Hoop Group Camp: 2019 Evals
PrepHoopsIllinois was at the Hoop Group Chicago Academic Camp this past week. Here we discuss the players we saw and what we like about their games in our 2019 evaluations from the event!
Class of 2019
PG Artese Stapleton (Kenwood)
Stapleton is one of the better leads guards in the state of Illinois. The Kenwood floor general is a slender prospect that has an angular build. Stapleton got things started with his defense. Quick and active hands on the perimeter allow him to get steals which he takes the other way. Burst with the ball in his hands. Very slippery through traffic. Couple explosive finishes at the rim. Also is a quality layup maker.
SF Terrence Shannon (Woodstock Academy)
Shannon has reclassified to 2019 after his senior year at Lincoln Park. After a strong spring with the Mac Irvin Fire Shannon is one of the hottest prospects in the Midwest and has seen his stock rise to where he is a top 100 player nationally. The 6’7” lefty small forward was a man among boys with his size and athleticism on the perimeter. Shannon attacked with ease off the bounce along with going coast to coast on quite a few occasions. On one poster jam he hurt his arm from slamming the ball too hard. Jumper was solid when he was balanced. At times he can lean forward too much on the shot. His passing was an aspect that stood out. Dished it with a lot of flair including fitting bounce passes in traffic and throwing long outlets over the defense on the money.
G Tyler Cochran (Bolingbrook)
Cochran is a power guard that is a beast on the offensive glass. A lot of his points come off crashing the glass or getting his own rebound and putting it back in. Finishes well around the hoop with strong drives to the cup. Physical guard that plays with a very high motor.
SG Damen Trice (Homewood Flossmoor)
Trice is an athletic two guard that can really slash! He consistently made plays off the bounce scoring on drives. He is a rangy athlete that can really score in bunches. Also got out in transition.
C Vuk Djuric (Lane Tech)
Djuric stands at 6’6” from Lane Tech. The big man is a versatile prospect that can play inside and outside. Quality athlete for how strong he is. Handles it facing up and makes smart decisions with the ball in his hands. Beast area rebounder the snatches them at a very high rate. Soft touch around the hoop and has nice footwork.
PG Nate Duckworth (Normal West)
Duckworth is a guard that impressed us late in the spring with his Illinois Warhawks squad. He did it again at Hoop Group. The Normal West point guard is a tough and gritty guard that can really shoot the rock. Plus shooter from three that hits both off the catch and pulling up equally well. Elite shooter. Dishes the rock making both the simple and flashy passes equally well. Plays with a lot of swagger to his game!
SF James Kelley (St. John’s Northwestern, WI)
Kelley is a rangy wing that has size on the perimeter. He is a solid ball handler that was at his best slashing from the wing for scores.
SG Stefan Rosich (Jones College Prep)
This 6’2” shooting guard was best as a shooter. He knocked down an array of jumpers from all over the floor. Clean looking release off the catch from three.
SF Jack Davin (Covington Catholic, KY)
Davin is a combo forward that runs the floor hard and finishes well in transition. Flashed some skill with shot fakes and a crafty offensive game.
SG Donzell Johnson (Normal West)
Johnson is a power two guard that plays with an incredible toughness and high motor. Slashes downhill and scores best as a wing finisher in transition. The weakness has been his jump shot, but he connected on quite a few mid-range pull ups and even hit a three. Love what he brings defensively and rebounding.
SF Clayton Heiser (New Trier)
Small forward from New Trier that has size and length. Bit of a hitch in his shot. Like what he did defensively blocking a couple shots.
PG Myles Spain (Bremen)
This 5’9” point guard is a quick guard that can shoot it a little. Hit some pull up shots from both mid-range and three. Pesky defender.
SG Khalil Grayson (Milwaukee Riverside, WI)
Grayson is a two guard that has a bit of a funky release on his shot, but it went in on a few occasions. Quick first step and gets to the rim.
SG Mazeed Oluewu (North Shore Country Day)
This 6’3” wing hit shots on a regular basis on the perimeter. He has a strong build and mixed in some transition finishes.
SG Jaeden Zackery (Westosha Central, WI)
Zackery is a 6’1” guard that has big time athleticism and a high motor. He makes plays slashing and getting to the rim. He can also hit jumpers off the catch from three. Very active player.
PF Eli Meyer (Sarcoxie, MO)
Meyer is a well-built 6’5” four man that is relentless on the glass. He moved solid laterally on the defensive end.
SG Wes Hooker (Downers Grove North)
Hooker is a power two guard that took it to the rim hard. Didn’t always finish, but made a lot of trips to the charity stripe. Best playing in an up and down game and is capable of hitting a mid-range jumper.
SG Blake Sartin (Lockport)
This angular two guard got to the hoop on occasion and has potential on the defensive end of the floor.
SG Adam Taylor (Providence Catholic)
Two guard that is best as a spot up shooter. Decent size and sneaky athleticism on the perimeter.
SG Oscar Parrish (Homewood Flossmoor)
Parrish is a big wing that wins off the bounce. Got to the rim throughout the game we saw him play.
G Da’Mon Sanders (Ritenour, MO)
This St. Louis guard is a scoring combo that scored at all three levels. He scored with strength through contact at the rim and was straight money from mid-range.