#HardWorkSZN Kickoff: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook
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Saturday was a tremendous day of hoops at the #HardWorkSZN Kickoff in Appleton, Wisconsin. Let’s dive into what we saw on Day 2 in #HardWorkSZN Kickoff: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook! Illinois T-Wolves 15U Impress in Morning Win over Minnesota…
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Continue ReadingSaturday was a tremendous day of hoops at the #HardWorkSZN Kickoff in Appleton, Wisconsin. Let’s dive into what we saw on Day 2 in #HardWorkSZN Kickoff: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook!
Illinois T-Wolves 15U Impress in Morning Win over Minnesota Select
The Illinois T-Wolves program always has some of the best talent from the west and south suburbs. This young group looks like another good one. They were pushed by point guard Jayden Martin. The Joliet West 6’2” point guard is an aggressive on ball defender that plays with tenacity on both ends of the floor. He has a sweet runner game and hit a pair of jumpers as well including a corner three. Quick decisions as a passer. He was complimented inside by Lincoln Way East 6’5” power forward George Bellevue. The long and strong bodied four mauled on the glass all game long. Brought toughness and tenacity inside. Shot blocking presence and is extremely active. Another T-Wolves prospect that caught our eye was 6’3” Lincoln Way East combo guard Kyle Olagbegi. He played both on and off the ball. Powerfully built kid that rebounds and has some upside. The T-Wolves went on to win 60-49.
For Minnesota Select James 15U they had spurts of really impressive play and struggled at times. For them it came down to their perimeter shooting. Definitely like a pair in their backcourt in Will Walker and Jayden Livingston. Both have solid positional size and can shoot it from deep with sound mechanics.
Illinois Hoopstars 15U Fall in Second Game of Day
We got our second look at this central Illinois Hoopstars squad and despite the 54-49 loss to Wisconsin Blizzard there are definitely some positives to take away from this one. Bloomington 2023 point guard Adam Beasley continues to dazzle with his speed and playmaking in the open floor. Very good on ball defender as well. Gurmaine Springfield is a younger RJ Ogom RJ Ogom 6'6" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2020 State IL type player. We comp him to the College of Charleston commit because of his size, strength, and versatile offensive game. Showed more ability to put it on the deck in this one. Bloomington power forward Demarcus Wesley was all over the offensive glass in this one for second chance points. Also mixed in a lefty mid-range jumper and swatted a couple shots. Upside especially if he continues to grow. Urbana guard Gedeon Kapango opened our eyes with the way he shot the rock knocking down a trio of spot up threes.
The Work Foundation Holds off Champaign Heat in Illinois 16U Matchup
This was an extremely low scoring game early on with it being 13-12 at the half. A lot of turnovers and missed shots as teams are getting used to playing again. For The Work Foundation I came away very intrigued with the upside presented by Hyde Park 2022 6’6” small forward Malik Jenkins. Has a long and projectable body and the lefty can knock down a shot. Defensively he moves well and contests shots. Solid rebounder for a wing as well. Lots of upside here to develop over the next two years. Same could be said of Goode 2022 6’6” power forward Tywon Miller. Lanky four man can brings athleticism and defense to the table. The Work Foundation took home the win 45-40.
For Champaign Heat it was a balanced attack. Jimmy Nelson from St. Thomas More might be their best long term prospect. The 6’3” guard has a good feel for the game distributing the rock and is strong with the ball. Threw a couple great passes. Bolingbrook combo guard Jaydin Dunlap got in the lane for a few nifty runners. This team has a couple bigs that are worth monitoring in Mahomet Seymour’s Luke Koller and Mattoon’s Sam Bradbury. Both go about 6’8” with big frames.
