Holiday Evals: 2018 Pt 3
PrepHoopsIllinois covered five different holiday tournaments across the state last week. This allowed us to evaluate tons of prospects at a variety of ages and college levels. Now it is time for the massive 160+ player scouting report on all the prospects. Here is Part 3: 2018 Prospects!
PF Traevon Martin (Curie – 2018)
Martin didn’t score a ton, but made a big impact on the game. The senior 6’8” post showed exactly what he can bring to the table at the college level in this one. He has great length and timing on the defensive end blocking shots. Was dominant on the glass especially early in their quarterfinal victory. Best offensive move of the day was when he stole the ball, did a euro step in the lane, and dunked it. Overall he isn’t a skilled offensive threat, but brings a lot on the glass and defensively. Low-majors in need of a defensive minded big this is your guy!
C Julian Pearl (Danville – 2018)
Pearl is an Illinois football commit, but continues to show out on the hardwood. The 6’6” post was a force on both ends of the floor. It started with what he did defensively completely taking away everything Benet wanted to do inside with his length and athleticism as a rim protector. Plus rebounder that snatches them and offensively can put them back in for points. He had 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 blocks. For Danville to go deep in March Pearl will be a key!
PG Kendle Moore (Danville – 2018)
Moore didn’t shoot the best or do what we saw him do last year at Pontiac, but he still managed to have a productive game and get his team the win. The Drake commit has explosive speed off the bounce especially in transition. Struggled early getting to the rack, but as the game went on things started to loosen up. He converted an and-1. More so he made his living at the foul line drilling 9-10 from the stripe. Moore had 16 points.
SG Caleb Griffin (Danville – 2018)
Griffin will most likely opt to kick for football or play soccer in college, but he is having a nice senior year. The glue guy for Danville is a plus spot up shooter that can get rolling from deep. He hit 4-9 from three on his way to 14 points.
SF Talen Horton-Tucker (Simeon – 2018)
THT as usual was the man for the Wolverines. The Mr. Basketball candidate hit some tough jumpers throughout their blowout win over St. Charles North. His most impressive might have been when he banked in a fadeaway from a difficult angle. Also got on the offensive glass with his length and strong hands. One time he grabbed a board and finished on the other side of the cup. His third standout moment was catching a half court lob for a slam. One thing I would say is he started to fall in love with the jumper and took some bad shots later in the game. Overall the Iowa State commit is a versatile offensive player that is going to be an impact player from day one in Ames! He had 28 points.
SG Zion Young (Simeon – 2018)
One of the state’s top unsigned seniors didn’t check into the game until early in the second quarter and only played seven minutes, but showed why the top 15 prospect should be getting heavy looks from low-major schools. He is a strong wing and freak athlete. Excels in transition where he had several above the rim slams and also hit a three from the corner. Rebounds well for his position. He brings a spark of scoring off the bench for the Wolverines. Finished with 9 points and 6 rebounds.
PG Xavier Pinson (Simeon – 2018)
Pinson also came off the bench for the Wolverines in their blowout win. He displayed what makes him intriguing at the D1 level. Showed a feel for finding others. As a scorer Pinson drilled some floaters and got to the hoop in transition. Pushed it in the open floor. He struggled with fouls in this game. Pinson had 4 points (2-3 FG) and 3 assists. Low-major target.
PF Messiah Jones (Simeon – 2018)
The Drake commit was coming off an injury and was 50/50 to play in their quarterfinal game against St. Charles North. He started and did what he usually does. Brings toughness and energy on the interior on both ends. What I might have been most impressed with in this eval was how he passed it. Jones finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 dimes.
PF Kyle King (St. Charles North – 2018)
King is the go to player for St. Charles North. The 6’5” post is extremely skilled and coming off a monster summer with Tri City Thunder. He isn’t the most athletic player, but has a knack for scoring. Managed to get five scores in the paint against the tough Simeon defense. Really liked how he passes it for a big out of the post and from the top of the key when he is there. King had 10 points. Low D2’s should take a look and he is a must get for D3/NAIA’s.
SF Cade Callaghan (St. Charles North – 2018)
Callaghan is a jack of all trades for St. Charles North. His versatility is his biggest calling card. Foul trouble hindered him from making a bigger impact on this game. He hit the only three he attempted. Callaghan had 7 points. Small college gem.
SG Clyde Singleton (Niles West – 2018)
Singleton stands at 6’2” from Niles West High School. He is an explosive scorer that has a burst with the ball in his hands. Strong baseline drive that he finished with a dunk. Several up and unders. Finished well around the rim. Aggressive player. He had 13 points on 6-10 shooting. D3/NAIA player.
PG Camron Donatlan (West Aurora – 2018)
The Wyoming football commit is still coming back from a hand injury that has his right hand (off hand) heavily wrapped. He is far from 100%, but still shows why he is the key player for West Aurora in stretches. The senior made several nice finds to bigs inside and kicking to shooters on the perimeter. Also got after it defensively getting steals and taking them the other way. Struggled shooting from deep and the charity stripe. He had 7 points and 5 assists.
PF Jared Crutcher (West Aurora – 2018)
This Loras commit is an energy four man that plays with a lot of toughness on the defensive end. He gets after it with his shot blocking and elite athleticism defensively. Snatches rebounds. Not very skilled at this point, but will be a big time glue guy for Loras. He had 4 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
C Ben Young (West Aurora – 2018)
Young is a thick bodied five man at 6’4” that plays bigger than his height. Offensively he is best spacing the floor and shooting from deep off the catch. Struggled to scoring inside against Curie’s length. He had 12 points (3-7 FG). Committed to Ripon.
