Southern Illinois Fall Skills Day
PrepHoopsIllinois spent Sunday at the Pure Sweat Southern Illinois Boys Fall Skill Day to evaluate the top prospects in area. The event was held at Carterville High School and featured many of the best prospects from around southern Illinois. Let’s look at the best prospects in the gym.
SF Lamontay Daughtery (DuQuoin HS – 2020)
We came into this event very high on the potential of this Duquoin sophomore who currently ranks as the #3 prospect in the 2020 class in Illinois. The 6’6” small forward has a great frame and tremendous athletic ability. The two biggest areas we have seen growth are his perimeter skill set and confidence. Daughtery shot the ball tremendously well when we saw him at the camp. He shoots it from a low release point, but gets it off clean most of the time and consistently knocked them down pulling up from both mid-range and three. You combine that with his freakish athleticism in the open floor where he took several quality defenders off the bounce and that makes him a problem for defenders to stop. Daughtery had multiple spin moves where he left defenders in the dust. He is playing with a much higher motor than we have seen in the past. That is seen on the offensive glass where he regularly gets second chance points with his explosive quick twitched jumping. Even flashed a few post moves including a right handed hook. Defensively he has a chance to be effective with his physical tools, but he will have to play with a higher desire on that end. Daughtery will also need to get stronger as his career progresses. He solidified a high-major grade in my book with his play. Big 10 and Big 12 schools need to start monitoring him.
SF Kani Acree (Carbondale – 2018)
Acree is a top 30 prospect in the senior class and he committed to Ball State in the last week. He has a nice combination of strength and athleticism. Acree was money as usual from mid-range on the day. Excellent pull up shooter that stays balanced on his shot and is consistent with his mechanics. We definitely saw improvement in his three point shot. Most of the time he is a streaky shooter, but was more reliable from beyond the arc on this day. He told us that is an area of his game he knows he has to improve on to make an impact at the next level. In the games he also displayed his ability to score at the cup in bunches. Solid ball handler for a small forward he uses his strength and long strides to get to the basket and score around the hoop. Great get for Ball State as he should be an impact player for them.
SG Isaiah Saulsberry (Harrisburg – 2018)
Saulsberry is one of the better unsigned prospects in southern Illinois. The Harrisburg senior is a smooth shooting guard that has good muscle tone in his arms. Everything he does is just extremely smooth! Moves well without the ball to get open with crisp curls and is always ready to let it fly as soon as it touches his hands. He is definitely best as a perimeter marksmen that is equally effective pulling up from mid-range and hitting from three off the catch. Mixes in some drives as well. He is a quality athlete that makes acrobatic finishes at the cup. Competes on the defensive end. Will need to add strength going forward. Low-major consideration, but probably best suited at a high level D2 program.
SF Landon Wolfe (Effingham – 2019)
Wolfe is one of my favorite players to watch in southern Illinois. He plays about as hard as any wing in the state. This kid is a fierce competitor. He has a versatile scoring game and is just a bucket getter! Great strength finishing around the hoop. He has tremendous body control at the rim and knows how to finish through traffic. Doesn’t look like he is the most athletic, but he definitely has blow by ability off the bounce. In addition to his scoring in the paint his three point jumper is a major weapon. Wolfe is a sound shooter from beyond the arc both off the catch and pulling up in transition. Very active player that dives after loose balls and has a knack for getting on the glass. Wolfe is a low-major/D2+ prospect.
F Jackson Connor (Marion – 2020)
Connor was a prospect that we hadn’t seen since the spring. He showed improvement in a number of areas. The first was his body condition. The Marion sophomore forward is starting to add strength and lose some of the baby fat he had on him in the spring. He also showed quite a bit more athleticism than we had seen in previous evaluations of the sophomore. Seemed much lighter on his feet and finished several transition dunks with ease. His handles have improved off the bounce and is a quality shooter with a clean looking stroke from three. Quick release. Good rebounder. Undersized for the four position in college so he is making efforts to become a three and is definitely seeing strides in that department.
