Show Me Showdown: Saturday Illinois Standouts
We were at the PrepHoops Show Me Showdown on Saturday in St. Louis. A lot of good teams from the Midwest were in attendance. Here are our standouts from the state of Illinois on Saturday.
PG DeAndre Heckard (Hoops4Health 17U)
Heckard is the highest ranked prospect in this event from the state of Illinois. The top 10 2018 in-state prospect is one of the more heavily recruited lead guards in the state. Heckard is a big combo with broad shoulders, strength, and athleticism to match. He is a scoring point guard that has also made strides as a distributor over the past year. Explosive first step off the bounce allows him to get anywhere he wants of the floor. In the second game we saw him that is what he did. Attack downhill and get to the rim. Also has a crisp pull up jump shot that he can drill from 15 feet all the way out to three. He is shooting it with a lot more confidence. Crisp passer that at times can get a bit wild with it when his team is up a bunch. Gets to the line at a nice rate where he is effective with his free throws.
SG Eddie Creal (Hoops4Health 17U)
The Joliet West 2018 shooting guard put on a show in St. Louis! Creal is a strong and uber athletic wing that is best attacking the hoop off the bounce and in transition. Elite transition athlete that is one of the best wing finishers in the state. Quick gong off the dribble in the half court as well getting by his man especially on strong baseline drives. The aspect he has been working on the most is his jump shot and he certainly showed tremendous improvement in that area. Creal drilled catch and shoot threes all over the floor. Looked a lot more confident and let it fly free and easy.
PG Michael Smith (Illinois T-Wolves 17U)
Smith is a scoring point guard at Joliet West that will have to take over more of a production and leadership role with the graduation of several key seniors that led them to one of the best seasons in school history. Smith started off a little slow in the first half of the game we evaluated, but did get in the lane a couple times for a pair of acrobatic finishes. With his team down a ton he put them on his back and took them as far as he could. Smith went off in the second half scoring in a variety of ways on tough drives where he converted at the rim through contact. Also started to get hot from three. This is what he is best known for from his junior year. Quality spot up shooter that is streaky at times, but can also get really hot from deep! He was exactly that in the STL including banking in a three to send the game to OT.
PG Chris Roberts (Young & Reckless 16U)
Have a day Chris Roberts! The Young & Reckless 16U backcourt is good hands with Roberts and his running mate Artese Stapleton. Roberts is a downhill and attacking point guard. Over and over and over again he went right at his man and scored at the rim. Quick first step allows him to get in the lane consistently. That speed translates into the open court as well. He blows past defenders and most of the time is looking to go right to the hoop for a score. Does a nice job of finishing through contact. Next step in development is rounding out game with a jumper and dishing the rock more.
SF Landon Wolfe (Illinois Bears 16U)
Wolfe is going to put up just crazy numbers his final two years of high school at Effingham with the graduation of his brother and Jacob Donaldson. Wolfe is a strong wing with sneaky athleticism. He is in attack mode all the time. He brings his lunch pail and motor to the court every single game. Crafty finisher in the lane that has the ability to not only draw contact, but a high percentage of the time make the and-1 shot. Shoots a nice runner/floater when the big is coming over and he can’t get all the way to the hoop. Handles it well and pushes it in transition when the ball is in his hands. Solid passer for a wing that can also stretch it out to three at a nice clip.
PG Bryson Bultman (Illinois Bears 16U)
Bultman missed the first game of the day playing in the baseball state playoffs with Nashville, but the 6’4” 2019 point guard showed up to make a major impact in the night game. First aspect that stands out is size for position. He is a legit 6’4” and a true point guard. He has an outstanding feel for the game. Plus vision in the half court making sound decisions with the ball in his hands. Just an advanced basketball IQ. Ability to hit a three off the catch and is active on the defensive end of the floor. Bultman will be the motor that makes Nashville go the next two years on a young and talented small school squad!
PF Dominic Franklin (Young & Reckless 15U)
Franklin came on our radar at one of our PrepHoops camps back in the spring after he just moved here from Atlanta. The 6’6” 2020 power forward is set to attend Urban Prep Englewood next season. He has a ton of potential! He has a lot of physical tools to work with as he is super long and moves very well for his size. Almost runs the floor like a guard. So fluid and easy going up and down the floor. Excels in transition getting passes by running the court for finishes. Active big man that gets on the glass and snatches them with strong hands. His post moves are a little raw at this stage, but has the ability to grow in that area. Liked his mid-range game a lot. Hit multiple 15 foot jumpers and looked comfortable putting it on the deck a couple dribbles.
PG Reggie Strong (Young & Reckless 15U)
Strong is a 6’1” point guard out of Farragut that had a solid freshman campaign. This was our first chance to extensively evaluate him against peers his own age and man was he impressive. Broad shoulders, with long arms, and a projectable frame to where the 2020 prospect should continue to grow several more inches before he leaves high school. The lead guard is explosive and crisp with the ball in his hands. Plus ball handler that has the ability to get where he needs to on the floor to get the job done. Crosses his man over and can either get to the bucket or pull up for a slick mid-range jumper. Fluid form and clean mechanics on jumper. Projects to be able to shoot it well from three long term. Speed in the open floor and active on ball defender. More of a scoring point guard at this stage, but does flash passing ability. Could be one of the better 2020 lead guards in Illinois.