Highland Shootout: Standout Performers
The Highland Shootout is one of my favorite annual events. The shootout held in the metro east each January had possibly its best field ever on Saturday with teams from Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin. PrepHoops takes a look at the…
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Continue ReadingThe Highland Shootout is one of my favorite annual events. The shootout held in the metro east each January had possibly its best field ever on Saturday with teams from Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin. PrepHoops takes a look at the standout performers here!
SF Jalen Johnson (Nicolet, WI – 2020)
I told several people I went to high school with watching that Johnson is a future top 5 lottery pick and the best passer in the country. He lived up to that! At 6’8” he is about as elite of a passer in the high school game since maybe Ben Simmons a few years ago. He threw several absolute bullets in transition that were like a quarterback throwing a dime through the secondary. Johnson has elite court vision and awareness. As a scorer he used hesitation off the bounce for a couple nice drives. Explosive burst with the ball. One play he had a slippery drive, then stole the inbounds pass, and put it in. Was very impressed with how well Johnson cleared the defensive glass. With his ability to push and find guys in the transition game this makes him even more dangerous. Struggled shooting it from three only going 1-6 from deep. Johnson had 19 points (6-16 FG), 13 rebounds, and 11 dimes.
PF Jamari Sibley (Nicolet, WI – 2020)
Sibley was the recipient of many of those Johnson dimes. The long and lanky face up four man has refined his perimeter game quite a bit over the last year. Effective mid-range shooter that really likes to drill them from the baseline. Stepped out to hit one three, but was only 1-5 from deep. His quickness in the paint and monster dunks were where he stood out. Sibley threw down a ton of alley-oop slams along with several put backs. So quick off the floor. One of the best offensive rebounders in the Midwest. Once this long and lanky four man adds some strength he is going to be a monster for the high-major program that lands him. He had 24 points (11-18 FG) and 9 rebounds.
PF EJ Liddell (Belleville West – 2019)
Liddell was the considerable favorite for Mr. Basketball coming into this contest. IT IS OVER! Liddell will repeat as Illinois Mr. Basketball and had a defining performance against the best team in St. Louis on Saturday night. He had a stretch in the second half that was absolutely incredible! Swatting shots, high pointing rebounds, scoring off the bounce, and the play of the day was when he threw the ball off the backboard to himself for a monster slam. The development in Liddell’s face up game over the last year has taken his game to new heights. He wins consistently off the dribble from the high-post. Connected on a sick step back jumper out of the post. Got to the foul line where he was money. Defensively Liddell snatched rebounds with two hands all night and was a BEAST blocking shots! So explosive off the floor. He had 26 points (8-11 FG) (10-12 FT), 12 rebounds, and 7 blocks. Ohio State is getting an impact player on day 1.
PF Keith Randolph (Belleville West – 2019)
You can never under estimate the importance of Randolph for this team. The Illini football commit is a big bodied post that mauls on the interior. Outstanding rebounder boxing out and going after rebounds aggressively. He is physical around the hoop finishing through contact. Randolph had a nice right handed hook shot too. He went for 15 points (5-7 FG) and 9 rebounds.
PG Mario McKinney (Vashon, MO – 2019)
McKinney didn’t start the game, but the Mizzou commit came in midway through the first quarter with his entire future coaching staff in the stands. The lefty scoring combo guard is so tough! He plays with an endless motor and passion for the game. Competitiveness is off the charts. Quickness worked against the Belleville West zone as he found some creases. Crafty layup maker. McKinney flew around for steals sacrificing his body for extra possessions for his team. Also had a huge dunk with his offhand going right down the lane. He had 17 points (7-18 FG).
SF Cam’Ron Fletcher (Vashon, MO – 2020)
Fletcher is one of the highest rated wings in the Midwest for the junior class. This 6’6” small forward has excellent size for position along with plus athleticism. Fletcher showed his burst off the bounce where he got to the rack with a quick first step. Played above the rim with a huge alley-oop along with a dunk late where he went around Liddell for a slam. Fletcher went 2-7 from three. He is a prospect we have always liked as a shooter. His motion is now a little different as he leans way back on the release. Struggled at the foul line with that same release going 1-5. If he wants to lock in we believe Fletcher can be an elite defensive prospect. His stat line as 17 points (7-13 FG). So much upside here!
