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Warren 6-1 (Beat a really good Bolingbrook team) Lake Forest 4-2 (really good start to the year) Lake Zurich 4-2 (Stringing games together) Stevenson 3-2 (Looking to have a bounce back game) Wauconda 3-1 (Previously ranked 8th) Vernon Hills (Bad loss to Niles West) Grayslake Central 3-2 (Statement win vs North) Libertyville 3-3 (Good win Vs Carmel, big test tomorrow Vs a hot Warren team) Carmel 3-4 (Loss 4 straight, looking to stop the bleeding) Waukegan 2-3 (This team record does not show who they are, expecting a big game from Jeezy White Vs Lake Forest Wednesday Night) Grant 4-4 (Been putting together some good wins) Mundelien 2-4 (Can gain some chemistry with Zion on Wednesday) Grayslake North 3-2 (Looking to make up for loss to central) Zion Benton 2-4 (Previously ranked 17th, won two solid games in a row) Lake Forest Academy 2-5 Antioch 1-4 (1-0 in conference play) Lakes 1-6 Roundlake 0-5 North Chicago 0-6

Stevenson 3-1 Warren Township 3-1 Lake Forest 3-1 Carmel 3-1 Vernon Hills 3-1 Libertyville 2-2 Lake Zurich 2-2 Wauconda 2-1 Waukegan 2-2 Mundelien 2-2 Grayslake North 1-2 Grayslake Central 1-2 Grant 1-3 Lakes 1-3 LFA 1-3 North Chicago 0-3 Zion 0-3 Roundlake 0-3 Antioch 0-4

It was an end of the week battle between two high scoring, high school teams, that came down to just a few possessions that decided the outcome. Stevenson Patriots had a neutral match up against the York Dukes. It was an epic battle from start to finish but when the final buzzer went off, Stevenson was able to outlast York, 53 to 50, in a close one. Simpson Elite Media had this high- powered Stevenson team ranked 2nd , in the power rankings, after starting off the season 2-0. Atticus Richmond (Stevenson) 6’8, Junior forward, has had high praises from all around the Lake County area. Simpson Elite Media has him 5th , in the county’s player power ranking, for the 2023-2024 season. Jack Dabbs, a 6’6, senior, has also been a big contributor to the teams 3-1 hot start. Other honorable mentions like up, and coming sophomore, Rocco Pagliocca, have been key role players for the Stevenson’s high- powered offense. But, for this game, these players where not the only ones who stood out during this intense match up to close out the opening season tournament. York Dukes A.J Levine, and Kyle Waltz, played an outstanding game, Saturday evening, and proved that York has a high ceiling and great potential at making a deep run for state. The game between the two teams on Saturday was one to be remembered for both programs. Both teams sure learned a few things about their identity for what they could use to their advantage moving forward into the season. Early on as the game kicked off, Atticus Richmond found himself in foul trouble, picking up two quick fouls, two minutes into the game and had to take an early visit to the bench. Meanwhile, York Dukes, led by crafty guard, A.J Levine, took advantage of the situation by attacking the paint, forcing off ball help inside, and finding shooters off kickout passes to knock down three-point shots, in order to take an early lead. The most interesting part about this plight, is Rocco Pagliocca, a sophomore who is not afraid of stepping up and taking on the offensive work load. Pagliocca kept Stevenson within striking distance as their star player sat the bench due to foul trouble. Jack Dabbs (Stevenson) was able to add to that fuel by shooting efficiently from behind the arc. Dabbs finished the game with 15 points on four made three pointers. Atticus Richmond, did not let his foul troubles get in the way of still being able to play a key role in this game for his team. Richmond was able to bring in 6 rebounds for his team with two blocks, and had a monstrous, contact finished, dunk that bought everyone in the stands to their feet. It also gave Stevenson a tremendous boost of momentum to close out the third quarter. On the other side, York’s A.J Levine made it very difficult for Stevenson to stop him from attacking the rim and scoring. Levine finished the game with 13 points and 5 assist on the day. Levine is a crafty point guard who can score and make plays for his teammates. He is a playmaking shot creator from the point guard position. Levine also had some help on the day from Kyle Waltz who can light it up from the midrange and perimeter. Waltz finished the game with 16 points on 5 made three-point shots. Waltz is a tall guard who can shoot lights out from anywhere on the floor. He is also great at getting to his spots on offense, where he can shoot most efficient from. The York Dukes has a great future ahead of them with these two great players leading them. York has a great system with outstanding team defense and proved on Saturday, that they can, in fact, keep up with anyone in the state if they are locked in. With a good coaching staff which is led by their head coach Mike Dunn, who is doing a phenomenal job with this season’s core. At the end of the game, some players from this game in particular, were mentioned for making the All-Tournament list. Jack Dabbs, and A.J Levine both were mentioned in making the All-Tournament team, which is a great sign for both their squads as the season is only just two weeks old. Both these teams looked very good against each other and it was undoubtably, the most talent I have seen, all together in one game. I am super excited to continue to follow both these teams for the remainder of the year. From Simpson Elite Media, you can check back here for more in season updates on these two programs, to find out how far they can take their potential and where they can end up when it is all said and done. I myself (Jaleel Duffie) with Simpson Elite Media, will keep you posted as always.

