BEDFORD PARK, Ill. — The 2024 Under Armour Finals kicked off from Wintrust Arena on Friday. Here’s a look at the players who jumped out the most on opening night.
Ian Miletic – 2025 – W – Illinois Wolves
The Wolves got into a shootout early with Gateway and trailed. It was Miletic who kept his team afloat, with a flurry of scores offensively. The 6-foot-7 wing looked really good scoring at all three levels, both on and off the ball. Miletic has really improved his foot quickness since the spring, able to add in some smooth fallaway and stepback stuff in the mid-range. Miletic was also playing his tail off defensively, including a big-time chase-down block in transition against a 6-foot-6 forward.
Juan Guerrero Hernandez – 2025 – G – Wisconsin Playground Club
Guerrero Hernandez was terrific for PGC, who rallied late to knock off Blue Chips. The 6-foot-4 combo guard was just dynamic when getting downhill and couldn’t be kept off the rim for long stretches. When he gets airborne, Guerrero Hernandez can just float. His layups and dunks are so difficult to challenge, not just because of his vertical, but the former Grafton star can change his mind in mid-air and finish with either hand. Despite PGC owning a bevy of ball handlers, they put the ball in Guerrero Herndandez’s hands late and let him operate in the pick n’ roll.
Josiah Sanders – 2025 – PG – Mountain Stars
It’s easy to see why good programs are falling in love with Sanders. He’s a very strong point guard with excellent positional size at 6-foot-4. The lefty can completely control a game while playing mistake-free basketball. Defensively, he also has the tools to lock up the opposition’s best player. In a loss to Canada Elite, Sanders was the best player on the floor at times. Even with his arguably elite upper body strength, Sanders still has blow-by ability on the ball. He’s very good at setting up defenders and getting back to his left hand. Sanders doesn’t settle for shots either. Whether he’s scoring or facilitating, Sanders wants to come away with a quality look on each possession.
Sammy Jackson – 2026 – SF – Philly Pride
Jackson gave Wisconsin Playground Club fits in a 16U play-in game. It wasn’t that Jackson scored a ton of points, but when Philly Pride needed a big play or to stop momentum, it felt like Jackson delivered in some capacity. A 6-foot-6 wing who can handle and shoot the basketball, Jackson is quite the matchup problem offensively. He’s a little raw and lanky, but has some exciting ability to pull-up and shoot off the bounce. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions. Jackson showed the ability to shut off drives against opposing guards, but also be a shot blocker on the interior. Not a lot of pub on this youngster, but he looks like a Division 1 kid who could really take off over the next year.
Alejandro Aviles – 2025 – F – Blue Chips
This is a good post prospect who can do a variety of things. Aviles is going to stand out wit his face-up ability in the mid-range. He can shoot over the top or slash via some crafty footwork. Aviles scored over a lot of size on Friday and also connected on some tough, contested shots while he was off-balance. There’s about 10 high major programs who have offered Aviles, including Kansas, Houston, Kansas State, Ole Miss, TCU, and Texas A&M. He’s a very fluid player with excellent post footwork. Defensively, he’s gotta add some strength and motor, but I thought he did a pretty nice job on the glass while trying to hold off one of the nation’s top centers.
Efeosa Oliogu – 2025 – W – Canada Elite
Oliogu put on a show in a win over Mountain Stars. The Overtime Elite product displayed his breathtaking athleticism, dunking in traffic while making it look like the defense wasn’t even there. A big, strong, wing, Oliogu jumps extremely well for his build. When he gets in the open floor, it’s like a runaway freight train. Oliogu can also invert himself in the offense. He causes headaches with his ability to play on the ball in the pick n’ roll or post up with his back to the basket. Thought he also showed a lot of dawg defensively. He didn’t tire out, guarded the other team’s best players, and did a lot of little things that helped Canada Elite pick up a win.
Michael Simcoe – 2025 – PF – Arizona Select
A sleeper to watch in the 2025 class, Simcoe had himself a night in an overtime win over Wisconsin Playground Club. Arizona Select kept going to the well and Simcoe continued to deliver. He operated really well in isolation at the top of the key. Simcoe has the capability of facing up and attacking off either hand or pulling up for the jumper, even from 3-point range. A big, strong, athletic forward, Simcoe has a college-ready body. He’s also quite explosive off the ground and will finish through contact with authority. Defensively, he plays with a chip on his shoulder and a noticeable motor. Holding one power-five scholarship offer from California, Simcoe is a little under-recruited right now.
Aaron Womack – 2025 – W – Wisconsin Playground Club
Although PGC came up short in the Sweet 16 against Arizona Select, Womack was big time down the stretch. The Dominican product led PGC back in the fourth quarter with a couple of 3-pointers, including one just before the buzzer to send the game into overtime. A sweet shooting wing with extended range, Womack plays really well off the ball. You don’t see many 6-foot-6 wings runs through screens and catch and shoot on the go as effortlessly as he does. When he’s not playing with other D1 guards, Womack can orchestrate an offense too. He’s a bucket getter that causes a lot of headaches and matchup problems with some budding three-level scoring ability.
Ryder Frost – 2025 – SG – Middlesex Magic
Frost is easily one of the best pure shooters in the country. The fast-rising sniper came out and scored eight quick points in a loss to Canada Elite. From there, the defense, stuck to him like glue. Frost did a great job of not forcing things and letting his limited opportunities come to him. Frost has great positional size at 6-foot-6 and a deadly, quick stroke. When he misses, it’s off by just an inch or two. Frost also has some deceptive athletic ability. He’s not looking to slash and attack the basket a ton, but when he does, Frost will go above the rim and take the ball hard into contact. A plug n’ play type prospect that’s going to fit just about any system due to his off-ball movement and shooting ability, Frost has top 100, if not 50 talent/value nationally.