Havoc in the Heartland: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook
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Sunday was the final day of the PrepHoops Havoc in the Heartland! It was a full day of hoops watching Illinois prospects! Here is our breakdown from the day in Havoc in the Heartland: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook! Jalen…
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Continue ReadingSunday was the final day of the PrepHoops Havoc in the Heartland! It was a full day of hoops watching Illinois prospects! Here is our breakdown from the day in Havoc in the Heartland: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook!
Jalen Griffith Jalen Griffith 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2023 State IL & Englewood STEM Duo Shine for The Work Foundation 15U
Last night Top 10 2023 prospect Simeon point guard Jalen Griffith Jalen Griffith 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2023 State IL dropped 40 points. It wasn’t quite that big of a scoring outing to open the day, but he was still very impressive. The smaller guard is lightning quick with the rock in his hands. Opened the game with a three from the wing. Then was in attack mode getting fouled on several takes and pushes in transition. His passing is his best skill. Made several explosive dishes in the lane when the defense focused on him. Englewood STEM 2023 forwards Jacob Williams and Glendale Miller put their names on our radar. Williams is a big bodied wing that finishes well around the cup and is a solid defender. Miller is a 6’4” forward that mauls on the offensive glass and finishes inside with power!
Who Shined for Illinois Hoopstars Central 16U?
We caught this team yesterday, but got an even better look on Sunday morning. Bloomington 6’6” small forward Famious French is an upside long term wing. Excellent size and athleticism on the perimeter. Was streaky shooting it in this game, but can put it on the deck with slick takes. Kai Rios is a 6’7” center that has a thick body. Pick/pop game and is overall a sound mid-range shooter. Crafty around the basket. Did have a few turnovers. Quincy 6’4” shooting guard Jermaine Knaff is an athletic two guard that can handle it in space and get to the rim. Potential as a versatile defender.
Illinois Hoopstars National 16U Focused in Morning Matchup vs The Work Foundation
We haven’t seen the talented Hoopstars 16U top team as focused as they were Sunday morning. They were clicking on all cylinders. It started with a dunk off the tip from Simeon shooting guard JayQuan Adams to set the tone. Matt Sommerville is a 6’6” wing that emerged with his athleticism on the glass and defensive end. Also capable mid-range shooter and made passes on the move. Marian Catholic 2022 shooting guard Jeremiah Jones continues to see his stock go up! Plus shooter off the catch that plays well in transition. Homewood Flossmoor do it all forward Christian Meeks brought the intensity on both ends as always. Nick Harrell is a talented two way wing for Brother Rice that showed his defense off by blocking shots and using his active hands. Solorio combo guard Donovan Jones ran the show getting others involved while staying in attack mode himself. They won 74-64.
Couple bright spots for The Work Foundation 16U group. Bloom 2022 point guard Mikey Brown is a quick guard that pushes off turnovers and converts below the rim with scoop shots. Also a capable pull up shooter. Jabar Wheatley of Dyett has good size on the wing at 6’3” and is a sound shot maker.
Sam Bradbury Sam Bradbury 6'8" | C Mattoon | 2022 State IL Anchors Champaign Heat 16U Effort
We caught the second half of Champaign Heat 16U’s contest. Mattoon 6’8” center Sam Bradbury Sam Bradbury 6'8" | C Mattoon | 2022 State IL was about as good as we have seen him. The wide bodied five man sealed off his defender on the catch for scores. Also used power going through them for and-1s. Had some nifty footwork as well finishing with a right handed hook shot. Snatches rebounds with two hands in traffic. Old school post that is worth tracking for D1s and D2s in 2022!
Illinois Hoopstars National 17U Advance to Finals with Win over EG10
Early on it looked like Western Michigan commit Gus Etchinson was going to put EG10 on his back and carry them with his shot making from all over the floor. Once the Illinois Hoopstars settled into the game they got it rolling and the highly ranked prospects came out to play! DePaul Prep 2021 combo guard TY Johnson was excellent in the win. He hit at least five triples showing fluid mechanics both off the catch and pulling up. Speed, athleticism, and vision in the open floor were impressive as well. He got to the foul line on several silky smooth drives. Finished with 23 points. Springfield Southeast 2021 shooting guard James Dent continues to go about his business drilling shots. Elite shooter hit several really deep triples. The rangy two guard is a mid-major talent that also got on the glass for a tip slam. Dent went for 27 points in the victory. Isaiah Holden ran the show. The Evanston product made some excellent passes and hit shots when they presented themselves. Chipped in 13 points. Springfield Lanphier center KJ Debrick was really good on the glass in this contest using his wide frame. Champaign Central junk yard dog four Khailieo Terry is an offensive rebounding machine. Newly minted John A Logan CC commit Donald Coats displayed his skilled game hitting threes and using his length defensively. Hillcrest two guard Hamahrie Bowers Hamahrie Bowers 6'5" | SF Hillcrest | 2021 State IL brought it on the defensive end and glass. Team effort over a really good EG10 squad!
