Illinois Central Elite ICE Teams play well at the Prep Hoops Chitown Tipoff!
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Chi-Town Tip Off: New Names Emerge
The Prep Hoops Chi-Town Tip Off was the first big event in Chicago of the season which will see three more stops in the Windy City! We saw a lot of hoops and are ready to get into our thoughts. Check out Chi-Town Tip Off: New Names Emerge!
Jaxson Davis (Illinois Central Elite 17U)
Davis is a prospect we had heard quite a bit about, but never seen in person. The 2027 lead guard made a huge impression on everyone who watched him as he dropped 40 points on Friday night playing up three age levels at 17U. Southpaw point guard is a sound jump shooter from three that mixes in the mid-range game along with a crafty finishing game in the paint. High IQ guard that sees plays one step ahead for his age or any age at the high school level. Also pesky hands on the defensive end. Looks like a potential #1 overall prospect early on. Has some Jalen Brunson to his game!
Aidan Ashley (Illinois Central Elite 17U)
This Niles North post shined as a rebounder and shot blocker. Good post defender that rebounds well in his area and finishes dump offs. Keep an eye on him.
Tallis Lowery (Illinois Orange 17U)
Lowery is a long and rangy point guard from Belleville East. He is excellent on the defensive end with his active hands creating turnovers and scoring in transition.
Jaziah Harper (Illinois Flight 17U)
Harper broke out on Saturday morning with a big performance as the 2024 6’5” small forward has excellent size and can hit shots with a smooth lefty stroke. Can put it on the deck and get to the rim.
Jack Hiveley (Illinois Elite 17U)
Skilled wing that mixes it up on the boards, quality wing defender, and can hit an open three point shot.
Mitch Humphrey (Greater Purpose Athletics 17U)
St. Viator wing shot it very well off the catch in the game we saw hitting four of them. Plus spot up shooter that also hit one pulling up. Mixed in a baseline jumper as well.
Aaron Cook (Illinois Attack 17U)
Wing from Wheaton St. Francis that has good length and some projectability. Solid athlete that showed well in the open floor and was a sound mid-range shooter.
Sam Lappin (All-In Athletics Gold 17U)
Keep an eye out for this AIA point guard as he should be a nice find at the small college level. Can shoot the ball and put it on the deck a little getting to the foul line.
Amaree Burries (Capital City Teamwork 16U)
Burries came up huge in their win over Team Rose. The Jacksonville 5’11” lead guard was a force in transition along with knocking in several threes. Made the key play at big times.
Toriun Rice (Capital City Teamwork 16U)
Rice ran the show from the point while mixing in slick takes on runners and transition finishes.
Chayse Turner (Team Rose 16U)
This Lincoln Park 6’3” small forward emerged with a strong weekend. Lefty wing that can play inside/outside. Sound passer for a wing that finishes well around the hoop and can post up weaker defenders for scores in the paint. Put it on the deck showing nice burst.
Avery Rogoz (Illinois Storm 17U)
Well built wing with size at 6’3” that knocked in spot up threes, crashed the glass, was a solid defender, and made crisp passes in the half court. Versatile wing would be a nice find for a small college.
Xander Estacio (Illinois Storm 17U)
Undersized four man from Bolingbrook played with a high-motor. Sealed on the block, pounded the glass, worked well in the pick/roll, and even took it coast to coast off a defensive rebound. Strong hands in traffic.
Dominic Pagallo (Illinois Flight Athletics 17U)
The HF wing is a sound spot up shooter with quality size at 6’4”. Also brings some athleticism putting it on the deck and crashing the offensive glass.
TJ Lee (Illinois Flight Athletics 17U)
Lee was productive throughout the event. Guard that has a nice float game and does the majority of his damage in the lane scoring on crafty finishes or getting to the line.
Manny Brown (Illinois Central Elite 17U)
Warren 6’4” power forward flies in for rebounds on both ends. Had multiple put backs when we saw him along with playing with a high activity level around the hoop.
Connor Williams (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Stagg wing proved to be a plus shooter especially off movement. On a team that really shared the ball he was the recipient of several of those draining threes with a quick release and moving off the ball to get open. Has some grit to his game off the bounce as well.
Alex Miller (Illinois Stars 17U)
Miller is a sleeper from Downers Grove North. Thin small forward that fights on the glass and has good length. Flashed ability as a two way wing on what should be one of the top teams in the state next season.