Friday afternoon, the Grayslake Central Rams hosted the Barrington Broncos in a key tournament game. Two highly elite players featured this game as Lake County honorable mentions Xavi Grandville(GCR) took on the elite scoring Oliver Gray(Barrington Broncos). The 2023-2024 boys varsity basketball season kicked off just last week and it has been nothing short of exciting and intense, with teams trying to establish a good start to their respective seasons. This specific matchup of these two teams did not disappoint with keeping that same energy Friday afternoon. Grandville, who put on an elite class of inside scoring, came up huge for the Rams as he finished the game with 19 points, 2 steals, 3 rebounds and 1 monster block in his home debut at the beautiful Grayslake Central Fieldhouse, in Grayslake IL. His all-important, key matchup, Oliver Gray, finished the game with just 11 points, 2 steals, and 2 rebounds. Grandville, and the Rams, did a great job maintaining Gray by throwing multiple defenders his way and making it difficult for Gray to get to his scoring spots. Early on in the first quarter of this intense matchup between these two teams, Grayslake came out striking from behind the three to get an early lead while double teaming Oliver Gray and forcing him to shoot tuff shots and forcing him into a slow offensive start. Although Grayslake’s defensive strategy on keying in on Gray, the rams left a key sharpshooter open on multiple occasions. Barrington’s, Alec Schmidts, a 6’3 forward, who is a senior this year, finished the game with 21 points and knocked down five three pointers. He became a problem early on in the game for Grayslake. As the second half kicked off. Grayslake found themselves down 8 points before opening up the third quarter with an 8-2 run to bring the score back to a tie. Grandville was a mastermind on both sides of the ball in the second half. Grandville was able to force Oliver Gray into a shooting slump in the third quarter. In a key possession, late in the third quarter, Grandville was able to use his length and quick hands in order to get a steal from Gray, obtain possession on the ball, and take it coast to coast and finish a layup over a trailing Gray. It was a key turning point in the game. The intensity picked up tremendously in the fourth quarter but Grayslake was able to hold a tight lead before coming up big on defense towards the end of the quarter. At the 28.5 marker of the fourth quarter, Oliver Gray was able to put up a huge three point shot that went in and brought Barrington within one possession. Barrington was able to get a crucial steal to regain possession of the ball and set themselves up with a chance to tie the game. Oliver Gray, was able to get a good look from the baseline but was not able to cash in the tying bucket to force overtime. Grandville and the Rams was able to hold off Barrington in a close one. The Grayslake Rams was 0-2 coming into this tuff match up against the Barrington Broncos, but after battling through till the end, they managed to end their two-game losing streak and come out on top. I got a chance to interview Grandville after the game and asked him what was the mindset of the team coming into their home debut against a tuff team like Barrington. His response, “We didn’t want to take our third lost in a row at home, coach went over the scouting plan and really, we just needed to come out with intensity”. Simson Elite Media and I will continue to keep a close eye on both these ball clubs as the season progresses through the year. Check back here for more updates and write ups from the best of Lake County boys varsity basketball.

By Jaleel Duffie Thursday, November 23, 2023 The lights where bright this past Monday evening as #1 freshman, Jaxson Davis, made his varsity debut as visiting Warren Varsity boys Basketball team visited The Grant Bulldogs in an exciting week 1 match up. Davis (the highly anticipated freshman) did not disappoint in the 84-55 blow win, as he filled up the state sheet on Monday night with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assist, and 3 steals with zero turnovers. The freshman guards brilliant on ball defense catches attention very on in the game as he made it very difficult for the Grant Bulldogs guards to advance the ball across half court. Davis quickly began to get his teammates going as he used his elite court vision to dish out several assist in the first quarter, before he quickly got himself involved, scoring wise, in the first quarter as well. Davis was able to top off a major run for Warren late in the first quarter with a quick steal, that was thrown down into the post, and took it coast to coast to only finish the highlight play with a layup that resulted in a stunning three-point play. He was able to truly show his defensive skills and prove that he is truly a two-way point guard who can make and create plays for his team. The most interesting story of this freshman’s game was his playing time. Davis played the entire first half and well most of the 3 rd quarter, before head coach, Zach Ryan, pulled Jaxson from the game while leading the Grant Bulldogs by 30, close to the end of the 3rd quarter. This shows the amount of trust this program has for the young freshman star, and, as well as the top priority that this team wants for Davis to lead this exciting program. I was able to catch up with Davis after the game and asked him exactly how he is handling the noise that surrounds his name, and not letting it effect his game. His response to this question was “Just Keeping my family close to me and just keeping the right people around me as well and just staying grounded, knowing that there are people out there that’s constantly trying to work harder than me and trying to beat me”. Very Humbled, Jaxson Davis seems like he is just ready to prove that all the hype that’s been surrounding his name, is, in fact, real. Davis is player that everyone should be watching out for. I myself (Jaleel Duffie) with SimpsonEliteMedia, will be watching Davis very closely this season, as he continues to lead this Warren team. Speaking with Davis some more in the post-game interview, I asked him what was his main goal for this season and the team. His answer was simple and straight forward. He simply stated, and I quote, “to make a run for state really but we have a long way to go”. Davis seems locked in and focused to only put warren back on the map and take them back down state for a shot at the state-championship. There is no doubt that this guard has the potential to cap off the season by having one of the greatest freshman seasons that Warren basketball has ever seen.

