games we saw. Silky smooth stroke from three and also mixed in pull ups and turnarounds in the mid-range area.
Darien Singleton (Mascoutah)
Event: Pangos All-Midwest Frosh/Soph Camp
The 5’11” metro east point guard steadily got better over the course of the camp. Shifty ball handler that has it on a string. Handles it well in and out of traffic. Sound jump shooter that made them stopping and popping from mid-range and three. Will combine with 2022 Justin King Justin King 6'4" | PG Mascoutah | 2022 State IL to form a dynamic backcourt this season.
Maurice Thomas (DePaul Prep)
Event: Pangos All-Midwest Frosh/Soph Camp
Most of the top point guards from Illinois were established names coming in. Thomas was not and he made quite an impression including getting in the Top 30 game. This 5’11” lead guard was dynamic getting in the lane making plays for himself and others. Good passing feel dishing the rock to his teammates for scores. Should see minutes as a reserve on a loaded DePaul Prep team.
Wilfred Kamukama (Huntley)
Event: Pangos All-Midwest Frosh/Soph Camp
This 6’9” post burst on the radar with a strong performance at Pangos. Well-built prospect with a physical frame that finishes around the hoop. Can handle it a little in the open floor. Forces threes at times, but definitely can make them as he hit several.
Solomon Mosley (St. Rita)
Event: Pangos All-Midwest Frosh/Soph Camp
Mosley is a 6’7” four man that played with a lot of energy throughout the day. He high pointed rebounds in traffic. Quick to the glass for put backs and flashed some skill around the hoop with a hook shot.
Kuba Senczyszyn (Dundee Crown)
Event: Pangos All-Midwest Frosh/Soph Camp
At 6’5” this Dundee Crown four man can handle it as a face up four. Fouled multiple times on drives from the high-post area. Finishes with bounce around the hoop. Has some explosive athleticism.
Evan Jackson (St. Rita)
Event: Chicago Lockdown Scrimmage
Jackson showed even more to his game than we saw at Pangos camp. Like the size at 6’5” along with long arms. Jackson displayed in this setting he can play on the perimeter as well handling it and making several quality decisions as a distributor. Mid-range jumper fell and he had a sweet spin move finishing with his off hand.
Luke Newhall (Walter Payton)
Event: Chicago Lockdown Scrimmage
Newhall was a new name that jumped on our radar. The 6’4” small forward was extremely productive. Not the most athletic, but he always seems to be in the right place to make good things happen. Ran the floor hard consistently which he was rewarded for with buckets. Strong bodied forward displayed a nice skill level including driving from the wing, spin move, and finished with a nifty layup.
Jimmy Navarrette (Brother Rice)
Event: Chicago Lockdown Scrimmage
This Brother Rice 6’3” shooting guard can play some on the ball as well. Liked his passing with one hand off a live dribble. Sound three point shooter hitting a trio of them during the game.
Cole Bonder (Libertyville)
Event: Details Training
Bonder is a young power forward that was crafty around the hoop on his post scores. Finished dump offs and worked well in the pick/roll game. The lefty has some touch on a mid-range shot as well.
Garrett Wolfe (Effingham)
Event: Illinois Bears Jamboree
Garrett is the youngest of the Wolfe brothers. He plays similar to his older brother Parker except he is a right handed player. Crisp pull up jump shooter from both mid-range and three. The 5’11” lead guard will have a strong sophomore season.
Foster Ogbonna Foster Ogbonna 6'4" | PF Rolling Meadows | 2023 State IL (Rolling Meadows)
Event: Illinois Wolves Scrimmages
This was a monster performance from Ogbonna. The Christie brothers might get most of the attention at Rolling Meadows, but this 6’4” forward is going to be huge for them down the line. Physical combo forward that plays with a high motor. Runs the floor very well for scores and finishes through contact. The area we came away most impressed with was his shooting. Hit three mid-range jumpers including a turnaround fade away and then stretched it out to three.