High IQ Fall League: Upperclassmen Standouts
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On Sunday the High IQ Fall League concluded. With the Elite 8 and remaining games being played this weekend. I was able to catch the best Upperclassmen in action here were Sundays Best. Brandon Hall Brandon Hall 6'6" |…
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Continue ReadingOn Sunday the High IQ Fall League concluded. With the Elite 8 and remaining games being played this weekend. I was able to catch the best Upperclassmen in action here were Sundays Best.
Brandon Hall Brandon Hall 6'6" | PG Thornton | 2021 State IL Thornton 2021
Hall led his team in scoring. He paced his team early with strong attacks at the rim often getting fouled and sent to the line. Brandon’s aggressive play kept his team on top for most of the game. In the closing minutes of the Hall missed a free throw that could have sealed the game. He did his best to get back to the line in overtime but the game was out of reach by then.
Sean Burress Sean Burress 6'0" | PG Thornton | 2021 IN Thornton 2021
Sean had a good start to his game finding his teammates for scores. He did a good job handling the pressure from the St. Rita guards. Burress made a couple of mid-range jumpers and knocked down a big three that kept his team up a couple points. Sean did his best to keep his team in the lead but they ran out of gas and eventually lost the game.
Adam Claybourne Adam Claybourne 6'4" | SG Longwood | 2021 State IL Longwood 2021
Adam is one of the more talented underrated players in the city. He’s a shooter that did his best to keep things interesting in the Elite 8 games with Young. Claybourne and his team found themselves down double digits for most of the game which caused him to take quicker shots than usual. He’s a bigger guard who makes threes consistently but this Sunday he figured he can mix it up and get to the rim. On a couple drives he didn’t shy away from defenders and was fouled a couple times. He and teammate Damarcies Moore Damarcies Moore 6'5" | SF Cics Longwood | 2021 State IL did the best they could but Longwood would lose the rematch in the end.
Christian Henry Christian Henry 6'1" | PG St. Rita | 2021 State IL St. Rita 2021
Henry was the steady hand for the young backcourt he led into battle. In both games Sunday the pressure was heavy. Christian was a facilitator who found guys in tough situations. As a scorer Henry hit only couple of shots in what were tough defensive battles.
Jalen Houston Jalen Houston 6'0" | PG Hyde Park | 2021 NC Bogan 2021
Jalen had his moments on Sunday. He made a couple of pull up jump shots as well as some strong drives to the rim. Houston normally has a bigger impact on games but definitely spent most of his energy on the defensive side. He forced several steals in the open court that he assisted to teammates. In a loss Jalen was still pretty effective.
Grant Newell Grant Newell 6'7" | PF Whitney Young | 2021 State IL Whitney Young 2021
Definitely one of the most consistent productive players this fall league was back at it early on in the first game. Grant set the tone with some strong face up moves to the rim. He used his obvious height advantage to widen the lead with strong attacks and mid-range shots. Newell has been trending up since the spring and this weekend was no different.
AJ Casey AJ Casey 6'8" | PF Whitney Young | 2022 State #55 Nation IL Whitney Young 2022
Casey played with a chip on his shoulder this weekend. He was more aggressive than usual using good footwork around the rim like his teammate Newell. AJ didn’t hoist up a lot from the perimeter instead he played in the mid-post and close to the bucket. One move that I liked was a catch face up move that he finished after a strong hop step. Casey in the second game took it to the younger Brown from St. Rita. As he seems to be on a mission to prove he’s definitely the best in the state. In the championship game he started with a nice two handed slam. AJ battled hard on the boards on both sides of the ball. His best play of the game was a rebound he brought down dribbling the ball coast to coast for a layup. Casey is fitting in just right with his new high school teammates.
Nick Martinelli Nick Martinelli 6'6" | SF Glenbrook South | 2022 State #235 Nation IL Glenbrook South 2022
Martinelli is epitome of a Swiss army knife. The kid just gets it down on the court. Nick is a three level scoring wing that beat guys in one on one plays or in system sets. Martinelli put on two really strong scoring performances where he scored in transition, off screen plays, and from the post area. He also showed on defense he has a nose for the ball doing a good job boxing guys out for rebounds and then pushing the ball himself and making sound plays. Martinelli had many of the city players asking where is he from? I believe after his performance he is without a doubt a top 15 player in the 2022 class.
Troy Glover Glenbard West 2021
The 6’8 big man had a big day. He used all of his seven foot wingspan to change opposing players mind on drives. In the first contest he made it difficult for guards to come inside. Swatting several shots throughout the game. Around the rim he’s a hound getting put backs from all around. In the second game it was more of the same changing shots and finishing missed shots. Troy’s biggest play was off a missed jump shot when he skied over everyone and slammed it home. Glover’s energy and hustle made it hard for opposing teams. In the championship he ran out of gas but Troy is a sleeper in this 2021 class and if the right school can land him they are getting big man with a tremendous upside.
Tavari Johnson Tavari Johnson 6'0" | PG Lyons Township | 2022 State #171 Nation IL Lyons Township 2022
Another successful weekend for Tavari at the Pullman Center. He had another great showing while teaming up with Martinelli. Johnson found himself facing the CPS best in all three games and he answered the call in each game. Tavari didn’t spend much time launching deep threes. He broke defenders down and got to the rim with shifty moves often making spot on passes to guys near the basket. Johnson is another player that came out of this weekend earning lots of respect of the city’s best players after previously being rather unknown.
Jaehshon Thomas Jaehshon Thomas 6'1" | PG Whitney Young | 2021 State IL Whitney Young 2021
Thomas had an offensive explosion in the championship game as he took the defense apart scoring on all three levels. You would think after playing in 3 games in 4 hours most players wouldn’t have much in the tank. Jaehshon was definitely different as he mixed things up hitting a couple of baseline floaters, some mid-range pull up shots, and he knocked down a pair of threes. His championship game scoring output led the team to victory as he was named game MVP of the High IQ League.