Leo big man Elon Henderson among several local standouts at annual Pangos frosh/soph event

Fresh off a season where Leo won 28 games and finished fourth in the state in Class 3A, coach Jimalle Ridley’s Lions — and promising big man Elon Henderson — will look to take another big step this season.

Everyone returns for Leo, including Henderson, a talented 6-8 sophomore. Henderson was one of the top talents on display this past weekend at the annual Pangos All-Midwest Frosh/Soph Camp held at De La Salle.

While all the pieces and production return for Ridley, it’s Henderson who is blessed with the most upside and potential impact.

“Going into the offseason, and as we have been preparing as coaches, we’ve written on the white board that the player that has to take the biggest leap in production in every single statistical category has to be Elon,” Ridley said.

His size alone will be difference-making, but at the Pangos event he displayed the strides he’s made since last season. That includes polishing up his offensive game while facing the basket.

“People would be surprised to know Elon was third on our team in made threes last season,” Ridley pointed out. “He can shoot it. He’s versatile at 6-8. He’s made a leap, though, in his facing up to the basket, playing with his chest to the rim instead of his back to the rim.”

But the area of improvement Ridley is also excited about is the work his prized sophomore has put in with his conditioning.

“His conditioning is so much better,” Ridley said. “He’s made a major leap in getting his body in much better shape. He’s stronger. He can play harder for longer stretches of time. He’s worked hard.”

Pangos co-MVPs from the Catholic League

A pair of young players from the Catholic League were named co-MVP of the Pangos Camp: Marist freshman Robert Smith, Jr., and De La Salle’s Zahari Threatt. Smith is a super-skilled, shot-making 6-3 freshman guard, while Threat, who opened some eyes this past summer, is a still raw but very intriguing 6-7 sophomore.

Bloom’s young talent is plentiful

The pool of young talent at Bloom continues to get deeper.

Sophomore guard Keiwon Gulley simply looked the part this past weekend by playing wiser and more mature than most of the other young players on display. A full season of varsity basketball will do that for you. Both Gulley and backcourt mate Kaden McClellan are seasoned sophomores.

But a pair of up-and-coming freshmen are tantalizing talents. Larry Ellis, a versatile guard with size at 6-3, and long, lanky 6-7 Louis Johnson are two of the top prospects early on in the Class of 2030.

Other thoughts from Pangos

• Sophomore guard TJ Jamison has garnered the most hype at Young as one of the top prospects in the Class of 2029. But another sophomore, guard Mason Spicer, is coming fast.
  
• While St. Laurence has a ton of experience and perimeter firepower all lined up for what is expected to be a big season ahead, keep an eye on Bennett Meier down the road. The smooth 6-4 freshman was especially impressive this past weekend.
  
• A sleeper in the Public League is Ryan Whitt of Phillips. The 6-5 sophomore is a big, bruising wing with developing ball skills and shooting on the perimeter.
  
• A player to monitor this season who hasn’t received any fanfare yet — and was overlooked in selecting players for the Cream of the Crop All-Star games at Pangos — was Oak Lawn’s Dillon Matthews.
  
• Another very promising group of talent waiting in the wings at Benet, headed by a trio of freshmen: 6-5 James Rydberg, 6-3 Luke Beran and 6-6 David Pauliukonis.
  
• Geneva was well represented at Pangos. The Vikings should have the best backcourt in the DuKane Conference –– and it’s a young one. Heady and poised sophomore Cody Rader will pair up with another sophomore, 6-1 Jonny Udoiwood.
  
• Several young players from the Public League had their moments at Pangos. The list include sophomore Kamasi Jones, a fun-to-watch 6-2 guard who transferred from DePaul Prep to Phillips, DK Heard, one of the top prospects in the sophomore class who is now at King after starting at Mount Carmel last year, and Kenwood freshman Elijah McKinnie.
  
• Arguably the most impressive Illinois player from outside the Chicago area was freshman Brysen Morris of Bloomington. The 6-4 guard follows up the freshman season Dallas Marshall put together a year ago at Bloomington as he averaged 18 points a game.
  
• Mamadou Baker is another out-of-the area player to watch. The 6-7 Rockford Guilford big man flashed a whole bunch of upside for just a freshman.