Scotty B’s Friday Notebook
Prep Hoops Chi-Town Tip Off began on Friday night in Romeoville with a big slate of games. Here I breakdown what I saw in Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Friday Notebook!
Team Rose 3SSB 17U Tops AUSA Brook in Competitive Opener
In the first game we caught it was a comeback win for Team Rose as they knocked off the top program out of Australia AUSA Brook in a 17u contest 62-56. Gianni Cobb had it cooking for Team Rose. The Perspectives transfer will play his senior season at Homewood Flossmoor. One of the better lead guards in the Illinois 2024 class. Jet quick with the rock in his hands winning on straight line takes and using his speed to get to the cup in transition. Has body control shielding defenders finishing or getting it up on the rim drawing a foul. Also mixed in some mid-range jumpers and floaters. Their other two highly ranked wings showed flashes as well. Lee Marks from Mt. Carmel is a high-motor small forward that crashes the offensive glass, scored on cuts, and put it on the deck. De La Salle wing Richard Lindsey is a strong bodied wing with a feathery perimeter game knocking in jumpers while showing athleticism. St. Rita shooting guard Graham Lathan showed two way potential as a spot up shooter with a sweet stroke and defending well on the perimeter. Michigan combo guard Daniel Smythe caught our attention as a plus three point shooter with feel as a secondary ball handler/passer.
AUSA Brook had several prospects that made impressions on college coaches. The group from Australia full of 2023 unsigned prospects boast a quality group of players that will play at the college level. Really liked the play of point guard Tyler O’Neil. The strong bodied O’Neil showed an excellent feel for the game as a distributor and making those around him better. Inside Tasman Goodrick used his 6’10” size to pound the offensive glass for put backs and showed touch around the hoop. Also blocked several shots. D2s should take a look. Lucas Morgan is a high-motor wing that impacted on both ends of the floor. Sound shooter, nifty finisher at the cup, and was a gritty wing defender.
Pair of Unranked 2025s Go Back and Forth
Next up we saw Fundamental U UA Rise against M14 Adidas Gold 16U. In this one there were a pair of prospects that jumped off the floor. Prairie Ridge 2025 shooting guard Ben Gablenz put his name on our radar with a strong performance. Shot it well from three, won on straight line takes, and was outstanding as a defender. Moved his feet and got steals. We saw Batavia’s Jax Abalos the night before at a M14 workout. It was more of the same as he will make a nice debut in our next update. Plus shooter with size at 6’6”. Quick release and is automatic off the catch. Also is a decent athlete the can make plays off the move.
Davis and Brooks Jr Live Up to Billing
I was very much looking forward to this matchup coming into the event. Illinois Central Elite vs Chicago Grit N Grind 17U. The interesting part is the top prospects on both sides were playing up. Illinois Central Elite’s star Jaxson Davis is a 2027 incoming freshman at Warren while for Grit N Grind it is top 10 2025 Al Brooks Jr. The game wasn’t very close as Illinois Central Elite won 72-40.
I had been told by reliable sources that Davis is the top 2027 to watch. He showed it recording 40 points playing up three age levels. It was one of those wow moments as a scout. It was my first look at him and he put on a show! Started off hitting a corner three right in front of me banking it in. The perimeter jumper was on point as he hit a couple other threes along with getting in the mid-range for multiple pull up twos. The lefty has a quick release and repeatable mechanics every time off the catch or pulling up. Shifty ball handler that showed creativity scoring at the rim in both the half court and transition. Very high IQ player that makes sound decisions. Changes gears and directions on a dime. Also is a good passer that had several dump off passes and moved the ball in the half court.
Also for ICE in their win we liked what we saw from Davee Flowers of Niles West. The two guard was effective with his all-around game as a scorer, passer, and rebounder. Solid athlete that showed handles off the bounce getting to the cup for 10 points. Niles North 6’6” power forward Aidan Ashley was a prospect that caught our attention as a rebounder and shot blocker while finishing out of the dunker spot for 6 points.
