Quinton Chievous (Niles Notre Dame 2011) The ESCC's Super Sleeper- Ready to Awake

I had heard all the rumblings over the past few months about some kid with an NBA dad in the north burbs that had a little bit of game, but I had already seen the kid with my own two eyes- sitting on the bench for the Mac Irvin Fire- so I wasn't ready to buy into the hype just yet. I talked to people in the know, asked their opinion, and it was pretty consistent: the kid has serious game- just go see for yourself. So thats what I did, I went and watched him play a game against Lincoln Park- a tough senior led squad from Chicago's north side, and all I can say is I got my money's worth and then some. Quinton Chievious (6'5" SF) poured in 23 points in the second half and overtime, and scored his points in a variety of ways, often while facing double and triple teams. This kid is not all hype- no way jose- his game is almost as real as his bloodline (his dad Derrick was a star at Missouri and played 5 years in the league), and he is stock will only keep on rising. Watch out for the sleeper in the ESCC, because before long he's going to be dunking on you, just don't say I didn't warn you... For more info email DanielPoneman@gmail.com

Sam Thompson - The Best Athlete in Chicago - Sick Highlight Reel - He's a Freak of Nature 2011

Sam Thompson is widely considered by recruiting experts and scouts to be a top 25 player in the nation for the class of 2011. That would be an honor for some players, but I think they are selling him short. The 6'6 wing has more natural athletic ability than any player I've ever seen, and his skills are no joke either. Sam wowed basketball fans and college coaches across America with ridiculous dunks and big time blocks throughout the AAU season, with the Mac Irvin Fire, and he carried that momentum into the season for #1 ranked Young until an injury sidelined him for most of their conference games. Sam is considering Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio State, Kansas, Oregon State, and Florida, and no matter which school he chooses he is almost guaranteed to be featured more than a handful of times on ESPNs top plays. This highlight reel features a few big time blocks and dunks from two games in December... For more info email DanielPoneman@gmail.com.

Chad Palmer's Player Impressions From '09-'10 Holiday Tournaments

Proviso West

- Thomas Hamilton Jr.: I would be shocked if there was another freshman post player in the nation better than Thomas Hamilton. He has good footwork (using nice drop-steps to get himself closer to the basket), nice hands, and to top it off he shoots well out to the 3pt. line. He made two 3’s in the championship game. His dad is 7’2” so if he grows to be 7’0”, he’s got to be the favorite to be the top player in the nation his senior year.

- Anthony Johnson: Anthony struggled a bit his junior year due in part to his injury. His play during the Proviso West tournament showed why he was projected in the top 100 nationally his sophomore year. He will end up being good player for Purdue.

- Sam Thompson: Dan Poneman has been saying that Sam is the best player in junior class and after seeing him play in the championship game, I may have to start believing him. I always knew he was athletic, my concern has been that he would be another Brian Randle; extremely athletic but doesn’t know how to put the ball in the basket other than a dunk. In the last game he showed a decent outside shot, a nice drive-pull up shot, and a nice drive baseline for a reverse lay-up. If he can create a shot for himself on a consistent basis, the sky is the limit.

- Mike McCall: I’ve been hearing people talk about how much of a steal Eastern Illinois got with Tommy Woolridge (which they are absolutely correct in that statement) but what about the steal St. Louis got in Mike McCall? Mike is hard to guard because he can beat you on the dribble and he can shoot, not only off the catch, but also off the dribble.

- Alex Dragicevich: This guy doesn’t get talked about enough; he is really good. He needs to be a candidate for Mr. Basketball; not saying he should get it, just saying he should be in the mix. He is so strong with the ball. When he has the ball in his hands, something good usually happens. He either gets in the lane for a good shot, gets fouled or passes to an open player. Coach Weber is smart to put him at the point guard; a lot of other coaches would have put him at the 3 or 4 position.

- Jacob Williams: College coaches need to keep an eye him. He’s one of those players that could break out and catch everyone off guard. He’s long, athletic, and shoots the three well. He needs to get stronger with the ball. If he can work on his ball handling and can score off the bounce a little more, his stock will rise. I am not sure Jacob himself knows how good he could be.

- Keith Carter: I think Keith will be the most improved player over the next couple of years. He has got a lot of potential. He can blow by defenders on the dribble; he just needs to work on his decision making once he gets by them. I think he will end up being the best point guard in Illinois in his class.

Pontiac:

- Jereme Richmond: What can I say about Jereme that has not already been said? Well, here it goes… I have never heard any talk about how smart of a basketball player Jereme is. Because people get so wrapped up in his attitude, they miss his good basketball I.Q. He knows the game of basketball. I think he will understand to motion offense better than any freshman Illinois has had in the last 6 years. I also like that he doesn’t force shots. I firmly believe he has better head on his shoulders than people give him credit for.

