Pangos: Illinois 2022 Evals
Over the weekend PrepHoopsIllinois took in the Pangos All-Midwest Frosh/Soph Camp. The event featured many of the top prospects from Illinois and surrounding states. Here we breakdown the players in attendance! This is Illinois 2022 Evaluations!
C AJ Casey (Simeon)
In my eyes the top Illinois prospect at the event was Casey. Was a bit inconsistent on Saturday, but Sunday was very good especially in the Top 30 Game. The 6’8” center has absolutely every single tool you could ask for in a young post prospect. Legit size before he plays a game of high school hoops. Broad shoulders to add strength along with long arms. Plus athleticism and mobility that plays well on both ends of the floor. He can handle the ball especially from the mid-post area in. Explosive around the rim with thunderous slams. Works well in the pick and roll. Crashes the glass for put backs. Potential as a rim protector. Sky is the limit for this prospect!
G Jaylen Drane (Simeon)
Drane will be challenging his teammate AJ Casey for the top spot in the 2022 class. There is no doubt that Drane has national prospect written all over him. Slick combo guard at 6’2” that got in the lane at will all weekend. Against bigger and older players he was unstoppable in the Top 30 Game going head to head with the best at the camp. Lives in the paint where he can finish with either had. Improving as a shooter out to three. Active hands on the defensive end. Definitely more of a scorer right now. Next step will be to round out his offensive game as a distributor. Plenty of time to work on those skills.
SG Malik Jenkins (Harlan)
This 6’2” two guard has long arms and projectability to continue to grow. Scored on a couple layups in the game we caught.
SF Kaden Stork (Normal U-High)
This central Illinois 6’4” small forward was one of the more intriguing prospects from Illinois outside of Chicago. The young forward has long arms and a projectable body. Range on his three point shot out to well beyond the high school line. Also can handle it too taking one defensive rebound coast to coast for a score.
SG Byron Hobbs Jr (Hyde Park)
Hobbs is a 6’3” shooting guard from the Chicago land area. Plays even bigger than his height on the perimeter. Quick to the glass. Runs the floor. Clean looking jump shot.
PF Dylan Arnett (DePaul Prep)
This 6’6” post is a quality area rebounder that plays tough in the paint. Finishes well inside and threw down one big jam. Mobile four man.
SG Kenyon Weekley (West Aurora)
Good size on the perimeter with this freshman guard at 6’3”. Smooth jump shot pulling up on a dime.
SF Kanye Smith (Whitney Young)
Smith stands at 6’5” already and is a pure wing. Tons of projectability here! Long and lanky build. Smooth looking jump shot. Handles it well although he can be a bit wild at times. Like his potential a lot on the defensive end with length and blocked a couple shots at the camp.
PG Evan Porto (Stevenson)
This 5’10” guard is on the smaller size for a point guard, but proved to be a nice shooter from three.
PG Aidan Maher (Niles Notre Dame)
Super small point guard at only 5’9”. Brings a competitive spirit to the floor with his toughness. Hit a couple threes in the games we saw.
SF Christian Meeks (Homewood Flossmoor)
Meeks stands at 6’5” with strength. Definitely more of a wing prospect, but plays tough around the hoop with how he gets on the glass and finishes. Works well as a scorer in the pick/roll. Physical body at a young age.
SG Lonnel Strickland (Harlan)
Strickland put his name on the map with his play Saturday. This 6’3” shooting guard has a nice build and scored well at all three levels. Slashed to the basket very aggressively with powerful conversions through traffic at the rim. Finished very well throughout the day. As the game went on he showed more of his three point shot hitting a couple pull ups.
G Kamron Causey (Peoria Manual)
Like the size at 6’2” on this Manual combo guard. This is a school that has been known for producing quality players at the position for a while now. Angular guard with upside.
PG Lerone Allen (Peoria Central)
Allen is a tiny point guard at only 5’8”. Good feel for the game and is a playmaker at a young age.
PF James Lloyd (Niles Notre Dame)
Good size early in the process at 6’6”. Not overly athletic, but he has a feel for scoring on the block.
PG Latae’vyon Taylor (Simeon)
Taylor is a 5’10” point guard who has a nice looking perimeter shot. Spot up ability as he played off the ball some.
SF Marquell Crump (Orr)
Interesting prospect here! Listed at 6’4” he has size for the wing with projectability to fill out his frame. Long armed wing that was active on defense. Both vertically blocking shots and laterally getting steals.
PG Avyion Morris (Simeon)
Morris stands at 5’7” and is a one on one player. At times can be a ball stopper. Drilled a nice pull up in the Top 60 Game.