Grit N Grind was led with a massive outing from top 10 2025 Al Brooks Jr. He went from unknown to a major buzz about him after a massive sophomore campaign. As always he stuffed the stat sheet for 23 points, 10 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 2 steals. The size at 6’6” with broad shoulders and plus athleticism jump off the floor to you. Totally looks the part and then he plays up to his physical tools. As a scorer he can get you a bucket in almost any way possible. Very effective putting it on the deck from the high-post, loves to play in transition, and is a major factor as an offensive rebounder. His quick second jump got him quite a few points. Defensively he is a force as a shot blocker and has all the tools to be a monster defender at the college level. Mid-majors should be involved NOW! High-majors need to monitor him. His brother Ikee Brooks is a scoring point guard that can shoot it as he hit several jumpers going for 15 points. Flashes passing feel, but is best as a scoring guard.
Teddy’s Saturday Takeaways
Two Guys Stick out in 16U Flight-Powerhouse this Morning
The first name to watch is Guard Jermaine Jones. Early on, he forced numerous turnovers on defense and created numerous buckets in transition. In addition to his defense, he showed lots of poise driving to the hoop and finishing through contact. He also hit two threes in this one and facilitated with ease all morning. Then there’s Nelson Heck. The forward was a menace on defense with numerous blocked shots, forced contests, and defensive rebounds. In the second half, he showed his promise on offense. Heck scored a couple inside buckets off the pick-and-roll and had a smooth step back fadeaway baseline. Heck scored 14 points and Jones scored 18 in a 67-66 thriller.
2027’s to Watch on Illinois T-Wolves
This group of eighth graders is playing up all weekend and put on a nice showing against Chicago Lockdown. Guard Brelen Hudley found lots of confidence slashing to the hoop and running the floor, and gave the T-Wolves a 20-19 lead at the break. Tanav Chowdary was probably the most impressive player . The floor general is small but extremely crafty and a confident three-level scorer. He finished with a game-high 19 points. Down low was Leslie Pobee, who displayed lots of physicality and athleticism for an eighth grader. Breakaway slam in the 2nd half really impressed me.
Carter Newsome, Simerion Carter are names to know
Both played up a year for ICE 2025 and were varsity players as freshman this past year. Carter Newsome was all over the floor from the opening tip. He knocked down a couple looks early and showed excellent court awareness with some smooth no-look passes. His confidence from the floor never seemed to die off. Then there was Simerion Carter, The paint play from him was terrific. He won almost every rebound battle and was a force with the ball i the paint. Both Carter and Newsome have extremely bright futures.
I’ll provide an update via Twitter on my availability for tomorrow’s action.
Scotty B’s Top 2024 Illinois Performers
Gianni Cobb 6’0″ | PG Homewood Flossmoor | 2024 #22 STATE IL (Team Rose 17U)
Cobb was fantastic all weekend being the top Illinois 2024 performer in my eyes. The dynamic lead guard from Homewood Flossmoor is outstanding with the rock in his hands. Speed to burn in the open floor and has such a great burst in the half court getting to the rim. At times he can go in a bit wild, but actually has good body control which makes up for his slight frame consistently getting it up on the rim. Made quite a few nice passes throughout the event along with proving he is a quality shooter. Low-majors should be on him!
Lee Marks (Team Rose 17U)
Marks is among of the more intriguing two way wings in the 2024 class. The Mt. Carmel small forward is a rangy wing that can defend multiple positions and plays with a high-motor. He was very active all weekend crashing the offensive glass for second chance points. Scored on the move, put it on the deck, and hit several threes. Mid-majors and low-majors should monitor.
Richard Lindsey (Team Rose 17U)
The De La Salle two guard is a well built wing that has a feathery touch on his perimeter jumper. That was shown throughout the event as he knocked in array of pull up twos and threes along with several off the catch. Rebounds well from his wing position and can play either wing spot.
Davee Flowers (Illinois Central Elite 17U)
Flowers is a rangy and athletic two guard from Niles West that caught our attention on Friday and then took it to another level in the game we saw Sunday. Big weekend for the wing as he showed creativity off the bounce finishing with nifty finishes at the cup while also being able knock in jumpers. Smooth ball handler that can get to his spots on a regular basis and always seemed to have a nose for the ball.
Taylor Powell (Illinois Orange 17U)
Carson Brownfield (Illinois Flight 17U)
Brownfield is a strong bodied two guard that loves to attack downhill. He can get to the rim with the best of them. Uses his physicality to punish like a running back hitting the hole and getting to the hoop for scores finishing with regularity through contact for and-1s. Good handle and a solid skill level. The majority of his points came at the line and the hoop. Flashed a jumper on a couple attempts and was a good rebounder.