PG Caleb Love (CBC, MO – 2020)
Love went to work for CBC at the Highland Shootout. The 6’3” point guard works so well in ball screen situations. He has learned how to manipulate them the way he wants to gets what he is looking for out of the play. That might be a pick and roll where he gets his big man involved, coming off it on a drive to the rim, or using it to set up his pull up game. Burst with the ball in his hands especially getting downhill. Had a couple big finishes in transition. Overall he has a good feel for the game and was best while setting up his teammates and picking his spots to score. Did have a few too many turnovers. Like his potential on the defensive end as he continues to get better on that end. Rebounds well for a point guard. Love’s line was 23 points (8-17 FG) (2-6 3PT), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 turnovers, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.
SG Luke Kasubke (Chaminade, MO – 2020)
Kasubke is a prospect that has always been known as a plus shooter with size. In our evaluations of him this year especially at the Highland Shootout it is apparent he has really improved his game off the bounce. Handles have tightened up significantly and he was much more aggressive off the bounce. Mixed in a variety of runners, pull up mid-range jumpers, and acrobatic finishes at the cup. Also connected on 3-10 from beyond the three point arc. Got to the line at a nice clip. He had 28 points (10-23 FG), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals.
PF Chris Payton (Bloomington – 2019)
Payton wanted to show out in his matchup with fellow standout forward Terrence Hargrove along with playing in front of many Southern Illinois Salukis fans which is where he will be headed next fall. The senior 6’7” four man is an elite level athlete who plays above the rim. That was evident early and often with alley-oops and explosive jams. He rebounded at a high rate snatching them at their high points in traffic along with scrapping on the offensive boards. The skill level continues to evolve for Payton. He showed sound footwork in the post and several takes on the baseline. Major rim protector on the defensive end. Runs the floor so well. Payton had 24 points (10-17 FG), 11 rebounds, and 6 blocks.
SF Terrence Hargrove (East St. Louis – 2019)
Hargrove is a St. Louis University commit who did everything he could to keep the Flyers in the game against Bloomington. He is one of the best prospects in the state and displayed many of the reasons why in this game. First is the skill set continues to come along. He connected on 2-3 from beyond the arc and is shooting the ball with the most confidence of his career. When his feet are set he is a capable shooter. Flashed to the mid-range for a jumper as well. Scored in the post on a right handed hook shot. Also had his explosive finishes in the open floor. Defensively he is so quick off the ground swatting shots. Plus rebounder on both ends. He had 17 points (7-17 FG), 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
PG Bryce Bultman (Nashville – 2019)
Bultman is a jumbo point guard who is headed to McKendree next year. The highly ranked Illinois prospect went head to head with his good friend Landon Wolfe and he put on a show. His jumper was on point hitting a corner three and a baseline jumper off a dribble handoff. An underrated part of Bultman’s game is his athleticism. He won off the dribble with his long strides getting to the rim for several athletic finishes at the cup. He went for 21 points (7-10 FG) and 5 boards. Impact player at the D2 level.
SF Landon Wolfe (Effingham – 2019)
Wolfe is a prospect that we have been talking about as a no doubt D2 player for a long time. There were several D2s in the house to check out Wolfe. What you have to like about the Effingham wing is the toughness he brings to the table. Struggled shooting from three in this game which is an area he is usually effective, but he adapted by working in the mid-range along with playing physical in the paint on scores at the rim. Got on the glass for put backs and had a sweet high/low conversion. Wolfe’s stat line was 20 points (7-13 FG) and 5 boards.
SG Dominique Hardimon (Poplar Bluff, MO – 2019)
Hardimon has a unique game. The 6’3” shooting guard is a thick bodied wing that is more crafty than athletic. He just has a knack for knowing how to get stuff done. The senior has a relentless motor! He scores best from 15 feet and in although he did hit one corner three. Finishes well at the cup using his body control to get it on the rim while shielding the ball from his defender. Tough rebounder that gets on the glass on both ends. He had 16 points (7-16 FG), 12 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Stat sheet stuffer.
SG Isiaih Mosley (Rock Bridge, MO – 2019)
Mosley is currently the top ranked senior prospect by PrepHoopsMissouri. The two guard impressed us early in his career at Nike Elite 100 along with playing for MoKan. He came off the bench in this contest, but was the best player on the floor for Rock Bridge. The 6’5” two guard started off early by getting on the offensive glass for a few put backs. Burst with the ball in his hands off the bounce. Effortless release on his three point shot where he went 2-4 from deep. Has improved his handles getting to the cup on several slick drives for and-1s. Mosley is a volume scorer with a lot of upside. He had 19 points (7-16 FG) and 4 rebounds.