Ridgewood: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook
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Ridgewood continued its massive high school live period event on Saturday with a full day of games. Time to dive into what we saw in Ridgewood: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook! VanderWal Light Up Nets It was another big day…
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Continue ReadingRidgewood continued its massive high school live period event on Saturday with a full day of games. Time to dive into what we saw in Ridgewood: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook!
VanderWal Light Up Nets
It was another big day for top 10 prospect Ben VanderWal Ben VanderWal 6'5" | SF Timothy Christian | 2022 State #201 Nation IL . The 6’7” 2022 forward from Timothy Christian posted several big scoring totals. What we continue to be impressed with is his ability to put it on the deck and get to the rim. Known mostly for his sharp shooting it was his toughness off the bounce on straight line drives and how well he rebounded in the morning game that impressed.
Thomas and Porter Flash in Pair of Games
Fenwick had an up and down day including losing their final game, but in the morning we saw flashes from their top two prospects. Kyle Thomas Kyle Thomas 6'8" | C St. Joesph | 2022 State #183 Nation IL is the highest ranked center in 2022. The five man rebounded well and even hit a couple of threes. The biggest thing with him is running the motor high on a consistent basis because when he does there is no doubt he is a high-major player. First look at incoming freshman Damion Porter. The strong bodied 6’3” 2025 two guard has bounce and toughness to him. Hit a corner three. One to watch moving forward.
SGH Knocks Off Chicago Power
Sacred Heart Griffin defeated Fenwick in their bracket play game. The central Illinois school has a gritty defensive minded team with a couple of rock solid wings. They frustrated Fenwick with their defense and active hands. Class of 2023 small forward Jake Hamilton Jake Hamilton 6'3" | SG Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023 State IL epitomizes what this group is about. He defends at a high level on the perimeter and uses his scrappy nature on the offensive end to score. Also liked what his 2023 wing running mate Zack Hawkinson Zack Hawkinson 6'4" | PF Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023 State IL did. Physical slashing three man that was a tough cover with the ball going downhill.
Smallest Prospect Comes Up Huge for Brother Rice
This spring my friend Scott from BallisLife pointed out this kid who looked like he was about 8 years old during a 15U game and said he has game. Man was he right then and again today. Cale Cosume was phenomenal with his shooting from deep hitting three after three. Super deep range. The 2024 also mixed in a few slick takes for scores in the paint. Ahmad Henderson Ahmad Henderson 5'10" | PG Brother Rice | 2023 State #291 Nation IL is a top 15 prospect in 2023 who pushed with his speed and got to the rim on a consistent basis. Love his burst with the ball, playmaking, and flair for the game. Nick Niego Nick Niego 6'2" | SG Brother Rice | 2023 State IL is a 2023 two guard that is a sharp shooter from three which he did Saturday connecting on a trifecta of them.
Glenbrook South 1-2 Punch Produces as Always
Once again Glenbard South is going to be a force this upcoming season. They have one of the best duos in the state in Nick Martinelli Nick Martinelli 6'6" | SF Glenbrook South | 2022 State #235 Nation IL and Cooper Noard Cooper Noard 6'2" | PG Glenbrook South | 2022 State IL . Martinelli does it all over the floor. In the game we saw he went for 22 points and 13 rebounds making it look effortless. Crafty moves off the bounce with a slo-mo game getting in the heart of the defense finishing with nifty moves changing directions quickly. He also used his length on the defensive end and glass. Noard is a prospect we continue to wonder what is holding schools back from offering. The lead guard is a plus shooter from three that runs the show with a high basketball IQ. He has a floater game and is a decent athlete. Notched 27 points.
Freeman Impresses Coaches and Spectators
Bradley Bourbonnais was a late addition to the event. They have one of the hottest prospects in the state in 2023 Owen Freeman Owen Freeman 6'10" | C Moline | 2023 State #179 Nation IL . The rising junior is a big man with legit size and athleticism. His athletic pop jumped off the floor. Freeman loves to utilize his quick spin move on the block for scores. Can take his opponents off the bounce from the mid-post. Put it on the deck on straight line takes. A lot to like overall as an athletic five that rebounds and can score from multiple levels. High-major post.
Barron Leads St. Ignatius With Another Strong Day
Big bodied 2023 wing Richard Barron Richard Barron 6'5" | SF St. Ignatius | 2023 State IL has been excellent over the last two weekends. Continued that strong play on Saturday by being the aggressor for St. Ignatius when they needed it. Versatile scorer that puts it on the deck and can hit an open look. Barron along with his fellow top prospects will have a big opportunity on Sunday against Kenwood.
Springfield Lanphier Duo Sparks Interest Among Coaches
We really liked what we saw out of Springfield Lanphier’s two standout guards on Saturday. Rising senior Tye Banks Tye Banks 6'3" | SG Springfield Laphier | 2022 State IL was about as good as we have seen him with the way he put it on the deck with force. Put defenders in the spin cycle, converted and-1s, knocked in a couple threes, and overall played with a ton of confidence opening up the eyes of college coaches. Tevonta Jackson Tevonta Jackson 6'1" | PG Roosevelt | 2023 State IA is a 2023 athletic lead guard that is explosive off the bounce with one of the best bursts in the state. His acrobatic layups are his calling card.
State’s Top Senior Guard Proves He is More Than Just Elite Shooter
Some have labeled Yorkville Christian 2022 shooting guard Jaden Schutt Jaden Schutt 6'5" | SG Yorkville Christian | 2022 State #42 Nation IL as a shooter. He is indeed one of the best marksmen in recent memory, but there is so much more to his game. The top ranked guard in the 2022 class is super athletic which was emphatically stated with a pair of thunderous jams including one off an alley-oop in transition. Love how well he moves without the ball to set his shot up. Quick passes in traffic and has become an impactful overall player during last year. Big 10 schools are all over him!
Perimeter Prospects Shine for St. Rita
While the St. Rita’s big men get most of the hype it was the play of their perimeter prospects that caught our attention on Saturday night in their final game. Class of 2024 point guard Jaedin Reyna Jaedin Reyna 6'0" | PG Bishop Noll | 2024 State IN has the inside track to be the #1 floor general in the class. He has an advanced IQ and is so much fun to watch in the open floor. Weaves in and out of the defense and gets after it defensively. Class of 2023 shooting guard Kaiden Space Kaiden Space 6'2" | SG St.Rita | 2023 State IL attacked downhill for buckets including a couple floaters. Physical 2023 wing Bryce Coleman Bryce Coleman 6'6" | SF Proviso East | 2023 State IL scored on straight line takes, mid-range jumpers, and hit the offensive glass.
Asa Thomas Asa Thomas 6'6" | SF Lake Forest | 2023 State #91 Nation IL Show Rolls Right Along
A handful of Midwest high-major coaches stayed late into the evening to watch 2023 shooting guard Asa Thomas Asa Thomas 6'6" | SF Lake Forest | 2023 State #91 Nation IL . The 6’6” two guard did not disappoint going for 20+ points in their first game. He has such an effortless release on his shot from beyond the arc. Also mixes in pull ups, passing, and really cuts well without the ball on a team that does that as well as any team we have seen this June.
Downers Grove North Trio Ones to Monitor
Like the progress that class of 2024 post Jake Riemer has shown from the spring to high school ball in June. Projectable big man that is crafty putting it on the floor from mid-range and has a sweet hook shot. Their young guards Max Haack and Jake Stanton shot it at a high clip from beyond the arc which is becoming the norm for them!