Malachi Johnson (Greater Purpose Athletics 17U)
Johnson posted quality numbers over the weekend with his lethal perimeter scoring game. In the game we saw he let it fly from distance at a high clip shooting it well from three. Also notched a 25 point game later in the event. Scorer out of Rockford Guilford to track!
Alex Keizer (ET21 Buckeyes 17U)
Plus shooter that can knock down shots! Small forward will be an excellent small college get for a school looking for a plus shooter that brings toughness and moves without the ball to get open. Plays well in a team concept.
17u All-Tournament Teams
With the annual Prep Hoops Circuit Chi-Town Tip-Off now in the rearview mirror our scouts and content team have been churning out as much information as possible from the weekend. Along with the constant coverage as it happened Friday through Sunday our team has continued the coverage into the beginning of this week. Now, after our boots on the ground scouts had a chance to meet and put our heads together, it is time to announce the Chi-Town Tip-Off All-Tournament Teams! Here are the prospects that performed the best at the 17u level.
First Team
Isaac Ayoubi
6’0″ | PG | 2023
Sydney Boys School (Australia) | AUSA Sepo
This quick and creative 6’0″ point guard put on a show in the backcourt throughout the weekend for AUSA Sepo. Ayoubi is a dynamic playmaker off of the bounce with the ability to finish at the basket, create open looks for his teammates, and score from the perimeter as well. He is an unsigned senior looking for an opportunity to play college basketball in America. Scholarship level programs should take a look at him this coming weekend at The Stage in Indianapolis.
Gianni Cobb
6’0″ | PG | 2024
Homewood Flossmoor | Team Rose 3SSB
Cobb is an excellent playmaker with elite straight line quickness in the open floor, shiftiness off of the bounce in the half court, and a tight handle. He served as the engine for a high-power Team Rose 3SSB offense as they went 4-0 in the most competitive pool at the event. Excellent all-around scorer and a high academic prospect as well!
Jaxson Davis
5’10” | PG | 2027
Warren | ICE 2024 Black-Davis
It would sound like hyperbole to truly describe how impressive this 2027 prospect was playing all the way up at the 17u level over the weekend. Yes, that is right, Davis is still an eighth grader but was handing out buckets left and right to players in some cases four years older than him. His time at the Chi-Town Tip-Off started with an incredible 40-point performance on Friday night and culminated in a perfect 4-0 weekend. Davis just might be the top incoming freshman prospect in the state of Illinois.
Dejuan Graise
6’4″ | PG | 2024
Kenosha Tremper | GPA 17u
Graise poured in 25 points in a game on Sunday afternoon as Great Purpose 2024 National wrapped up a perfect 4-0 weekend at the Chi-Town Tip-Off. The pure left-handed scorer had it going all weekend long showcasing his ability to put the ball in the basket from all three levels. He has a smooth outside shot, the quickness to create off of the dribble, and the size/athleticism to get up and finish at the rim. Averaged over 20 points per game as a junior in Wisconsin.
Noah Pagotto
6’7″ | PF | 2023
Holy Spirit College Bellambi | AUSA Brook
There weren’t many college prospects in the gym in Chicago more impressive than this 6’7″ Australian. Pagotto is an unsigned senior that wants to play in America and should have Division I coaches watching him this coming weekend during the live period at The Stage in Indianapolis. He is a versatile forward capable of driving it from the wings, shooting from beyond the arc, or using his impressive size/strength to score it in the post. He is a no-brainer for a low-major Division I program in need of a face-up 4-man.
Second Team
Sean Brown-Coley
6’0″ | SG | 2024
Whitney Young | Team Ten Jabari Parker
Brown-Coley is a bigger bodied guard that makes his defenders bounce off of him on the way to the rim. He doesn’t get sped up with the ball, does a good job of creating separation, and is very skilled both as a driver and as a shooter. It is a really polished, old-school sort of offensive game that produces consistently for the 6’1″ guard from Whitney Young High School and helped lead Team Ten Jabari Parker to a perfect 4-0 weekend.
