Summer Jam: 2021 Evals
PrepHoopsIllinois covered NY2LA Sports Summer Jam all five days last week at Homestead High School in Mequon, Wisconsin. Here we dive into our scouting reports from the events in 2021 Evaluations!
SG Ahamad Bynum (Mac Irvin Fire 15U)
Friday morning the state’s #3 2021 prospect showed why he is such a coveted prospect. The Simeon shooting guard played with a great deal of confidence and it showed through in the numbers. He was a scoring machine drilling pull up jumpers all over the floor. His shot was on point! Electric burst off the bounce and can also finish with a floater. Monster week for Bynum making a strong case to move up to the second spot in the next 2021 rankings.
PG Bucky Irving (Mac Irvin Fire 15U)
Irving is a scoring point guard that did just that for his Fire squad. This Hillcrest rising sophomore is a high energy player and plays bigger than his height. Outstanding shooter both off the catch and pulling up off the bounce. Scores on scoop shots in the paint. Also is quick defensively getting steals and going the other way with his speed.
PG Boopie Miller (Mac Irvin Fire 15U)
Saturday it was “Coach Boopie” that helped lead the Fire to a win. Against Meanstreets in the semifinals he displayed an innate ability to score at his diminutive size. Deep range on his three point shot to well beyond the arc and has some athleticism scoring with scoop shots in the paint.
SF Nate Santos (Mac Irvin Fire 16U)
Santos is another prospect that has left the state as he attended Geneva last year, but opted to reclassify to 2021 and head east to prep school. This 6’8” small forward is oozing with potential. Plus plus shooter with a feathery jumper from all over the floor. Handles well in space. I thought what might have stood out the most was the way he passed it throwing several dimes right on the money in transition.
SF Jalen Butler (Mac Irvin Fire 15U)
Butler is a physically developed young wing from Niles North High School that proved to be a very good rebounder especially at the 15U level. Snatched boards in traffic with his length. Makes a lot of plays with his athleticism on both ends of the floor.
SF Bryce Hopkins (Illinois Wolves 15U)
The insanely talented Illinois Wolves 15U crew was playing up in the 16U division and was tasked with checking the best 2021 post in America in Michael Foster. Hopkins took on the challenge and did a nice job defensively using his quickness to bother him and with his strength even pushed him away from the hoop at times. Offensively he had it cooking as well. Quick to the offensive glass for second chance points. Hit threes off the catch. Showed improved handles in traffic even since May.
SG Max Christie (Illinois Wolves 15U)
Christie was a little quiet early on Thursday night against Martin Brothers, but the state’s best 2021 prospect quickly got it going in the second half as he put his team on his back and willed them to a victory. It all started with a coast to coast drive where he weaved in and out of the defense making it look completely effortless. Mixed in a one dribble pull up, transition score off a steal, and a few more buckets late. Also had a pair of key blocks one inside and another on the perimeter.
SF Isaiah Barnes (Illinois Wolves 15U)
Barnes is a high upside 2021 prospect from OPRF that displayed all of that in a spurt in a big win. The rising sophomore has big time athleticism and size on the perimeter. He has a lot of potential on his jump shot with a clean release. Plays well in transition as a wing finisher and when he is aggressive going to the hoop it can be a problem for the defense.
PG Anthony Sayles (Illinois Wolves 15U)
Sayles is the top 2021 point guard in the state of Illinois. He has electric speed in the open floor. Pushes the pace and has also developed over the spring and summer into being able to run a team in the half court. The Niles Notre Dame lead guard can score off the bounce as well as being effective off the ball as a wing scorer at times. Like what he brings defensively with his lateral quickness, anticipation, and active hands.
C Chris Hodges (Illinois Wolves 15U)
Hodges is the top big man in the state of Illinois in the 2021 class. The area that he excels at the most right now is hitting the glass. The Schaumburg center has a strong body and snatches rebounds out of the air. Does a nice job on both ends crashing the boards getting second chance opportunities. Efficient with his touches on the block.
