10 Best: Evanston vs Simeon
The second game of the City Suburban Showdown featured Simeon and Evanston. Both are potential state title contenders that are primed to make deep runs in 4A. First up was a matchup at Robert Morris University on Saturday night between…
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Continue ReadingThe second game of the City Suburban Showdown featured Simeon and Evanston. Both are potential state title contenders that are primed to make deep runs in 4A. First up was a matchup at Robert Morris University on Saturday night between the two title challengers. Evanston jumped out early and didn’t let off the gas all night. They shot the ball at a high rate from the perimeter and made plays attacking off the bounce. Evanston rolled to a 56-38 win. In our 10 Best: Evanston vs Simeon we breakdown the high level prospects in this game.
MVP
SG Malcolm Townsel (Evanston – 2017)
The Whitney Young transfer played one of his best games of the season on Saturday. Townsel has been an underrated prospect for the last couple years. He showed well on the travel team circuit with SYF and was a beast against Simeon on the big stage. The two guard started by getting out in transition. Long strides and has the ability to weave through defenders. Was very effective getting on the offensive glass for put backs. Got in the lane for runners, floaters, and fouls which he converted at the line. Townsel had 20 points and 4 rebounds. He should be looked at as a priority D3/NAIA player.
Best offensive performance
SG Kezo Brown (Simeon – 2018)
The Simeon junior two guard was one of the few Wolverines who was aggressive in this game. The 6’2” lefty was great when slashing to the hoop. Most of his buckets came on straight line drives. Brown is tough to handle when he goes right at his man and keeps them on their heels. Also finished with his off hand on a couple occasions. Jumper didn’t fall all night. Streaky shooter at this stage. He had 16 points and 4 boards. Potential mid-major target to track in the spring.
Best defensive performance
PF Messiah Jones (Simeon – 2018)
Jones was coming off quite possibly the best game of his high school career the night before. He was still solid on the glass in this one. Got half his boards on each end of the floor. Jones is a plus offensive rebounder. The 6’6” post is the top power forward in his class. A major reason is his explosive leaping ability to grab boards and block shots. Love his potential defensively. Kind of a quiet game for Jones. He had 4 points and 6 rebounds. Jones is a mid-major to low-major prospect.
Best rebounder
PF Elyjah Williams (Evanston – 2017)
Williams is a 6’6” power forward with a physically strong body. He is a great rebounder. Clears the glass by boxing out and using his strength to grab boards. Like what he brings to the table with his toughness rebounding and inside defensively as an enforcer. Scoring wise he is mostly power. He had 4 points and 9 boards. Williams is a high end D3/NAIA prospect.
Best passer
PG Nojel Eastern (Evanston – 2017 – Purdue)
Eastern didn’t have his best game, but was still solid stuffing the stat sheet. The state’s top point guard stands at 6’6” with a good frame and a crafty game. He is an outstanding passer. Made several great dishes through traffic in this contest that were high risk/high reward. A few he connected on and a few were turnovers. Eastern also made some routine passes in the half court making the extra dish to connect with his shooters. As a scorer he struggled. The jumper wasn’t falling at all. He just isn’t a great jump shooter at this stage. Had one up and under finish for his only points of the game. Was outstanding on the defensive glass clearing the boards and starting the break the other way. Eastern finished with 4 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Best catch and shoot guy
SF Christian Hamil (Evanston – 2017)
Hamil was outstanding on Saturday night! The senior was lights out from the perimeter. The 6’4” wing is best spotting up for threes. He spaces the floor with his jump shooting and has great shot preparation getting ready to let it fly. Hamil went 5-7 from beyond the arc in this contest. Offensively that is mostly what he is at this stage. Good strength and contributes on the glass in traffic. Hamil had 15 points and 4 rebounds. Potential lower end D2 prospect or outstanding NAIA/D3 prospect.
Best guy off the bench
PG Jaheim Holden (Evanston – 2019)
Holden is a lefty sophomore point guard who has been running the show for Evanston all year long. He is a crafty driver off the bounce that plays with nice pace. He hit a three off the catch and converted a runner in the lane. Made a couple nice passes, but also turned it over. One to watch this summer on the circuit. He had 5 points, 2 assists, and 4 turnovers.
Best intangibles
PF Madison Lowery (Simeon – 2017)
We have been intrigued by this 6’6” power forward with his play over the last year. Lowery is a thick bodied and powerfully built post that does the dirty work. He is known for his toughness on the glass. Boxes out, goes aggressively after rebounds in traffic, and clears the area. Offensively most of his points come on dump off passes or using his mobility around the hoop. Would be a high D3/NAIA kid. Also considering baseball. He had 4 points and 5 boards.
Best under-the-radar performance
SF Talen Horton-Tucker (Simeon – 2018)
THT had his flashes, but just couldn’t put it all together. He is a 6’4” big bodied forward that is a pretty good athlete for his size. Has shake off the bounce and is very skilled. The state’s top junior small forward had a couple nice moves off the bounce with slick ball handling, but had trouble converting consistently. He had a couple solid takes that he was able to finish including an and-1. Flew in for a sweet tip in out of nowhere. He didn’t shoot it well from the line and didn’t rebound at a high rate. 11 points on the night. Potential high-major prospect.
Best underclassmen
SG Lance Jones (Evanston – 2019)
Jones is a big time athlete at the two guard position. He played with a good motor on Saturday night. The sophomore drilled a sick step back to end the first half. Later he connected on a corner three. Volume scorer that most of the time takes a lot of shots to get his points. Athletic and rangy defender. Jones had 5 points on 2-7 shooting. One we will track closely this spring.