Jack Dabbs
6’5″ | SF | 2024
Stevenson | All-In Athletics
If you are looking for pure offensive skill and efficient scoring, look no further than this versatile 6’6″ wing. He was a major reason for All in Athletics 2024 Rodell Gold’s success at the Chi-Town Tip-Off going 3-1 against the best competition at the event. Dabbs handles the ball like a guard, can shoot it from beyond the arc, and possesses the length to finish against size around the basket. Really talented with the ball in his hands.
Malachi Johnson
6’2″ | SG | 2024
Rockford Guilford | Greater Purpose National
On Saturday, Johnson poured in a game-high 25 points including five three-pointers in an impressive 68-55 win over Fundamental U National. On the weekend, the dynamic 6’2″ scorer was among the top performers for a 4-0 Greater Purpose National squad. He is excellent at creating his own shot, gets good elevation on his pull-up jump shot, and finishes well with both hands at the end of his drives. Very athletic. Should be followed closely by college programs throughout the spring and summer.
Lee Marks
6’5″ | SF | 2024
Mt. Carmel | Team Rose
Another star from the 4-0 Team Rose 3SSB squad, Marks had his athleticism, length, and two-way versatility on full display. He is excellent at attacking closeouts in the half court, is really tough to stop in transition, and is a very switchable defender that can impact the game both on the perimeter and around the rim. You can see why he is considered such a good prospect coming out of Homewood-Flossmor.
Tyler O’Neill
6’1″ | PG | 2023
Hillcrest Christian College (Australia) | AUSA Brook
A strong, physical point guard, O’Neill showcased his playmaking ability throughout the weekend at the Chi-Town Tip-Off. He plays through contact off of the bounce, has truly elite vision as he attacks the basket, and is a creative finisher at the end of his drives. Another one of the unsigned senior prospects from Australia playing on our Prep Hoops Circuit that is looking for a place to play in America next season. Will be playing in Indianapolis at The Stage this coming weekend and then at Prep Hoops Live in Minneapolis. Use these live periods to check him out!
Third Team
Al Brooks
6’6″ | SF | 2025
Hansberry
Carson Brownfield
6’3″ | SG | 2024
Homewood Flosmoor | Vikings United
Sam Hans
6’5″ | SG | 2024
Lake Country Lutheran | Closed Gyms
Keagen Holder
6’2″ | SG | 2024
Morgan Township | 94 Feet Elite 17U
Nick Taylor
6’5″ | PF | 2024
Glenbrook South | Fundamental U
Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook
Sunday closed out the Chi-Town Tip Off with a fantastic day of basketball. We recap the last day in Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook!
Capital City Teamwork Wanted The Game and Got the Win Over Team Rose 3SSB
A team dropped out of the 8 AM Sunday morning game against Team Rose 16U. Capital City Teamwork 16U said they wanted the smoke and so they were given the opportunity and man did they take advantage of it. The squad out of Springfield jumped out fast behind Shaunassey Hatchett (Springfield Lanphier) and Lucca Asanaka (La Lumiere) as they each scored 10 points each in the opening 7 minutes of the game to race out to a lead. Team Rose cut it to one at the half, but Capital City Teamwork held them off in the second half to win 61-57.
Hatchett is a strong bodied wing that had it all working. Powerful slasher that has a quick second jump at the rim. He got to the rack with strength and if he missed got rebounds for second chance points. The other area of his offensive game we saw growth was the confidence in his jumper as he drained several of them en route to 24 points. Asanaka is a skilled two guard that plays with flair and can hit open shots. Notched 10 points in the win. It was a big second half out of led guard duo Amaree Burries and Torioun Rice. Burries got loose in transition along with knocking in several threes for 12 points. Rice is a slick ball handler that can create off the bounce for 10 points.
Team Rose was led by a big outing from St. Laurence combo guard Zerrick Johnson. The strong bodied sophomore was in attack mode using his physical frame to put pressure on the rim over and over again scoring the majority of his points in the paint. Also proved to be a willing passer when the gap closed or their was a big man to get it too. He had 17 points. Long and rangy Crete Monee small forward Zion Gross excelled as a rim runner and displayed a smooth stroke from three for 12 points. Lincoln Park small forward Chayse Turner emerged in this one with his quickness around the hoop, overall skill potential, and finishing ability in the paint as he had 9 points.
