While fellow sophomore guard Miles Simelton got the Panthers back into the game tonight before eventually losing 67-56 to Naperville North in the North Regional semi-final, a future star in the area and probable Beacon News Player of the Year in one (or both) of the next two years is sophomore back court mate Elliot McGaughy.

McGaughy (pronounced Mc-Goy) scored 11 points and handed out 7 assists before fouling out with 3:06 to go, but the 6-2 underclassman has all the tools to be the next dominant force in the area.

He reminded me a lot of East Aurora guard and Connecticut recruit Ryan Boatright in this regard - he tried to take over the game in the first half as the Panthers were falling over 20 points behind, but he just couldn't finish his shots.
Boatright was the exact same way at that age. He has the ability and the mindset, but just not the know-how.

McGaughy went just 4 of 16 from the field, but he got to the lane at will - he just couldn't convert from inside 8 feet. He also had some great interior passes go for naught when teammates couldn't do the same.

I talked to an opposing coach whom I respect, and all he could do was just shake his head at how good McGaughy will be next year - and then hoped he doesn't get any taller.