Prep Hoops Missouri Top 250 Expo: (2017 Shooting Guards and Wings)
The inaugural Prep Hoops Missouri Top 250 Expo was held last weekend at the Center of St. Louis. Nearly 200 players were in attendance at this very successful event. We are in the process of posting positional breakdowns from the camp by each class. Next, we feature the top shooting guards and wing players from the Class of 2017.
Deontei Johnson 6’3″ Willard: An impressive athlete who made a big impact on both ends of the court at the Expo. Deontei attacked the basket with confidence and threw down some emphatic dunks in traffic, thus providing a few wow moments. He complimented his drives with some nice pull up jumpers. Defensively, he was his usual active self as he blocked shots and created turnovers with his athleticism and high motor.
Isaiah Burton 6’3″ Raytown: A long, lean athlete who has the look of a prototype shooting guard. He has smooth handles and the ability to score at all three levels. His 3-point jumper off the catch is a thing of beauty. Burton can also knock down mid-range jumpers off the dribble and finish well in transition.
Deantrell Beard 6’2″ Scott County Central: A strong 210 pound wing player who excels at all three perimeter positions. His physical strength enables him to muscle his way to the basket on drives or score in the post. He is very confident with the ball in his hands with his ability to create for his teammates.
Jake Messer 6’1″ Lafayette: An excellent perimeter shooter with a strong body made for contact. Jake can knock down 3-pointers and get to the basket off the dribble. He does a good job of moving without the basketball and can also shoot on the move. Jake comes from a long line of 3-point shooters in his family. He upholds the tradition well.
Calvin Heidenwith 6’3″ Putnam County: Young man with good size and a nice perimeter stroke from 3-point range. He has the ability to score and is very resourceful. He can put the ball on the floor and score on driving layups and floaters.
Keon Brown 6’2″ Hazelwood Central: A smooth offensive performer with a nice repertoire of shake and bake moves off the dribble. Has the ability to change directions and speeds to create space and knock down mid-range jumpers. Keon also displayed a nice 3-point stroke off the catch.
Tavon DiPalma 6’3″ Waynesville: An athletic southpaw who has good size and plays with a lot of pace. He has nice handles and looks to attack the basket off the dribble. I like his ability to move at full speed and stop on the dime to hit a mid range jumper, in which he gets good elevation.
Jared North 6’2″ St. Dominic: A sturdy shooting guard who knows how to play with and without the ball to get buckets. He does a good job of working off screens to get open or set his own screens to free himself up for perimeter jumpers. He is strong on the dribble and can get to the basket as well.
Evan White 6’2″ Hazelwood Central: An athletic shooting guard who plays with good pace and likes to attack the basket aggressively. He handles the ball well and displayed a nice shooting touch from the perimeter.