Most Intriguing Prospects – South Side Classic (Day 1)
The South Side Classic kicked off tonight at Hancock High School with all three games going to the high seed. In the opening contest, #1 seed Mehlville got off to a hot start on the backs of their dynamic junior duo and rolled to a convincing win over Windsor. The next game featured the #2 seed Lindbergh who, after a slow start, used their length to roll past a scrappy and well coached Bayless team. For the nightcap, the host Tigers of Hancock, and their group of high flyers, pulled away from a young but talented Affton team.
Here are the most intriguing prospects from opening night at the South Side Classic
2019’s
Erik Lahm 6’11 F Lindbergh * – An asterisk is placed by the Flyer big man who certainly belongs on this list but unfortunately missed the game with an injury
Rico Sutton 6’4 G Hancock – This young man is a human pogo stick! Whether on the break, in traffic, off the rim, or from a lob, Rico spent the evening rocking the rim to the delight of the home crowd with 6 emphatic slams. He also hit a smooth catch and shoot 3 to finish the night with 15 points.
Siah Moultrie 6’5 F Hancock – The zone defense limited Hancock’s man in the middle in terms of scoring tonight, but it’s hard to deny his impact on the game. The long, bouncy forward was a presence in the paint not only on the glass but with several big blocks.
Adam Olliges 6’1 G Affton – The clear leader for the Cougars, Adam had a good night against Hancock. The senior guard handled the ball well against pressure all night and hit a trifecta of threes on his way to a 17 point night.
Adam Bell 6’7 F Lindbergh – Someone for Lindbergh needed to step up in the absence of Erik Lahm and Mr. Bell did just that scoring 15 for the Flyers in their win over Bayless. The long, wiry forward lets it fly from three with a smooth stroke and also showed off a nice one dribble pull-up and finished strong with contact in the paint.
Javonta Johnson 5’10 G Bayless – The heart and soul of the Bronchos, Javonta showed right away that he has improved his outside game hitting back to back to back threes in the first quarter. The quick lefty is hard to guard and plays with great energy from tip to final whistle.
Kieran Conboy 6’2 G Lindbergh – Kieran has great instinct and a nose for the ball. Nothing flashy tonight, but he had several tough finishes and put backs around the rim and showed quick hands on the defensive end.
Carson Ulrich 5’11 G Mehlville – On a team with plenty of star power, Carson managed to stand out with a strong performance tonight. The senior guard showed off a nice floater game and a smooth stroke from three and finished the night with 13 points.
2020’s
Sam Richardson 6’4 G Hancock – Arguably the most exciting player in the field, Sam had the performance of the night with 30 points in limited action. The long, athletic wing plays with swagger and was a walking bucket. He has a lethal mid-range game and is hard to stop around the rim. He is a nightmare for opponents in transition and also showed nice touch from behind the arc.
Dylan Branson 6’4 G Mehlville – This guy is a BIG TIME player! He does it all for a very talented Mehlville team. With a strong, large frame he is deceptively quick and shifty. He is very crafty with the ball and can go coast to coast in transition or beat his man off the bounce in the half-court. He has a nice stroke from the outside. He can post up and score. He can play any position on the floor and play it well.
Davion Bradford 7’0 F Mehlville – Davion is not just a big body, he is a highly skilled post. On the defensive end, whether he blocks a shot or not, he alters and deters everything around the rim. Offensively, if he catches near the basket, look out, because he is trying to dunk everything and had a couple slams that shook the gym Monday night. He’s doing a much better job of rebounding and receiving the ball high and keeping it away from pesky guards.
Joey Abeln 6’4 F Lindbergh – Joey had a very nice game for the Flyers. He made a killing finishing dump-offs and attacking from the high post. He is a strong and crafty finisher around the rim and showed off good touch at the basket with several Mikan drill worthy wrap around finishes.
2021’s
Stacian Livingston 5’8 PG Hancock – Although undersized, the sophomore point guard is fearless in traffic and showed the ability to finish strong with contact. He is ultra-quick and a heads up player in transition.
Cameron Gunter 6’0 PG Bayless – Cameron has a very similar game to his senior teammate Javonta Johnson. He is a quick, shifty slasher who does not shy away from contact and is a pesky on ball defender. As he continues to develop his jumper, he will be tough to handle.