4A State Finals: Prospect Evaluations
High school basketball season concluded this past weekend in Peoria with the state finals. PrepHoopsIllinois dives in with our thoughts of the prospects that played. Here is our 4A State Finals: Prospect Evaluations! PF EJ Liddell (Belleville West –…
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Continue ReadingHigh school basketball season concluded this past weekend in Peoria with the state finals. PrepHoopsIllinois dives in with our thoughts of the prospects that played. Here is our 4A State Finals: Prospect Evaluations!
PF EJ Liddell (Belleville West – 2019)
Liddell cemented his legacy as one of the most dominant high school basketball players in recent Illinois prep history. When Belleville West needed buckets one last time they went to their superstar and he delivered. Early in the game they played him at point guard where he hit a step back three along with beating his man off the dribble. Then he went to work in the post. Such a fundamentally sound post player! He is unguardable on the high school level when given space and time to make a move. Uses the glass so well and banged in monster slams. His passing was phenomenal once again. Protected the rim and rebounded at solid clips. The PrepHoopsIllinois Player of the Year went for 24 points, 10 rebounds, 6 dimes, and 3 blocks to close out his epic career. Next up Ohio State!
SF Will Shumpert (Belleville West – 2019)
Shumpert stepped up huge in the second half scoring all of his 21 points in the last two quarters of the state championship game. He is a physical 6’5” small forward that can hit jumpers. What he did best in this contest was impose his will inside with offensive rebounds and so many dunks! He was about to tear the rim down on a few of them! Found openings in the D when they were focused on Liddell and perimeter threats. The Maroons do not win the title without him.
SG Jaylin Mosby (Belleville West – 2019)
Once again the silent assassin comes up in key moments for Belleville West. Mosby hit a key three in the fourth quarter to stretch the lead. One they would never give back. This utility guy is a solid spot up shooter that is great at being sneaky finding the weak spot in the defense. Also a gritty defender. Went for 18 points and 8 boards helping his team capture the crown on Saturday.
PF Keith Randolph (Belleville West – 2019)
Randolph is one of my favorite players in the senior class. He is a top hoops recruit that if he chose that route would have been a no doubt D2 guy and even earn low-major interest. Instead he will be playing on the D line for Illinois. In the semis he was a beast down low. He is such a physically imposing presence on the interior with his sheer mass. That combined with how well he moves, as he is incredibly light on his feet, make him a force. Sealed off his man over and over. Such a great job positioning his body on the block. Plus rebounder and is a brick wall inside on D. Randolph had 19 points and 6 rebounds in the semis.
PG Lawrence Brazil (Belleville West – 2019)
Brazil has steadily seen his stock rise over the last year. He put together quite a senior season running the show for the best team in the state. What you have to like about Brazil’s performance is Peoria is everything he showed. In the semis against Curie you saw what he brings to the table offensively. Got to the rim a couple times, hit a three, and was great setting up his teammates. He had 9 points and 5 dimes. His box score wasn’t as impressive in the final, but it was his lock down D on Blake Peters that made the biggest impact.
SG Tommie Williams (Belleville West – 2021)
With the graduation of all the Belleville West players above the Maroons will be Williams team the next two years. The top 20 sophomore played a key role in their championship victory. The 6th man played 25 minutes making solid passes finding open teammates and getting rebounds. He had 2 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.
SG Blake Peters (Evanston – 2021)
Lights out in Peoria! Last year as a freshman he had his coming out party at state in the semis with a monster performance. He did even better as a sophomore. The shooting guard is the best pure shooter in the state. Drilled seven triples on his way to 27 points (7-8 3 PT). Picture perfect form on his shot with a consistent and quick motion every single time. He is absolutely best off the catch. Does a tremendous job moving without the ball to get open and relocating to the vacant spot on the perimeter. Wow what a performance! He didn’t quite replicate it in the finals being held to only 5 points as Belleville West focused their defense on him.
SG Lance Jones (Evanston – 2019)
Jones is the heart and soul of this team. The Southern Illinois commit is a physical 6’2” two guard that is like a running back pounding the rock down the lane. He was excellent at that in this game using his combination of strength and nimble footwork in the paint along with great body control to finish at the cup. Such a high-motor player that wills his team to wins. Lives at the foul line! An underrated part of his game is his passing. On a team that distributed the ball great Friday night he made sound decisions with the ball finding shooters and his teammates for scores. Went for 24 points (7-11 FG) (10-12 FT) and 8 dimes in the semis. Had 15 points in the finals.
PG Jaheim Holden (Evanston – 2019)
Holden did everything he could for his team in the championship game. The Evanston senior floor general is a quick lefty playmaker that is shifty with the ball in his hands. He took it right at the Belleville West frontline with four layups in the early going. Also hit a corner three and mid-range pull ups. Was in attack mode all night long going for 20 points.
