Highland Shootout Notebook
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The Highland Shootout is one of my favorite events every year to cover. I went as a kid and it has been awesome to see how it has grown and have a small part in helping select the lineup each…
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Continue ReadingThe Highland Shootout is one of my favorite events every year to cover. I went as a kid and it has been awesome to see how it has grown and have a small part in helping select the lineup each year. Matt Powers and his team did another tremendous job. We will have wall to wall coverage all week from the event. Start off with our recap of the day in Highland Shootout Notebook!
Highland Opens Up with Victory on Home Floor
First boys game of the day was between Trenton Wesclin and host Highland. The fun part of this matchup was a battle between Illinois Bears 2023 guards Cade Altadonna Cade Altadonna 6'0" | PG Highland | 2023 State IL (Highland) and Grant Fridley Grant Fridley 6'1" | PG Wesclin | 2023 State IL (Trenton Wesclin). Early on it was all about Highland 2024 shooting guard Jake Ottensmeier Jake Ottensmeier 6'1" | SG Highland | 2024 State IL who ripped off a quick run of points to get them out early. He is a solid three point shooter and a creative scorer with the rock in his hands. Finished with 16 points. Cade Altadonna Cade Altadonna 6'0" | PG Highland | 2023 State IL got it going as the contest went along. Lefty compact guard that is a quality spot up threat. Crafty finisher around the hoop that can finish well with either hand on scoop shots and straight line takes. He had 17 points in Highland’s 53-35 win.
For Trenton Wesclin Grant Fridley Grant Fridley 6'1" | PG Wesclin | 2023 State IL got off to a slow start and then had it rolling. The McKendree commit is a slick handling guard that wins off the bounce. Very high IQ guard that gets where he needs on the floor. Gets to the rim with ease when he wants for layups or floaters. Also did a nice job getting to the line. He had 18 points.
Stacker Gets Win Over Old School as Cardinal Ritter Tops Belleville East
The storyline in the second game of the day was Murray State commit Braxton Stacker Braxton Stacker 6'5" | SG Cardinal Ritter | 2022 State MO of Cardinal Ritter going against his old school in Belleville East. Stacker is a long and lanky small forward that can play some on the ball when needed. As in this game he showcased his ability to win off the bounce and be a force defensively as he got game MVP honors with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals. His fellow 2022 Robert Lewis Robert Lewis 6'8" | PF Cardinal Ritter | 2022 State MO is an uncommitted post with great physical tools. He is a bouncy and lanky big that protects the rim, dunks with explosion, rim runs, and has tough on a right handed hook shot. He had 12 points.
Jordan Pickett Jordan Pickett 6'1" | SG Belleville East | 2023 State IL was the marquee prospect for Belleville East. The 2022 combo guard struggled at times missing in the paint but did manage to record 15 points including a couple of nice and-1s. Two new names who caught our attention for Belleville East were 2023 guards Jackson Muse Jackson Muse 6'1" Belleville East | 2023 MO who had 8 points and Antwine Wilson who dropped 11 points.
Late Add Moline Gets OT Win over Father Tolton
With Mascoutah having to drop out because of covid Moline was a great replacement! They took a loaded Father Tolton squad to the wire in OT and beat them 78-72. Brock Harding Brock Harding 6'0" | PG Moline | 2023 State #222 Nation IL more than lived up to his billing as a D1 lead guard. The 2023 is a prospect we didn’t see during the summer, but in two evals this season he has impressed considerably. So precise with everything he does. Excellent passer in the half court and hits big shots. Went for 25 points and 8 dimes. This whole team really passed it and shot it well. That includes Kyle Taylor who ripped off 13 of his 15 points in a stretch during the second quarter. Grant Welch Grant Welch 6'3" | PG Moline | 2023 State IL also got hot from distance nailing a trio of them while making sound decisions as a passer for 13 points. Robert Pulliam is a plus athlete that had some wow plays around the rim as the 2022 guard netted 11 points.
