Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook
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Saturday was absolutely jam packed with games from 8 AM until deep into the night. We will have more in-depth coverage all week, but here is a taste (or nearly 2,000 words) on the Saturday action in Chi-Town Tip Off:…
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Continue ReadingSaturday was absolutely jam packed with games from 8 AM until deep into the night. We will have more in-depth coverage all week, but here is a taste (or nearly 2,000 words) on the Saturday action in Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook including 50+ prospects!
Meanstreets vs Brad Beal Elite 16U was Part 1 of EYBL Battle
Early in the day we got the prelim between these two elite Midwest EYBL programs. It lived up to the hype. Brad Beal Elite recorded the win 49-44. Kaleb Glenn from Kentucky was outstanding. Big and strong wing that slashes with the best of them. Combines a tight handle and a powerful frame to get downhill where he scored 17 points. Sultan Ademale was also a standout. The well built 6’6” four man from St. Louis Christian is a high level rebounder and defender that got most of his points off energy. Two Illinois standouts as Belleville East shooting guard Jordan Pickett Jordan Pickett 6'1" | SG Belleville East | 2023 State IL had a strong first half knocking down an array of pull up jumpers. Macaleab Rich from East St. Louis was up to his usual tricks pounding the glass for second chance points and converting dump offs. For Meanstreets Sam Lewis of OPRF knocked down an array of feathery jumpers for 13 points showing a lot of upside as a rangy wing. Miles Rubin of Homewood Flossmoor had his moments as he flushed some powerful jams early in the game.
Epic EYBL Thriller Between Meanstreets and Brad Beal Elite at 17U
In all honesty this was one of the best games period I have seen at any level in a long time. The atmosphere was absolutely electric from the opening tip. Brad Beal took the lead with seconds left as it looked like they had won. Then Buffalo Grove’s Kam Craft said not so fast my friend! He drained a three at the buzzer to send the gym into pandemonium! Craft had an excellent game netting 18 points including that crucial three. He scored effectively at all three levels showing he is much more than just a shooter. Crisp ball handler that created off the bounce. Top 2022 in Illinois AJ Casey did a little bit of everything. The versatile power forward scored inside and out. He knocked in jumpers, ran the floor, finished with dunks, and even passed it some en route to 14 points. Ty Rodgers was a man among boys out there. Such a physically impressive wing that is always in attack mode. Excels in the open floor as he scored 15 points. For Brad Beal Elite in his return home Jeremy Fears from La Lumiere was outstanding. The former Joliet West 2023 star point guard displayed a tremendous feel for the game as a passer setting up his teammates over and over again with insane dishes. He also scored when he needed too showing off improved hops and burst going for 18 points. Nick Smith from Arkansas is a top 50 national prospect that is so explosive in transition. He gets to the rim and line on a consistent basis. The breakout player was Pattonville (MO) small forward Kellen Thames who drained three after three for 15 points looking the part of a three and D wing at the D1 level. Braxton Stacker is a former Illinois prep standout playing across the river in Missouri at Cardinal Ritter. The small forward got to the line and flew in for rebounds.
Team Rose Post Players Shine at 16U and 17U
We came away impressed throughout the day with the versatile post players that Team Rose had at the 16U and 17U levels. At 16U it was Jeremy Harrington that made a major impact. The 6’5” Curie undersized four man did it inside and out throughout the day getting on the glass for put backs, swatting shots, and stretching the floor. He had 19 points in their opener. Simeon power forward Chikasi Ofoma is a face up four that can attack from the high post with tons of power and is physical around the hoop. Went for 15 points. On their 17U squad it was Xavier Amos that continued his momentum from the high school season to the circuit. Great frame, athleticism, and strength. He was active on the glass for second chance points, rim ran, and shot it from all over the floor for 17 points against Hoopstars.
Young & Reckless 17U Impresses in Win over M14
Really liked what we saw out of Young & Reckless in their win over M14. Tavari Johnson is putting everyone on notice that he is coming for them. The Lyons 2022 floor general isn’t the tallest, but man does this kid have major game. Playmaker that has a tremendous feel for the game running the show, playing around ball screens, and scoring on pull up threes. Went for 18 points. Mid-major and low-majors should be on him. Justin Mullins was equally as good. The OPRF product has emerged as a low-major/D2+ wing over the last six months. Scores in transition, hits threes, and gets in your face on D. Went for 16 points. For M14 their star Oswego East shooting guard Patrick Robinson showed flashes of his scoring off the bounce. Good size and strength with the ability to attack downhill finishing with either hand.