Stevenson 2-0 Lake Forest 3-0 Warren 2-1 Carmel 3-0 Libertyville 3-0 Vernon Hills 3-0 Grayslake North 2-1 Wauconda 1-1 Lake Zurich 1-2 Mundelein 1-2 Waukegan 1-2 Lake Forest Academy 1-2 Grayslake Central 0-2 Grant 1-2 Lakes 0-3 Antioch 0-3 North Chicago 0-0 Zion-Benton 0-2 Round Lake 0-2

Before the Boys High school basketball season tips off next weekend, I wanted to acknowledge players and teams around the Lake County area who I believe to be on TOP by the end of the basketball season. This list isn't my opinion, Ive called numerous of sources to help me construct this list and to make sure that it is as accurate as possible. I want to start with mentioning the Top 10 players this upcoming season. Based off Coaches Vote, Media personnel, Chicago Suntimes Rankings and previous years of Individual/Team accolades. All Lake County First Team (No Order) Jaxson Davis Warren Township (Frosh) Derek Bishop Mundelien (Jr) Tommie Aberle Lake Forest (Senior) Braeden Carlsen Wauconda Mercer Commit (Senior) Atticus Richmond Stevenson (Jr) All Lake County Second Team Kaleb Jackson Carmel Catholic (Senior) Nikolas Popovic Lake Zurich (Senior) James Kania Lakes (Senior) Anton Strelnikov Lake Zurich (Jr) Alex Daniels Warren Township (Senior) Honorable Mentions: Aidan Bardic, Bryce Wegrzyn, Xavi Granville, Jayden Hunt, Braylon Gray, Carter Webb, Will Schubert, Marshall Gehrke, Cayden Mudd, Uros Mitrovic, Jeezy White, Simereon Carter, Carter Newsome, Nehemiah Dunn, Jack Dabbs, Rocco Pagliocca, Tedi Wetu, Tyler Tylka, Ben Van Lyssell Simpson Elite Power Rankings Stevenson (End of an era of Hall of fame Coach Ambrose, new head coach Benson is in for a treat after Stevenson finished 22-8 last season but with the addition of Richmond alongside Dabbs, Bardic and super sophomore Pagliocca, should be a exciting team to watch) Warren (Freshman Guard Jaxson is really good with top heavy supporting cast of Daniels, Banks, Walker and Nabb, its a lot of attention on this ball club) Lake Forest (Returning star Aberle and upcoming star Scroggins is a nice duo to watch out for) Grayslake Central (Coming off a 29-6 season, Coach Centella has a chip on his shoulder to continuing building off of last year success) Libertyville ( Top seeded Wildcats finished 29-6 and 13-1 in conf. play, with the loss of its seniors, they have a lot to prove this upcoming season with less varisty experience players.) Wauconda (Mercer recruit Braeden Carlson is on a mission, I'm expected big things this season from him and cast members Cayden Mudd and Tyler Tylka Lake Zurich (Is Popovic(12ppg) and Strenikov(15ppg 7rb) ready for the spotlight? They should surprise a lot of people) Carmel (Senior guard Jackson looking for a breakout season) Lakes (Coming off a 21-8 season, is Kania ready to take that next step?) Mundelein (Derek Bishop is someone to watch, coming off a injury early last season, a healthy Bishop is MUST WATCH TV!) Waukegan (MY SLEEPER team, if Ashlaw can get guys to buy in, I'm expecting Waukegan to crack top 10 mid season and bring Waukegan basketball back where it belongs) Antioch (Made a solid push late in the season, fell short to Notre Dame but showed that they belonged) Grant (Schubert and Gray duo will be something to watch) Grayslake North (Is this the year that North turn it around? 1-3 vs Central in the last 4 meetings, will it be different this year?) Lake Forest Academy (Rron Radoniqi has something to prove in his senior season. Vernon Hills (A few players a way from making a run) North Chicago (King Coleman Last Dance season) Zion-Benton (Simpson, Young-Delk, Beals, and Main is looking to turn the culture around.) Round Lake (Being competitive is the main focus)

Simpson Elite Media here with another great article on some high rising highschool prospects. I had the pleasure of pulling up to ALL IN's open run at the Berto Center located in Deerfield, Illinois and was able to capture key moments and these were some of the athletes that surprised me the most or stood out . Bobby Vespa - The 6'5 wing player showed that he really good scoring off the dribble. Great size, long, can shoot on all three levels and have a good feel for the game. Really good open three point shooter. Always in attack mode. Adrian Reip - This kid was my favorite player at the run. The motor on this kid is unmatched; he went for every loose ball, sprints the floor, filled lanes and is really good shooting over his left shoulder. The kid just flat out play hard! Tyler Schultz - The lanky guard showed that he can play with pace, create shots for himself and others. Did a great job of facilitating for his teammates, finishing in traffic and getting deflections. His IQ is better than his skill set, dangerous combination. Luke Smith - The 2025 Point guard has a really good feel for the gam. Doesn't allow anyone to speed him up and makes the right decision each time down the floor. Can make open shots at a high clip and can finish in the paint with either hand. Jacquari Nabb - The Warren senior guard led the open run with his voice and leadership. Telling players where to be, constant talking and making things happen on the floor as well. Running the lane for easy buckets, defending on the other side of the ball and he made a few flashy passes to keep the defense honest. Be on the lookout for Jacquari Nabb. Jayden Hunt - Coming off a solid sophomore year looking to take a huge leap this year as a gets ready for his junior season. He's really good in transition, makes good passes and can score off the bounce. Tyler Sierra - The quick guard is a pass first guard and that is a lost art. You can tell he enjoys getting guys open and making nice passes, he's shifty with the rock and will blow by you if you're careful enough. Can shoot the ball really well and finish over defenders, IQ is very high. Luke Anamndu - This kid has great size for his position, he's really good at making decisions quickly with the ball, has a great pace, and has a really good right to left crossover. Smooth shot off the bounce and can create shots for his teammates. Connor Strauss - Athletic big who can also roam on the perimeter which is huge for a team, can finish over either shoulder, runs his lanes in transition. Plays well inside out and has a solid shot for his size.

