An intense final week of action at the annual Breakfast of Champions fall basketball league saw a number of young prospects like freshman Kevon Looney make their presence felt.  Today we continue our recap of this past weekend with a look at the Western Conference, which featured a majority of the underclassmen…

LAKERS – CHAMPIONS
LAMONTE BEARDEN – 2014 – PG – HOMESTEAD
One of the top performers of the weekend in terms of his impact during key points of the games, Bearden dominated the second half in both victories.  Consistency from start to finish are areas for him to focus on in terms of his development but when he got it going he was virtually unstoppable in terms of his ability to get to the rim and make things happen.  Dropped 14 points, 3 steals, and 2 assists in the opening game and wrapped with 12 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals in the championship.

BRADY ELLINGSON – 2014 – G/F – SUSSEX HAMILTON
Captured Player of Week honors in terms of his effort, decisions, and hustle as much as his overall production.  Was more active than previous weeks and found ways to contribute without the ball in addition to making some huge shots in both games including a huge 4 point play (i.e. trey ball plus a foul) inside the final minute of the championship game to seal the deal.  Scored 11 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, kicked out 2 assists, collected 2 steals, and blocked 1 shot in the opening game and wrapped with a 13 point, 3 rebound,  3 steal,  1 assist effort in the championship.

CALEB MORTAG – 2014 – SF – BROOKFIELD CENTRAL
Consistency and activity on both ends will be the keys for him in the coming years as he will need to improve on both to reach his full potential.  In the opening game he scored 4 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, and collected 1 steal.  However, the championship game saw him take his activity up a bit and he finished up the finale with 2 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal in a solid performance.  

MIKE NOVAK – 2013 – PF – BROOKFIELD EAST
After struggling previous weeks with his activity, Novak wrapped up his final BOC efforts this past weekend with improved hustle and some solid production as a result.  Scored 5 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and blocked 1 shot in the opening game and finished with 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 blocked shot in the championship game.  Found ways to contribute on both ends and was more assertive than previous weeks.  Decent performance.  

MAVERICKS – 2ND PLACE
RILEY LACHANCE – 2014 – G – BROOKFIELD CENTRAL
Turned in a scintillating performance the opening week and then was a bit up and down at times in the following weeks.  This past weekend was a perfect example of that as Lachance opened things up with 11 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal including a 3 of 6 performance from beyond the arc.  The championship game was a bit of a different story as he scored 4 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, and kicked out 1 assist.  An excellent perimeter shooting specialist, consistency and activity with and without the ball game in and game are key areas for him to focus on as he continued to improve in the coming years.  

KEVON LOONEY – 2014 – SF – MILWAUKEE HAMILTON
Could very well evolve as the top player in the 2014 class when it’s all said and done but time will tell on that.  For now, Looney is a skilled, instinctive, fundamentally sound talent who drips with enormous potential whenever he takes the court.  Some players make the game look easy and Looney is one who does and has the ability to fill a box score across the board.  That was evident this past weekend as he opened with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 2 assists and wrapped with 8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in the championship game.  Strong efforts this past weekend.

BRANDON SHATTNER – 2014 – G – WILMOT
Opened with a strong effort before struggling in the championship game really in terms of his activity more than anything else.  The first game saw him score 12 points on 5 of 9 shooting, grab 3 steals, and kick out 1 assist.  That type of effort is what he needs to work for every game to reach his potential.

AYINDE STARLING – 2014 – G – CATHOLIC MEMORIAL
Really like this young talent’s potential as he shows flashes of being able to contribute in a number of different areas.  In the opening game he scored 6 points, grabbed 1 rebound, blocked 1 shot, collect 1 steal, and kicked out 1 assist.  The championship game saw him step it up a bit as he finished with 6 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal.  Consistency game in and game out are areas to improve as he continues to develop.

RAYLON WILBORN – 2013 – F – MILWAUKEE RIVERSIDE
Opened things up with a 4 points 4 rebound effort in the first game but wrapped his efforts this fall with perhaps his best effort of the campaign as he finished with 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 blocked shot in the championship game.  Showed flashes of solid potential and the key for him will be to be consistent in terms of his production, effort, and activity every time he takes the floor to reach his potential.

THUNDER
BRIAN BEARDEN JR. – 2014 – SG – HOMESTEAD
One of the breakout performers this fall in the 2014 class, Bearden turned in some solid performances and could really evolve into a solid prospect with hard work and continued growth and development in the coming years.  On Saturday he opened his week with 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal.  The finale saw him wrap things up with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 assist.  Solid efforts this weekend.

FRED EASON – 2014 – SF – HOMESTEAD
Another of the below the radar freshmen who could really evolve with continued growth and development in the coming years.  His calling card is activity and hustle as he has the potential to contribute with and without the ball whenever he takes the court.  Had 4 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 blocked shot in the opener and finished with 7 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 assist in the finale.  Decent efforts this weekend.

SAM KAEGI – 2014 – F – HOMESTEAD
Was impressive at times this fall in terms of his instincts and ability to make things happen.  That was evident this past weekend as he finished with 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 blocked shot in the opening game before wrapping up his fall efforts with perhaps his best showing at 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals.  Performances like the finale will be key for him if he is to reach his full potential.

ALEC MABIE – 2013 – F – CLINTON
Opened things up with 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 blocked shot, and 1 steal and closed with a 5 point, 4 rebound, and 1 steal performance in the final game.  Has range, decent instincts, and an ability to contribute across the board.  Will need to learn to play to his strengths to reach his full potential.

BRANDEN KEY – 2015 – PG – 53RD STREET SCHOOL
Showed flashes of his dominant potential at times this past weekend.  Consistency in terms of effort, activity, and production game in and game out will be keys for him to reach his potential.  Opened with a solid 12 points, 5 steal, 4 assist, 3 rebound performance in the first game and wrapped with 4 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds, and 1 blocked shot in the finale.  Could easily double those efforts if he took his intensity up a few levels on both ends of the court.  Excellent potential with hard work in the coming years.

JAZZ
DEVANTE CHARLES – 2014 – F – MT. CARMEL (IL)
One of the toughest rebounding talents week in and week out, Charles opened some eyes with a number of quality performances this fall.  This past weekend he opened with 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal and finished with 6 points and 11 rebounds in the finale.  Strong, tough, solid instincts, and an ability to contribute on both ends are part of his package.  Solid efforts this past weekend.

JARRELLE DEBERRY – 2014 – G/F – MILWAUKEE HAMILTON
Wrapped up his fall efforts with arguably his best performances despite struggling with a number of turnovers.  In the first game he scored 12 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, blocked 3 shots, collected 2 steals, and kicked out 1 assist.  Wrapped with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 blocked shot.  His activity on both ends was much better than previous weeks and the results proved that.  Consistency and improve decision making are areas to focus on moving forward.  Overall thought he turned in a strong week and finished on a high note.  Nice job.

T.J. SCHLUNDT – 2014 – SF – OCONOMOWOC
Opened things up this weekend a bit sluggish but rebounded with one of the top individual performances by anyone this fall in the finale.  Showed excellent range, was very active, displayed improved aggressiveness, etc.  The first game saw him finish with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists but he struggled with some turnovers.  However, he rebounded in the second game to close out his fall efforts with 26 points on 9 of 16 shooting including 6 of 10 from long range, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals.  Excellent improvement this past weekend and took major steps forward in the process.