Scouting the State: Sunday Statements
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PHI finished off our weekend marathon of games with three more on Sunday. We took in St. Viator vs Marian Catholic, Whitney Young vs St. Laurence, and St. Charles North vs Lake Park. As always we break it all down…
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Continue ReadingPHI finished off our weekend marathon of games with three more on Sunday. We took in St. Viator vs Marian Catholic, Whitney Young vs St. Laurence, and St. Charles North vs Lake Park. As always we break it all down for you in Scouting the State: Sunday Statements!
New Sophomore Names Galore in St. Viator vs Marian Catholic
There were a ton of sophomore prospects that put their name on our radar with their play in the first game of the day on Sunday. The first was St. Viator 2023 5’11” point guard Eli Aldana. The scoring point guard was very dynamic with the ball in his hands knocking down an array of threes, runners, and scoop shots. Fiery leader for this team already as a sophomore. He had 25 points leading his team to a 65-62 win. Dillon Schmidt also showed flashes at the point as more of a distributor with some developmental and physical upside. For Marian Catholic they had a backcourt sophomore pair that impressed as well. Jeremiah Smith is a lengthy 6’2” two guard that was explosive around the hoop scoring and getting on the glass. Tre Davis stands at 5’11” and the 2023 point guard has a thicker body. Can take a bump at the rim and loves the mid-range jumper.
Jeremiah Jones Jeremiah Jones 6'4" | SG Marian Catholic | 2022 State IL Stock Continues to Rise
Marian Catholic 2022 6’2” shooting guard Jeremiah Jones Jeremiah Jones 6'4" | SG Marian Catholic | 2022 State IL fits what colleges are looking for. Lengthy guard that is the three and D player. Offensively he is a knock down shooter from beyond the arc with his ability to stretch the defense draining feathery triples from all over the floor. Smooth and effortless release. He can put it on the deck for straight line takes and finish around defenders. Passed it better than we had seen in the past both making solid decisions in the half court and getting it to his teammates in transition. On the defensive end he is a complete monster guarding both on and off the ball. His ability to consistently create turnovers game in and game out is super impressive. Low-major and D2 programs should be monitoring him heading into the summer with the Illinois Hoopstars. He had 30 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and 4 dimes.
Whitney Young holds on over St. Laurence…..Barely
Early on in Whitney Young’s third game in three days they looked unstoppable. Their defense was causing turnovers and they were getting out in transition for dunks. Knocking down threes. St. Laurence kept within reasonable striking distance almost mounting an epic comeback in the fourth as they turned the Dolphins over time and time again. They came up just short as Whitney Young won 63-62.
Top Ranked 2022 AJ Casey AJ Casey 6'8" | PF Whitney Young | 2022 State #55 Nation IL Displays Versatility
The #1 junior in the state AJ Casey AJ Casey 6'8" | PF Whitney Young | 2022 State #55 Nation IL showcased a little bit of everything that makes him such a terrific college prospect. The 6’8” power forward recorded three consecutive steals in their press early with two converted for dunks and the other a slick pass. Speaking of his passing that is an area he has made improvements. Most impressive was when he grabbed a defensive rebound and threw a one handed bounce pass the length of the floor on the money. Shot it pretty well from deep too hitting a pair of spot up threes along with a contested mid-range jumper with a hand in his grill. The athletic four man finished with 15 points in the win.
Darius Wilson Breaks Out on Big Stage as Sleeper Senior
St. Laurence senior Darius Wilson isn’t currently ranked, but after the performance he 6’2” senior power scoring guard put together against one of the state’s top teams he certainly will be in the final 2021 edition. Bowling ball of a guard that was very effective shooting draining four from beyond the three point line. Can shoot off catch or create his own shot pulling up. Tough kid had 19 points. Nice late addition for a small college or JUCO.
Battle of Underclassmen Guards
Two quality underclassmen guards matched up in this one. Whitney Young 2023 point guard Dalen Davis Dalen Davis 6'0" | PG Whitney Young | 2023 State #167 Nation IL was his usual self living up to his lofty ranking as one of the top sophomores in the state. Quick decisions on the fly as a passer that led to points for his teammates. Also is becoming much more of a threat from three as he connected on four of them in addition to some acrobatic layups for 17 points. St. Laurence 2024 point guard Aminu Habib was unknown coming into the game, but certainly doesn’t leave this contest like that. The younger brother of D1 point guard Ismail Habib is a slick handling lead guard that made several fantastic dishes and was active defensively with deflections and steals.
Dolphins Seniors Play Part
Whitney Young is loaded with depth in the junior and sophomore classes, but two of their key players are seniors point guard Jaehshon Thomas Jaehshon Thomas 6'1" | PG Whitney Young | 2021 State IL and power forward Grant Newell Grant Newell 6'7" | PF Whitney Young | 2021 State IL . Each are among the highest ranked uncommitted senior prospects in the state. Thomas had a couple finishes in the paint, pull up 15 footer, and a three finishing with 10 points. Good rebounder for a guard. Newell got to the charity stripe throughout the game and had a pair of key finishes in the paint for 8 points. Neither had stellar games but were important parts of the win and we believe each are low-major D1 prospects.
St. Charles North’s Ethan Marlowe Ethan Marlowe 6'8" | PF St. Charles North | 2022 State IL Primed to Breakout in 2022
The star of St. Charles North’s 40-30 win over Lake Park was 2022 power forward Ethan Marlowe Ethan Marlowe 6'8" | PF St. Charles North | 2022 State IL . The 6’8” broad shouldered and mobile four man went to work on the glass early and then his scoring followed. Very skilled player with his ability to get buckets from all over the floor. Runs the floor well in transition. Hit the offensive glass for second chance points. Pick and pop three along with one from the corner. Right-handed hook shot and a baseline turnaround. He had it all working in a 20 point and 8 board outing. Very impressive outing as he is starting to track as a D1 prospect.
Lots of Juniors to Track in St. Charles North vs Lake Park
There were a ton of other 2022 prospects that shined in this game. For Lake Park it was the Love Duo in Jude Love and Max Love Max Love 6'5" | SF St. Charle North | 2022 State IL . Jude is a strong bodied wing that scored early with a three, put back, and had a couple nifty dishes. The most impressive part was the defense he brought in the second half on Blachut after his hot start. Went for 11 points in the game. Max Love Max Love 6'5" | SF St. Charle North | 2022 State IL has some more physical projection with his athletic build and skill level. He scored 7 points. Both look to be very good small college prospects. In the first quarter it was all about Sebastian Blachut for Lake Park. The 6’0” junior guard was crafty scoring off the bounce on slick takes. Scored almost all of his 9 points in the first half. Another 2022 backcourt player was Vito Lagioia. The point guard got it going in the second half hitting an array of crisp pull ups en route to 10 points. Same idea here with the college projections as both should be small college prospects that need to be tracked this spring and summer.