Its Jaleel Duffie, here with Simpson Elite Media, and I am back, once again, here at “The Stixx League”, with another great write up. This week, was week one of The Stixx League playoffs, and it was an exciting week one. Neither the players, nor the fans disappointed us in giving a jammed packed gym that was also filled with top highlights, high flying dunks, and unforgettable moments from these amazing players who took part in week one of the playoffs. The scene this past week, was incredible and filled with big time plays. The music was rocking, fans were buzzing, and the hoopers were not disappointing in their performances. The intensity was at an all-time high this past Saturday as every player gave their all, as each team began to make their playoff run to The Stixx League’s championship where only one team can be crowned and have unlimited bragging rights. Although every player gave one hundred percent effort, these are the most notable players who stood out in week one of the playoffs. Cam Keilman – Team “SkyWalk” Although it ended up coming down to a heartbreaking defeat, team SkyWalk’s, Cam Keilman, put on a shooting clinic, in his week one, playoff match up against the very talent team “OnePac”. Keilman was a notable player back in week two, and this week, Keilman was on another planet, draining threes from all over the court. Both teams had edges throughout the game but eventually the game came down to just a couple possessions and a nail-biting overtime finish. Keilman came up clutch for his team, draining over 7 plus threes and finishing the game with a little over 35 points. His most memorable play came late in overtime, when Keilman hit a thirty-five-foot three pointer, to bring his team within one point with only ten seconds remaining in overtime. This sharpshooting forwards jump shot was in rhythm from the beginning of the game, all the way down to the very last minute when it mattered the most. He has a light, high arcing touch on his jump shot and really put the league on noticed after his amazing playoff performance. I got a chance to catch up with Keilman after the game and asked him how his experience was, participating in The Stixx League and his response was, “I love it, I think the atmosphere is great, I love how they play the music, I love that everyone that attends has a love for this game, I think that everyone that shows up loves to watch this game, and I will definitely be attending next year”. Cam Keilman was cooking this past Saturday and is expected to return next year for more Stixx League action. Amar Augillard – Team “Zoo” Amar Augillard had yet, another outstanding performance this past Saturday. The Stixx League’s playoff intensity, is very high, yet, that did not stunt Augillards play. The Guard propelled his team to an overtime victory, and helped secure his teams slot in the next round of these very intense playoffs. Augillard played at a tempo that a lot of players in this league struggle to match, when going up against this guard. Augillard is, particularly, hard to stop when he is “in the zone” or slightly frustrated. He is able to turn his game up a notch, a level, most mid-level basketball players, do not have. This gave him a slight edge over his matchups, this past Saturday in the overtime win. Augillard was crafty, finishing inside the paint over defenders. The athletic guard’s jump shot was also in rhythm, as he was able to knock down a couple of tough three point shots that came late in the game. The one thing I found most impressive about Augillard’s performance throughout this game is, he was able to stay composed, well enough to come through clutch for his team, even though, the team was struggling with some chemistry issues, between each other. I was able to interview Augillard after the game, and I was able to ask him about the chemistry issues his team has been facing throughout this season of The Stixx League, and his response was, “Well that is just Zion for us, we are going to argue, we are going to be at each other’s necks, but one thing we are going to do is have one common goal at the end of it all, and that is to work together to achieve the overall goal. Augillard played with high intensity and execution, and you can look forward to seeing Augillard and team “Zoo” in action again, in week two of The Stixx League’s playoffs Milik Yarbrough – Team “Zoo” Milik Yarbrough was another notable stand out for team “Zoo” in this past Saturdays, week one playoffs. The tall and lengthy forward is a professional basketball player who has played division 1 college basketball for some good time as well. His game is very elite. Yarbrough, is a true three-level scorer, with size, and very athletic as well. Yarbrough has an arsenal of ways he can score. He plays off the ball and can handle the ball at an elite level as well. Yarbrough has outstanding footwork with a high basketball IQ. He can contribute to an offense in ways most basketball players cannot, on top of his size advantage that he has on most of his matchups. This makes it very difficult to contain Yarbrough. He was able to contribute, drastically, to his team’s overtime victory, this past Saturday. Showing The Stixx League’s fans why he is, indeed, a bonified professional at this game. Yarbrough was very composed, humbled, and never not once, let the big moments of the game compromise the integrity of his game. Yarbrough believes he is built for tuff, intense basketball games like the one he performed in this past Saturday. Not only does Yarbrough get better as the game progresses, but he also, elevates his teammates around him. Thanks to his role and contributions to his team overtime win, this past Saturday, you can catch him back in action with team “Zoo” at next week’s playoff matchups. Mark Hall – Team “All The Smoke” Hall is crafty and athletic guard with elite talent, at his position. He was a dominate force in his unfortunate loss, to the number one seeded “Vipers” this past Saturday. Despite Hall’s team lost, he had a masterful performance. Hall is a shot creating guard who can shoot off the dribble, at a high rate of fashion. Hall, also, is very athletic at his position. He can either, size you up, create space, and pull from anywhere around the perimeter, or he can utilize his speed and quickness, to blow by you and finish at the rim firmly. Hall is great at getting to the lane and finishing through contact as well. Hall played with determination, this past Saturday, in a tuff lost that eliminated his team from the playoffs, but he did not go down quietly, and putting The Stixx League community on notice. Hall made it very hard for the opposing team to keep him contained. He was, in fact, a matchup “nightmare” for the opposing team. Hall used his elite ball handling skills to size up, create space, get to his spots, and get buckets at will. His tempo was at a high pace, and he never, not once, showed any signs of defeat. Courtney Pigram – Team “Future Elite” Pigram put on a shooting clinic in this past Saturday’s, playoff runs. Showing the entire league why he is one of the best shooters within the league. He also has the quickest release form you probably will ever see in this league, on his shot form. Pigrams quick fire ability, gives him an edge around the perimeter when trying to contest his shot, especially when going head up, one on one, with him. Hall plays professional basketball, overseas, and he has played division one college as well. Hall has even, played and competed in the biggest college basketball tournament, in the world, March Madness, a tournament where majority of the nationally ranked colleges, get a chance to compete for the grandest prize of division one college basketball, the national championship. Pigram is a very confident guard and is not afraid of the moment. In fact, he seized a great moment, late in his game, this past Saturday, by knocking down three, three pointers, which ultimately came to a climax when he knocked in an impressive four-point play. Pigram’s shot release is so quick, he can create just enough space to drill long range jumpers in front of defenders faces. He can also make you pay from midrange as well with his soft touch and quick release.