Illinois Storm 2024 Trio Impresses
The second game of the day Illinois Storm 17U zoomed past Sky Ice Elite to a 73-56 victory. They were led by a trio of prospects in Plainfield Central wing duo Avery Rogoz and Quinn Krueger along with Bolingbrook big man Xander Estacio. Krueger was lights out in the first half when we were watching as he nailed five triples in the first half. Plus shooter off the catch that has grit to his game at 6’1”. Rogoz has size at 6’3” with a strong frame. Crashed the glass, passed it, and had range on his shot. Big man Xander Estacio is an undersized post that played very hard and had a good feel for scoring around the basket with seals, pick/roll finishes, and touch.
Team Rose 3SSB Knocks off Fundamental U UA in Illinois 17U Battle
This was a clash of two of the better programs in the state of Illinois as Team Rose 3SSB got the win over Fundamental U UA 70-61. Homewood Flossmoor 2024 point guard Gianni Cobb was outstanding once again. He is a smaller guard that has dynamic speed in the open floor and a burst getting to the cup in the half court. Also has a soft touch finishing package and an improving jumper. Solid passer as well. Finished with 16 points. Lee Marks finished off his excellent weekend strong with a 12 point outing. Put it on the deck and finished around the basket. Daniel Smythe is a plus shooter from Michigan that was lights out all weekend. Went for 14 points.
Glenbrook South power forward Nick Taylor displayed his toughness and grit as a skilled four man. Can stretch the floor knocking in pick/pop threes along with playing physical around the hoop as he lived at the line in a 20 point outing. Larkin 2024 point guard Jakob Blakley has one of the best mid-range games in the class. Notched 14 points in the loss.
Illinois Central Elite 1-2 Duo Top Flight Athletics 17U
This was another fun clash of Illinois squads as Illinois Central Elite 17U defeated Top Flight Athletics 78-69. Niles West shooting guard Davee Flowers went off in the first half scoring 25 of his game high 29 points. He had it working off the bounce with runners and splashing in threes one after another. Silky smooth scoring guard that has helped his stock this spring. Warren 2027 phenom Jaxson Davis went for 40 points on Friday and after a slow scoring start still managed 23 points against players three years older than him on Sunday. The lefty point guard has star written all over him with his crafty handles, high IQ, shot making, and pesky hands on defense.
Carson Brownfield had a strong effort on the other side for Flight. The wing from Homewood Flossmoor is a power player that is like a running back getting downhill with his broad shoulders. Dishes out punishment at the rim on and-1 conversions. In this game he also flashed a bit of a jumper netting 26 points. Bolingbrook high-motor forward Jason Lawani is one to track. Good rebounder and tough defender that finishes out of dunker spot.
Lockdown Brand of Basketball Continues
Over the years Chicago Lockdown has consistently produced college players at all levels and plays team basketball. That was evident in their 17U’s 54-45 win over OPS Blue. They shared the basketball, cut off the ball, and made shots. Stagg 6’3” shooting guard Connor Williams is a plus marksmen that gets open off movement and has a quick release off the catch. Joliet West 2024 center Drew King is the top prospect on this team as the five man is fluid running the floor and has touch around the hoop as a legit five.
Illinois Stars Knocks Off Chicagoland Grit N Grind 17U
The Illinois Stars 17U recorded a 54-36 victory against Grit N Grind. Stars were led by Downers Grove North wing Alex Miller . The 6’4” 2024 small forward was tough fighting inside against an athletic top 10 sophomore on the other side. Good length and has some projection to his game as he netted 17 points. Unsigned senior 6’5” forward Alex Lopez should find a home at the small college level with his size and game scoring 12 points in the win.
It was another big outing for Grit N Grind star Al Brooks Jr from Hansberry as he notched 17 points. One of the fastest rising prospects in the 2025 class.
Quick Hitters
Donte Montgomery of Oak Lawn had a big day for The Work Foundation playing up as a 2025 on the 17U level. Silky smooth scoring two to track!
Spartan Sports got a 17 point outing from their go to 2024 wing Joe Pantazis in an OT win. It was capped with a Danny Petkovic put back in sudden death to win the game.
Full Package Gold 17U fell to Team Rose but we liked what we saw from Carmel point guard Kaleb Jackson . Smoothness to his game as he gets in the lane off the bounce for floaters and scoop shots. Also is a pretty solid three point shooter finishing with 13 points.
