Holiday Tournaments: 2021s Elevate Stock
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Which sophomores impressed us in our travels across the state for the holiday tournaments? We look at them here in our Holiday Tournaments: 2021s Elevate Stock. C Julian Campbell (Palatine) Campbell is a 6’6” center that is a wide…
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Continue ReadingWhich sophomores impressed us in our travels across the state for the holiday tournaments? We look at them here in our Holiday Tournaments: 2021s Elevate Stock.
C Julian Campbell (Palatine)
Campbell is a 6’6” center that is a wide bodied post. He has lost weight since we saw him last in July. Campbell started off a bit slow, but in the second quarter he took over with a dominant 17 point quarter where everything he threw up went in. Despite his big body he is actually more of a perimeter based post. Campbell is an outstanding mid-range shooter. He also can stretch it out to three where he hit several from the top of the key. Fluid release on his jumper. He had a high/low finish and scored on a dump off in the paint. Campbell went for 25 points.
SF Grant Johnson (Naperville North)
Johnson showed flashes in the half that we caught of his team. The 6’4” small forward has positional size. Crafty defender with offensive potential.
SG Josh Harris (Timothy Christian)
Heard a little buzz about this 6’4” shooting guard and he is definitely one to track. The wing has size and length on the perimeter. Lefty was at his best offensively as a spot up shooter. Drained a pair of threes when we were evaluating him. Definitely a name to track long term.
C Chris Hodges (Schaumburg)
The single best performance of the day was out of this 6’8” center. Hodges is the top post prospect in the sophomore class. He started off a bit slow as it looked like he was trying to figure out what would work against the big TF South front line. Then it was on! Hodges was flat out dominant scoring at will in the last three quarters of the game. He is a throwback back to the basket post that understands angles and uses the glass to bank it in. Physical big man that can go through his man when needed. Showed advanced footwork along with a lethal hook shot that he went to over and over again. Seals man off very well. Ran the floor beating his opponent down the court multiple times for scores. Even stretched it out to three on one occasion. Hodges had 38 points on 15-16 from the field to go along with 6 boards!
SG Max Christie (Rolling Meadows)
Christie is the top sophomore prospect in the state and best overall prospect regardless of class. The 6’5” wing has an advanced offensive game. He has a feathery jumper that he drills from both three and mid-range. Opened up with a deep three off movement. Incredible elevation on his shot along with a clean release. He also got to the rim for several finishes at the cup. Silky smooth with the ball weaving in and out of traffic. Christie went for 22 points and 8 rebounds.
SG Jaiden Lee (Joliet West)
Lee is one of the more projectable two guards early on in the 2021 class. Really like his length and athleticism. Plus shooter from three with a quick release. Has a chance to develop into one of the premier shooters in his class. Drilled 2-3 from beyond the arc and also showed off his burst getting to the rim for a couple slashes and runners. Lee had 15 points.
SF Tevin Smith (Danville)
The top 10 2021 prospect was good in Danville’s morning game and then took it to another level in the first half of the last game of the night. Smith is a 6’4” wing with strength and elite athleticism. We always knew this, but it was his consistent energy and motor that he brought to the table which impressed us the most. Smith was relentless attacking the hoop getting downhill with force. He used his power to finish through guys. Elite second jump allows him to be a factor on the offensive glass for second chance points. He also passed it well and defended multiple wing spots. Coming back from a hand injury so we didn’t see much of the jumper, but hit one three in the night game. During their morning game he had 19 points and 13 boards. Before we hit the road he scored an impressive 18 points in the first half of their night contest.
PG Nathanael Hoskins (Danville)
Hoskins is a crafty point guard who came up huge in the clutch moments of his teams game against Lockport. The sophomore lefty is a creative ball handler who loves to work in the lane breaking defenders down. Finishes well around the hoop with his strength. Took over the game late with multiple scores at the rim or runners including the game winner with a couple seconds left. Hoskins is one of the better lead guards on the board in 2021. He had 16 points against Lockport.
G Crue Walker (Centralia)
Walker was a pleasant surprise for Centralia. Don’t really remember him from when we saw the Orphans earlier in the season, but the combo guard can really shoot the basketball. Plus shot from three as he connected on a handful. Potential to play both on and off the ball as time goes on. He had 15 points.
SG Blake Peters (Evanston)
Peters is a top 20 sophomore that can really let it fly from deep. The shooting guard is lethal off the catch as he drilled several including an insanely tough one to close out the third quarter. Mixed in a runner. He did struggle though at the free throw line which is very unlike him. Peters scored 18 points.
PG Isaiah Holden (Evanston)
Isaiah is the next Holden point guard in line at Evanston. The sophomore guard is a smaller point who is most effective as a shooter. Drilled a handful with sound mechanics. He had 10 points.