Prep Hoops Live: Top Illinois 2023 Performers Pt 2
In this article:
Prep Hoops Live was one of the biggest events in the country this spring. It featured tons of talent from Illinois and around the nation. Here we dive into the Illinois rising junior prospects that impressed in Prep Hoops Live:…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingPrep Hoops Live was one of the biggest events in the country this spring. It featured tons of talent from Illinois and around the nation. Here we dive into the Illinois rising junior prospects that impressed in Prep Hoops Live: Top Illinois 2023 Performers Pt 2!
Grant Fridley Grant Fridley 6'1" | PG Wesclin | 2023 State IL (Illinois Bears)
Fridley is a well rounded point guard that runs his team. The Trenton Wesclin lead guard has an excellent feel for the game getting others involved. High IQ guard that has a really good feel for putting others in position to succeed with his passing as he sees the floor very well both in transition and half court. Smooth ball handler that gets where he needs on the floor to operate weaving through the defense. D2s and low-majors should be monitoring early in the process.
Cole Peppenhorst Cole Peppenhorst 6'4" | PF Breese Mater Dei | 2023 State IL (Illinois Bears)
Peppenhorst is a long and rangy power forward that had a couple nice finishes around the hoop. Projectable prospect with long term potential that needs to add strength.
Wyatt Hamson (Illinois Bears)
Hamson is a gritty five man with a strong frame. Quality area rebounder that boxes out and snatches anything around him.
Kade Lustenberger Kade Lustenberger 6'5" | SF Carterville | 2023 State IL (Illinois Bears)
Lustenberger had an excellent outing. The 6’5” Carterville small forward showed most perimeter skill we have seen out of him. Drained and array of jumpers from mid-range, to step backs, to threes. Also mixed in a runner game and used his length on the defensive end.
Carter Shoenherr (Illinois Bears)
Nashville 6’2” wing was an excellent glue guy for this squad. Was active on the glass on both ends. Offensively he had a couple put backs and finished around the hoop.
Cade Altadonna Cade Altadonna 6'0" | PG Highland | 2023 State IL (Illinois Bears)
This Highland point guard can really score it. Lefty with a strong build is a plus shooter from beyond the arc with a quick and concise release. Also had several outstanding dishes including shovel passes in the lane to his post players.
Caden Hawkins Caden Hawkins 5'11" | PG Carterville | 2023 State IL (Illinois Bears)
One of the better outings we have seen from the Carterville guard. Mixed in an array of scores on scoop shots, cuts, and a pair of threes in addition to solid passing in the half court.
Tyler Franklin (Illinois Bears)
Franklin is a 6’6” power forward from Cobden that isn’t quite the athlete of his older brother, but still a lot to like here with his strength. Tough rebounder and is capable of stretching the floor with his spot up shooting. Nice small college prospect.
Kaiden Space Kaiden Space 6'2" | SG St.Rita | 2023 State IL (Young & Reckless)
Space had an excellent effort in the game we saw. The St. Rita combo guard got in the lane with ease showing crisp ball handling while also displaying he was a three level scorer hitting from mid-range and three. Aggressive defender as well. With so much young talent on St. Rita Space sometimes flies under the radar, but should be a prospect that D1s are monitoring.
Jaloni Johnson Jaloni Johnson 6'4" | SG Proviso East | 2023 State IL (Young & Reckless)
Johnson is coming off a strong season at Proviso East. The combo guard has a slender build and loves to slice and dice the D off the bounce for scores especially in transition finding the hole and getting to the rim. Rangy defender with two way potential.
Steve Turner Steve Turner 6'8" | C Simeon | 2023 State IL (Young & Reckless)
New name here in this 6’8” wide bodied Simeon post. He was very impressive being nimble on his feet for how large he is. Hook shots, mid-range jumpers, and keeps the ball high away from guards on his post moves. Rebounded at a high level against a team with not much size. One to track with the Wolverines in the future!
Jordan Brown Jordan Brown 6'2" | SG Bloom | 2023 State IL (Young & Reckless)
This Bloom 6’3” combo guard might have the highest ceiling of any of the Y&R prospects. Lefty point guard that has nice length. Really good in the open floor looking so smooth taking it coast to coast in transition for scores. Rebounds well for a guard and should be a plus defender as he gets older.
Christian Marshall (Young & Reckless)
Smaller point guard with a compact build. He was a regular in the lane getting layups at the cup on crafty drives converting nifty layups.
Tyler Smith Tyler Smith 6'0" | SG Kenwood | 2023 State IL (Young & Reckless)
Like what we saw out of Smith. The 6’0” Leo guard has a burst with the ball in his hands along with some flair on a fake behind the back pass for a layup. Knocked in an array of mid-range jumpers as the game went along.
Jackson Niego Jackson Niego 6'0" | PG Lyons Township | 2023 State IL (Chicago Lockdown)
Niego looked like his older brother and current coach Harrison running the show in the Lockdown jersey. Crisp passer that brings a ton of competitiveness to the lead guard spot. Effective in the drive and kick game finding his shooters. As a scorer he was a plus shooter knocking down threes over and over all around the floor. Mixed in some scoop shots, but his biggest value is his passing and shooting.
Nick Niego Nick Niego 6'2" | SG Brother Rice | 2023 State IL (Chicago Lockdown)
Brother Rice shooting guard played well off his cousin. Niego drained an array of open threes spotting up. Overall skilled game with some nice passing and can put it on the deck occasionally.
Matthew Moore Matthew Moore 6'7" | PF Hillcrest | 2023 State IL (Chicago Lockdown)
Highest ceiling prospect on Lockdown! This Hillcrest 6’7” combo forward reminds me a lot of their 2021 duo of Heady and Rollins. Versatile player that is still learning the game. The physical tools and athleticism jump off the floor. He threw down a monster dunk off a baseline spin that got fans out of their chairs. Knocked in a corner three. Was active on the defensive end as a shot blocker and switching. Going to make a nice debut in our next rankings.
Luke Newhall Luke Newhall 6'5" | SF Walter Payton College Prep | 2023 IL (Chicago Lockdown)
The Walter Payton standout wing is a skilled shooter that runs the floor well and has a crafty game off the bounce. Solid rebounder for his position.
Ryan Kelley (Chicago Lockdown)
This Brother Rice 6’6” power forward is a physical rebounder that is tough around the hoop. Converted on a pick/roll dish along with finishing an and-1 off a dump off pass.
Jarrod Gee Jarrod Gee 6'5" | PF Perspectives | 2023 State IL Jr (Chicago Lockdown)
Gee is a long and rangy two way wing that struggled in the game we saw, but in the game before was Lockdown’s leading scorer. Plus athlete that has long strides in transition and is a multi positional defender.