20 Best Performances: Part 1
We evaluated over 120+ high school basketball games at PrepHoopsIllinois during the high school basketball regular season. With the season wrapping up we thought it would be a good time to look back at some of the best performances of the season. These are all performances that we saw with our own eyes and not just heard about. Here is part 1 of our 20 Best Performances!
Drew Peterson (Libertyville – 2018)
Peterson showed why he is the top uncommitted prospect in the senior class from Illinois in the first week of the season. The 6’7” small forward displayed a diverse offensive game. He is a plus perimeter shooter as he showed by knocking down one three, but most of his shooting was done out of the high post. He regularly drilled step back shots from 15-18 feet. Quick release and gets height off the floor. Worked well out of that area on the floor as a passer as well finding open teammates. Late in the game Peterson used his size to post up smaller defenders making regular trips to the foul line. Ability to score at multiple levels with good athleticism. Finished with 29 points against Conant.
Anthony Fairlee (Springfield Southeast – 2019)
We have always been big fans of the 6’3” shooting guard with his freakish athleticism playing on the circuit with the Illinois Irish. He displayed that with several monster dunks including a posterizing one that was one of the best I have seen in a while against Thornton in the 5th Place game in the Decatur Turkey Tourney! Fairlee is a plus rebounder that snatches rebounds in traffic at their highest points. Plays so hard! The biggest area of growth is his perimeter shot. He drilled multiple mid-range jumpers in a 22 point performance against Thornton as he led his team to a win at the Decatur Turkey Tournament.
Cam Burrell (Morgan Park – 2018)
The energy 6’6” combo forward was all over the glass against Champaign Central at the Chicago Elite Classic! He flew around all night on the offensive glass getting 10 rebounds on that end alone. This is what he brings to the table as a prospect at the next level. Energy forward that crashes the glass and gets offensive rebound put backs. Most of his points came in this fashion. Also had a huge dunk off an out of bounds play and hit a mid-range jumper. Not really skilled, but makes an impact with his energy level. Burrell went for 20 points (9-15 FG) and 16 rebounds!
Dravon Clayborn (Niles North – 2018)
Clayborn is a 6’1” point guard with length and has good muscle tone in his arms. Plays with feel for the game and can really shoot the ball from the perimeter. Gets elevation off the floor and has a nice looking stroke. Smooth explosion off the bounce getting to the rack both in the half court and in transition. Can finish with both hands at the rim. Crisp passer that makes sound decisions with the ball especially in the half court. Drive and kicks to shooters. Defensively he gets up in his man and moves well laterally. Finished with 28 points and 5 dimes in a win on the road at Prosser.
PG Chase Adams (Orr – 2018)
This was unequivocally the best we have ever seen Chase Adams. The Orr 5’8” point guard came out on fire against Danville at the Team Rose Shootout. The quick and shifty lead guard was confident and looking to score. Adams drilled pull up mid-range jumpers all over the floor. He sets up his shot and has balance every time he releases it. Mixed in some acrobatic layups in the paint. As the game went on he hit a couple threes. Best there off the catch. Quality passer that made several great dishes inside and finding Smith for open looks from three. Defensively he is a pesky defender that pressures the ball. His lack of height will hurt him somewhat on that end at the college level, but he plays really hard on that end. Finished with 37 points.
PG Kendle Moore (Danville – 2018)
Without question Kendle Moore is going to be a star in the Missouri Valley for Drake! In front of one his future coaches he absolutely carved Orr apart with his elite speed and ability to make tough layups at the Team Rose Shootout. Moore time after time started his offense with his defense getting steals and taking them the other way for transition finishes. In the half court set he could not be stopped from getting to the rim with his elite speed off the bounce. Now days players just throw up crazy shots hoping to get fouled. Moore has an ability to finish around shot blockers maneuvering his body whatever way he has to for the bucket. Also mixed in some mid-range jumpers and a corner three. Moore had the play of the day when he won the game on a drive to give Danville the win over Orr. Finished with 29 points.
PF Chris Payton (Bloomington – 2019)
Payton continues to elevate his stock as a junior and that was evident in his showing at the Ramey Midwest Showdown. 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.
PF Raekwon Drake (Orr – 2018)
Drake was a man among boys on the floor against Hazelwood Central at the Ramey Midwest Showdown Shootout. 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.
C Ryan Davis (Conant – 2018)
Davis was a beast at the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic in the opening round. The 6’9” center is absolutely in the best shape of his career. He is slimmer and much more athletic than at any point in his career. That is showing with his vertical explosion off the floor as he dunked it over and over as soon as we walked in to see part of his game. The Vermont commit was a complete beast as he didn’t miss a single shot inside the arc and also drilled 2-4 from three which is an underrated part of his game as he can really shoot it off the catch or in the pick and pop. Davis had 35 points on an insane 14-16 from the field and 9 rebounds.
SG Robert Harvey (Hillcrest – 2018)
Harvey continues to have an outstanding senior campaign. He didn’t really show us a ton over the spring and summer, but in our second eval of him in his last year of high school ball he stood out at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament. The 6’3” shooting guard is a lanky and athletic wing that is learning how to score while taking quality shots. Displays a silky smooth jumper especially off the catch from three. Pure stroke. Moves well without the ball to get open and sets up his shot. He had 25 points (9-17 FG) (3-8 3PT).