#HardWorkSZNKickoff: Scotty B’s Saturday Night Notebook
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Bracket play is in full swing at the Prep Hoops #HardWorkKickoff in Council Bluffs, Iowa with Saturday afternoon and evening games. To see what all the excitement was about check out #HardWorkKickoff: Scotty B’s Saturday Night Notebook! Illinois T-Wolves…
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Continue ReadingBracket play is in full swing at the Prep Hoops #HardWorkKickoff in Council Bluffs, Iowa with Saturday afternoon and evening games. To see what all the excitement was about check out #HardWorkKickoff: Scotty B’s Saturday Night Notebook!
Illinois T-Wolves 17U Complete Comeback Against South Dakota Network
For the majority of the game the Illinois T-Wolves trailed. They stayed in it though and kept fighting. In the end the won it late with a key three, stops, and free throws. Metea Valley High School has a nice duo for the T-Wolves. Myles Leavy is a 5’8” lefty point guard that can really shoot it! Knocked down several triples with a quick release. The most physically imposing player on the floor was their 6’5” shooting guard Marquel Brumfield. The 2020 Metea Valley product has a burst with the basketball in his hands. He gets downhill with force and uses his strength at the cup to absorb contact. Also Joliet West 6’3” small forward Daniel Okogun brought his brand of physicality around the hoop. Powerful on the glass and creates space inside with his body. Also stepped out to hit a mid-range jumper. Gets the most out of his ability! Also have to make note of South Dakota Network point guard Kesean Ladd. The lanky combo guard was drilling lefty pull up threes for days in this game!
South Dakota Attack 17U Lives Up to Hype in Win over Hoops Intensity Training
We had heard some buzz coming into the event about South Dakota Attack. They feature 6’7” 2021 forward Matthew Mors who holds multiple high-major offers. He showed well knocking down triples, completing crafty finishes in the paint including several and-1s, and we liked how he dished the rock. This team is more than just him however. Kobe Busch is a 2020 wing at 6’4” that was lights out shooting the rock. Quick and consistent stroke each time he shot it. Also mixed in some transition finishes. Also keep an eye on power forward Akoi Akoi. The 6’5” four man makes up for his lack of ideal height with his length high pointing rebounds and defending on the perimeter. For HIT it was Marcus Skeete who shined. The Waubonsie Valley junior has slimmed down and improved his perimeter skill a ton. That was apparent with the way he shot it from deep. Best we have ever seen him shoot it from three as he knocked down a handful in this game. Also had a sweet turnaround jumper in the lane finishing with 21 points. Oswego East power forward Sam Schultz flashed his skills. The top 20 Illinois prospect can stretch the D shooting it drilling one early, but then never found the touch after that. Used his athleticism taking his man off the dribble a few times for scores. At times he can be a bit out of control. Rebounded well in traffic. He had 11 points. Jack Baldridge out of Timothy Christian knocked down a pair of triples. Grayson Goetz from Oswego East scored on multiple crafty takes to the cup in the second half.
Team Factory Gold 15U Blitzes HIT
On Saturday afternoon Team Factory Gold knocked down threes from all over the floor. The shared the basketball in transition going from good shot to perfect shot time and time again. Defensively they played defense creating turnovers and forcing tough shots. Very well rounded group with no true star! They dismantled a solid Hoops Intensity Training group to advance.
Illinois T-Wolves 16U Hold On vs Team Factory to Advance
It wasn’t as pretty as Friday night, but the talented Illinois T-Wolves 16U still came out with the win Saturday night. They had a significant early lead and then blew it to trail 28-27 at the half. Illinois T-Wolves made plays in the second half, but Team Factory seemed to have an answer every time with a three or transition score. The T-Wolves made the necessary plays late and then ran out the clock to win 59-56. Lincoln Way East 2021 point guard Jhei-R Jones burst on our radar in the high school season and the small floor general played big on Saturday. Used his quickness defensively to cause havoc. Offensively worked well in the pick and roll, got to the rim off the bounce, and hit a three. Clutch plays in the second half. The wing quartet of Ashawn Burbridge (Joliet West), Jaiden Lee (Joliet West), Cameron Mallory (Lincoln Way East), and Andrew Johnson (Joliet West) all had their moments throughout, but none had a dominant performance. Most of the time they were either slashing or crashing the glass for put backs.
Hoops Intensity Training 16U Rolls into Semis
It was another balanced effort as Hoops Intensity Training knocked off South Dakota Network in the quarterfinals of the 16U bracket 62-48. You have to be impressed with the frontline that HIT throws out there with 6’5” small forward Odin Lium (Oswego East), 6’5” combo forward Tyler Van Eekeren (Benet), and 6’8” center Luke Braman (Roanoke Benson). Lium is a long and thin wing that has a crisp jumper and can play above the rim in the open floor. He had 21 points. Van Eekeren has strength to play as a small forward or small ball four. He has had a breakout weekend with his perimeter shooting and the tenacity he brings to the table netting 11 points. Better night game for Braman who was more physical and finished better inside on a seal and a couple other inside conversions. Also connected on a mid-range jumper. Definitely have to note Max Rivera (Neuqua Valley) who ran the show at the point getting everyone involved while also picking his spots to get his 11 points.
Team Factory Defeats Team RWA in 17U Thriller to Advance to Finals
What a way to end the night! The 17U semifinal between Team Factory and Team RWA was an epic contest. It looked early on like Team Factory was going to run away and hide as they were dominant early behind their twin towers of 6’9” Max Murrell and 6’8” John Shanklin. Murrell is a mobile five man that swatted everything in the paint. Offensively he used his skill and athleticism to knock down threes and when he was contested went right around them on a shot fake. Sweeping hook shots in the lane. Shanklin uses more power inside. Broad shouldered four man that is physical down low rebounding and throwing down dunks. Quick baseline take and a flash to the mid-post where he knocked in jumper were also excellent moves. For RWA it was Cary Grove 2020 point guard Beau Frericks who set the tone. He is one of the top pure shooters in the Illinois 2020 class and showed exactly why in this game. He buried four triples in the first half keeping his team hanging around. Quick release both pulling up and off the catch. In the second half he would go on to hit a couple more along with a scoop shot for 20 points. Plainfield North shooting guard Cooper Bridges left his imprint on the RWA comeback with his energy on both ends of the floor. He made difficult layups and other transition buckets. Defensively he trapped causing turnovers. Other backcourt mates Davis Walker and Elijah Jones each had 6 points in the loss as Murrell would swat a shot at the buzzer to win 57-55.