Summer Challenge: Top 2024 & 2025 Performers
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The Summer Challenge concluded over the weekend as many teams from the state of Illinois prepped for the live period with this must attend early July event. Time to dive into the best players we saw in Summer Challenge: Top…
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Continue ReadingThe Summer Challenge concluded over the weekend as many teams from the state of Illinois prepped for the live period with this must attend early July event. Time to dive into the best players we saw in Summer Challenge: Top 2024 & 2025 Performers!
2024
James Brown James Brown 6'9" | C Link Academy (from Chicago) | 2024 #66 Nation MO (Mac Irvin Fire)
Brown has established himself as the top rising sophomore in the state and will debut at the pole position when we get to the first rankings for 2024 early in the fall. At 6’8” the center is incredibly skilled for his age with advanced post moves. Spins, hooks, and fluidity are amazing. Runs the floor well, mobile in the pick/roll, and is a good rebounder snatching them in traffic. Shot blocking presence as well. High-major all the way!
Christopher Riddle (Mac Irvin Fire)
Riddle is a powerfully built small forward that plays with a tremendous motor! Love how hard this Kenwood wing plays. He is always around the ball and rebounds at a high rate. When he puts his head down and wants to get to the rack he is very difficult to contain. His skill set sometimes goes unnoticed as he is an above average shooter and slick passer. Plus wing defender and rebounder. Will debut as a no doubt top 10 guy.
Calvin Robbins (Mac Irvin Fire)
Robbins is another Kenwood high-energy rising sophomore. He is a power forward that is so active on the glass with his quickness off the floor crashing the glass with a relentless nature along with throwing down monster jams. One of the more explosive finishers in the class.
Luke Kinkade (Basketball Paradise)
Kinkade opened our eyes with an outstanding showing at Summer Challenge. The Neuqua Valley point guard showed out for his Basketball Paradise squad. Plus shooter that drained an array of them from beyond the arc with deep range. Moves well away from the ball and also mixed in an and-1 where he won off the bounce.
Nick Schroeder (Basketball Paradise)
Schroeder is a 6’2” wing that also can stroke it from distance. He notched five triples in their win over the Fire. Clean and easy stroke with an effortless release. Also snuck in for a few offensive rebounds. Look for him to emerge this upcoming season for Metea Valley.
Pat Schaller (Fundamental U)
This combo forward from Glenbrook North presents size at 6’6” along with solid skill. He scored on several crafty layups on the interior in the game we caught. Interesting prospect to see if he develops more as a perimeter guy or post.
JJ Hernandez JJ Hernandez 6'6" | PF Glenbard North | 2024 State IL (SWISH Basketball Chicago)
Hernandez has a lot of intriguing physical tools with his size and strength on the wing. His length played well on the defensive end swatting shots and disrupting his opponents. Also showed some flair as a passer with the rock on the offensive end. Upside player!
Payton Kamin Payton Kamin 6'7" | SF Worcester Academy | 2025 State NLG (Team Ten Jabari Parker)
Kamin is one of the better scorers in the Illinois 2024 class. The DePaul Prep shooting guard has size for position along with ability to drain shots from all over the floor. Sniper is lethal off the catch and also made several plays off the bounce against legit competition. Better athlete than you think with smooth acceleration.
2025
Bryce Heard (Mac Irvin Fire)
Heard was so impressive. In our first extensive look at the 2025 prospect he lived up to every bit of the middle school hype. He is a shooting guard that can get buckets from all three levels. Made it look easy going against prospects in pool A playing up a level. Blew past his man consistently for scores at the cup and has an effortless shooting stroke from the perimeter to match. Plus athlete that can score from all over the floor!
Robert Walls (Mac Irvin Fire)
Walls was the floor general on the Fire squad playing up. Crisp ball handler that handled the rock against pressure, got others involved, and can make a shot when it presents itself.
Aleks Alston (Mac Irvin Fire)
Alston has a lot of physical development to go which makes this 6’5” Kenwood forward so intriguing. Long and rangy frame to where he should continue to grow. Runs the floor with ease and has a nice looking lefty stroke. Also displayed feel as a passer.
Ian Miletic (Mac Irvin Fire)
Rolling Meadows 6’5” combo forward that is another rangy prospect who has a ton of room to grow. Skilled player that bombed in a few threes, but also missed a few bad as the release point was all over the place. Gets up and down the court with ease.