Spartz Fall Showcase: Evaluations
Friday was a great night of hoops in Western Springs! PrepHoopsIllinois was in the house at the Christopher Spartz Basketball Fall Showcase where he evaluated a nice group of prospects from all classes. There were a lot of quality players in the building. Here are 25+ player evaluations from the event!
PG Ray J Dennis (Oswego East – 2019)
Dennis was the highest ranked prospect in the gym and the #10 senior played like it. What you have to love about this combo guard is his size for position and how easy the game comes to him. He makes it look effortless out there. Pull up three pointers are a big part of his game as is working in the pick/roll. Slick ball handler that never gets rattled against pressure. Got on the glass for a few put backs. Also impressed defensively with the way he used his length to bother opponents and block shots. Dennis is one of the best lead guards in the state and will be signing his national letter of intent with Boise State next month.
G Tyler Cochran (Bolingbrook – 2019)
Cochran is headed off to Northern Illinois next year, but is ready for a big senior year at Bolingbrook before that. The senior is a bowling ball with the rock in his hands! Get out of his way or he will run you over! Physical combo guard that attacks downhill with strength. Finishes well around the hoop through or around contact. Flashed some more explosion than we saw during the summer. Threw down a big left handed dunk. Few flashy passes and got some steals. One of the best rebounding guards in the state.
G Tyrese Shines (Lyons Township – 2019)
This Minnesota Crookston commit is a combo guard that is intriguing. The Lyons guard can play both on and off the ball. Slashes well to the hoop taking quality angles. Seems to have added strength in his upper body. Displayed more vertical bounce than we had seen in the past. Pull up jump shot looked to be improved. Length plays well defensively.
PG JR Cison (Lake Zurich – 2019)
This Lake Zurich 2019 lead guard is one of the toughest floor generals in the senior class. Crisp ball handler that gets to his spots. Outstanding pull up jump shooter. Best pulling up from 15-18 feet, but can stretch it out to three on occasion. Got in the lane at a good clip. Finished several up and unders. Feel for getting others involved with his passing. Right now Cison isn’t receiving much college attention. He is a NO DOUBT D3/NAIA player and D2’s should look into him.
PG Demari Grant (Oswego East – 2019)
Grant is an underappreciated floor general in the senior class. He is an intense lead guard that has a passion for the game. He is a big time pull up shooter from mid-range that is starting to consistently stretch it out to three. Plays with a lot of speed pushing the tempo and making sound decisions with the basketball. Defensively he is very active at the point of attack with his quickness getting deflections.
SG Trace Williams (Homewood Flossmoor – 2019)
Williams put himself on our radar with his play at the showcase. Long and lanky two guard with a decent feel for the game. Played with a high activity level seeming to always have a nose for the basketball. Solid passer for an off guard. Really good looking jumper especially shooting off the catch.
SG Trey Affolter (Marist – 2019)
This thick body shooting guard is just an average athlete, but he proved to do a nice job getting in the lane and finishing with crafty layups and scoop shots. Clean looking shot with some potential to three.
PG Sentwali Nalls (Neuqua Valley – 2019)
Nalls is making the move from Whitney Young to Neuqua Valley for his senior year. He is kind of a hidden player as he never really got a ton of run with the Dolphins over the years, but every time we would see him in a camp setting or on the travel team circuit he showed flashes. Talks a lot of smack and has a flashy style. Wins off the bounce where he can take it all the way for acrobatic layups or kick to shooters.
SG Danell Nicholson (Hinsdale South – 2019)
Thick combo guard is powerful offensively and hit a couple threes. Not overly projectable, but plays hard and is a solid defender.
SG Eli Basnight (Lisle – 2019)
This left handed two guard plays bully ball. Physical wing that goes at it with a high motor. Drilled a couple of pull up threes, but the best part of his game was his brute strength around the hoop.
G Michael Cruger (Aurora Christian – 2019)
This senior shot it very well from three. We kept writing down him making threes off the catch. Runs the floor hard and flashed decent handles.
SG Josiah Palmer (Homewood Flossmoor – 2020)
Palmer was the breakout performer at the event. He was an absolutely lethal scorer that put the ball in the hoop from all three levels. Plus athlete that had a few drives to the hoop, but the majority of his damage was done shooting it from mid-range and three. For a while it didn’t seem like he missed a shot. Pull up jumper from 15-18 feet was automatic and he definitely can stretch it out to three. Really like this junior as a new name to add on the radar. Definitely helped his stock by attending the Spartz Fall Showcase and we will be tracking him closely during the high school season.
