Hinsdale Central: Thursday Standouts
Day two of the holiday tournament week was spent at the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic. This has become a must stop on our tournament tour and the field in 2018 might be the best it has had yet! Let’s dive into the standouts from Thursday!
PG Ray J Dennis (Oswego East – 2019)
The most impressive prospect was the highest rated one. Dennis who is a top 10 senior and headed to Boise State didn’t disappoint! The silky smooth point guard had his feathery jumper falling from all over the floor. Hits jumpers in a variety of ways with pull ups from both mid-range and three, step backs, and can create his own jumper off the dribble. No matter what the mechanics are the exact same every time and he puts a ton of arc on it. Dennis also did a nice job on the glass. He had 26 points (6-9 3PT) and 8 rebounds.
F Trevon Jones (Richards – 2019)
Jones is a 6’3” forward that is most effective playing in the paint. He isn’t overly projectable, but this football player brings that mentality on the hardwood as well. He uses his physicality to finish through his man with power in the paint. The Richards senior has a tremendous knack for scoring around bigger guys. He is a sound rebounder on both ends of the floor. Jones went for 19 points and 7 boards.
PF Frank Siegien (Glenbrook North – 2019)
Siegien is your traditional back to the basket post. He has quality footwork, soft touch around the hoop, and a feel for scoring down low. Likes to go to a right handed hook shot. Siegien also rebounds well in his area. He had 10 points and 6 rebounds.
PF Robert Holmes (Stevenson – 2020)
Holmes is a 6’5” combo forward that leans toward being an athletic undersized four at this stage of his development. The junior put in a couple hook shots and was explosive off the floor to the offensive glass for second chance opportunities. Finishes with athleticism around the rim. Holmes had 11 points and 7 rebounds.
PG Markus Byrd (Rockford Auburn – 2019)
Byrd stands at only 5’9”, but man can this kid shoot the ball from deep. He was on fire connecting on 6-11 from beyond the arc. Plus spot up shooter that has a quick and concise release. Also was a pesky defender grabbing four steals. He scored 24 points.
F Tyrinn Kidd (Westinghouse – 2020)
Kidd was a beast for Westinghouse. The 6’4” combo forward certainly put himself on our radar with his play in the consolation bracket. He is a physically built forward that has a junk yard dog mentality. Plays physical inside and mauls on the offensive glass. High percentage on his shots inside as he was extremely efficient all game. His long term projection will be dependent on how much the perimeter game comes along, but he was super effective on Thursday going for 25 points (10-12 FG) and 9 boards.
SG Matthew Rush (Hinsdale Central – 2019)
Rush is one of the better pure shooters in the senior class. He only made one three, but displayed his set shot from mid-range as well. Liked how he mixed it up with some transition scores and a runner. Also was more active defensively than we had seen in the past. Rush’s line was 14 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.
SG Essam Hamwi (Maine South – 2019)
Hamwi is another sharp shooter that is attracting small college looks. Sound perimeter sniper that moves well without the ball to get open. Big time catch and shoot threat. Couple nice passes in this one as well. He had 16 points and 4 dimes.
PG Everett Stubblefield (Willowbrook – 2020)
Stubblefield was the most consistent performer on the night for Willowbrook. The junior 5’11” point guard is at his best when he gets downhill with his quickness off the bounce. Wins with his first step and also was very effective in transition getting to the cup. Solid passer that made overall good decisions with the rock. He had 17 points and 6 assists.
PG Ahron Ulis (Marian Catholic – 2020)
Ulis was outstanding for Marian Catholic. The top 10 2020 prospect is one of the better floor generals in the state. Good understanding of the game and when he needs to score and dish. What he was great at was getting to the hoop in transition with his speed. Pushes with an outstanding burst. Wins off the dribble in the half court which allows him to make regular trips to the charity stripe where he went 10-10. Hit his only three attempt of the night from the corner. Ulis had 19 points.
PF Chris White (Marian Catholic – 2019)
Maybe the best performance we have seen out of White at the high school level. The Marian Catholic big man owned the paint on both ends of the floor. Let’s start what he did on the glass. He cleared the defensive glass over time and time again. Grabbed them with two hands in traffic. Offensively he got on the boards for put backs, ran the floor for buckets, and converted a high/low feed. Protected the rim as well with his shot blocking. White went for 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 blocks.
SF Breion Hill (Marian Catholic – 2019)
Quick shout out to this 6’3” long and angular senior. Hill is a role player on this team and at will be at the next level, but he is an elite defender. Hill had five blocks including multiple on jump shots. Can switch onto almost any position on the floor. Caused havoc defensively! Hill had 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
SF Cody Mitchell (St. Charles East – 2019)
Mitchell started out on fire for St. Charles East! This 6’7” forward presents great size. He can play both on the perimeter and as a small ball four at the small college level. Opened with a three from the top of the key and later drilled one in the pick/pop. Clean looking stroke and he shoots it with confidence. In the paint he went to a hook shot and showed he could handle it with a straight line slash. Skilled forward finished with 19 points and 9 rebounds.
SG Lance Mosley (DePaul Prep – 2020)
Best game we have seen Lance Mosley play in his career. This junior two guard is an explosive athlete that has always flashed, but never put a complete performance together when we have been evaluating him until Thursday night. He was bombing in threes especially in the first half. Pure stroke especially off the catch. Also showed off that athleticism we talked about with several finishes at the rim. Mosley went for 21 points (5-6 3PT) and 4 rebounds. Also thought he brought more intensity on the defensive end.
PG Joel Watts (St. Rita – 2020)
Watts was the sparkplug that gave St. Rita life in the middle portion of this game. The smaller point guard connected on a couple momentum swinging threes along with a stop and pop pull up jumper. Pushes with his speed in the open court. He had 10 points.
PF RJ Ogom (Homewood Flossmoor – 2020)
Ogom is an absolute beast on the interior. He is your classic undersized post that just mauls on the interior. That is what we saw him do in the first half against an undersized Lincoln Park squad. He imposed his will on the game by punishing his opponents with his strength both rebounding and finishing through them. He scored 10 points and grabbed 6 boards in a low scoring contest.