Run N Slam: Saturday Standouts
PrepHoopsIllinois covered the Run N Slam from Fort Wayne once again on Saturday all day long! What players made the biggest impressions? We highlight them here!
SF Martin Macenis (ET21 Buckeyes 17U)
Macenis is a prospect that PHI has been a fan of for a while. He has legit size at 6’6” and an uber skilled game. He had that rolling on Saturday handling the ball well for his size slashing with creativity. Moves well without the ball. Plus pull up jump shooter and can drill it from beyond the arc. Like how he was active on the defensive end. Never going to be a lockdown defender, but showed strides and was active with his length getting steals and deflections.
PG Ray J Dennis (Milwaukee Spartans 17U)
Dennis is a lead guard from Oswego East that continues to see his stock rise this spring. He will make a big splash in his debut in the 2019 rankings in June. This 6’2” combo guard is ultra-smooth with the rock in his hands. He is an excellent passer that reads defenders and finds teammates for clean looks. Very effective in the drive and kick. Slick getting to the rim. Can hit threes. Was a bit streaky throughout the day, but he shoots a good ball.
PG Nathaniel Hoskins (Meanstreets 15U)
Hoskins running mate Tevin Smith at Danville gets most of the hype, but it was Hoskins that put himself on the map with his play at Run N Slam. The 6’2” lefty point guard is a crafty guard that handles it well and lives in the paint. He isn’t the most explosive athlete, but has a knack getting in the paint and finish with runners, floaters, layups, or mid-range pull ups. Made some difficult shots at the rim.
F Khailieo Terry (Indy Heat 15U)
Terry is a FREAK SHOW ATHLETE! We have known this since we saw him in the Decatur Turkey Tourney back in November. This 6’4” forward put it on full display for those across the Midwest at Run N Slam. He had a couple spectacular dunks. The one that was most impressive was a reverse alley-oop that he caught over a man for an and-1. Springy jumper that also got on the glass. Just begging to see some skill out of him!!! He did hit one three, but the release was slow and he didn’t look overly comfortable with it. Terry is one of the better 2021’s in the state.
SF Bryant Brown (Illinois Wolves 17U)
Brown had quite a day! The Waukegan top 5 2019 prospect is a 6’5” junior that has made the transition to a true wing. He used to be more of a four or even combo forward, but his three point shot has taken his game to another level. Brown drilled threes all day long especially off the catch. Consistently stretched the floor with his perimeter stroke. Played with a nice degree of energy mixing in some junk work inside and a few nice drives. The best was a rip that he took baseline for a big jam.
PG Adam Miller (Mac Irvin Fire 17U)
Miller returned to the floor this weekend after being injured all spring so far. Saturday it didn’t look like he missed a beat at all! The Morgan Park 6’4” point guard showed why he is the top 2020 prospect in the state. Miller was on point from deep drilling a large amount of triples off the catch and a couple pull ups. Seemed in a rhythm with his jumper for sure. His athleticism and speed is tough to contain especially when the outside shot is connecting. Elite prospect.
SG Micah Schnyders (Mac Irvin Fire 16U)
Schnyders put himself on our radar with his play. The Chicago Christian 6’1” shooting guard lit it up from beyond the three point arc for the Fire. His go to is letting it fly off the catch. He spots up and is ready to shoot. A bit of a long release and he did air ball a couple, but way more went in than didn’t. He had a nice shot fake and baseline take when his defender closed too hard on him later in the contest.
PG Demari Grant (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
This Bolingbrook point guard continued his monster spring at Run N Slam. The point guard was in a zone shooting the ball from 15-18 feet drilling them over and over again. He seemingly didn’t miss almost the entire game with his jumper. Grant is more than just a shooter. He has some quickness and handles that let him get in the paint.
PF Nate Ferguson (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Ferguson is one of the state’s top 2019 post prospects. The 6’9” four man is a great combination of skill and athleticism. The skill part was shown through most with his passing. Best we have seen him pass the rock in his career. Worked well finding his other big man for easy buckets. Connected on a pair of threes. His footwork is excellent in the post and is tough to stop with his right handed hook shot. Ferguson played above the rim with a monster alley-oop slam and high pointed several tough rebounds.
G Max Christie (Illinois Wolves 16U)
Christie is the best 2021 prospect in Illinois and isn’t close! Playing up on the 16U level Christie led his team to a win over the #1 ranked 16U team in the country Indiana Elite who was riding a 60 game winning streak coming in. Christie was the difference as he was the best player on the floor. The lengthy 6’4” guard is a playmaker with the ball that doesn’t get rattle in big situations. He is an outstanding perimeter shooter connecting on a quite a few threes in the win. Electric guard has insane future!
SF Greg Outlaw (Chicago Select 17U)
Outlaw is a 6’4” wing from Bogan that has had a strong spring making a name for himself. He is a big and powerful small forward that has off the charts athleticism. The jump shot from three definitely needs some work, but there are a lot of things to like about him. First is how hard he plays and the intensity he brings on both ends. Came out of the gates attacking with straight line drives including a baseline one that he hammered home with force. Outlaw got after it on defense getting several steals and bringing intensity to that end of the floor at points of the game. He is one to continue to monitor the remainder of the spring.