- Jabari Parker: I am 50/50 right now on whether I like Thomas Hamilton or Jabari Parker better. Jabari’s skills and high basketball IQ will exceed his athleticism. He plays more like a senior than he does a freshman. In his hoops report Joe Henricksen is dead on when he says “He’s old school in many ways – from the skills he possesses at a young age to the way he thinks about the game and carries himself on and off the floor”.

- Lawrence Alexander: When Peoria Manual gets talked about, the names I always hear are Andrew Jordan, Jeff Stokes, or Marvin Jordan but what about Lawrence Alexander? This 6’3” senior guard/forward is just as valuable as the other three and probably more athletic. He needs to work on his ball handling a little more but he is a decent mid-major player.

Pekin

- Tracy Abrams: We still haven’t seen the finished product with him yet. He has improved his three point shot from last year but still needs to be consistent with it. He needs to finish better in the lane after beating his defender. He doesn’t have a problem getting by his defender, but he doesn’t capitalize from it by finishing. His decision- making will continue to get better. The best of Tracy Abrams is still yet to come.

- Adonis Filer: This 6’2” junior two guard from Mount Carmel had a nice tournament with point totals of 11, 29, 17, and 19. He should increase his stock among other two guards in the state of Illinois if he keeps playing like this. He is a good compliment to Tracy Abrams.

State Farm:

- Chassen Randle: The game I watched him play was probably the worst I have seen him play and I’ve seen him play at least a dozen times. He is still one my favorite players in the junior class. He is such a smart player. I don’t think I have seen him take a bad shot. He’s very patient and selective on his shots. He shoots the ball well from three and finishes well around the basket. I think some fans wanted him take over in the 4th quarter when Rock Island was behind, but that is not Chassen’s game; he is not a take over a game type player. Rock Island could have set some double or triple screens to get him open shot though.

- Aaron Simpson: 6’0” sophomore combo guard from North Chicago. I haven’t seen a sophomore guard score in bunches so much since Rich Mcbride was a sophomore. He’s a very good shooter from the 3pt line and can put it on the floor and get by defenders as well. Once in a while he can get out of control when attacking the basket. I think I agree with chicagohoops.com ranking him #1 in the sophomore class for right now.

Aaron Simpson: Scoring Machine: #1 Sophomore in Illinois Highlights 32 points- 2 four point plays and Interview

Aaron Simpson (North Chicago 2012) is a flat out scoring machine, and many consider him to be the #1 sophomore in the state of Illinois. The 6'0" combo guard gets his points from all over the floor, and in this game he does his damage from the outside; he hit 7 threes, including 2 four point plays, against a loaded Chicago Marshall squad at the MLK classic. Simpson plays on the AAU circuit with Team NLP, coached by former NBA player and current ESPN commentator Dickey Simpkins... for more info email DanielPoneman@gmail.com

Michael Simpson (North Chicago) Unsigned Senior Highlights vs. Chicago Marshall and Interview

Michael Simpson of North Chicago High School may get overshadowed at times by his younger brother (Aaron- top sophomore in Illinois), which is a shame because this kid has some serious game himself. He may be small, but he is quick, strong, smart, and tough, and when I caught a recent North Chicago game against Chicago Marshall he displayed all of these qualities and showed why he is one of the elite unsigned prospects in Illinois. Michael is trained by former NBA player Dickey Simpkins (CEO of Team NLP), who raves about Mike's work ethic and leadership... for more info email DanielPoneman@gmail.com

Nick Johnson (Findlay Prep 2011) Highlight Reel and Interview with Daniel Poneman

Nick Johnson (6'3" Combo Guard 2011) has been having a fantastic season for the Findlay Prep Pilots: the #1 ranked team in America. ESPN.com ranks Johnson, who is the nephew of NBA legend Dennis Johnson, as the #19 prospect overall in the 2011 class and he has an impressive overall ESPN Scouts Inc. rating of 96/100. Johnson is a big time athlete with a versatile game, and can play both guard slots very affectively. In this interview Nick talks about the best players he has faced this season, his basketball bloodline, of course we go in depth about recruiting (he is considering Arizona, Arizona State, Kentucky and more), and don't think we didn't leave a little time at the end for shoutouts... for more info email DanielPoneman@gmail.com

Nus Kahn (Maine East 2010) "The Indian Iso" Unsigned Senior Highlight Reel

Nus Kahn (6'0" G) may not be a household name, but he has quietly put together quite a resume through his career at Maine East. The CSL conference is one that is headlined by big time recruits on the wing and in the front court (Jereme Richmond, Duje Dukan, Alex Dragicevich etc), but there aren't many guards in the CSL, or any conference in Illinois for that matter, who can go toe to toe with The Indian Iso. A high scoring combo guard, Nus has a tight handle, an explosive first step, and a nack for finding a way to get to ball in the basket. Nus is still not committed to play anywhere in college yet, but theres no doubt that he should have some pretty good options to play at the next level when decision time comes... for more info email Danielponeman@gmail.com

George Marshall (Wisconsin Recruit) "A Young Man Chi-Town Can Be Proud Of" Interview w/ Dan Poneman