Its Jaleel Duffie here with Simpson Elite Media, here at “The Stixx League”, and im here once again to give you another exciting write up on the elite athletes who stood out the most in week 4 of this intense, action-packed league, right here in my hometown, Waukegan Illinois. This week, the players all put on yet again another show, displaying their elite talent and athletic abilities. Week 4 was filled with amazing highlight moments. Insane alley-oops, flashy passes, and ankle breaking moves had the fans on their feet, inside the dog pound. It was a movie like experience none the less. The intensity the players bring into The Stixx League has been at a high elite level, and it has been one of the best sports experiences I have been a part of, right here in my very home town. There were a lot of great talent on display for week four, but these are the most notable hoopers who left their mark for this week. Laron Frazier – Team “Vipers” Laron Frazier is a former guard who I personally grew up watching play for Waukegan Highschool. He is a sharpshooting guard and a legend for Waukegan’s Varsity Boys basketball team. He was formally the all-time leader for the most points scored in Waukegan basketball and he is in doubt the MVP for week four at The Stixx League. Frazier poured in 30 points and did it by shooting the ball at a high and efficient rate from all over the floor. Frazier is one of the most efficient shooters I have ever covered and once again proved to me that, he is in fact, still, one of the best shooters the state of Illinois has ever seen. He also went on, after playing for Waukegan, to play division one basketball for Ball State University all four years of his college career. His entire bag was on full display in week four, showing us that even after years of playing, he still has a lot left of basketball in the tank. His shooting ability is unmatched against anyone else in the league. What really stood out too me the most from Frazier, in week four, is his shot decisions. Frazier rarely forces anything up. This elite shooter is patient and if he gets even the smallest opening, he is going to make you pay for it. He doesn’t really have one or two spots that he gets hot from. He can shoot from anywhere on the court. Midrange, three point-range and deep three point-range are all in his shooting arsenal. He is also a really good ball handler and rarely turns the ball over. His maturity for the game is at an elite level. I got a chance to catch up with Frazier after the game to get some of his in site. I asked him if he has been enjoying The Stixx League so far and his response was “it’s a good league, its back at home and back being able to play in my old high school, it’s a good league” You can clearly tell, from his response, that he is just enjoying being able to be back on the court he once dominated on for so long and put on a show for his home town. Naudgee Carpenter AKA “The Bus Driver” – Team “One Pak” Carpenter is a 5’7 point guard with all the grit and heart you need in a point guard. Carpenter’s game is among the top elite of this league. He showcased a lot of very impressive highlight plays in his game this week against team “Zoo” who looked over matched against Carpenter’s squad, “One Pak”. The point guard has a high motor and does not back down from anyone, nor does he back down from any challenge. He gave team “Zoo” all sorts of problems with his elite passing and vision, not to mention is smooth ball handling and skilled shooting. Carpenter can break down defenders using his very skilled ballhandling crossover moves, and shoot the ball, off the dribble, better than almost any other player in the league. He makes it very difficult for defenders to guard him head up and stay in front of him, especially taller defenders who lack speed and lateral movement on defense. He stole the show in his week four game, hitting numerous threes and piling up assist to help contribute to his team’s impressive win. His one handed, no look passes, are a treat to watch. His ability to hit jump shots over the taller defenders, after breaking them down, is unmatched. Carpenter surely showed us all why his teammates call him “The Bus Driver”. He controls the tempo of the game while making sure everyone gets involved. A true “point god” none the less. Nick Brinias – Team “One Pak” Brinias is wing guard who can fill it up on the court and make it look effortless. He came out the game in week four and caught fire only just a minute into the game. He dropped 8 easy points in the first thirty seconds of the game. Brinias is a sharpshooting guard who can get going pretty quick if you let him. He is very hard to find in transition and makes defenses pay for not closing out on his shot. Brinias is also a guard who doesn’t have any problems creating his own shot. He is deadly when shooting from deep range off high ball screens. This guard has high confidence in his game with a, sort of swag to him, that gives him that consistence confidence when the ball is in his hands. Brinias has great ball handling skills and a high confidence also in his teammates, which I feel like, is key to a guard who plays off the ball and brings the ball up the floor. His contribution was massive for team “One Pak’s” win over a very tuff team “Zoo” who had a lot of talent coming into the game against “One Pak”. Ryan Cohen – Team “Black Mamba” Ryan Cohen is an elite division one, 6’3 guard and plays at a high level. Cohen is a diverse wing player who can score from all three levels on the floor. He has a remarkable ability of shooting with outstanding athletic ability. Cohen has been lighting it up since the start of the league this year, giving defenders a hard time on the perimeter. Not only can he shoot at a high level, but he can also size up and take his man off the dribble drive and finish firmly around the rim. Cohen has a great offensive instinct as well, setting up his teammates with high IQ passing. Cohen also, has great size and speed for a guard, allowing him to defend at an efficient rate as well. This division one college athlete continues to only get better and better, each week in The Stixx League. It almost seems like, every time he steps on the court, his game elevates from his previous performances. Jake Fiegen – Team “Black Mamba” Jake Fiegen is a division one, 6’3 combo guard, who played extremely well in week 4. A very well fundamental guard with multiple skillsets. He is very patient and doesn’t get too eager or overwhelmed in the moment. Fiegen’s approach to the game is very sound and unapprehensive. What stands out the most about him is, his basketball IQ. He can read and react off ball at an elite level, putting himself in positions to score the ball. His skillset when controlling the ball is excellent as well. Fiegen has outstanding ball handling skills with a great jump shot as well. He possesses good athleticism as well that allows him to attack the basket. Fiegen can do a little bit of everything, on top of his high IQ, which makes him a dangerous threat in transition and on