Pepperdine commit Jevon Porter Jevon Porter 6'11" | SF Tolton Catholic | 2022 State #110 Nation MO did what we saw all summer with MPJ Elite. He dominated inside while showing glimpses of a face up game. Porter was a beast on the glass against the smaller Moline squad. He had an array of offensive rebound put backs along with altering shots in the paint defensively. Also stepped out to hit some jumpers in a 27 point outing. Tahki Chievous Tahki Chievous 6'4" | SG Tolton Catholic | 2022 State MO had to open some eyes at the next level with his play as the 6’3” shooting guard netted 22 points on an array of jumpers and athletic finishes in the paint. Bit of a funky release but it went in. Class of 2025 phenom Aaron Rowe has that “it” factor you just can’t teach. Elite athlete at the lead guard spot with burst off the bounce making plays at the cup for acrobatic finishes. Shifty ball handler that set up his passing and scoring as he had 13 points.
Chaminade Blows Out Yorkville Christian 103-59
This was we knew was going to be a track meet but Chaminade happened to be Usain Bolt as they zipped past Yorkville Christian early and never looked back winning 103-59. They were so balanced from their starting five. The MVP of the game was BJ Ward. The 2023 point guard is a strong and stocky junior that loves to get downhill and that he did in this one. Lived in the paint all night for scores and was an adept passer as well getting his teammates involved. Went for 24 points and 8 dimes. Would be a good mid-major/low-major combo. Millikin commit Nate Straughter Nate Straughter 6'3" | SG Chaminade | 2022 State MO got them going early using his length on both ends to create easy baskets as he had 19 points. His brother Walt Straughter turned it on late to book end it finishing with 11 points. Great gets for the Big Blue. Filip Sinobad Filip Sinobad 6'7" | PF Chaminade | 2022 State MO has small college star written all over him. Skilled four that could impact at the D2 level with his passing, floor spacing as a shooter, and toughness on the glass. Went for 14 points. They got an epic performance from 2023 wing Nilavan Jotham-Daniels. The lengthy junior wing had 25 points including a barrage of threes in the second half.
Duke commit Jaden Schutt Jaden Schutt 6'5" | SG Yorkville Christian | 2022 State #42 Nation IL scored 22 points and had to work for every single point. The state of Illinois’ top senior hit several threes off the catch and running into them in transition. Also got loose a few times on the break. Despite scoring 22 points he never seemed in a great rhythm and that was by design as Chaminade focused on him. David Douglas David Douglas 6'5" | SG Yorkville Christian | 2023 State IL and KJ Vasser KJ Vasser 6'3" | SG Yorkville Christian | 2022 State IL each chipped in with 9 points and 10 points respectively continuing their solid campaigns. Defense, defense, defense still continues to be question mark for Mustangs.
Peoria Notre Dame Upperclassmen Wins Defensive Battle Against St. Rita
This was a game that we set up to see the 2024s go at it. There was some of that but it was the veterans that stepped up when it mattered most as Peoria Notre Dame took home the 50-38 win over St. Rita. Nelson Reynolds Nelson Reynolds 6'3" | PG Peoria Notre Dame | 2022 State IL led the way for PND scoring 19 points including four threes in the win. Tough utility guard that knocks down shots will be a nice small college player. The other senior that is one to watch is Colin Schuler Colin Schuler 6'7" | PF Peoria Notre Dame | 2022 State IL . The 6’7” four man walled up defensively against the highly touted St. Rita bigs. Also showed skill offensively from the mid-post in off the dribble and hit a three on his way to 14 points. Top 5 2024 power forward Cooper Koch Cooper Koch 6'8" | PF Metamora | 2024 State #81 Nation IL showed flashes in the win. Very good passer. Can handle well from the high-post. Had a Dirk Nowitzki step back from about 10 feet. Scored 6 points.