Illinois Hoopstars Standouts Throughout Day
There were standouts from the Illinois Hoopstars program in games all day for various teams. St. Ignatius 2022 shooting guard AJ Redd slashed his way to 15 points in their morning contest. Slick ball handler that got where he needed on the floor. Christian Meeks is a four from Homewood Flossmoor that is a volume rebounder, transition beast, and can hit an occasional three. Went for 18 points. AJ Storr is a newly minted Illinois commit. In front of a lot of Illini fans seeing him for the first time he shined with his powerful slashing and athleticism getting downhill. Hit a few deep shots, but was streaky at times too. DePaul Prep 2023 point guard Maurice Thomas got really hot in their afternoon game as he netted 17 points behind a strong three point game. Loved how Bolingbrook power forward Keon Alexander played against Meanstreets taking it right at their posts. Known as more of a rugged power forward he starting to have the skill catch up with quick and assertive moves.
D1 Minnesota 16U Backcourt Shine
The D1 Minnesota 16U group is outstanding overall, but it was their backcourt that left the biggest impression. Bouncy two guard Jalen Cain was dynamic as a three level scorer getting to the rim and draining threes for 17 points in their opener. Jack Janicki was one of my favorites I saw all day. The lefty is a slick scorer that makes creative plays off the bounce getting in the lane for reverse layups and runners. Also drained threes at a high clip for 21 points.
Illinois Heat Bring A Game
The Illlinois Heat 17U put on a dominant performance against an undermanned Fundamental U squad. Sulimon Agiste is a long and angular 6’9” five that was excellent finishing dump offs inside and even had a hook shot game. Defensively he is a major shot blocking presence. Low-majors should definitely take a look at the Clark post. Once he gets in a college strength program he can be a difference maker. Mikwon Jones was the best player on the floor as the Clark forward was so physical getting in the lane and converting and-1s. Went for 19 points. His brother Mikell Jones is more of a thick power forward that plays bully ball inside. Andrew Stokes brings perimeter defense and transition scoring from Montini. They have a couple of small point guards in senior Darrius Perryman who can knock down a three ball and Cordy Johnson who is a 2023 lead guard from Michelle Clark that showed flashes with the rock in his hands as a bucket getter.
De La Salle 1-2 Pushes RISE
RISE was pushed on Saturday behind their De La Salle inside-outside duo. Jalen Brown is a compact point guard that defends at a high level, but without his backcourt mate he had to step ups as a scorer and he did just that. Recorded 18 points and 6 dimes. Marcellius Cohen is a strong five man that rebounds at a super high level as he crashed the glass all game long for 12 points and 17 rebounds.
Breakaway 17U Skilled, Deep, and Has Elite Shooters
Breakaway was put on court 1 and they stepped up to the moment. Their shooters with size all played at a high level. Hinsdale South 6’6” small forward Bobby Durkin drained threes along with showing improved athleticism. Ben VanderWal of Timothy Christian definitely showed that pop draining crisp pullups along with getting to the rack including a forceful two handed slam. Went for 18 points. Sleeper wing to track is John Paul Hanley from Riverside Brookfield as he is another shooter with size that needs to be monitored at the small college level. Garrett Bolte is a pick and pop four to watch too from Hinsdale South.
Team Rose Wins Shootout Over Breakaway at 16U
One of the last games we saw was a lights out shooting performance from a pair of Illinois squads. Team Rose got shooting from Jeremy Harrington (mentioned above) who drained a handful of triples as the Curie standout loves shooting it from the top of the key. Jakary Towns out of the state of Michigan was unconscious with the way he let it fly in that night game making one after another. Breakaway matched them shot for shot on the other side led by Nikolas Polonowski. The Lyons 6’5” small forward has a good frame with a skilled game that translated to shooting a high percentage from beyond the arc. Stagg 6’2” 2023 point guard Arius Alijosius was a lefty shooting threat at the point as well.
Quick Hitters
Really liked what Vocational 2022 6’4” small forward Lashawn Pollard brought to the table for the Chicago Demons. Thick bodied forward mauled on the glass rebounding in traffic at a high level netting 13 points a lot off those coming off his rebounds.
Willowbrook 2022 combo guard Marquel Saleek was outstanding early in the day scoring with slick takes to the hoop and mixing in some pull up jumpers for 16 points.
Maybe the biggest winner of the day was Corliss unsigned senior Freddie Cooper. The Illinois Hoopstars unsigned senior guard impressed a ton of D2, D3, and NAIA coaches in the house. Was consistent throughout the day winning off the bounce and scoring from all three levels throughout the day. His recruitment is going to light up after this weekend.
St. Charles East small forward Trent Warren was the main standout for Fundamental U 17U on Saturday. Skilled and versatile wing that can knock down shots with a clean release and has potential defensively.
Mekhi Lowery jumped off the floor for the Illinois Stars 16U squad. The 2023 wing has a ton of projectability and was so active on the interior all game long in their afternoon contest. Marmion Academy small forward Trevor Roots was another on that same squad that checks a lot of long term boxes especially on the defensive end.
Unsigned 2021 Conant wing Devon Ellis Devon Ellis 6'5" | SF Conant | 2021 State IL is running with Team NLP. The strong bodied three man gets to the rim with quick and assertive moves from the mid and high post area finishing at the cup on shots with a high degree of difficulty.