fastbreaks. Fiegen can also hold his own, very well, on defense, around the perimeter while his athleticism makes it hard for players to beat him off the dribble drive and finish over or around him. Fiegen is a great teammate as well, his approach to the game is very unselfish. He did it all in his week four game as he contributed efficiently on both ends of the floor. He can shoot, pass, defend and finish well around the rim. He easily and arguably, one of the best players in the league. Tafari Beckford AKA “BJ” – Team “Vipers” Tafari Beckford is a 6’5 wing guard, who has been playing at an elite level for quite some time now. His most notable teams in his basketball career are, Niles North Highschool, Davenport University Men’s Basketball, and most recent, the TBL basketball league. Beckford is a lengthy and athletic, wing player, who can score at a high rate. He put on a show in week four, displaying his quality jumping ability, as he threw down some of the most memorable dunks so far in The Stixx League. Beckford’s dunking was not the only thing he put on display this week. With his size and athleticism, he was able to make highlight plays on defense as well, obtaining multiple highlight blocks to go along with his outstanding performance. Beckford plays with very high intensity and his willingness to constantly maintain a “downhill tempo” makes him a great guard at the wing position. Beckford is dangerous in fast break situations. He can also cause a lot of issues for team’s offenses in half court. He can create lanes in order to use his speed and quickness to get to the rim. He has great ballhandling skills for a 6’5 guard. On the contrary, I was able to get a chance to interview him, after his game, and asked him about what he has been seeing out there on the court since being able to come into the league and showcase his skills and he responded by saying, “It’s a lot of action, High pace, The refs are letting us play and get a little physical, We are able to get up and down the floor at a pace I enjoy, And that’s what is making it fun for me the most, Being able to keep that fast past throughout the games”. I enjoyed watching Beckford play this week and look forward to seeing what else he has for us in the next coming weeks of the league. Ronald Blanchard – Team “Future Elite” Ronald Blanchard is one of the best players in The Stixx League, at the center position. Blanchard’s size, mixed with his grit demeanor, gives him a huge edge over everyone else that steps on the court with him. Not only does Blanchard has size, but he also has the fundamental skillsets to go along with it. Blanchard has a sort of confidence, that all centers should carry with them while playing on the court. He can score under the basket by utilizing his smooth footwork, and has a smooth touch on his mid-range jump shooting ability to add to his offensive arsenal. Blanchard has elite defensive abilities as well. He uses his size and strength to move defenders around and out of position, who comes across when being defended by him. Blanchard also gets gritty on the defensive glass as well. He is a glass cleaner on the boards, fishing out majority of the defensive rebounds for his team. Very hard to box out and keep him off the offensive glass as well. Blanchard makes it nearly, impossible, to get second chance opportunities on offense as you have a very hard time keeping him off and away from the rim when boxing out for rebounds. Blanchard runs the floor on transition, almost as if he is a guard. He runs the lanes very well for a center who might not be the fastest player out there. Blanchard will also show short stints of him running the fast break himself and controlling the fast breaks on his own, after crashing the boards and obtaining the rebound. He is not afraid to get the ball and run. These are good qualities you need, at the center position, especially the way the game has evolved over the last few years. Blanchard gives me Tim Duncan, mixed with, Kevin Garnett vibes with his gritty style of play, but keeps it very fundamental when he looks to score. Dravon Clayborn – Team “Stixx” Clayborn a shifty guard who is not so easy to stay in front of. He has elite ball handling skills mixed with a very efficient jump shot. Clayborn’s offensive bag was on full display in week four as he continuously showed us that not too many players from the opposing team could stay in front of him. He is quick and very shifty when breaking down his defenders. Clayborn’s midrange game, is among the best in the league as well. Clayborn is a pure shot creator who knows how to get to his spots on the court and knock down shots while making it look so easy. He plays with confidence and a lot of heart, which gives him those certain abilities to hit tuff shots over his defenders. Clayborn plays with high intensity and he is very efficient when the ball is in his hands. He was roasting his defenders with his ballhandling skills, forcing most of them into a bad position, to make it very hard to defend his midrange jump shot. Amari Leflore – Team “Future Elite” Leflore is a sharpshooting guard who is dangerous on the perimeter. Spot up shooting is specialty. Leflore has an excellent shooting form and lets the game come to him. He does not spend too much time forcing up any bad shots. If you let him catch fire, it is very hard to contain him. Leflore put on a three-point shooting clinic in week four of The Stixx league. He was knocking down the three-ball with such ease. Leflore is really good at keeping that constant rhythm throughout the game and his confidence to shoot the ball is very much high. Leflore is not the tallest, nor is he the strongest guard who plays the wing, but his shooting ability and quickness makes up for it all. Leflore has quality ball handling skills and also knows how to get in transition and position himself anywhere on the perimeter, in order to knock down three-point shots. His ability to play off the ball is elite as he constantly moves all around the floor, in order to get himself into an open possession to shoot the three. What I enjoyed most about Leflore is his shot tendency. If he falls into a small shooting slump, he is confident enough to keep shooting to quickly get himself back into rhythm. He had one of the best shooting performances in week four, and I look forward to seeing his follow up performance in the week of The Stixx League. The Stixx League has been an outstanding experience so far. So much talent has been on display in every week. I recommend anyone who is anyone, to come out and watch as you will not be disappointed with the entertaining performances, that you come to watch. High flying dunks, ankle breaking crossovers, flashy passes, and high intensity is what gets all the fans in the gym aroused and on their feet. It is an experience any basketball fan would love to see. We have had incredible stand outs and I, myself, Jaleel Duffie, with Simpson Elite Media, will keep bringing you all the insight on the incredible action that takes place right here at The Stixx League.

