Summer Challenge: Saturday Standouts
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ROMEOVILLE, Ill. — Prospect standouts from Saturday’s action at the Prep Hoops Summer Challenge… Bennett Buss – 2025 – PG – Wisconsin Academy First time seeing Buss and this Wisconsin Academy 15U team. They were in a back and forth…
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Continue ReadingROMEOVILLE, Ill. — Prospect standouts from Saturday’s action at the Prep Hoops Summer Challenge…
Bennett Buss – 2025 – PG – Wisconsin Academy
First time seeing Buss and this Wisconsin Academy 15U team. They were in a back and forth battle with Arena Basketball Club in a game that was won at the buzzer in overtime. Buss hit a huge shot to send the game into the extra period. The sophomore guard is a very strong ball handler that didn’t appear fazed by pressure. He’s quick and decisive off the bounce, knows how to hit gaps and force defenders out of their lane. May not always take a ton of shots, but you definitely feel his presence on the floor with Buss’ ability to get his team organized and make the right basketball play.
Josiah Butler – 2022 – SG – Wisconsin Playground Club
Butler just scores the ball the way you teach it — limited dribbles, get your work done away from the ball and get yourself open, take what the defense gives you, etc. Butler makes it look effortless at times, able to efficiently get his numbers. In a good win over Chicago Lockdown, Butler poured in a game-high 24 points. The Fox Valley Lutheran alum nailed four triples in the second half to lift his team to the victory. A catch-and-shoot guard with a beautiful stroke, Butler has perfected his release and movement coming off screens or a pump fake, one-dribble jumper if defenders close out too hard. He’s not a plus athlete, but I think he plays basketball fast and has the skills to navigate and create in traffic. Butler has very good pick n’ roll IQ as well. If a defender goes under, he’s gonna shoot it. They go over, he’s turning the corner and attacking. I’m starting to believe that Butler can play at the Division 1 level and a low/mid-major program should try and scoop him up here before his recruitment takes off — should Butler reclassify to 2023.
Bryce Coleman Bryce Coleman 6'6" | SF Proviso East | 2023 State IL – 2023 – SF – Illinois Stars
Though to find a matchup for Coleman, who is a bruising 6-foot-7 wing/forward. Coleman has a lot of different sides to him as a player. You look at the frame and think ’big, strong kid that’s just going to try and move you out of the way.’ He can do that, but there’s also some intriguing skill and finesse about Coleman as well. Coleman has a nice mid-range face-up game and can even score off one foot while falling away from the basket. He’s also a guy that can catch and shoot on the move. You are gonna get that junkyard dog mentality from Coleman as well. Against PGC, he was eating the opposition alive at times on the offensive glass and just wanted those 50-50 rebounds more.
Elijah Griffin Elijah Griffin 6'1" | PG Westosha Central | 2025 State #352 Nation WI – 2025 – PG – Westosha Central
Griffin can really dish the rock. The sophomore guard plays at 100 mph every minute he’s on the floor and puts constant pressure on the defense. Really like his ability to make decisions at top-end speed. His older brother was a good point guard for Westosha Central. Griffin has more height and athleticism, but both share that unselfishness, feel for the game, and ability to see things before they happen. What I liked most about Griffin on Saturday — even if he did something big, he was immediately onto the next play. No extra celebration. His mind went right to what where he had to be on the defensive end in PGC’s full court press. In his second contest against Mac Irvin Fire, Griffin was much more assertive offensively, looking to score on the pick n’ roll. He burned defenders a few times with rainbow 3’s when they went under the screen.
Jeremiah Johnson Jeremiah Johnson 6'3" | SG Marquette | 2025 State WI – 2025 – G – Wisconsin Playground Club
Johnson shot the ball well early to get PGC off to a great start against Greater Purpose. This is a prospect that I believe has a nice ceiling and can bring a lot to a college program. The 6-foot-3 sophomore is a very long kid that can play either guard spot. He’s a sniper with a point guard skills and a feel for the game. Given his long arms, athleticism, and lateral quickness, there’s a lot of defensive versatility here as well. Johnson has no problems switching onto multiple positions, which allows PGC to be very flexible with their lineups.
Jackson Niego Jackson Niego 6'0" | PG Lyons Township | 2023 State IL – 2023 – PG – Chicago Lockdown
Didn’t check the roster after the game, but while watching Niego I’m thinking, “He sure plays like his (Harrison Niego) coach did.” Sure enough, they happen to be brothers. Niego runs the point guard position really well. He’s a true floor general that gets his guys organized, The rock doesn’t stick to his hands and the ball movement is just different when he’s on the floor. Niego also has the ball on a string, able to get into high percentage areas off the pick n’ roll. With a mixture of shooters and athletes around him, Niego is able to get his teammates the ball on time, on target, and in rhythm. Don’t take all this to mean he can’t score. Niego is a sound jump shooter that can get his looks when necessary. A prospect that just plays mistake-free basketball, Niego is also in-tune defensively. He’s very gap sound and his help and recover defense was outstanding against Playground Club.
Tyler Orr Tyler Orr 5'10" | PG Rice Lake | 2023 State WI – 2023 – G – Wisconsin Playmakers
Orr knocked down nine triples in a win over Mac Irvin Fire. One of the top shooters in the state, Orr got hot early and refused to cool off. While he’s a strong outside shooter, Orr handles the point duties and plays really well on the ball. He’s an aggressive player that’s constantly in attack mode. Really like his ability to change pace/direction and keep his man guessing. This was a kid that put up 22 points per game as a junior while also dishing out nearly four assists as well. Defensively, Orr is also an impact player. He uses that speed to fly around and create turnovers.
Demerius Shakur Demerius Shakur 6'2" | CG Martin Luther | 2023 State WI – 2023 – PG – Wisconsin Playground Club
Shakur had perhaps the best game I’ve seen from him in a loss to the Illinois Stars. While he’s not known for his scoring, Shakur put PGC on his back in the second half, scoring 11 of his 15 points. The 6-foot-2 lead guard had some sudden burst about him. He can be at a standstill and then all of a sudden take off to the rim. Shakur is also an excellent scorer in the pick n’ roll. He knows how to go shoulder-to-shoulder, force his man to trail, and then navigate through traffic with a euro step. Shakur has struggled to shoot the ball from the outside over the last few years, but in two games on Saturday, was hitting at a high clip.