Top Performances We Saw This Season: #6 – #10
In our recap of the high school basketball season in Illinois we now move to the best individual performances that we saw this year. PHI scouted 152 games. In this series we dive into the 40 premier performances from the…
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Continue ReadingIn our recap of the high school basketball season in Illinois we now move to the best individual performances that we saw this year. PHI scouted 152 games. In this series we dive into the 40 premier performances from the year that we personally witnessed. Here is our Top Performances We Saw This Season: #6 – #10!
#6 Antoine Bloxton Antoine Bloxton 6'3" | SG Bogan | 2020 State IL (Bogan)
Bloxton was one of the more electric players in the Chicago area for sure and he did just that in the Proviso West Holiday Tournament title game against Morton. The wiry 6’2” two guard scored a lot of his points early off his defense. Created turnovers with his pressure on Morton’s ball handlers and then took his steals the other way for layups or dunks. Speed in the open floor. Hit several sweet pull up jumpers in the second half including multiple deep threes. Bloxton is an exciting player that scored 33 points in the championship game.
#7 Amar Augillard Amar Augillard 6'5" | SF Zion Benton | 2021 FL (Zion Benton)
Augillard matched Hopkins shot for shot early on in their matchup at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament. The 6’5” junior drilled an array of deep jumpers throughout the game including a huge one late where he was fouled. He is definitely a solid shooter, but his biggest asset is his ability to get downhill using his over powering strength. Improved his ball handling in tight spaces which allowed him to make more of his drives. Augillard had 33 points and 6 rebounds.
#8 Damontae Taylor Damontae Taylor 6'7" | PF Zion Benton | 2020 State IL (Zion Benton)
By far and away the best game we have seen out of this 6’6” forward in his career. Taylor is a super long and thin combo forward that had it all working against Evanston in a win on the road. In the first quarter he ripped off 11 points playing above the rim with an array of acrobatic finishes. He is excellent running the floor with his long strides and has a sweet euro step. Smooth slasher that is slippery on straight line takes. Crashed the glass offensively for second chance opportunities. He even played quite a bit on the ball showing improved handles from what we saw over the summer. Taylor finished with a game high 33 points.
#9 James Dent James Dent 6'3" | SG Springfield Southeast | 2021 State IL (Springfield Southeast)
Dent is making the O’Fallon Shootout his personal playground over the last couple years. The 6’5” long and wiry two guard was excellent with his feathery jumper along with his ability to create off the bounce. His biggest strength is his ability to knock down jump shots. Free and easy release from beyond the arc hitting them at a high rate from deep. As a scorer off the dribble he is improving that area tightening up his handles and getting to the rim. His middle game in the 15-18 feet area is also getting better utilizing a jab step to open up space for his shot. Rebounds well for a wing. Much improved passer since the summer displaying an improved feel for the game. Defensively he can check either wing spot and gets in passing lanes frustrating opponents. He had 31 points (13-25 FG), 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.
#10 Brandon Weston (Morgan Park)
The Brandon Weston tour continued at CEC against CBC. The junior two guard had to sit out last season because of a transfer and he is taking it to the opposition. Athletic scoring wing has come out in each game we have seen the Mustangs play with his aggressiveness and tenacity. Didn’t shoot it particularly well from three, but he was great getting to the rim with his athleticism and burst with the ball in his hands. Scored on a backdoor alley-oop along with a slick euro step. He lived at the foul line going 8-13 from there. Weston had 25 points (8-16 FG).