Battle at the Lakes: 2019 Illinois Evals Pt 2
PrepHoopsIllinois covered the Battle at the Lakes over the weekend in Minnesota. It featured a great group of Illinois programs. Check out all our 2019 evaluations in one place! Here is part two of our look at the 2019 Illinois prospects!
PG Fred Cleveland (Team RWA)
Cleveland is a small guard that produces. The Leo standout did that on Saturday for Team RWA. For him it all started with his defensive intensity. Long arms for his size allows him to be pesky at the point of attack. He recorded quite a few steals that he took the other way for layups. Knows how to shield defenders away from the ball. Couple jumpers, but it was mostly his defense and open floor game that shined. High level D2 prospect that if he grows could be a low-major player.
SG Julian Barr (Team RWA)
Barr is a 6’4” wing from Lincoln Way East that shot the lights out on Saturday. He is a well built two guard that drilled threes from all over the court. He hit four in the first half alone of one of the games we watched. Quick and clean shot mechanics. Most effective off the catch, but did show a smooth pull up from 15 feet as well. Mixed in a euro step as well. Needs to be on the low-major radar!
PG Treye Tucker (Team RWA)
Tucker is a flashy point guard that plays with a lot of flair. He is a creative passer that works well in the pick/roll finding his teammates. Opened their game with a couple of deep threes. Quick release on his shot. At times he drives a little wild down the lane. Tucker is a fun player to watch and should find a home at the D2 level.
SF Collin Dietz (Team RWA)
Dietz is from Metamora High School. The 6’6” small forward has good size and definitely got stronger in his upper body. Broad shoulders and good strength up top. Scored a couple times in the paint, but missed a ton of shots inside 10 feet of the hoop. Decent passer for a wing. D3/NAIA prospect.
PF Thomas Hall (Team RWA)
Hall is a player from Metamora that has had some buzz over the last couple months. This was our first eval of him. He is a well-built 6’8” four man that is a plus rebounder in his area. Was effective rebounding both offensively and defensively. He has mobility to play in the pick and roll game as both a screener and finisher. Efficient finisher around the hoop. Also can spot up for threes on occasion hitting one in each game we watched. Solid athlete. He showed that he is definitely worth consideration at the low-major level.
SF Jeremiah Oden (Team RWA)
Oden totally looks the part with his size and length on the wing. Long arms and pogo stick type jumping ability. Defensively he has some versatility being able to block shots with his length and defend out on the perimeter even blocking a shot out there. He really struggled in the two games we saw finishing at the cup losing the ball on his way in on multiple occasions. Did have a couple transition dunks. Definitely a quality athlete. Banked in a three, but that is not his go to game. Rebounded at a solid clip.
SG Adam Taylor (Team RWA)
Taylor is a wing that can shoot it from three. Drilled one early in the first contest we saw along with a couple tough rebounds. Not much else. Projects as a D3 player.
PF Jeremiah Stamps (Team RWA)
Stamps saw limited minutes for Simeon last year, but this big bodied four man will see a much bigger role this upcoming season. He is powerful finishing around the hoop converting multiple and-1 opportunities. Got on the glass for quite a few put backs. Stamps projects as a potential D2 player that with some refinement could really excel at that level.
PG JR Cison (Fundamental U)
Cison is a tough and competitive lead guard that knows how to run the show. The Lake Zurich floor general does a nice job of getting everyone involved. Crisp passer that works well in the pick and roll game. He pushes it in transition. Cison is a sound jump shooter connecting on an array from mid-range and three. D2’s should monitor him in July.
C Alex Timmerman (Fundamental U)
Timmerman is a big man from Crystal Lake that has slimmed down and is in the best shape of his career. His mobility has improved which has allowed him to be a more efficient low post player. Timmerman has a soft touch around the hoop especially with his right handed hook shot. Can play as a finisher in the high/low game or as a screen and roller in the pick/roll. He has good hands on the interior. Solid rebounder getting put backs. Timmerman is a low-major big man.
SF Sam Silverstein (Fundamental U)
Silverstien emerged on our radar over the weekend. The 2019 wing from New Trier consistently got to the foul line. Nice projectability and has a nose for the basketball. Small college gem.
PG Isaiah Burd (Hoops4Health)
Burd is a sleeper point guard from Bolingbrook that was hidden behind all their standout guards last year. We have liked him in camp settings before and he flashed at times with Hoops4Health. Smooth guard that plays best in the open floor. Not a big time scorer. Potential on the defensive end. Small college player.
SG Michael Molloy (Hoops4Health)
Molloy who is a lefty two guard from Lane Tech showed some skill hitting spot up threes and mixing in a couple of scoop shots. Definitely needs to add strength. D3 player.
PF Kendrick Williams (Hoops4Health)
Williams is an interesting prospect as an undersized four man. The Joliet Central post is a thickly built lefty that is a physical rebounder on the interior. Also has the ability to hit a mid-range jumper. D3/NAIA prospect!