Next Level Invitational: 2020 Evals Pt 2
PrepHoopsIllinois took in all the action from the Next Level Invitational in Mequon, Wisconsin this past week. Now we dive into our player evaluations from the event. Here is our 2020 Evaluations Part 2!
G Connor Dillon (Illinois Irish 16U)
Dillon is an athletic combo guard that is definitely a sleeper out of central Illinois. Wiry guard that doesn’t look like the most imposing athlete, but he surprises you getting up for some high flying conversions at the rim. Skilled guard that handles it well using fakes and hesitation to keep defenders off balance.
SG Drew Wollenschlager (Illinois Irish 16U)
Wollenschlager is a well-built wing that has a lot of toughness and grit to his game. Solid catch and shoot threat and also got some second chance points using his toughness inside on the glass.
PF Connor Serven (Illinois Irish 16U)
I’ve never heard of this 6’5” forward or his high school Bushnell Praire City for that matter before the event, but he opened our eyes with his play in Milwaukee. Well-built forward that is a solid area rebounder and displayed mobility on both ends of the floor.
PF Jack Weber (Illinois Irish 16U)
Weber stands at 6’7” with nice strength. Showed a decent feel around the hoop and passed it well for a big man.
PF Sam Schultz (HIT 16U)
Schultz saw his stock rise in the spring and now he is back in July with his old travel team HIT where he is the featured player. This power forward has a nice combination of strength and mobility at the four spot. Pick and pop player, but didn’t really show much of that off. It was more about his rebounding and transition play. Schultz has very strong hands which help him grab boards in traffic away from opponents. High level rebounder. Ran the floor tremendously well, but also proved he could take it on his own as twice he secured a defensive board and went coast to coast for a score.
PG Taaj Davis (HIT 16U)
Davis jumped on our radar with his play. The 6’2” Aurora Christian point guard is a lefty that was relentless attacking downhill. Quick guard with acceleration in just a couple dribbles getting to the rim where he finished well. Intriguing guard!
G Grayson Goetz (HIT 16U)
Goetz is also from Oswego East (seeing a theme?) and was the key player when we saw HIT in their game on Saturday afternoon. The rising junior is a sound shooter both off the catch and pulling up from mid-range. He mixed in a baseline drive as well.
SF Marcus Skeete (HIT 16U)
Skeete is a huge jumbo forward that has an imposing body. The lefty is a mismatch problem as he is too strong for wings down low and can take big men off the dribble on the perimeter. He is a powerful finisher at the cup. Tenacious rebounder.
SF Paul Zilinskas (Made Men 16U)
We profiled this Richards wing on PHI last week. The skilled forward has a nice combination of athleticism and the ability to score in a variety of ways. Shooting threat both pulling up and off the catch. Wing finisher in transition. Like his upside as a prospect!
SF Jabari Chiphe (Made Men 16U)
Chiphe is the top prospect on Made Men’s 16U squad. The wing is a big time athlete that has an explosive second jump around the rim. Burst off the bounce as he displayed on a couple takes where he ripped past his man blowing by them for a baseline finish.
PG Michael Osborne (Made Men 16U)
Osborne got to the rim early and often for Made Men. This Proviso East point guard has burst off the dribble with tight handles and the ability to keep defenders off balance using hesitation.
SG Simon Wilson (Ramey-Jets United 16U)
It was a pretty balanced effort for Ramey-Jets United 16U as they were pushed by their defense pressuring all over the floor. Wilson is a player that flies a bit under the radar, but he has size for position and is a dead eye shooter. Did just that in the game we caught connecting on a trio of triples. Quick release and consistent mechanics. Next step in his development is to round out his overall game.
SG Nicholas Smoldt (Chicago Lockdown 16U)
Smoldt is a kid that continues to impress us more each time we see him. Uber smooth wing that has a feathery jumper from both mid-range and three. Continues to improve creating his own shot off the bounce and is a sound spot up shooter. Projectability with this prospect.
PG Connor Glennon (Chicago Lockdown 16U)
Glennon is a hard-nosed lead guard from Brother Rice that is the definition of a fiery leader! Everything this guard does is crisp and with a purpose. Sound shooter both with one or two dribble pull ups. Also can hit spotting up. Quality passer that makes smart decisions with the ball.
SF DeAndre Hagan (Chicago Lockdown 16U)
Hogan is a bouncy 6’4” forward from Brother Rice that plays bigger than his height. Most effective on the interior where he uses his explosive second jump to get on the offensive glass for put backs. High motor player.
PG Nathan Shockey (Breakaway 16U)
Shockey had a strong spring with Breakaway and continued that momentum into July. The point guard likes to score on the move. Connected on some runners and scrappy drives. Crisp passer and can hit an open shot.
PF Collin O’Rourke (Breakaway 16U)
O’Rourke is the most intriguing prospect in our eyes of the Breakway 16U crew. Skilled forward that will need to add strength, but the tools are exciting. He passes it well for a forward, has a soft touch around the hoop, and uses his length defensively.
F McCabe Quast (Breakaway 16U)
Quast is a 6’5” forward from Hinsdale Central. The rising junior is a tough kid that got a lot of his points on offensive rebound put backs. Solid free throw shooter as well.