Noah Pagotto from AUSA Brook has a lot of upside with his size at 6’8” along with his athleticism. That was shown off in their final game as he threw down nasty dunks in transition playing above the rim.
Ramsey’s Friday Notebook
The annual Prep Hoops Circuit Chi-Town Tip-Off is officially underway. Three rounds of games, primarily at the Romeoville Athletic Center, went off smoothly with some great matchups, plenty of talent, and a good group of college coaches in attendance to check out the action. Let’s dive right into the notebook from Friday night’s action.
Early Top Performers
Jory Boley
6’3″ | SG | 2024
Yorkville
This 6’3″ guard has some really impressive physical tools. He is super strong on the perimeter, is a menace in transition, and gets downhill to the rim very well. Boley turned in a dominant performance in a 20+ point win for Team Ten Jabari Parker 2024 over Fundamental U 2024 Black.
Al Brooks Jr.
6’6″ | SF | 2025
Hansberry
An impressive 6’6″ forward with crazy long arms, Brooks Jr. was extremely active on the defensive end of the floor on Friday night. He is an excellent shot blocker, rebounds his area well, and showed some developing offensive ability off of the dribble. Very mobile and bouncy. A 2025 prospect playing up a year for Chicagoland Grit N Grind 2024 squad.
Jack Dabbs
6’5″ | SF | 2024
Stevenson | All In Athletics
Dabbs was a star on the Prep Hoops Circuit last summer and picked up right where he left off this Friday night. The skilled 6’6″ wing scored 19 points to lead All in Athletics 2024 Rodell Gold to a 71-67 win over M14 Hoops 2024 Adidas Gold. He is a good passer, can create his own shot, and handles the ball very well for his size. Impressive performance and should garner plenty of college interest in the coming months.
CJ Savage
5’10” | PG | 2024
East Aurora
One of the more impressive pure playmakers off of the dribble on Friday night, Savage was doing his best to keep M14 Hoops 2024 Adidas Gold in the game against All in Athletics 2024 Rodell Gold. The 5’10” point guard has a strong build, is very quick off of the bounce, and showed his excellent passing ability. Also a great on-ball defender. He is tough as nails in the backcourt.
Brody Wishart
6’3″ | SG | 2024
Buffalo | Real Phenom
Wishart had it going early and often in Real Phenom Nick 2024’s convincing win over R4L Elite 2024. The smooth left-handed guard knocked in a handful of three-pointers, was making plays in transition, and looked very comfortable playing both on and off of the ball in the backcourt. He is definitely a prospect that college programs will want to track this spring and summer. Pure scorer.
Impressive Class of 2026 Performances
Fresh off of their freshman seasons, there were several Class of 2026 prospects that stood out at the Chi-Town Tip-Off on Friday night. Team Rose 3SSB 2026 looked like a well-oiled machine in a 56-30 win over Full Package Elite 2026 Gold. They were led by a really impressive trio of guards in a balanced scoring effort. 5’10” dynamic point guard Latrell Kelley
(Farragut Academy 2026) led the way with 11 points. Meanwhile, Rajan Roberts
(Proviso West H.S. 2026) and Mike Oliver Jr. (Curie H.S. 2026) each added 9 points in the dominant victory. In another really good 2026 matchup, All in Athletics 2026 Kay Gold held on for a close victory against Full Package Elite 2026 Black. Lochlain Casey (Glenbrook South H.S. 2026), Peter Kulig (Wheeling H.S. 2026), and Aiden Patterson (Schaumburg H.S. 2026) were among the standouts for All in Athletics. For Full Package, Abram Williams (Palatine H.S. 2026) hit three three-pointers in the second half on his way to a game-high 15 points.
Shoutout to Jaxson Davis
It isn’t often that you’ll find Ramsey’s Notebook diving into an eighth grader’s game. It is even more rare that the young player would earn his own entire section. However, most Class of 2027 prospects aren’t Jaxson Davis. Playing all the way up with ICE 2024 Black-Davis, the future Warren High School star showed exactly what all the hype was about surrounding his talent. The shifty 5’11” point guard is absolutely electric with the ball in his hands. He has a sweet left-handed stroke, can finish in a variety of ways at the rim, and is good passer as well. Davis would go on to finish with one of the best performances of the night score 37 points against mostly rising seniors despite not even being enrolled in high school yet. He is clearly one to remember.