PG Connor Enright (Illinois Wolves 15U)
Enright is a point guard that can shoot it some off the catch. Tough kid that made some clutch plays in one of their victories hitting several big shots down the stretch.
C Julian Campbell (Illinois Wolves 15U)
Campbell is a huge bodied center at 6’5” that takes up space on the interior. In the past we have seen him hang out quite a bit on the perimeter, but it was his play inside that impressed. Great job rebounding in traffic and finished with a soft touch. A lot of put backs for the Palatine big man.
PF Grant Newell (Meanstreets 15U)
Newell is among the top 2021 power forward in Illinois and the Whitney Young rising sophomore showed coaches why. Height, length, skill, and mobility! That is a great combination for a young forward. He showed the skill off hitting a three and handling it facing up. Finished put backs and dump offs inside. Played with a higher activity level than we had seen in the past even blocking multiple shots.
SG Blake Peters (Meanstreets 15U)
Peters just returned from the ESPY’s to play with his Meanstreets 15U squad. Yes you read that right. The Evanston rising sophomore was a finalist for play of the year for his full court buzzer beater during the high school season. He was hitting more shots from downtown on Saturday morning as the two guard drilled quite a few threes with deep range on his shot. Plus shooter that moves well without the ball to get open.
SF Tevin Smith (Meanstreets 15U)
Smith is one of the top wings in the state of Illinois. The Danville wing is a powerful slasher with very good athleticism. Couple coast to coast takes finishing above the rim. His jump shot was on point as well drilling them from both mid-range and three. He is primed to take over at Danville as the go to scorer.
SF Amar Augillard (Meanstreets 15U)
Augillard is built like a grown man on the wing. The 6’3” small forward came off the bench and didn’t play as much as he did in the spring. Can hit a three off the catch and is a solid rebounder. Concern is that he is tapped out physically at a young age.
PG Nathanael Hoskins (Meanstreets 15U)
Hoskins is a point guard from Danville that might not be the most explosive athlete, but he is a crafty guard that has a knack for getting in the lane where he loves to use floaters or make sound decisions with the basketball to get others involved.
SF Troy D’Amico (Meanstreets 15U)
What you have to like about this Niles Notre Dame small forward is his skill set on the perimeter. Handles it, plus shooter with range on his shot, and can post up smaller defenders. Good passing feel for a wing. Not a freak athlete, but good enough at this stage.
PF Scotty Ebube (Kessel Heat 15U)
This 6’7” power forward will debut in our next update of the 2021 class as one of the top post players. He is a strong and physical four man that is an outstanding rebounder with his long arms and timing. He finished well around the hoop with quickness and athleticism. Likes spin moves on the block. Got to the foul line quite a bit where he shoots it well from the line.
SG Josh Ausler (Illinois Stars 16U)
Ausler is a 6’0” shooting guard from Rockford Auburn High School. The 6’0” guard hit a three early in the game we saw, but was most effective using his athleticism in the open floor with acrobatic layups.
PG Adam Cash (Illinois Irish 15U)
Cash is a 5’11” point guard from Pekin. The lead guard is a decent defender and excels offensively as a catch and shoot threat from beyond the arc.
SG Amareon Parker (Illinois Irish 15U)
Parker is a strongly built 6’1” shooting guard out of Champaign Central. Slashing guard that likes to draw contact at the rim.
SG Holt Geltmaker (Illinois Irish 15U)
Geltmaker is a 6’0” two guard from Illinois Valley Central that brings a lot of toughness to the table. He contributes on the glass from his guard position and mixed in some mid-range jumpers.
SF Matthew Williams (Illinois Irish 15U)
Williams might have been the most intriguing prospect on the Irish. At 6’3” with projectability to continue to grow this Peoria Notre Dame small forward finishes well in traffic and can post up his opponent. Length plays well on defense.
C Adam Weir (Illinois Irish 15U)
Weir is an undersized five man from Pontiac at 6’4”. He is a wide bodied post that likes to play bully ball. Finishes dump off passes and loves contact. Probably not going to grow.