NY2LA Invitational: 2018 Scouting
PrepHoopsIllinois was in the gym all weekend at the NY2LA Sports Invitational checking out prospects from the state of Illinois. We have a massive scouting report on the event. In this edition we look at the 2018 prospects. SG Lacey Watson…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingPrepHoopsIllinois was in the gym all weekend at the NY2LA Sports Invitational checking out prospects from the state of Illinois. We have a massive scouting report on the event. In this edition we look at the 2018 prospects.
SG Lacey Watson (Quad City Elite 16U)
The 6’4” Rock Island shooting guard had one thing on his mind Friday and that was getting buckets. Watson is a pure scorer that is explosive off the dribble. Gets in the lane where he finishes at the cup, stops and pops for a short jumper, or gets to the charity stripe. When he is going downhill Watson is tough to contain. Forces some shots at times. Once he learns how to be more efficient taking better shots he will be even better. Plus rebounder for a two guard. He had 18 points. Should be on the low-major radar in 2018.
SG Devynn Wakefield (Quad City Elite 16U)
The 6’3” guard from United Township is back from an injury that held him out of the early part of the spring. Wakefield is a bouncy wing that passes with flare. Creative with the ball. Streaky shooter that has lots of arc on jumper. Potential D2/low D1 prospect with development.
PG Bailey Dee (Illinois Irish 16U)
Strong and stocky lead guard that looks to score. Dee’s jump shot wasn’t falling when we watched him over the weekend. Got in the lane for a couple runners and to the offensive glass for a put back. Champaign Central guard is one to track for D1 programs.
SG Zachary Briggs (Illinois Irish 16U)
Rangy 6’3” shooting guard from Decatur MacArthur High School. Super long arms play well on the defensive end. Hit a couple threes and had a sweet baseline drive with his long strides. Upside prospect that needs to add strength and continue to round out game.
SF Noah Blue (Illinois Stars 16U)
At 6’3” Blue is a hardnosed and gritty wing from Chicago University High School. The rising junior has a thick body and doesn’t necessarily look the part, but plays with a tremendous motor and is always around the basketball. Crafty rebounder that hits the glass on both ends of the floor and outworks bigger opponents. Can hit a three on occasion. Blue had 15 points in the afternoon game. D3/NAIA prospect that will give you everything he has in the 2018 class.
PF Jalen Shaw (Illinois Stars 16U)
Larkin 6’8” post that has a tremendously projectable body. Long and lanky frame with broad shoulders. Runs the floor well for his size. Shot blocking presence defensively protecting the rim. Raw and mechanical offensively at this stage. Can catch a pass and dunk, but not much else. Still has low-major potential considering his size and upside.
PF Raekwon Drake (Milwaukee Rebels 16U)
Drake is now running with the Milwaukee Rebels 16U on the circuit. The 2018 prospect is a 6’5” physical beast. He has great strength and elite athleticism. Drake changes the game with his quickness, bounce, and elite hops around the rim. Powerful in transition and finishes through contact at rim. High motor. At only 6’5” I don’t know how much he is going to grow so the next year will be huge for him to improve his perimeter skills to become a three man.
G Brian Hernandez (Milwaukee Rebels 17U)
The 6’0” thick bodied combo guard might not look the part, but the kid balled out in Milwaukee. The Orr lefty guard plays physical. Takes a lot of jump shots. Very streaky shooter, but can make them. Small college prospect.
PF Tyron Mosley (Milwaukee Rebels 17U)
Upside with this 6’6” Orr forward. Long and lanky prospect that is super bouncy. Plays above the rim getting alley-oops. Can hit a 10 foot jumper. Flashed ability, but it wasn’t overly consistent. One to track though!
SG Quinlan Bennett (Kessel Heat 16U)
This Proviso East rangy shooting guard is smooth with the basketball on the perimeter. Slippery through traffic getting to the basket off the dribble. Gets to the free throw line at a high rate. Versatile wing that can pass it a little and moves well laterally on D. Stock continues to rise. He is on the D2 radar right now trending up.
PG Ahmad Muhammad (Kessel Heat 16U)
Muhammad is another rising junior that has elevated his game over the last six months. The St. Joseph’s point guard has great speed in the open floor with shiftiness with the rock in his hands. Gets to the hoop where he finishes acrobatic layups or kicks it to open shooters. D2 prospects with the chance to move into low-major consideration.
SG Ryan Kutsor (Kessel Heat 16U)
The Lake Zurich 6’3” shooting guard was lights out shooting the basketball on Sunday. Kutsor has solid strength and can really shoot it from deep. He is best off the catch. Showing growth in his game off the bounce and is tough mixing it up on the boards. Crisp movements and plays with a high IQ. Potential D2 prospect or high level D3/NAIA kid.
PG Brandon Simberg (Kessel Heat 16U)
The former Lake Forest Academy point guard started off the weekend by informing PrepHoopsIllinois that he will be transferring to Libertyville for his junior season. Then he torched the nets on court three at Homestead High School. Simberg is a lead guard that stands at only about 5’8” who is tough. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. Really can shoot it from deep when he gets in a rhythm off the catch. Small college prospect.
G Zach Robinson (Tri City Thunder 16U)
The 6’0” combo guard from St. Charles East had one of his stronger performances of the spring Saturday. Robinson is most comfortable playing off the ball where he can shoot it off the catch moving away from the basketball to get open. Drilled several threes in this game. Tough defender that moves laterally and competed. D3/NAIA prospect down the line.