Joliet West Quartet Pace Illinois T-Wolves 17U to Victory
The Illinois T-Wolves had an impressive outing on Sunday against the Illinois Hoopstars 17U Nelson squad. The T-Wolves top ranked prospect Joliet West 6’4” shooting guard Jaiden Lee actually started out the month with the Hoopstars on their national team. Lee displayed his athleticism around the hoop flying in for offensive rebounds from out of his area and his overall explosiveness above the rim was outstanding. His high school teammate Ashawn Burbridge is an undersized four that plays with a super high motor. He mauls on the glass for second chance points. Joliet West wing Andrew Johnson got it going with his mid-range jumper and floater game. We can’t leave out their point guard Terrance Moncrief Terrance Moncrief 5'11" | PG Joliet West | 2021 State IL . The lefty 5’10” lead guard conducts the show with his passing and speed.
For the Hoopstars Nelson squad shooting guard Gary Clay Gary Clay 6'3" | SG Hyde Park | 2021 State IL flashed. Good length and broad shoulders. Uses his athleticism on both ends. Bolingbrook combo guard Isaiah Stafford Isaiah Stafford 6'1" | PG Crispus Attucks | 2021 IN is a sound shooter from three that also has a lethal pull up game when he gets rolling.
Team M.O.R.E.17U Full of Under Recruited Prospects
We caught Team M.O.R.E. on Sunday afternoon and they definitely have several players that aren’t getting recruited to the level of their play. Corliss 6’5” small forward Jeffrey Oakley Jeffrey Oakley 6'5" | SF Corliss | 2021 State IL is a bouncy prospect that was absolutely dominant in this contest on the offensive glass with put backs one after another. He is more than just a high-energy guy however. Capable shooter that has skill on the perimeter. Low-majors and high D2s need to invest time here. Same can be said about Thornton 2021 6’6” guard Brandon Hall. Can play both on and off the ball. Over powers weaker defenders. Loves to play downhill! Orr 2021 point guard Norvell Meadows was outstanding in this contest. He had it working from all three levels. Hit a few deep threes and got to the rim with a burst. Pesky defender at the point of attack. The highest ranked prospect on the team was Simeon 2022 combo guard Jaylen Drane Jaylen Drane 6'2" | PG Simeon | 2022 State IL . Did his most damage as a passer making the extra dish with his explosive passing. They fell to Dayton Metro 77-71.
Illinois Hoopstars National Takes Home 17U Crown with Win over Gateway
It was a great championship game as the two favorites coming into the event met for the title. Illinois Hoopstars won 66-58. Once again Springfield Southeast shooting guard James Dent put on an absolute show! He is a born scorer with an elite three point stroke and even had the Reggie Miller leg kick working as he drew fouls on multiple three point attempts. Went for 21 points. It was a bit of a rough game for DePaul Prep star TY Johnson as he couldn’t get much to fall from the outside, but he did a nice job of facilitating and getting to the rim in transition for 13 points. Inside we have to give major props to Springfield Lanphier’s KJ Debrick and Champaign Central’s Khailieo Terry. Debrick started off well early with a couple tip ins, blocking shots, and rebounding. Terry was a beast on the offensive glass and played outstanding defense. His activity level and the production he gets off that is impressive. Went for 14 points. At the point Isaiah Holden from Evanston made several sweet passes including a fantastic behind the back pass for a dunk. Didn’t shoot it as well as he did previously, but still hit a three and a baseline jumper. He finished with 10 points.
On the Gateway side we continue to be very impressed with Desmet 2021 center Sekou Gassama. The 6’10” post is a high level rebounder with length and mobility. Does a nice job of finishing around defenders with his long arms. Shot blocking presence. Can put it on the deck from the mid-post. South Iron 6’4” shooting guard Brock Wakefield drilled a trio of threes showcasing sound mechanics late in the game. Also a sweet crisp one dribble pull up. O’Fallon Christian 6’0” guard Roddy Alexander brings athleticism, quickness, and scoring off the dribble from the lead guard spot.
Central Illinois Backcourt Paces Hoopstars Willis 17U in Finale
The last game of the event we took a look at the Illinois Hoopstars Willis 17U team. Mostly central Illinois prospects and it was their backcourt that made noise in this one with Bloomington shooting guard DeMarco Clayton and Urbana point guard Jermale Young. Clayton was about as good as we have seen him. Long and wiry 6’6” wing that slithers through the defense for scores. Took it coast to coast on several occasions often coming off steals. Lived at the rim all day long. Also hit a pair of threes when we were watching. Projectable wing with some upside. Young is a rangy 6’2” lead guard who uses his go-go gadget arms to get into his opponents defensively. Liked what he did offensively as a passer including throwing sound entry passes.