C Tyler Joest (Breese Central – 2018)
Joest is a skilled face up post that stretches the floor with his perimeter shooting. Very effective in the pick and pop hitting shots with ease. The Breese Central senior can really stroke it with a quick trigger and high release point. Definitely going to be a face up big man at the next level, but showed some athleticism handling it some off the bounce from 18 feet and in. Improving athlete that will need to add significant strength at the next level. He is a priority small college post prospect.
PG Bryce Bultman (Nashville – 2019)
Bultman is one of the best 2019 point guards nobody has heard of. This 6’4” lead guard has tremendous size for the position. He sees over the floor and has crazy vision. Electric passer that sees passing lanes that others just don’t. Crisp and fluid movements. Handles it well in the open floor and has creativity to make a play with the rock in his hands. Struggled shooting it in the drills portion of the camp, but once the games got rolling he started drilling them from three. Has a bit of side spin on his shot at times. Bultman is a low-major/D2+ point guard prospect that is going to have a monster junior campaign for Nashville.
SF Damond Crosby (Salem – 2018)
Crosby is a player that we have seen a ton throughout his career. We saw the potential was there as a young freshman, but it wasn’t all the way there yet. Flashed it as a junior, but was missing the mentality and confidence to do it over and over. He is there now! Wow was Crosby impressive with his play. The 6’5” Wildcats small forward shot LIGHTS OUT! He is more balanced on his shot pulling up on his jumper which has led to a higher percentage of makes. The pull up jumper is going to be a lethal weapon for him this high school season. Smooth handle mixing in runners and floaters on occasion. Would like to see him attack the hoop more, but when your jumper is on that much you can’t blame him. A lot of physical talent there. Will need to get stronger. He is starting to realize how good he can be. High upside D3/NAIA/JUCO prospect that could slip into a D2 in the right fit.
SG Justin Johnson (Carterville – 2018)
Johnson had home court advantage playing at his high school. The Carterville senior is a shooting guard that is best using his jumper scoring from a variety of spots on the floor. Sound mid-range jumper that can stretch it out to three on occasion. Really like how hard he competes on a consistent basis. Tough and competitive small college kid that will bring everything he has to the D3/NAIA that lands him.
SG Cade Schnicker (Edwards County – 2019)
Schnicker is a two guard that opened our eyes late in the high school season. The Edwards County junior has a strong frame and plays with toughness. Unorthodox shot mechanics almost pushing it to the hoop. Was streaky in drills, but hit several in the games. Small college player at this stage that should have a big year for his 2A high school.
PG Dawson Linder (Salem – 2018)
Linder is another prospect that is starting to realize how good he can be and is primed to breakout as a senior. The Salem point guard can flat out shoot the basketball. Linder is a tough and competitive lead guard that has range on his jumper. Made shots from three at a high rate throughout the day. Crisp moving without the ball and is always ready to let it fly. Small college kid that will make a coach very happy they took him.
F Aaron Reed (Marshall County, KY – 2018)
Reed is a combo forward. Showed more perimeter game than I had seen in previous evaluations. Solid shooter that can handle it a little if a defender closes hard on him. Probably more an undersized four at the D3/NAIA level that can bring versatility to the table playing inside and out. Solid rebounder. Runs the floor well.
SG Kyle Luke (Pinckneyville – 2018)
This was my first time checking out this Pinckneyville guard. He is a tough wing that can shoot it a little. Tough and gritty kid that competes. Worth consideration for small colleges.
G Blake McKay (Woodlawn – 2020)
McKay is a young guard with a chance to develop. He plays at a traditionally strong Woodlawn program that makes deep runs in the state tournament on a year in and year out basis. Quality shooter from the point guard position and seems to have a good understanding of the game. This is a prospect we will continue to monitor over time.
PG Caleb Zurline (Breese Mater Dei – 2020)
Zurline is a projectable 2020 point guard out of Breese Mater Dei High School. Long and rangy point guard that is projectable and should continue to grow. Solid distributor and can shoot it. One to continue to track.