Spiece Run N’ Slam: Opening Night Standouts
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After a year hiatus, the Spiece Run N’ Slam returned on Friday. Featuring some of the top talent in the Midwest, Spiece didn’t disappoint on opening night. Justin Becker Justin Becker 6'6" | SF Robertson County | 2022 State KY…
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Continue ReadingAfter a year hiatus, the Spiece Run N’ Slam returned on Friday. Featuring some of the top talent in the Midwest, Spiece didn’t disappoint on opening night.
Justin Becker Justin Becker 6'6" | SF Robertson County | 2022 State KY – 2022 – SF – Griffin Elite
The Illinois Wolves simply couldn’t guard Becker on Friday. Leading Griffin Elite to an opening night win, Becker just went off offensively. The 6-foot-6 wing isn’t going to blow anybody away athletically, but what he lacks in that department, Becker makes up for with a terrific feel for the game. Just loved him coming down the floor with the ball in his hands. Becker has a lot of tools as a scorer and excellent touch and footwork when he gets near the rim. He also knows where all four of his teammates are at all times and the second a defender makes a mistake or helps off too much, Becker took advantage as a passer. Becker can also make a lot of people uncomfortable with his point forward nature and ability to take guys down on the block. He also extended his range a few times and drilled a number of deep triples in Friday’s win.
Cameron Brown – 2024 – W – Ohio Basketball Club
Brown shot it really well during Friday’s loss to Wisconsin Playground Club. A hand-down, man-down type wing, Brown has a good-looking stroke and really nice positional size (6-5) to rise and fire over defenders. Brown has some nice length and is a smooth athlete. The tools are there defensively as well to be a really nice defender. He’s also just scratching the surface in terms of his physical development and has a lot of room left to grow into his body.
Stevie Clark Stevie Clark 6'6" | SF Oshkosh North | 2024 State #322 Nation WI – 2024 – SF – Wisconsin Playground Club
Clark came on very strong in the second half to help PGC pick up a win over Ohio Basketball Club. The Oshkosh North standout shot it really well from 3-point range. Clark is a very smooth catch-and-shoot threat. He’ll score it off dribble drives kick outs, offensive rebounds, and shoots it just as well in transition. Gaining some noticeable confidence as a shot creator, Clark isn’t just a stretch wing. The lefty is showing some nice flashes with his ability to size someone up and create space off the bounce — and at 6-foot-5 that’s tough for a lot of people to defend. Aside from the scoring, Clark is also going to give his team energy and winning plays. He’s a scrapper, especially on the offensive glass, and doesn’t shy away from being physical.
Jaquan Johnson Jaquan Johnson 5'10" | PG Pius XI | 2024 State WI – 2024 – PG – Wisconsin Playground Club
Johnson was really good early, and most importantly, really good late as PGC won a gritty game against Ohio Basketball Club. He’s a 5-foot-8 point guard, but I’m gonna have a really hard time keeping him out of the top five in Wisconsin’s 2024 rankings with the way Johnson’s playing right now. Johnson can explode as a scorer. With his speed, handles, and three-level scoring ability — what do you do as a defender? Johnson is quick enough to blow by people and can counter with in-the-gym range if defenders back off him. Then there’s the passing ability. Johnson has such a great feel in transition or when he gets into the paint. If he’s not dropping dimes to his teammates around the rim, it’s a kick-out right in the shooting pocket for an open 3-pointer. Able to put a team on his back, Johnson operates like a surgeon from the point guard position.
Jonathan Powell – 2024 – SG – All-Ohio Red
Best prospect I saw on Friday…hands down. Powell has a chance to be special. He’s a plus-length, athletic wing with an advanced offensive package for his age. Type of kid that just knows how to get any shot he wants, Powell has a terrific scoring feel and showed a lot of flashes in a win over JH1 Elite. He’s already a legit 6-foot-4 with a relatively raw frame for a kid this athletic. Also loved his finishing ability around the rim. Powell is lanky, but doesn’t shy away from contact or can simply use his hang time to outlast defenders in the air.
Jalen Quinn Jalen Quinn 6'3" | PG Tuscola | 2022 State #136 Nation IL – 2022 – PG – Illinois Wolves
Easy to see why this young man is starting to take off as a prospect. Quinn has a very good feel for how to attack a defense. Playing alongside two snipers, Quinn is very aware when defenders are sticking to his wings like glue and he’ll attack those gaps, knowing the gap defense will be non-existent. In a loss to Griffin Elite, Quinn had some tough and-one finishes late to get the Wolves back in the game after they were trailing big in the second half. Quinn is a downhill guard that plays fast, but never in a hurry. Like how he secures the basketball while playing in traffic and can maneuver around swiping hands. He also has a noticeable toughness around the rim, able to absorb shots, and finish with either hand.
Connor Roffers Connor Roffers 6'5" | SF Burlington | 2024 State WI – 2024 – SF – JH1 Elite
Facing a big, athletic All-Ohio Red squad, Roffers did some nice things in a high-level matchup. The Burlington forward definitely didn’t shrink and play hesitant against some really good athletes. He was willing attack off the dribble and take hits at the rim. Upon first look, Roffers looks like a blue collar type kid with some versatility. Not quite sure what Roffers is yet positionally, but he’s a strong kid that can handle the ball in the open floor or catch on the perimeter, face up, and knock down a triple.
Reed Sheppard Reed Sheppard 6'3" | PG North Laurel | 2023 State #22 Nation KY – 2023 – SG – Midwest Basketball Club
Two-way guard that does a lot of different things to help his team. Sheppard is a very recruitable kid. The 6-foot-2 guard is a sniper from beyond the arc, but he also plays a lot on the ball. Sheppard sees the game differently and had a number of tremendous passes during Friday’s win over Indiana Elite. He’s a guy that’s willing to give it up early in transition or make the extra pass. When it’s his turn to get out and run with the basketball, Sheppard is a plus leaper who can play above the rim easily. Love him defensively as well. You don’t have to harp on him to give effort on that end of the floor. Didn’t matter what the score was, Sheppard was engaged, fundamentally sound, and also created a lot of turnovers by picking his man’s pocket.