The lone “veteran” on St. Rita 2023 Kaiden Space Kaiden Space 6'2" | SG St.Rita | 2023 State IL led them in scoring with 14 points. Strong bodied combo had a nice day shooting it from distance along with a crisp mid-range game and good defense. The twin towers never quite got going for St. Rita. Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL was ok in stretches scoring 11 points. The physical tools are all there as he swatted a couple shots and backed in for a couple turnaround jumpers. Athletic rebounder. Top 2024 James Brown James Brown 6'9" | C Link Academy (from Chicago) | 2024 #66 Nation MO didn’t do much only scoring 3 points.
Imhotep Makes Plays Late to Defeat Vashon in Intense Game
It might not have been the prettiest game, but there was a ton of talent on the floor. Intense battle ended in a 51-47 victory for Imhotep out of Pennsylvania. Their top prospect is Justin Edwards Justin Edwards 6'6" | PF Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #3 Nation PA who is the top 2023 prospect in PA and a five-star prospect nationally. Lengthy left handed shooting guard that has a smooth perimeter shot with a high release. Hit baseline jumper, several threes, and a key spinning J late for 15 points. Play of the day was courtesy of Mo Abdullah Mo Abdullah 6'4" | SF Imhotep Charter | 2022 State PA . The 2022 small forward had the best dunk of the day early in the contest as it seemed like he hung on the rim for an hour after a two handed slam. Also showed he has some skill being able to shoot it nailing three from beyond the arc. He had 12 points.
Vashon was led by Kennard Davis Kennard Davis 6'5" | PG Vashon | 2023 MO . The forward is quickly becoming one of my favorites in 2023 to watch. The top 5 Missouri prospect is a physical combo forward that plays so hard on both ends. He had 15 points scoring in a variety of ways including multiple threes, put backs, and slashes. Mason Mosley put his name on our radar with a strong performance. Rangy wing that has three and D potential netted 11 points.
CBC Wins Over Kenwood in Instant Classic
After a pair of lower scoring games this one opened up in the first quarter getting up and down with both sides showing what they had. At least until the refs inserted themselves. Kenwood started off super hot behind Darrin Ames Darrin Ames 6'1" | PG Kenwood | 2023 State #99 Nation IL and their three point shooting. CBC answered right back with their star guard Robert Martin. They kept it close throughout and in the end CBC came back to win late 73-69. It seems like Rob Martin Rob Martin 5'9" | PG CBC | 2022 State MO has been at CBC FOREVER! He is knows how to play the game with heady playmaking as a distributor, but when the game was about to slip away he put his team on his back and carried them with 26 points. Runners, mid-range pullups, threes. He had it all working hitting big shots one after another. His running mate in the backcourt Larry Hughes Jr also settled in for a big night netting 20 points including an array of beautiful looking jumpers. Both should get looks at the low-major level for sure. The top long term prospect on this team is 7’2” center John Bol John Bol 7'1" | C Overtime Elite (GA) | 2024 #52 Nation GA . The 2024 five man is one of the best shot blockers we have seen in recent memory. It’s not just how tall he is. He has a feel for it both inside and swatting them on the perimeter as well. Very agile and light on his feet for his size. Offensively he is still a work in progress doing most of his damage on dunks and put backs. Does show nice touch on his free throws including nailing a pair to close out the win for his 14th point of the night.
Kenwood got production from the usual guys. Contender for the top spot in 2023 Darrin Ames Darrin Ames 6'1" | PG Kenwood | 2023 State #99 Nation IL played like it scoring 21 points including a barrage of threes. Davius Loury Davius Loury 6'8" | PF Phhoenix Prep | 2024 State AZ slashed and shot it pretty well in an 11 point outing. Nevada signee Trey Pettigrew Trey Pettigrew 6'3" | PG Hillcrest Prep | 2022 State #143 Nation IL is such a creative and big shot maker connecting on 17 points. Senior sleeper Darius Robinson Darius Robinson 6'0" | PG Thornton Township | 2022 State IL scored 16 points with most coming from beyond the arc.