IBA: Top Rosters, Prospects From Saturday at Summer Challenge
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The Illinois Basketball Academy opened its doors to teams headquartered across the Midwest, the program jamboree highlighting talent previously in the dark. With Platinum bracket games slated through 6 O’Clock today, what rosters and prospects left impressions on the hardwood?
Top Duo –
Julius Rollins Julius Rollins 6'7" | SF Hillcrest | 2021 State IL and Darrell Reed, Y&R Brim 16U: Today’s first matchup welcomed in a high-profile frontcourt duo. Drive-first forward Julius Rollins Julius Rollins 6'7" | SF Hillcrest | 2021 State IL scored 14 points in a win over Illinois Starz. The small forward sliced to the low block on multiple occasions while proving to be an elite finisher through contact. His counterpart Darrell Reed took little remorse on the rims, throwing down a few jams that left the backboard rattling. His dominance inside was a byproduct of his ability to use his own body. Reed outsized the smaller Illinois Starz defenders, while his motor to chase down rebounds led to a fistful of second-chance baskets.
Intriguing Roster –
H.I.T 16U: This is a roster dynamic that epitomizes a balanced offense. Four players tallied 9 or more points today in their game with Mercury Elite, three of them coming from a frontcourt laden with college viable talent. Both Luke Braman and Brian Matthews showed an elite back-to-the-basket game, while Matthews matched that with unguardable rebounding prowess (H.I.T’s feast of boards was key to getting stops late in the game). Odin Lium Odin Lium 6'5" | SF Oswego East | 2021 State IL , though a few of his shots rimmed out early on, showed his skill and finesse attacking the hoop. Grant Johnson Grant Johnson 6'5" | PF Naperville North | 2021 State IL ’s 6-foot-5 frame and corded arms made him an ideal physical prospect, and after knocking down two threes I’m sure his all-around nature might beckon colleges to offer. At guard, Liam Kim Liam Kim 6'0" | PG Naperville North | 2021 IL exploded in the second half, scoring on all three levels as he and backcourt-mate Tommy Craven Tommy Craven 5'11" | PG St. Charles East | 2021 IL willed H.I.T past a lingering Mercury Elite squad.
Standouts:
Jack Campion Jack Campion 5'10" | PG Milton | 2022 State WI , Wisconsin Playground 15U – The 5-foot-10 guard proved to be an ideal distributor for a roster teeming with offensive weapons. He could dart by his defender and into the paint, where his playmaking ability took precedent and he found open teammates.
Octaviyon Stanley (pictured), Team Iowa 16U – In his second game this weekend, the 2021 forward rattled off 10 points in the first half against Mercury Elite. His ability to find creases to attack was second-to-none in Gold Bracket play, while he contributed rebounding the ball as well.
Shaun Riley, SW Illinois Jets 16U – Riley made himself a fixture today with dunks grabbing the eyes of the entire field house. He’s a superb athlete, a maestro at scoring in the paint through contact. As warm-ups would suggest, he thrives in the fast break. But his ability to score from the mid-range, whether that’s a move off the catch or with a jumper, was his most intriguing trait.
Hayden Doyle Hayden Doyle 6'0" | CG Brookfield East | 2021 State WI , Wisconsin Playground 16U – The guard only needed five minutes to land on the standouts list, as his shooting ability kicked off Playground’s matchup with SW Illinois Jets and set the tone for a bombardment of outside shots. He scored 10 consecutive points, three of his four makes coming off crafty pull-up jump shots.
Other Notable Players: Brayden Dailey Brayden Dailey 6'6" | SF Cuba City | 2021 State WI , Cade Meyer Cade Meyer 6'8" | PF Monroe | 2021 State #237 Nation WI , Caleb Valentine, Corey Camper, Jacob Folkerts Jacob Folkerts 6'5" | PF Glenbard South | 2021 IL , Jeremiah Lovett, AJ Smith AJ Smith 6'7" | SG Metro East Lutheran | 2021 State IL , Damarcius Moore, Andrew Keller Andrew Keller 6'5" | PF Waunakee | 2022 State WI , Jallonie Williams, John Lovelace John Lovelace 6'4" | SF Brown Deer | 2021 State WI Jr., Ron Kirk Jr.