Prep Hoops Live: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook
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What happened on the final day at Prep Hoops Live in Kansas City? We break it down here in Prep Hoops Live: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook examining over 40 players from the day! D1 Minnesota Backcourt Shows Out Liked…
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Continue ReadingWhat happened on the final day at Prep Hoops Live in Kansas City? We break it down here in Prep Hoops Live: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook examining over 40 players from the day!
D1 Minnesota Backcourt Shows Out
Liked what we saw out of the D1 Minnesota backcourt a week ago in Chicago and it continued in Kansas City. Jack Janicki is becoming a favorite of mine. Lefty lead guard is an absolute sniper from deep being able to create his own shot or hit pull ups. Also mixed in some crafty plays off the bounce. Sammy Musungu was the other guard that stood out. Quick point guard that got to the rim and knocked in mid-range jumpers. Great burst with it off the bounce.
Illinois Hoopstars 17U Standouts
Three prospects left an impression on the Illinois Hoopstars McAllister 17U squad. Bloomington 6’6” small forward Famious French not only has an awesome name, but legit game! Long and lanky build with a silky smooth offensive skill set. Knocks in turn around jumpers and had several slick takes off the bounce. DJ Starr was a consistent presence for his team throughout the weekend. The Normal U-High 6’0” point guard is really good at scoring with his pull up jumper along with using athleticism off the bounce. Shows flashes of being a plus playmaking guard at the next level. Unsigned senior Quinton McCullough is going the prep route. He displayed some intriguing tools at 6’6” with his strong frame as a combo forward and clean looking jump shot. Also versatile defender.
Unsigned Seniors Standout in Chicago Demons vs Team Perry Ellis PE 34
It has been a successful spring for Curie unsigned senior Phillip Berryhill. Each of the three times we have seen him he has played well. Long and rangy wing is starting to produce. Knocking down jumpers at a high rate and has improved his assertiveness off the bounce. Perfect JUCO candidate to continue development. For Perry Ellis the prospect that stood out was Joshua Symonette who is a 6’6” power forward that is also an unsigned senior. Athletic four who rebounded in and out of his area and converted with efficiency around the hoop.
Hoopstars Wilder 16U Tops Iowa Barnstormers
This 16U game between the Illinois Hoopstars and Iowa Barnstormers was a fun one. Hoopstars got the win 53-46. It was a show put on by Keon Alexander. The Bolingbrook four man continues to get better each and every time we see him. He is a tenacious rebounder that brings toughness and the skill is starting to come around. Understands how to position himself on the block to score. High/low finishes, quick post moves, and gets to the line. Went for 16 points. He led the way, but we liked what his fellow forwards did. Stevenson small forward Joshua Thomas has smooth handles that allow him to win off the dribble at his size. Put it on the deck for several impressive finishes at the cup. Considerable upside. George Bellevue of Lincoln Way East is a bouncy forward that is elite on the offensive glass for second chance points. Grant Welch Grant Welch 6'3" | PG Moline | 2023 State IL from Moline ran the show with his high IQ getting others involved. His backcourt mates Maurice Thomas (DePaul Prep) and Bryce Tillery (Hillcrest) each showed off their three point game in the win. On the Barnstormers side an Illinois prospect left a positive impression on us in Cameron Atkinson. The Rock Island rangy two guard moved well without the ball for several buckets.
2023 Wings Duel it Out in Hoopstars Wills vs 816 Varsity Matchup
We caught the second half of this shootout that featured a pair of monster performances. Normal U-High small forward Mason Funk put on a clinic scoring with ease from multiple levels netting 32 points. The 6’6” forward is one to track. On the other side for 816 Varsity Camden Bennett was a powerful slashing wing who matched the number on the back of his jersey dropping 41 points including four triples along with regularly getting to the line. Also was impressed with the perimeter shooting of Logan Sluder from the Hoopstars out of Normal West as the 5’10” point guard had 11 points.
