"The Blue-Collar Enforcer Bringing Muscle, Versatility, and Relentless Hustle"

Ben Gillmar

@bengallmar

6'5, Class of 2027

Wheaton North HS, IL

Every team needs that player willing to embrace the dirty work, bring physicality every possession, and impact games far beyond what shows up on a stat sheet. Ben has become exactly that kind of force for Wheaton North and BIG 3. Tough, physical, versatile, and relentless, Ben built his junior season around doing whatever it took to help his team compete and win. That mentality continues fueling his rise heading into a huge offseason and AAU summer.

Ben describes his game through two things he takes massive pride in every time he steps on the floor. Physicality and hard work. That blue-collar mentality jumps off the floor immediately, watching him compete because he never takes possessions off and constantly finds ways to impact the game through effort, toughness, rebounding, defense, and energy. While many players focus strictly on scoring, Ben embraces the areas that often decide games.

During his junior season at Wheaton North, Ben helped lead the Falcons to an impressive 18-12 record while averaging 13.5 points and 5 rebounds per game. More importantly, he helped establish a team identity built around competitiveness and toughness. Even in losses, Wheaton North consistently battled until the very end, with many games coming down to razor-thin margins. That competitive edge became a major part of the season and reflected the mentality Ben brought every night.

His impact stretches far beyond scoring. Ben takes great pride in the little things that many players avoid—rebounding through contact, guarding multiple positions, battling bigger players inside, switching onto guards on the perimeter, and taking on the challenge of difficult defensive assignments. Those responsibilities became second nature for him this season, especially while consistently defending positions 1-5 and often matching up against opposing teams’ biggest players.

That defensive versatility has become one of the strongest parts of his game because players capable of guarding multiple positions while still contributing offensively create massive value for winning basketball teams. Ben’s size, strength, touch around the rim, and physical approach immediately stand out, but his willingness to defend and embrace difficult matchups may be even more important.

That same mentality carried directly into AAU with BIG 3 during the live period, where the team finished 3-1 against strong competition. What clicked most for the group was team basketball. Multiple players scored in double figures consistently, the ball moved well, and everyone embraced their roles. Ben’s ability to impact the game in multiple areas helped fuel that success because he continued doing all the little things that winning teams need to survive against high-level opponents.

One of the biggest developments in Ben’s game since the high school season has been his growth offensively as a more complete scorer. He believes his versatility as a scorer has expanded significantly, especially his ability to score from all three levels. That evolution makes him even tougher to defend because defenders can no longer simply focus on his interior physicality. He’s becoming increasingly comfortable attacking in different ways while continuing to bring the same toughness and energy that already defined his game.

Adversity has also played a major role in shaping Ben throughout high school. Injuries during both his freshman and sophomore years cut important seasons short and forced him to battle through difficult stretches physically and mentally. Missing time and dealing with setbacks could have easily derailed confidence for many players, but instead, those moments helped strengthen his mindset and work ethic. The injuries taught him how important mental toughness truly is and helped build a stronger perspective toward the game and the daily grind required to improve.

Several achievements from this past year stood out strongly for Ben. Earning DKC All-Conference honors represented a major goal he had chased for a long time, making that accomplishment especially meaningful. Along with All-Area Honorable Mention recognition, he also earned Ridgewood/St Pats All-Tournament honors and Danville Shootout Player of the Game recognition after several strong performances throughout the season.

Heading into the offseason, Ben’s biggest focus is locked in on helping Wheaton North continue building success with a new coach leading the program. He wants the team to have a huge summer while continuing developing chemistry and momentum heading into next season. AAU also remains a major focus as BIG 3 prepares for the final Under Armor event, where the goal is to make a strong statement against top competition.

When coaches watch Ben compete, they can expect a player who plays extremely hard every second he’s on the floor, embraces physical basketball, impacts winning in ways stats cannot always measure, and consistently brings positive energy as a teammate. They can expect toughness, versatility, effort, and a player willing to sacrifice individual attention to help his team succeed.

I assess that Ben’s versatility and toughness immediately stand out as major strengths in his game. His ability to guard multiple positions, rebound physically, defend with intensity, and impact games without needing high-volume scoring makes him extremely valuable in winning environments. He embraces difficult assignments and consistently competes with energy and effort that elevate teammates around him.

His offensive growth has also become increasingly noticeable, especially with his improved ability to score from multiple levels. Combined with his physical strength and interior touch, that added offensive versatility gives him more ways to pressure defenses while still maintaining the gritty identity that defines his game.

Ben has the tools to impact a college program because of his physicality, versatility, and team-first mentality. Players who willingly embrace rebounding, defense, toughness, and hustle responsibilities while also continuing to expand offensively often become extremely important pieces within successful systems. His willingness to compete, defend multiple positions, and do the little things creates strong value every time he steps on the floor.

Moving forward, expect Ben’s game to continue evolving as his offensive confidence grows and his all-around versatility expands further. His mentality, toughness, and commitment to impacting winning give him a strong foundation moving ahead, and his ability to affect games in ways beyond scoring will continue making him a player coaches love having on their side.