George Marshall (6'0 PG Chicago Brooks 2011) has been at the front and center of the Chicago basketball stage since he was a middle schooler getting national recognition for his tight handle, potent mid range jumper, and his gritty effort and desire that covered every inch of every court he stepped onto. When Marshall entered Gwendolyn Brooks High School of the Chicago Public League he started on varsity from the first game of his freshman season, because even when he was 14 it was clear that he had the poise and fundamentals necessary to compete at such a high level. Now in his junior season, Marshall is nationally ranked and has more than solidified his reputation has one of the elite players in the city, and it is looking like he will be next in a long line of legendary point guards to come out of the city he loves. A true leader in every sense of the word, Marshall recently decided to pull the trigger and commit to play for Coach Bo Ryan's Wisconsin Badgers. He will join a program that is known for making the NCAA tournament every year because of the value they put in the concept of team- groups of kids that give extraordinary effort, buy into Coach Ryan's coaching, and play to win games- not to win individual awards or to be "one and done" (though Coach Ryan has produced his fair share of NBA draft picks.) Anyone who knows George can tell you that there couldn't be a better fit for this talented young Chicagoan who already plays with a mid set and maturity well beyond his years. This video features an interview with George, as well as a couple of highlights from a recent win over Von Steuben at the Whitney Young Shootout...For more info email DanielPoneman@gmail.com.

Class of 2012 #2 Overall Dajuan Coleman (Jamesville-Dewitt, NY) Highlights

Dajuan Coleman of Jamesville-Dewitt High School, just outside of Syracuse, NY, is the #2 overall recruit in the class of 2012. The 6'8" 270 lbs center got the chance to go head to head with Will Regan of the Nichols School (Buffalo, New York), who is the #16 overall center in the 2010 recruiting class. Regan is committed to play for Tony Bennett at the University of Virginia, and Coleman got the chance to showcase his skills and did just that. He was a force on the interior and finished with 17 points and 9 rebounds in his teams 71-66 victory. Coleman's Jamesville-Dewitt team is the #1 ranked class "A" team in New York state. For more information email DanielPoneman@gmail.com.

2010 Virginia Cavalier Commit Will Regan Highlights vs Jamesville-Dewitt

Will Regan of the Nichols School (Buffalo, New York) is the #16 overall center in the 2010 recruiting class. He has signed on and committed to play in the ACC with Tony Bennett at the University of Virginia. On January 29th, 2010, Regan got the chance to showcase his skills against Jamesville-Dewitt (Syracuse, NY) and the #2 overall recruit in the class of 2012, Dajuan Coleman. Regan showed a solid versatile game, knocking down shots from long distance while also showing some strong post moves. He also controlled the boards finishing with 25 points and 19 rebounds in Nichols 71-66 loss to the #1 ranked class "A" team in New York state. For more information email DanielPoneman@gmail.com.

Fred Heldring (6'10" C New Trier) "Don't Mess With Big Fred" Interview with Daniel Poneman

Fred Heldring (New Trier 2010) is the fuel that fires the Trevian engine. Teammate Alex Rossi may get most of the glamor and headlines, but none of that would be possible without Mr. Heldring pulling down boards, blocking shots, dropping dimes from the post, and setting hard picks for him night in and night out. The skilled big man has a high "basketball I.Q." but his I.Q....I.Q. is probably a good deal higher, as he is a straight A student and will be taking his game to the Patriot League next season where he will play ball for the highly prestigious College of William & Mary. To give you a little perspective on how smart this kid is (he was heavily recruited by Harvard)- the college he will attend is also the alma matter of three US presidents (Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler) as well as US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall; though none of them could ball like big Fred. This past friday (1-29-10) Fred helped lead the Trevians to a big victory over their rival- the Evanston Wildkits; a win that strengthens New Trier's case as one of the elite teams in Illinois and as a legit state title contender. This video features some highlights of the game as well as a post game interview with the big man himself...for more information email DanielPoneman@gmail.com.

Alex Rossi (6'6" SG New Trier) "Everybody Loves Alex" Interview with Dan Poneman

Alex Rossi (6'6 SG - 2010) has been New Trier's golden boy ever since he first laced up his green and blue kicks three years ago as a freshman on the varsity squad. Alex, who is signed to play ball in the Pac 10 for the California Golden Bears, has had quite the illustrious career in his four years as a Trevian and he did nothing but add to his legacy this past friday night as he led his team to a win over arch-rival Evanston- their second win against the Wildkits this season. After the game I got a chance to catch up with Alex and talk about everything from the game (the 10th in his career against E-Town), to the New Trier fans, to who is the better student between him and his fellow division one bound teammate Fred Heldring. This video features that interview, some highlights of the big game, and some more fun clips that help paint a picture of why the name Alex Rossi will be remembered in the hearts of the people who make up the New Trier community long after he leaves Chicago's near north suburbs for the sunny bay of Berkeley, California... For more info email DanielPoneman@gmail.com.