Notebook: Sunday at Circle City Shootout
NOBLESVILLE, IN | On Sunday at the Circle City Shootout we saw a variety of teams on the day. Some solid individual performances were had as we caught bits of many different games. Here is our breakdown from Sunday at Circle City Shootout.
Justin Hensley Goes Off
Hensley got started a little slow making just one three-pointer in the first half against Hoop Dreams but caught fire in the second half making six in a row in a span of about five minutes. He was making them off of all types of action. He made a few on the catch, a few on the pull-up, and a couple coming off of screens with and without the ball. Hensley has a repeatable shot and his lower body doesn’t have to be set for him to make it. In the other two games they played, he did much of the same making seven threes and six threes. A hot day for him.
Hensley could really go to any level. Would be really good at a D3 or NAIA and I think with a big summer like this he could start to get some small D1 looks. I think he would be a really solid D2 player on the wing as he will be able to shoot it at pretty much any level he goes to. A big summer for him is in store.
Illinois Wolves 15U Impressed
One of the most impressive 2021 teams that I saw this weekend was that of the Illinois Wolves program. They have some kids who can really play and I took in a game against NVB Gold. 6’7 PF Christopher Hodges was the most impressive that I saw. He is a tough presence down low and is so strong for his age. Hodges has a really solid frame and the sky is the limit for this young forward. 6’6 SG Isaiah Barnes is another guy I liked as he threw down some thunderous dunks and ran the floor really well. He can shoot the ball really well even furthering his stock. Barnes is a guy that D1’s will be all over in a few years with his height.
You also have guys like 6’6 C Julian Campell, 6’4 SG Bryce Hopkins, and 6’3 SG Anthony Sayles who play really well. Everyone on this team contributes in multiple ways and all of them are very versatile capable of playing a couple different positions. This team is a ton of fun to watch and if they stay together the next couple of years then they will be really good.
Keegan O’Neill Looked Good Even Though He Didn’t Score Much
O’Neill was great today I thought even though he didn’t really score that much. He impressed me early on this morning with his ability to back his man down in the paint and score with his back to the basket in a variety of ways, then in the afternoon, he stretched it out a little bit. He played really tough and with a bit of an edge in the games that I saw. He is improving quickly this summer as he is able to take over games when he wants to. He is being much more aggressive early on in the AAU season than he was in the high school season.
. He is a guy who is able to go and go and go in games and getting in peak shape will give him a touch more energy late in games. He has an adept outside shot but could stand to take a few more reps with it. Not many knocks on his game right now as he is still pretty young and he is using this summer to really develop.