SG Tagen Pearson (Nazareth – 2020)
Pearson is a prospect that hardly anyone talks about, but has been consistent each time we have seen him. Did that again at the Spartz Showcase. The junior has such a feathery jumper! He is so consistent with his shot getting height off the floor and drilled them from all over the floor. Moves well without the ball to get open. Passing feel for a two guard. Crashes the glass on occasion. His money is made with his shooting though!
SF Ryan Sroka (Huntley – 2020)
Sroka is a small forward that presents positional size. He really impresses with the way he crashes the offensive glass converting put backs at a high rate. Also proved to be a crafty layup maker making a lot of tough conversions at the hoop including several up and unders. Definitely has potential as a shooter at the college level showing he had range beyond the high school line.
G Anthony Rattanasavanh (Christian Life – 2020)
This junior is a smaller guard that made a couple nice plays in the lane. Scored a couple nifty layups.
PG Cristian Young (Joliet Catholic – 2020)
This point guard is a smaller guard with a thick build. He was a sound passer and hit a three.
G Matthew Connors (Plainfield North – 2020)
Connors is a tough guard that was streaky shooting it, but did connect on a couple threes from deep.
SF Connor Webb (Lisle – 2020)
Good positional size on the wing with Webb. Has some projectability. Plus shooter from three especially off the catch. Good feel. Deep range. Showed more athleticism than we had seen in the past with a couple of big dunks. One to track this season.
G Nate Schoditsch (Riverside Brookfield – 2020)
Riverside Brookfield is a well-coached team and this guard will fit in as a key piece for them this season. Plays hard. Decent slasher and hit a couple shots.
PF Chad Readey (Homewood Flossmoor – 2021)
Readey put on a clinic at this event! After not seeing him play since the spring he proved to be one of the best post prospects in the 2021 class. Broad shouldered four man with strength in his upper body and moves very well for his size. Plus rebounder snatching the ball out of the air. He got several put backs. His skill level was very impressive. Used hook shots with both hands. Knocked down shots in the pick and pop game. Even put it on the deck some off shot fakes. Finished at a high clip around the hoop throughout. Potential as an anchor on the defensive end. Could not have been more impressed with his play!
SF John Poulakidas (Neuqua Valley – 2021)
Poulakidas is one of the top 2021 prospects in the state. He has outstanding size for position along with a big time skill set. The 6’5” small forward has long arms and an angular build. Looks like he has room to grow. Poulakidas is in the process of adding strength onto his frame. He is a big time perimeter sniper with his catch and shoot shot along with just pulling up in transition. The athleticism is starting to show more. Can block a shot on occasion and is becoming more assertive on the offensive glass. Puts it on the deck and overall has a sound feel for the game.
PG Christian Henry (St. Rita – 2021)
Henry is a scoring point guard that brings a powerful punch to the table. Strong build and loves to attack downhill where he can score in the paint. Burst with the ball in his hands. Converted a difficult up and under. Banked in a pair of threes. Tough kid that rebounds well from the point.
F Jackson Yates (St. Ignatius – 2021)
Yates was very impressive at this event. He shot LIGHTS OUT from beyond the arc. Every time I looked over he was connecting on another three. Was particularly effective in the catch and shoot. Decent athlete, but his best qualities at this stage are his size along with his sniper ability from deep. Bright future for this sophomore.
SG Jaydn Benson (Mt. Carmel – 2021)
Benson is a long and angular two guard with a lot of projectability. He has slick handles and a smooth offensive repertoire. Nice passer that can also hit an occasional shot. Active on the defensive end. Like this kids upside!
PG Cade Nelson (Lyons Township – 2021)
Nelson is a lead guard that gets absolutely the most out of his ability. Enjoyed watching how hard this young guard played. Active on both ends of the floor. Converted a couple floaters and scoop shots. Nose for the ball.
PG Jayce Hyland (Downers Grove North – 2021)
Hyland is a rangy guard that is a slick playmaker. Best play came when he crossed his man and converted at the rim with a layup. Ball was on a string. Made several acrobatic layups in the paint. Projectable guard to continue to track!
F Christian Meeks (Homewood Flossmoor – 2022)
This young forward showed some toughness and junk yard dog type qualities. Finished well at the hoop. Physical forward that slashed to the hoop. Did hit one three having a bit of a shot put release.
G Owen McManaman (Lyons Township – 2022)
This freshman jumped on our radar earlier this fall and continued that at Spartz Showcase. The guard is a gritty freshman that can shoot it some off the catch.
PG Bryce Shoto (8th Grade – 2023)
Shoto stood out by being the youngest and smallest player in the gym. Don’t sleep on this young guards game though! He hit several deep threes and handled the ball well. Made the extra pass. Related to Ray J Dennis and he looks like a smaller version of his cousin. Kid seems to love the game and we look forward to seeing more of him down the road.