July Stock Boosters: 2019 Prospects
What prospects helped themselves the most during the three week July evaluation period? We break down some of the 2019 prospects that saw their stock take a boost with their play during the crucial evaluation period!
PG Josh Berry (Mercury Elite)
It was a big month for Berry as we saw this point guard in four different settings. Two tournaments and two camps. He excelled in each opportunity with his ability to score as well as get others involved with his crisp passing.
SG Mitch Mascari (Mercury Elite)
Mascari has become one of the top D2 priorities in the state and will see a significant boost in his ranking after a strong July. The Geneva wing has size on the perimeter and can score at multiple levels.
C Aidan Shore (Mercury Elite)
Shore proved to be one of the better centers on the board with his play in July for Mercury Elite. The Sterling 6’10” center has legit size and a decent feel around the hoop scoring. He rebounded in traffic and swatted shots. Will need to add strength going forward.
SF Dylan Engler (Mecury Elite)
Engler was the breakout player from the Spartz Basketball Invite Day that we attended late in the month. The wing displayed his athletic pop as well as being able to shoot it from both mid-range and three.
SF Ryland Holt (Illinois Irish)
Holt is without question the biggest winner of the July evaluation period. We were very intrigued with this Gibson City wing out of the spring, but he took it to another level during July. Skilled wing with size on the perimeter that is a big time shooter. Combo forward at the D2 level.
PF Karl Wright (Illinois Irish)
Wright struggled during the first week of the live period at the Next Level Invitational not playing to his strengths which are his motor and athleticism. The Lanphier power forward turned it around in a major way the next week at Summer Jam being a force with his activity on the glass, converting high flying dunks, and even showed some face up skill.
PG Luke Yoder (Illinois Irish)
Yoder had some helium coming into July and played well throughout the month for the Irish. The central Illinois lead guard did a nice job of getting others involved while still finding spots to score with his jumper and transition drives.
F Anthony Roberts (Made Men)
Roberts is a combo forward from OPRF that made significant strides throughout the July evaluation period. He looked bigger, stronger, and more athletic than we remembered previously. The rising senior displayed a versatile inside-outside game that made him intriguing to a lot of schools.
SF Donovan Clay (Ramey-Jets United)
Clay has mostly been known as a three and D wing throughout his career at Alton. Size on the perimeter at 6’6” with the ability to check multiple positions and knock down open threes. We came away impressed with how well he slashed and displayed more to his game.
SG Jamir Price (Quad City Elite)
Price had a great opportunity during the first live period to play with the ball in his hands with their star DJ Carton on a visit. Price looked comfortable running the show, getting others involved, while still finding his own offense. Rock Island wing has become a priority D2 player.
SG Deonte Billups (Quad City Elite)
Billups settled in with QCE after playing with the Fire some in the spring. He hit shots, but it wasn’t like the old days where he would jack them up at an inefficient rate. Took smart shots and found opportunities to score on takes to the rim.
PF CJ Wilbourn (Quad City Elite)
It seemed like each night I went to the hotel to write up top performers from the day this Normal Community post was in the conversation. The four man rebounded exceptionally well, displayed an improved feel around the hoop, and the biggest thing was expanding his face up game both handling it as well as shooting from three.
SG Ocean Johnson (Breakaway)
Johnson had a steady breakout throughout the month that he put an exclamation mark on with his play during the PrepHoops Summer Challenge. Athletic wing from non-basketball power Leyden who plays above the rim and can also hit an open shot.
SG Latik Murphy (Illinois Mustangs)
Murphy is one of the top wing stock risers in July with his ability to put the ball in the hoop. We saw him go off on the last day of Summer Jam putting on an absolute show for the Illinois Mustangs with his jumper and using his strength to get to the rim at will.
SG Christopher Burnell (Illinois Stars)
Burnell is a power wing from Rockford East that brought more consistency to the table in the month of July. He was productive throughout Summer Jam each time we saw him scoring from all three levels. Plays with a consistent motor.
SF Will Engels (Illinois Stars)
This Benet wing jumped on our radar with his play. What he did best was defend. Active defender that can switch. Contests shots. Tough and gritty offensive player that plays as a secondary option.
PG Marquise Kennedy (Illinois Wolves)
Kennedy was already the biggest winner of the spring jumping nearly 60 spots in the rankings to #13 overall and the #2 point guard. He didn’t rest on that and continued his dominant play throughout the month of July. With the Wolves he did a great job of getting others involved as well as finding his spots to score at the rim.
SF Cortez Mosley (Illinois Warhawks)
Mosley is a prospect that is a bit under the radar. Transferring from Peoria Central to Peoria Richwoods for his senior year as well as bouncing around travel teams he found some stability with the Warhawks to close July out. His athleticism jumps off the floor on both ends playing above the rim and being able to defend multiple positions.
PG Semaj Henderson (Illinois Heat)
Henderson was a prospect that created buzz among college coaches during July. The Downers Grove North combo guard scored effectively all three levels as well as getting others involved with his passing.
PG Ray J Dennis (Team Rose)
We didn’t see Dennis with his new Team Rose squad in July, but the top 20 prospect did elevate his stock among coaches with his play for them throughout the month. We evaluated him at the Spartz Basketball Invite Day where he was without question the top prospect at the event with his smooth play and shooting from the lead guard spot.