It’s Jaleel Duffie here with Simpson Elite Media, here at The Stixx League” and it has been a great experience from week 2 of the first year of the event held in Waukegan Illinois, my home town. The top hoopers in this league put on a show displaying elite basketball skills and impressive athletic ability. High flying dunks and bone crushing ankle breakers got the crowd buzzing, and on their feet, inside the dog pound. It was surely a site to see. Every player who came out performed at an elite level but these where the most notable hoopers who stood out the most. Tarek Abdelkireeem-Team “Green Pak” Abdelkireem is a 6’2 guard out of Algonquin IL who showed us his entire bag in week two. His shot creating ability was pristine as well as his ability to shoot the ball from deep range. The efficient shot creating guard was giving the opposing team’s defense all sorts of problems, especially down the stretch and late in the game. With his skillset, mixed with his very high offensive IQ, Abdelkireem showed us that he is one of the top hoopers in this league. After his first week absence in the league’s first week debut, he proved to us that he is also a fierce competitor on the court. I was able to catch up with the guard after the game to get some insight on what his mentality was coming into his first game this week here at “The Stixx League”. His response was “I wasn’t here week one, so week two, I just came to kill and get it done with my homies”. Abdelkireem has recently played for Milwaukee Area Tech, who just recently earned a juco national championship. I am truly excited to see what this guard has in store for us within the next coming weeks. Kuba SenCzyszyn-Team “Green Pak” A forward with great size mixed with elite ball handling skills. SenCzyszyn also had a great week two game, showing us his elite ability to attack the basket and finish firmly around the rim. His solid athleticism, mixed with his ability to knock down shots from three-point range, gave the opposing team headaches early in the game. He also has the ability to create his own shot at a high level when given the opportunity. Henry Vetter- Team “Black Mamba” Vetter was by far the most entertaining to watch in week two. Hailing from Kenilworth Illinois. He is a shifty guard with tremendous ball handling skills. He is a pure shot creator and jump shooter who can knock down threes off the dibble. He is a wing player that anyone would have a hard time guarding head up. His bag was on full display in week one, pouring in 35 points and 8 rebounds to seal a tight win against “Zoo” that eventually ended in overtime. His shiftiness and ability to take defenders off the dribble is among the best in the league. His top highlight play came late in overtime. With his incredible and witty ball handling skills, from the left corner, he gave his defender a bone crushing ankle breaking half spin, and followed up with a reverse layup that was executed to perfection, which gave his team the lead and ultimately sealed the win. In his interview, I asked Vetter to walk me through the highlight play he executed, and he quote, “All I know is I seen him slip and fall, it got a little humid out there, I don’t know if he slipped and fell, all I know is, I seen my lane and I had to go finish, I smoked a couple layups before, but I had to make sure I wasn’t going to miss that one”. Vetter left the crowd in awe as he delivered a special performance in week two. Quinton McCullough- Team “Skywalk” McCullough is a big athlete who can finish around the rim. His size mixed with his athleticism is a huge problem when he gets going. He can also get going from three-point range when he spots up at his most effective spots on the court. He helped propel “Skywalk” to a victory and proved to the fans and the rest of these great hoopers that he can get it done in crunch time when it matters the most. Cam Keilman- Team “SkyWalk” This tall forward gave me Klay Thomas vibes the entire time watching him in game two. His three-point shot was at an elite level, showing that he can shoot the three at a very consistent rate. Doesn’t really need to put the ball on the floor as he has the willingness to get to an open spot almost every possession. When Keilman got going from three, it caused major issues for team “All The Smoke”. Keilman is a pure sharp shooter who can catch fire at any given point. Kimahri Wilson- Team “Future Elite” This division one standout showed us all why he played at the highest level of collegiate basketball. Wilson is an athletic combo guard who can get it done on both ends of the floor. Wilson played for division one college Stephen F Austin early on in his career, and he did not disappoint this week. He was able to lock down opposing guards and force bad shots, after bad shots for Vipers guards. He used his speed and elite footwork to get to the paint and finish around the rim on the offensive side of the ball. A player who plays with high intensity, Wilson is a threat and an experience hooper who can make plays on both sides of the ball. Pat Terrell- Team “All The Smoke” Terrell’s high intensity is the driving force for his game. This athletic tall guard can play multiple positions on the floor. He is quick and shifty with the ability to create his own shot as well as facilitate. Terrell is a diabolical playmaker who can also get his teammates going. He is a leader nonetheless and possesses a passion to score and make plays at his own pace. He can shoot at a high rate, off the dribble, or spot up. Terrell can score from all three levels on the court, Terrell’s game is tough. Amar Augillard- Team “Zoo” Amar Augillard did not disappoint this week following his masterful 50 plus point game from last week. He has amazing athleticism with an elite ability to score at a high rate. Strong, fast, and his quickness is what drives his game. He has a high IQ for the game. His high IQ mixed with his athleticism is what also gives him the ability to make insane defensive plays. Augillard can finish at the rim with force and also can finish with both hands easily. There is no question that his game is one of the best in “The Stixx League”. This athletic guard can easily take over a game offensively and pushes the tempo at a professional level. Can create his own shot. He can pass at an elite level. This Guard can do it all while playing and guarding multiple positions on the floor. Kijuan Stricklin- Team “SkyWalk” A point guard with a floor general identity. Stricklin has great ball handling skills and the ability to make plays from the point guard position. He is a solid three- point shooter who will not hesitate to pull from deep range. He brings out the best in his teammates by making the right plays and controlling the offense. He has great size for a point guard. His confidence in his game is at a high level. He is fast and quick, moving in and out, on and off the ball. He makes great offensive reads. Stricklin also demonstrates an elite level of ball handling. He can break his defender down and can attack the basket off the dribble drive. By far one of the best point guards in the league who stood out in week 2. Matthew Hibbert- Team “Vipers” Hibbert is a three-level scorer with a deadly midrange game. His smooth touch from his jump shot gives him the ability to be a menace from midrange. A high basketball IQ and experienced hooper, Hibbert knocked down the go ahead bucket from midrange to seal the win for the Vipers in week 2. He gets to his spots and shoots the ball with a sort of confidence that any three-level guard needs, in order to be successful and efficient. He has great size at the guard position. He has, by far, the toughest midrange game I have seen in “the stixx league” by far.