Sharks Basketball Academy Puts on Fundamental Show vs Illinois Future
Last year Sharks Basketball Academy put themselves on the map with their play during the PHC. They are back with the same guys and some reinforcements! This group just wins games. They play as a team, share the ball, hit open shots, and get after it defensively. It all starts with their leader at the point in St. Patrick’s 2021 Caleb Corro Caleb Corro 6'1" | PG St. Patrick | 2021 State IL . He sets the tone with his leadership, distributing, and shot making. He is surrounded by quality wings that can make shots in Jackson Gitterle, Sean Gallery, Connor Benson, and Josh Harris. Each contributed in the win. A new name that emerged for us was Maine South 6’6” four man Marko Anderson. Crafty low post scorer that is efficient with his touches in the paint. Michael Hamilton from St. Patrick’s also showed some pop catching a big backdoor lob. The Sharks won 59-40.
For Illinois Future their star Ismail Habib definitely had his moments. The former Lincoln Park standout will be transferring to St. Laurence for his senior campaign. Strong and compactly built smaller point guard that scores in bunches. Loves the pull up game from three. He did it over and over in this one. So fast with the rock end to end! Also Orr 2021 power forward Tyrese Shannon caught our attention. Size and length to be a combo forward at the next level. He is the younger brother of Tajautae Williams who was a D1 standout for Orr a couple years back. Shannon could be primed for a similar breakout as a senior.
Team M.O.R.E. 17U falls to Wisconsin Crusaders
Was really excited to see what this Team M.O.R.E. squad brought this weekend. Two of their high profile players were in attendance, but they still boasted a pair of D1 forwards in Jeffrey Oakley Jeffrey Oakley 6'5" | SF Corliss | 2021 State IL (Corliss) and Julius Rollins (Hillcrest). The duo wasn’t quite enough as the Crusaders won 102-90. Oakley definitely showed why we have been fans of him for a while. Lethal first step off the bounce at 6’5” and has athleticism finishing at the cup with reverse layups, floaters, and above the rim. Can get in passing lanes for steals as well. Rollins is a well-known and highly recruited combo forward that fits the new age position to perfection. He can play inside and out. Versatility to guard multiple spots. Puts it on the deck well at 6’7” and is so active in the paint!
Illinois Outwork 17U comes up short against Evolution
Yesterday Illinois Outwork had a big time win in their opener. They fell to Evolution 57-45 on Saturday afternoon in a game we caught the second half. A couple of Illinois prospects caught our eye. On a team that is built primarily around Morton High School players it was a duo from other schools that put their names on our radar. North Lawndale 2021 6’3” shooting guard Dae’Quan Davis is a powerful wing that likes to take it to cup on straight line takes. Shallah Davis is playing up as the Argo product is a 2022 prospect at 6’3”. This wing is best getting loose in transition for scores. Both worth watching going forward!
HIT 16U Puts on Clinic in Win
Hoops Intensity Training has had some really good teams over the years and they always fit together. Their 16U group does just that. Ethan Ivan Ethan Ivan 6'7" | PF Batavia | 2022 State IL (Batavia) and Patrick Robinson (Oswego East) are their two stars. Ivan started off against World Hoops Elite on fire with a put back followed by a pair of triples. Skilled and versatile face up four that can stretch the floor and switch on D. Robinson made a huge debut in our 2022 rankings earlier this week. He played up to the ranking! With a powerfully built body he reminds me in some respects of former Bolingbrook star Tyler Cochran. Strong two guard that has body control around the hoop, hits jumpers, and boards.
Those two are surrounded by skilled shooters in Brady Heckman Brady Heckman 6'1" | PG Benet Academy | 2022 State IL , David Gieser, and Daniel Penosky. Trey Keizer brings some ball handling and shooting to the table. Sergio Rivera and Donald Davis have length and athleticism on the perimeter. Joseph Rodriguez plays physical and rebounds very well for his size.
Gus Yalden Too Much for Chicago Lockdown 15U
The Chicago Lockdown 15U group gave Wisconsin Playground Club everything they had in their game Saturday night. It just wasn’t enough. Wisconsin native Gus Yalden who has high-major offers was a beast inside. Reminds us of a young Luke Maye. Good size at 6’8” with a physical body and uber skilled! He has a soft touch around the hoop with excellent footwork. Passes very well including long outlets. Mauls on the glass. Yalden carried his talented Playground team to the win 52-43.
