Chicago Elite Classic: 2020 Illinois Evals
The Chicago Elite Classic was this past weekend. This great event featured eight games filled with high level prospects on Saturday. PrepHoops dives into our prospect evaluations on the event. Here are our 2020 Illinois Evaluations!
SG Dante Maddox (Bloom)
Maddox is a shooting guard that can flat out score the basketball. He is a volume scorer at this stage. Maddox is a slick pull up mid-range shooter that drilled a couple from there as well as from three. Clean looking shot with elevation off the floor. Also scored on a slick drive. Solid defense recording three steals. Finished with 15 points (6-13 FG) and 3 dimes.
SG Keshawn Williams (Bloom)
Williams is a thin and wiry shooting guard that has some potential as a combo guard. Displayed that with crisp passes including dump off passes in the paint for four dimes. Plus athlete that finished above the rim on a big slam. Crisp handles in the half court that he likes to use to set up mid-range pull up jumpers.
PG Donovan Newby (Bloom)
Newby air balled a couple jumpers in their early morning game connecting on 1-3 from three point range. Tough guard showed that off by hitting glass hard for 10 rebounds in the contest. He had 9 points in the game.
C Martice Mitchell (Bloom)
Mitchell didn’t blow you away with his stat line, but it was definitely an impressive showing out of one of the top post prospects in the junior class. At 6’8” he has legit size and length for the center position at the college level. Plus athlete that presents mobility and has a game that fits into today’s style of basketball. He was probably most impressive defensively and Mitchell swatted shots protecting the rim in the paint and had a couple chase down LeBron blocks as well. Offensively he drilled a pair of face up jumpers from 15 feet. Also showed skill on the block with a right handed hook. Finished above the rim on a big slam. Stuffed the stat sheet for 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
SG Justin Moore (Bloom)
Moore is a 6’2” off guard that provided a spark off the bench for Bloom. He shot it outstanding from beyond the arc going 3-4 from the land of three. He had 11 total points in this game.
PF Kennedy Brown (Bogan)
Brown was one of the Illinois breakout prospects of the day. We had never heard of him before the CEC, but the 6’8” four man started and made a huge impact in their game. Long and angular post that was extremely active. Quick second jump off the floor with his springy legs. Snatched rebounds in traffic. Caught passes in tight spaces for finishes and got on the offensive glass for put backs. He had 7 points (3-5 FG) and 9 rebounds.
PF Tremear Fraley (Bogan)
Fraley played limited minutes for Bogan, but we continue to be intrigued by this 6’8” big man. Strong frame with mobility. That is always a good start. Quality area rebounder that also had a big alley-oop jam. He finished with 5 points and 3 rebounds.
SG Kyndall Davis (Bogan)
Davis is one of the many versatile wings for Bogan. Plus athlete that is has a chance to develop into a quality multi positional defender. Only field goal game on a slippery drive. Got to the line on a regular basis. At this stage he is an athletic wing defender and slasher. He had 5 points and 6 rebounds.
SG Ja”Quan Davis (Bogan)
Davis is a freak show athlete and although he didn’t get a ton of playing time the physical two guard showed that athleticism off with a monster dunk which was one of the best of the day. 3 points and 2 boards in seven minutes of action.
PG Adam Miller (Morgan Park)
Miller is the top ranked prospect in the 2020 class in Illinois. Tremendous positional size and quick twitched athleticism at 6’4”. Pushes with speed in the open floor. He drilled a deep three early and then fell in love with the three ball a bit too much going 2-7 from deep. Thought he was at his best using his handles getting in the lane for scores. Miller had 14 points (6-17 FG) and 5 rebounds.
F Isaiah Burrell (Morgan Park)
Quiet game out of the usually super active Burrell. He is a bouncy combo forward with a high motor. He had 4 point, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
PG Marcus Watson (Morgan Park)
Watson is a slick handling point guard that shined for the Mustangs. He is a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands. Quick off the bounce getting in the lane where he attacks the cup. The junior was aggressive getting to the hoop where he scored on multiple and-1s. Also knocked down some pull up mid-range jumpers. He had 15 points although he did struggle shooting it some going 5-15 from the field and 5-13 from the charity stripe.
PG DJ Steward (Whitney Young)
Steward is getting pretty comfortable with his new team. He was phenomenal early in their game connecting on a quartet of three balls in the first quarter alone. Smooth shooting stroke both spotting up and off the bounce. He works well in pick and roll situations making sound decisions reading the defense either taking it to the rim or finding teammates. Got to the foul line at a high rate where he went 7-8 from the free throw line. On the night he had 25 points (7-14 FG), 8 rebounds, and 3 assists.
PG Tyler Beard (Whitney Young)
Beard is coming into the season with a ton of momentum. He had a big spring and summer with Meanstreets and shined at the Nike Elite 100 Camp. Not the greatest outing at the CEC. He scored 8 points shooting 4-13 from the field. Did dish out 3 dimes including a couple quick passes in the paint. He came alive in the second half scoring on a pick/roll along with a huge dunk on an alley-oop.
PF Sangolay Njie (Whitney Young)
Njie is a well-built four man that will be important for the Dolphins as the season goes along. He brought a spark to them in the second half with his physicality and energy. The junk yard dog four man also brought it on the defensive end swatting a trio of shots. His final stat line of 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 steals doesn’t indicate his impact on the game.