Complete Effort by Illinois Bears 16U
The Illinois Bears put on a clinic in their victory on Sunday afternoon. The southern Illinois squad plays well together and it all clicked in this game. Trenton Wesclin point guard Grant Fridley ran the show from his point guard spot. The 6’1” lead guard has such a good feel for the game. He made it look easy passing getting in the lane and finding shooters and big men with creativity. Also was good as a scorer with pull up jumpers, scoop shots, and smooth handles in the open floor. Went for 15 points in the win. His backcourt mates also helped him out. Cade Altadonna from Highland is such a competitive scoring point guard with a lethal three point shot and passing flair. He had 11 points. Caden Hawkins out of Carterville hit threes, was excellent sharing the rock, and cutting away from the ball for buckets. Went for 12 points. Nashville 6’2” two guard Carter Shoenherr was an impact glue guy who was always around the ball on the boards for put backs scoring 10 points. Up front they have Kade Lustenberger from Carterville who was the best we have seen him on the perimeter. Displayed more wing skill than we had previously seen draining an array of jumpers along with putting it on the deck and defending well. Tyler Franklin is a strong bodied combo forward at 6’6” that gets it done with toughness rebounding in his area and can hit a spot up three. Cole Peppenhorst is a long and rangy 6’5” four man with some upside to continue to grow and had a couple dunks. Wyatt Hamson is a thick bodied five that at 6’8” from Hamilton County rebounds well in his area.
Dominant Showing by Young & Reckless 16U
Great effort from Young & Reckless 16U with only six players, but they still completely obliterated their opponent in the team’s final game of the weekend. Simeon 2023 6’8” center Steve Turner is a super sleeper with a huge frame and was nimble on his feet for how large he is. Keeps the ball high in the post on his moves, dominated the offensive glass, and got second chance points. He was surrounded with five solid guards. St. Rita combo guard Kaiden Space was excellent shooting the rock hitting threes off movement, mid-range shots, and had nifty finishes in the lane. Jaloni Johnson from Proviso East was silky smooth slashing with his slender frame and effortless handles. Really excels the most in transition and gets after it on D. Tyler Smith is a 6’0” point guard from Leo who put himself on our radar. Excellent shooter from 15-18 feet off he dribble. Great acceleration with the ball in his hands. Strong and stocky 6’0” point guard Christian Marshall is a smaller point guard at 5’10” that was productive with acrobatic layups in the lane. Bloom rangy 6’3” combo guard Jordan Brown might have the highest ceiling. Lefty is ultra-explosive in the open floor going coast to coast. Lengthy guard gets after it defensively and is a solid rebounder for his position.
Niego’s On Floor and Bench Lead Chicago Lockdown 16U
It makes me feel a bit old when I see one of my favorite players I have covered Harrison Niego coaching on the circuit. Very bright future for him doing that as well as his family who brought it in their last game of the weekend. Lyons point guard Jackson Niego completely controlled the entire game with his passing, scoring, and leadership. The 2023 guard is a crisp passer that gets it to his teammates in places to succeed. Sound shooter that drained a handful along with some scoop shots for 22 points. Nick Niego from Brother Rice also played a key role in the W. He is a plus shooter at the two spot knocking down spot up threes along with skilled handles and solid passing. He had 15 points. The most intriguing prospect long term on this team is Hillcrest 6’7” power forward Matthew Moore. Great physical tools with his size, length, and athletic pop. That was shown on a baseline spin late in the game for a monster dunk. Also hit a spot up three and showed prowess on the defensive end as a shot blocker. Once the consistency comes watch out! He had 12 points. Ryan Kenney from Brother Rice is a tough as nails 6’6” four man that finishes in the pick and roll along with converting dump offs inside. Walter Payton Prep small forward Luke Newhall runs the floor hard and is a crafty scorer. Jared Gee out of Rich Central has a wiry frame with two way ability. Was excellent in their second to last game leading them in scoring.
Quick Hitters
Skylar Crudup (Chicago Impact 17) had a nice outing on Sunday in the first game of the day. The Joliet West 6’0” point guard finished well through contact at the rim displaying burst off the bounce with his compact build.
Filip Sinobad (Ball Hogg 17) was a 6’5” four man that shined for Ball Hogg. We liked his skilled overall game knocking in baseline jumpers and mid-range shots like they were going out of style. Solid passer and overall skilled player from Chaminade (MO).
Zion Oliver Zion Oliver 6'0" | PG Al Raby | 2023 IL (Chicago Demons 16) from Al Raby was the top prospect for the Demons squad. Stocky guard that makes plays off the bounce and has a knack for scoring from his point guard spot.