Travel Team Ending Reviews – The Last 9
- 13. Illinois Rise: Overall the first year program held its own
in most events. Lost track of them after
Milwaukee. Zac West (Oswego) did not
have the summer we hoped for, but he’s still a good player. Brodric Thomas (Bollingbrook) has a bright
future, especially after he adds some muscle.
James Claar (Plainfield East) at 6’8” is a promising player.
- 14. Illinois Mercury Elite: Sputtered some in July. A group led by Nate
Navigato didn’t live-up to the pre-summer billing we all projected them
for. As a team they didn’t share the
ball enough. Josh Ruggles (Wheaton
Academy) shot it well all summer. He
seems to have helped himself in terms of recruiting. Patrick McNamara (St. Viator) had such a
quiet performance most of the open period!
- 15. Fundamental U.: Michael Weinstein put together a nice nucleus
of players. I think their focus this
summer was skill development. I lost
track of them after Minneapolis event.
Noah Karras (Lake Forest), Joe Borci (Libertyville) and Diago Quinn was
the core of their team. This program can
build some steam for next season with a bus lead of young talent they have
tucked away.
- 16. Chicago Demons: “They went west-coast groovin”, won the
Ultimate Showcase in Los Angeles (somewhere), then some momentum flowing on the
Vegas tour where they lost a close game in the final fours. The group comprised of Kenneth Perkins Jr.
(North-Lawndale), Tobi Ewusoho (Lincoln Park), Korey Robinson (Dunbar) and Kyle
Rushing (Willowbrook).
- 17. Illinois Icemen: Over-all this squad had a productive
spring/summer; late July they became saddled by the injury bug. Jeremy Roscoe (Uplift) wasn’t a hundred
percent, even though he attempted to play through bum ankle. Daniel Soetan (Uplift) elevated his profile
in Louisville with spirited play. Jaquan
Johnson (Urban-Prep West) shot-it-well.
Jamaya Wyatt (Uplift) was consistent.
- 18. Chicago Old Gold: Saw them all summer. Hard to evaluate the
group. The play a style where it’s hard
as a unit for anyone to stand-out. At
the Louisville trip AAU 17’s they won some games. I lost track after Saturday night. Keeshawn Palmer (CVS) is a player who we
often mention, Jordan Bell (CVS) at 6’7” is intriguing and Joe Larry from Hales
can play.
- 19. Quad City Elite: A program with a bright future, especially if
they continue to capture all the up-n-coming talent in the Quad Cities
area. 17-U squad led by Mr. Tyler Hall
(Rock-Island) and Grant Gibson (Galesburg).
The team held its own in Kansas City before running out of steam. Now their focus needs to be retrieving the
talented 2016 lefty Jerry Myles (United Twp.) from Iowa Attack to team with
rising star Isaiah Roby and budding stand-out 6’3” shooter Tyler Houston
(Knoxville).
- 20. Illinois Rising Stars: The team was guided by a trio of shooters
David Sachs (Highland Pk), Mike Travlos (Lake Zurich), Josh Newlander (Chicago
Land Jewish), and Robby Nardini (Vernon Hills.
This group was missing another interior player to play along-side of
Elijah Henry (Evanston). “Newlander,
under-rated.”
- 21. Illinois Bears: Played in Louisville. Lost track of final results, intriguing roster though. Had a good showing in Milwaukee. Eli Pepper and Allen Billinger (Carbondale) stood-out. They have a nice core of young players in their program.
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