It’s a big weekend for high school players, especially those who will be seniors next season in the Class of 2027.
The first live period of the spring and summer tips off Friday and runs through Sunday. Players will travel with their grassroots teams on the club circuit, while college coaches will congregate and get their first live look at prep talent in quite some time.
But last weekend several local teams went at it locally in a tune-up. Here are several observations on players and teams from the Chicagoland Spring Showcase at Supreme Courts in Aurora.
• Kudos to the teams that played in the event. It’s never a bad thing for top teams in the area to battle and be tested before going out and competing on their respective circuits. While it’s not always the case, the state’s top club basketball programs should play one another more than they do.
• Meanstreets, the locally-based Nike team on the EYBL circuit, didn’t lose a game at any age level at the Spring Showcase. Most eyes were on the 17U team that featured Warren’s Jaxson Davis and Illinois commit Quinton Kitt. Davis again was the catalyst in two wins, while the 6-6 Kitt, who announced recently he’s leaving East Peoria for a prep school, is a player who will ultimately prove he’s underrated nationally.
• The individual highlight of the day for the Meanstreets 16U team was the play of Grant Smith of Lyons. The 6-6 Smith, who is a multi-sport athlete, played physically and with confidence. He showcased athleticism and three-point range. That’s a nice combination to build on.
• Markese Peoples of St. Laurence has received some well-deserved pub this spring with his play and has skyrocketed up the Class of 2027 rankings. After his play last weekend, there is no need to pump the brakes. The power-packed 6-2 guard didn’t disappoint, keeping his Young and Reckless team in it in a loss to Meanstreets.
• A new name on the radar in the Class of 2027: Hillcrest’s Terrance Richardson. While he remains an intriguing yet raw prospect, there is no doubt his size, length and activity level at 6-7 will make a significant impact for the Hawks next season. How far has he come? Richardson was a 5-8 guard on the freshman B team a little over two years ago.
• DePaul Prep’s Blake Choice was a game-wrecking defensive presence on the perimeter for the Rams this past year as a sophomore. He will take on a much more prominent role this season for coach Tom Kleinschmidt. The 6-2 guard put together a solid all-around day in showing he’s ready to shoulder more responsibility.
• Cole DuBois of East Peoria may only be 5-10, but the point guard can flat-out play. He is a competitive scorer, clever distributor and just an overall fun player to watch for Elevate, a team that also features Evanston’s Vito Rocca and a couple of graduating seniors — McHenry’s Adam Anwar and Hersey’s Charlie Pomis.
• After averaging 15 points a game and burying 75 three-pointers as a junior, 6-3 guard Lamari Carpenter of Glenbard North seems to be set for a huge senior season. He will have to do it, however, with a new coach. Kevin Tonn recently left for Wheaton North, where he played. Tonn guided Glenbard North to 24 wins and DuKane Conference and regional championships last season.