Program Awards: Meanstreets
Now that the travel team season has wrapped up we dive into programs across the state looking at their teams in a variety of categories in our Program Awards! Today we examine Meanstreets!
Program MVP
DJ Steward
Many of the top players on Meanstreets 17U squad were out of state prospects and overall the production was pretty evenly distributed. For the program MVP we are going to go with the prospect that had the best close to the circuit and that is DJ Steward. He was really good in spurts in the spring, but it was his play during July that really sealed the deal for this award.
Top 2019 Prospect
Chris Payton (Bloomington)
Payton is the best in-state rising senior in the Meanstreets program. The Bloomington power forward showed flashes in the spring, but it wasn’t quite what we were expecting after a monster junior campaign. When we saw him in July he played up to his top five ranking by scoring with athleticism at the rim as well as rebounding at a very high rate.
Top 2020/2021 Prospect
DJ Steward
Steward is an uber smooth point guard that can shoot it above average from both mid-range and three with a clean looking stroke from the perimeter. Handles it well in both space and traffic. Improved as a decision maker. High IQ guard that makes sound decisions with the ball in his hands.
Sleeper
Joseph Yesufu (Bolingbrook)
Yesufu might not be a sleeper when it comes to people who follow high school basketball in-state closely as he has consistently been ranked inside the top 20 throughout his career, but regionally he may be a little over looked especially with how many quality guards there were on this team.
Biggest Stock Riser
Tyler Beard (Whitney Young)
This one is easy. Beard went from barely playing as a sophomore to a top 50 caliber national recruit by the end of the summer. The Whitney Young point guard took advantage of his opportunity at the Nike Elite 100 Camp where he was outstanding and then continued that momentum in July. Tough Chicago guard that attacks downhill and makes plays.