For Chicago Lockdown we came away really liking several of their players. Maybe the highest ceiling comes from Homewood Flossmoor 2023 6’7” power forward duo Wesley Rubin and Miles Rubin. Wesley finished with 8 points and 7 boards. Miles had 7 points and 6 boards. Long, angular, and run the floor with ease. Showed flashes defensively blocking shots and rim running. On the perimeter Jackson Niego from Lyons Township runs the point with crisp passing. He is the next in a never ending line of Niego guards! Collin Wainscott from Marmion Academy knocked down some shots from deep en route to 11 points. A couple of physical guards to track are Hillcrest shooting guard KJ Cobb and Homewood Flossmoor two guard Nashawn Holmes. Cobb was particularly good with 11 points and 3 dimes.
HIT 17U Struggles in Opener against Loaded Wisconsin Playground Club
In their first game of the summer Hoops Intensity Training 17U had a tough opener falling to Playground 71-44. We will let the Wisconsin scouts breakdown their stellar squad. What were some bright spots for HIT in the defeat? I thought their wings showed well in spurts. Benet 2021 small forward Tyler Van Eekerren is known more as a shooter, but he was most effective in this game putting it on the deck with several creative finishes in the paint. Neuqua Valley small forward Connor Davis knocked down several shots from three. Naperville North 2021 power forward Grant Johnson Grant Johnson 6'5" | PF Naperville North | 2021 State IL got it going late showcasing his pick and pop game hitting a three and connecting from mid-range on a pull up. They have a big one tomorrow against in-state Illinois Hoopstars National.
Illinois Hoopstars 16U Battle Back, but Fall Short Against Wisconsin Playground
This was a bit of a sloppy game between two super talented squads. Jeffery Brazziel was magnificent for Playground. One of the best 2022s in Wisconsin showed why with his relentless slashing and playing above the rim. For the Illinois Hoopstars National 16U squad it was a balanced effort. I thought Solorio star guard Donovan Jones showed well in spurts. Did have some turnovers, but he is so dynamic with the ball in his hands whether it is in the pick/roll, getting downhill, or pushing in transition. Can also knock down a pull up three. Bloom 2022 power forward Emondrek Ford displayed glimpses of where his game could be going. Long and angular lefty is quick off his feet, runs the floor, and high points rebounds. Used a nice spin move in the lane. High energy Christian Meeks from Homewood Flossmoor did his usual being the hardest playing prospect on the floor including grabbing one defensive rebound and taking it coast to coast for a score. Marian Catholic 6’2” shooting guard Jeremiah Jones Jeremiah Jones 6'4" | SG Marian Catholic | 2022 State IL helped himself in this game. Rangy wing can hit a shot off the catch and is just scratching the surface of his potential.
Illinois T-Wolves Claw Back to Send Game to OT
Waterloo Salvation led late, but the Illinois T-Wolves 17U squad made big plays late to send the game to OT. The player that jumped off the floor to us in this game was Lincoln Way Central 2021 6’9” post James Ogrodnik James Ogrodnik 6'9" | PF Lincoln-Way Central | 2021 State IL . We saw him last summer and were intrigued, but then he barely got off the bench when we evaluated his high school team. Man was he impressive with the way he can stretch the floor with his shooting as a five man. Showed some athleticism, ball handling, and had an explosive tip dunk. Joliet West has a ton coming back next year including a trio from this team. Terrance Moncrief is an energizer at the lead guard spot getting in the lane making plays for himself and others. Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson 6'3" | SF Joliet West | 2021 State IL is a well built two way wing. Ashawn Burbridge made several key plays down the stretch as the ultimate junk yard dog 6’5” small college post! Cameron Mallory from Lincoln Way East also showed flashes with his silky smooth jumper at 6’5”.