SF Louis Lesmond (Evanston – 2021)
Lesmond was a well-known name at the state tournament before even hitting the court because of his commercials being played every five minutes on the broadcast. He showed he is more basketball player than actor in the championship. Such an intriguing prospect at 6’5”. This is his first year in America after moving over from France. Plus shooter with range on his three point shot. Knocked down a couple threes. Also was scrappy inside with put backs, rebounding, and contesting shots. Went for 12 points and 5 boards.
SG Jaylin Gibson (Evanston – 2021)
Gibson was definitely better in the semis than the championship game. He made plays in the lane on multiple tip ins, slick drives, and catching passes cutting to the hoop. Also got a steal that he took the other way for a dunk. Versatile sophomore that has D1 talent. 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 dimes in that game.
PG Ryan Bost (Evanston – 2019)
Bost is the senior that might not get the most press, but he will find a home at a small college program. Smaller guard that played mostly off the ball for Evanston he can knock down shots from the perimeter as a spot up three point shooter. Crafty defender that had a strip that he took the other way. Better game was definitely the semifinal against Rockford East where he had 10 points and 3 steals.
SG Dajuan Gordon (Curie – 2019)
The Kansas State commit didn’t have his best outing the last two games in the super sectional and semi, but was ready to play in the 3rd place game. Sometimes it is hard to get up for a consolation game. This Chicago wing was up for it scoring nine points in the first three minutes. Long and lanky shooting guard that started off with a three. He was active on the glass for second chance points and used his toughness inside for three point plays the old fashion way. Rebounded well. Gordon had 24 points and 10 rebounds.
SG Justin Harmon (Curie – 2019)
Harmon is the ultimate utility player for this team. The two guard does a little bit of everything. Athletic and is a problem in transition for opponents. Got loose for multiple finishes in the open floor en route to 10 points in their third place game win.
SG Ramean Hinton (Curie – 2020)
Hinton led Curie in scoring with 10 points in their first game in Peoria on Friday. The #6 junior in the state had flashes including a sweet pick/roll play along with a couple of threes. He isn’t considered a great shooter and only went 2-7 from there in this game, but shows strides with his mechanics along with confidence in shooting it. Tough and physical Chicago guard.
PG Elijah Pickens (Curie – 2020)
This tiny Curie reserve point guard gave them a bit of a burst on Friday. Quick twitched floor general that pushes with his speed. Attacks despite his size throwing up difficult shots which he makes at times. Pesky on ball defender. Also hit a three en route to his 7 points, 2 assists, and 2 steaks.
PG Trevon Hamilton (Curie – 2019)
Hamilton is just a rock solid guard that doesn’t make many mistakes. He gets others involved first and then can hit threes. After a good senior season he should find a home at the college level. Capped his career off with 8 points and 3 assists
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G Damari Nixon (Curie – 2019)
The senior lefty really struggled shooting the ball from the perimeter in the college arena. Couldn’t buy a shot in the semis. Three ball wasn’t falling in the 3rd place game either, but he put his head down and got to the hoop on slashes where he finished acrobatic layups or got to the line where he was 6-6. Nixon netted 12 points.
SF Phillip Berryhill (Curie – 2021)
Berryhill is a sophomore wing to track this spring. Long and lanky small forward with upside as he can shoot the ball drilling his only attempt in the semis.
SF Sha’den Clanton (Rockford East – 2019)
Clanton is a 6’6” wing with a super long wingspan. The angular forward plays bigger than his height with his ability to get on the offensive glass. Quick player on the interior that has a feel for where the ball is coming off the rim. He showed a decent looking shot hitting one from beyond the arc. Most comfortable in transition and attacking off the bounce from the high or mid-post area. Slick handles on straight line drives. Went for 20 points and 7 rebounds (5 offensive) on Friday. Saturday he scored 8 points.
SG Christopher Burnell.(Rockford East – 2019)
Burnell is one of the better unsigned senior wings in the class. At 6’3” he is a powerful two guard. Loves to use his physicality and square his shoulders getting to the rack. Early on he got two fouls which caused him to sit out a major chunk of the first quarter. He came back with a scoring barrage to try to get his team back in the game. Burnell attacked over and over where he used both euro steps to avoid defenders as well as converting and-1s going through opponents. Has an outstanding feel for reading defenses and where to hit the hole like a running back. Burnell had 26 points (9-14 FG) (8-9 FT). Was held to 8 points by Curie in the 3rd place game.
SG Sincere Parker (Rockford East – 2020)
Parker is one of the more intriguing two guards in the 2020 class. Great size and length to go along with a plus jumper. At times he can force it, but he proved on a couple of his triples he has deep range to well beyond the college arc. Pair of put backs with some scrappy play inside as well. He had 11 points.
SF Andres Thompson (Rockford East – 2019)
Thompson definitely helped his stock among college coaches with his play in Peoria. The wing has good size and athleticism. Angular defender that can shoot it on the other end. Plus athlete with some upside. 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals against Curie.
SG Makarious Luster (Rockford East – 2021)
Luster put himself on our radar in a major way with his play in the Friday night game. This lefty two guard has some projectability and can shoot it from three knocking down 2-3 from deep. Lots of arc on his shot. Went for 8 points.