SF Brady Miller (Plainfield North – 2018)
Miller impressed us last year with his play at Pontiac and the small forward flashed again. He can shoot it from three connecting on 3-5 from beyond the arc. Also a decent athlete that can play in transition. Would be a nice find for a small college looking for a shooter/scorer with upside. He had 20 points.
SG David Buh (Benet – 2018)
Buh is a good sized 6’4” shooting guard that struggled shooting it early in the game, but got things going as it progressed. Hit a couple off the catch and a pull up three as well. Transition finish. He scored 15 points, but took a lot of shots to get there (5-13 FG). Small college player.
SG Jacob Petrovic (Benet – 2018)
This 6’2” senior shooting guard is a catch and shoot guy that like Buh is a volume shooter. He drilled a trio of threes on eleven attempts from deep. Good rebounder for size. He had 11 points (4-15 FG). D3/NAIA player.
SG Malachi Smith (Belleville West – 2018)
Smith is a Wright State commit who is one of the more underrated prospects in the 2018 class. He is a scoring two guard that can get buckets in bunches. His best of the two games they played was the semi against Alton where he went up against several of his travel team program mates. Smith at times can be a bit of a streaky shooter, but he shot it well especially early connecting on a pair of early threes. Clean looking shot. As a driver he gets downhill and scores well at the rim through traffic. Flashed the ability score in the post as well. He had 24 points and 7 rebounds in the semi. In their championship game win he was a beast on the offensive glass crashing from the perimeter for three put backs along with an and-1. He had 9 points and 8 rebounds.
PG Kevin Caldwell (Alton – 2018)
Caldwell was solid, but not spectacular in their semi against Belleville West. The 6’0” point guard had only 7 points in that game, but in the 3rd place game he shined in a nice matchup against another quality point guard. Caldwell shot it from beyond the arc drilling threes both off the catch and pulling up off the bounce. Rebounds well for a guard. Good speed in the open floor. Caldwell had 19 points. D2 prospect.
SG Tim Finke (Champaign Central – 2018)
Finke played well in the championship game despite injuring his back in the semi. He played an “old man” type game as it was obvious his athleticism wasn’t going to play into his performance as much as it usually does. The top 5 2018 recruit toughed through it and gave his team a chance to win. Grand Canyon commit played in front of one of his future coaches showing why he will be a great player there. He drilled a variety of jumpers throughout the contest from both mid-range and three. His best might have been a tough fade away. The gritty senior had 23 points.
SG Jonte Coleman (Champaign Central – 2018)
Coleman was a consistent threat in both of their games. The senior 6’3” shooting guard showed he could really shoot it from deep! He was on fire in both games connecting on a ton of triples both off the catch and pulling up. He hit several tough ones with hands in his face. Mixed in drive every now and then, but the majority of his offense was shooting from deep. Needs to be looked at by small colleges. He had 16 points in the semi and 20 points in the championship game.
SG A’Keion Gill (Champaign Central – 2018)
Gill is a prospect that continues to just go about his business and be a consistent glue guy for his team. The 6’3” shooting guard is a versatile wing that contributes on both ends of the floor. Gill is a three and D guy that is a solid spot up shooter offensively also being able to mix in some drives and transition finishes. Solid wing defender. Small college prospect that will be a great role player at that level. He had 14 points in the championship game.
PG Morgan Taylor (Marist – 2018)
Taylor was very good in their 3rd place win over Alton. The 6’2” point guard is tough as nails and finishes well around the cup. He is a better athlete than we previously thought and has a knack for converting tough layups at a high rate. Most of his offense comes from scoring in the paint on drives or getting on the offensive glass. He is an impressive rebounder from the guard position with a quick second jump on the offensive end. Jump shot isn’t a consistent weapon at this point. Pushes it in transition. Solid defender. Outstanding leader. He had 18 points. Taylor is a D2 prospect.
PF Jack Ellison (Marist – 2018)
Ellison is an angular 6’5” slightly undersized power forward. He is a tough junk yard dog post that grinds it out on the interior. He is at his best getting on the offensive glass with his quickness and nose for the basketball. Isn’t an overall skilled prospect. Glue guy at small college level.
PF David Daniels (Marist – 2018)
Daniels is a prospect that emerged in the two games we saw Marist play at the Centralia Holiday Tournament particularly his play in the championship game. The undersized 6’4” power forward is a tough post that plays physical. He is a good area rebounder that gets most of his points on put backs. Small college player.
PF Leon Perry (Confluence, MO – 2018)
Perry is a coveted JUCO prospect out of the St. Louis area. The 6’7” power forward has length and a projectable frame. Extremely bouncy rebounder that got on the glass particularly the offensive end at a high clip. Quick second jump. Handles it well from the mid-post attacking off the bounce and getting to the hoop. Really struggled shooting from the free throw line. He had 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
PG Jalen Hodge (O’Fallon – 2018)
Hodge played well in their morning game against Arlington (TN). The point guard is a smooth floor general that always has his head up looking to make a play for himself or others. Hodge plays well in the open floor weaving in and out of the defense. In the half court he has a first step that allows him to get past the defense and to the rim where he is a quality layup maker scoring on acrobatic finishes consistently. Also likes to use floaters over big men. Streaky perimeter shooter. As a distributor he makes crisp passes to teammates. Doesn’t have a lot of scorers around him on his high school team. Defensively he is a force pressuring the ball and cutting passing lanes. He had 17 points in a win. Hodge is a D2 prospect.