Ramey Shootout: Standouts
The 2017 Ramey Midwest Showdown Shootout was a great day of basketball at Webster Groves High School. First class event ran by Terrell Ramey. There were some outstanding games on the day. In our first look at the event we break down the standouts from the day. We will have more extensive evaluations later in the week!
SG Isaiah Barnes (Romeoville – 2021)
Early in the day the breakout performer was this freshman. Last week at the Team Rose event he barely saw the floor. A week later he might have been the best player on the floor. The shooting guard has good size and projectability. He really shoots the basketball well from beyond the arc. Let it fly from deep drilling three triples. Handles the ball well and is a solid passer for a wing. The freshman went for 11 points. One that we will continue to track. He had 11 points.
SG Destin Whitaker (Romeoville – 2020)
Whitaker played the best game we have seen out of him in his young career. He has the physical tools at 6’4” with length and athleticism. His jump shot is his biggest weapon. In this game that was on point. He has a quick release on his shot and gets tons of elevation off the floor both off the catch and pulling up. Seems when he hits his first shot or two it gives him a lot of confidence. Potential on the defensive end getting steals and blocking an occasional shot. He had 11 points. Should be on the D1 radar.
PG DeAndre Campbell (Parkway Central, MO – 2018)
The 6’1” senior point guard is built like a middle linebacker with his strength especially in his upper body. He is at his best getting downhill and finishing through contact. Not the most explosive athlete, but when he gets in the paint he is tough to stop scoring through opponents. He is a good enough shooter that teams have to respect it as he hit a three late and also can pull up from mid-range. He is definitely best scoring inside using his physicality. He had 27 points. Really solid D2 prospect.
PF Chris Payton (Bloomington – 2019)
Payton continues to elevate his stock as a junior. The 6’7” power forward was a monster on the interior for Bloomington. He has a tremendous combination of raw strength and freakish athleticism. Payton was very aggressive every time he touched the ball making quick moves for scores. Most of the time he converted dump off passes or got on the glass for put backs. Also showed some skill including a shot fake and improved footwork around the cup. Several huge transition dunks that had the crowd buzzing. Defensively he was a force blocking shots at a high rate. Outstanding timing coming out of nowhere to swat shots. Rebounded well in traffic snatching boards with his strong hands. He had 22 points. Illinois State got a game changer in the MVC.
PF Raekwon Drake (Orr – 2018)
Drake might have played the worst game we have seen him in four years a week ago at Team Rose event. He followed that up a week later with perhaps the best performance we have ever seen out of the 6’5” power forward. Drake was a man among boys on the floor against Hazelwood Central. He came out aggressive from the start and didn’t let up. What makes him such an intriguing prospect is his never ending motor and elite athleticism. Both were on display. Drake finished with power inside on monster dunks and finished through contact over and over. So quick twitched in paint. Flashed the skill that we saw this summer with Team Rose hitting a top of the key three and another mid-range jumper. Those will never be his strengths, but it is a complimentary thing that will allow him to open other avenues up at the next level. He was an absolutely dominate force on the glass securing rebounds. He might have been even better blocking shots as he blocked and altered tons during the game. Drake finished with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks. He only has two offers on the table. That needs to change. Could make an impact at the mid-major level as a junk yard dog.
SG Shaun Williams (Hazelwood Central, MO – 2018)
Williams is a Kansas State commit that is a beast on ball defender. The 6’4” shooting guard has the ability to defend multiple positions and gets steals doing it. Offensively he showed well especially in the transition game where he gets out and finished with acrobatics at the rim. Quality body control around the hoop converting difficult shots. Plays with a great motor. Streaky shooter that can hit threes drilling two in this game. Williams is going to be an outstanding glue guy for Kansas State at the next level. He had 26 points.
PG Mario McKinney (Vashon, MO – 2019)
McKinney didn’t shoot the ball as well as he usually does from three, but still managed to get his points. The 6’2” point guard has jets with the ball in his hands. Tremendous speed in the open floor. Definitely plays with a chip on his shoulder and is super competitive. All of his points came in the paint with runners, layups, and scoring on junk points. For a point guard he has a nose for the basketball inside and seems to always be around it to get the ball and put it in for a bucket. At times he was a bit wild and out of control with the rock causing some turnovers. Did make some nice passes as well showing off a flair for passing the rock. He had 19 points and 5 dimes. High-major prospect.
SF Jericole Hellems (Chaminade, MO – 2018)
The NC State commit didn’t necessarily shoot the ball at his usual clip from the perimeter, but he went to work in the post. The small forward did most of his damage getting on the offensive glass for put backs and scoring with his back to the basket. Played with a lot of toughness on the interior. Rebounds well in traffic. Hellems had 22 points and 12 rebounds.
G Anthony Wales (Fern Creek, KY – 2018)
This 5’11” combo guard was the best player on the floor against Webster Groves. He is a quality athlete that is slippery with the ball in his hands. Can really shoot it off the catch. Drilled multiple threes in that fashion and also has the ability to mix in some pull up jumpers. Per his twitter he is committed to Samford. He finished with 23 points in their win over host Webster Groves.