Aaron Simpson here with SimpsonElite Media, I was able to catch up with Marlon Johnson who had a full summer with playing in consecutive years in the TBT with Team BrotherlyLove for a million dollar cash prize. Johnson also was playing Pro pick up ball in the city of Chicago at the DENARDBROS Pro Run, and Johnson did not disappoint as he showed why he is in fact, a pro! I was able to ask him a few questions about his championship season, the mental side of playing overseas, and signing with the South Bay Lakers. 1. Talk about your overseas experience. lifestyle, basketball and the atmosphere from the fans? Johnson- My overseas life itself is a challenge forsure especially if you never travelled over the waters prior. You have to get adjusted to their food and lifestyle. That alone is a good experience, challenging yourself just trying something new by exploring. On the basketball side, your local fans will show you much respect and love for representing their team. At the games the energy is good through wins & losses. Its a good space to be in forsure. I been fortunate to be in some solid situations so my experience been good so far. 2. Do you have some advice you can give a kid that thinks overseas is the route for them, can you prepare for the emotional roller coaster of being away from family and having to compete at such a high level? Johnson- My advice to anyone taking the overseas route is that you need to prepare mentally over anything. Basketball probably the last problem, think about it. You not gone be there if they think u can’t hoop so you there for a reason, you know to go kill on that court. It’s the frustration from outside those lines that throws you off and it will affect the court play. You will be challenged in a lot of ways, from having to eat different food. Not see your people/family, barely even talk to then depending on time differences. Missing birthdays,sessions, holidays, funerals, baby showers . Literally everything.It’s very possible cause I did, but after A while I started it started getting to me in a way I didn’t even notice. So I’d say get that mental right and you can make it anywhere. 3. What are somethings you learned/or is different than playing in the states? Is it tougher overseas than playing in the states? Johnson- I'd say the difference is athleticism forsure, Americans more athletic than europeans and basketball has different styles to it around this world . 4. For the Edmonton Stingers, you were amongst the best rebounders on the team, did you make a point of emphasis going into the season or you just have an act for reading misses? Johnson- It’s just how I play the game. Rebounding is an important part of the game, I try to get my hands dirty. 5. 2x Champ for the stingers, can you talk about your mindset and the work that into those seasons to obtain the ultimate goal? Johnson- CEBL (Canadian Elite Basketball League) is a summer job so we coming in off reg season. I used CEBL to boost my confidence and to work on things I need to get better on. Just that and wanting to win period is the mindset I came in with. Buying into your teammates and just being a pro took us there every time we won a championship. It’s a different feeling when EVERYONE buys in and no one complains. 6. This past summer you decided to come back to the TBT with “Team Brotherly Love” talk about your experience in the TBT? Johnson- My first year with team brotherly love was my eye opening experience of real pros. Team Brotherly love showed real love to me bringing me in period. But TBT was great got to play against some great players, definitely a experience I needed just being in that tbt stage it was a pleasure. 7. What music are you playing before games? Johnson- I like Veeze,Kodak, future, CEO Trayle, starlito, skilla baby 8. I want to dive deeper into your personal story, from off the court issues almost losing your life away from home. Can you touch on this story, I think it’ll be powerful for the youth. Johnson- I’m playing my season in Finland. I’m there the preseason and everything else did my medicals and passed everything wit no problems. So we 2 games in the season and I ended up feeling sick after my second game I ended being sick and not practicing for 3 days straight. I’m feeling worse by the day so I take multiple covid test and I’m passing them. So my teammate and GM came to pick me up drive to the hospital but I couldn’t walk down the stairs so my teammate called the ambulance and they shipped me to the hospital. Shout out my guy Marcus Lewis I got much love for bro. I don’t really remember the first week and a half cause I was asleep most of it but I did talk to fam one time I was woke just to tell them I was alive at least but don’t know what’s the problem was. After being there taking so many test etc. They told me the crack I had in a tooth got bacteria in it overtime and it formed a blood cloth in my neck and caused multi organ failure to my kidneys, & liver. They say if the blood cloth was natural then I probably couldn’t play basketball again but since it formed from something else I should be good as long as I stay healthy. I was on blood thinners & antibiotics for 5-6 months while seeing blood and kidney doctors every 2 weeks. My mental was not bad, I was positive throughout most of it I never put myself down I just played a mental game wit myself to keep me strong because deep down I’m really scared. So I just watched basketball and told myself everyday how it was gone get better and how I couldn't wait to put a bucket on somebody when I get back between then lines..I got home late November and had to do recovering process without doing any physical activities until I’m cleared. Couldn’t touch a ball at all. I eventually got cleared in May 2021 just in time for the CEBL. We end up up being 15-1 & we got a championship. I looked at life so different after that .. I was so appreciative of being able to hoop I didn’t care about the small stuff any more. Being away and alone during that whole process made me better in a lot of ways. Most tough situation will be very helpful if you embrace it all.