Prep Hoops 2k21: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook
Sunday concluded the massive Prep Hoops 2k21 event in Indianapolis. It was another awesome day of hoops. We break it all down in Prep Hoops 2k21: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook! South Cook Jaguars Open Sunday with Statement Performance We…
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Continue ReadingSunday concluded the massive Prep Hoops 2k21 event in Indianapolis. It was another awesome day of hoops. We break it all down in Prep Hoops 2k21: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook!
South Cook Jaguars Open Sunday with Statement Performance
We opened up the final day of the live period with the South Cook Jaguars. This program with Chicago talent flexed their muscles in a win over the Louisville Storm. Mt. Carmel 2023 point guard DeAndre Craig DeAndre Craig 5'11" | PG Mt. Carmel | 2023 State IL was about as good as we have seen him. The lead guard brings toughness in a compact build. He excelled in transition scoring at the cup often off his defense creating turnovers. Hit a couple of threes on his way to 21 points. Whitney Young 2022 combo forward Kanye Smith Kanye Smith 6'6" | SF Whitney Young | 2022 State IL was a highly ranked prospect at a young age and has never quite lived up to that billing, but he showed on Sunday he can be an upside prospect for a small college or JUCO. Excellent physical tools with his size and length. Finished around the hoop, high/low, euro steps, and rebounded well in his area. He had 19 points. Matt Somerville Matt Somerville 6'6" | SF Whitney Young | 2022 State IL also from Whitney Young is a big combo forward that is explosive finishing above the rim and has some shooting touch.
Tons of Prospects on Floor in D1 Minnesota vs Team Rose 16U
This was a fun contest between a pair of talented Adidas 3SBB squads. D1 Minnesota got the win behind a strong outing from their backcourt trio. Jack Janicki Jack Janicki 6'4" | SG White Bear Lake | 2023 State #277 Nation MN is such a fun player to watch. The 2023 lefty has a creative game off the bounce along with being able to get his own shot from both three and mid-range. He scored 13 points. Samuel Musungo and Ibrahim El-Amin Ibrahim El-Amin 5'10" | PG Minnetonka | 2023 State MN also impressed as Musungo got to the rim with burst and El-Amin knocked down several triples. Team Rose was led by Michigan product Jakhary Towns. He has proven to be a bucket getter over the last couple months with his perimeter scoring which he did again here netting 16 points. Curie big man Jeremy Harrington Jeremy Harrington 6'5" | PF Chicago Curie | 2023 State IL is a productive undersized post who mauls on the glass and is efficient as a scorer. Hoffman Estates 6’7” power forward DJ Wallace is one to track because of what he brings defensively. Shot blocking presence on that end and bouncy offensive rebounder on the other with a projectable frame.
Epps & Wings Lead Way for Team Loaded in W over D1 Minnesota 17U
It was another big game for Illinois commit Jayden Epps leading Team Loaded Virginia to a win against D1 Minnesota in a 3SBB battle. Epps is a powerfully built guard that is a bucket getter from all three levels. Love his intensity on both ends. He had 20 points. Alphonzo Billups Alphonzo Billups 6'7" | SF Varina | 2022 State #154 Nation VA was excellent in the first half. The lanky two guard drained four triples with such a smooth stroke. He had 13 points. Donald Hand can also get points in bunches as the wing scored 14 points winning off the bounce and draining a trio of triples! For D1 Minnesota we came away impressed with Bajedo Omot. Long and rangy 6’7” combo forward with a thin frame. He runs the floor, put it on the deck with his long strides, and flashed a mid-range game on his way to 17 points. Treysen Eaglestaff was a productive wing scorer that tried to get his team back in the game in the second half with his sharp shooting. Plus size and is a sniper from beyond the arc as a spot up threat as he had 15 points.
Chicago Lockdown 16U Trio Impresses
The 2023 Chicago Lockdown group had a couple of prospects that shined when we saw them on Sunday. Really like the long term upside of Hillcrest power forward Matthew Moore Matthew Moore 6'7" | PF Hillcrest | 2023 State IL . Athletic post that recorded 15 points while being much more efficient finishing. Bouncy big man that impacts the game on both ends. Cousins Jackson Niego Jackson Niego 6'0" | PG Lyons Township | 2023 State IL (Lyons) and Nick Niego Nick Niego 6'2" | SG Brother Rice | 2023 State IL (Brother Rice) each had their moments. Jackson set others up with his crisp passing while Nick is a knock down shooter. Both should find homes at the small college level a couple years from now.
Jake Fiegen Jake Fiegen 6'3" | SG New Trier | 2023 State IL Drops 51 Points and Lights it Up Again Later
There is no doubt who the best shooter in Illinois is for the 2023 class. It is New Trier’s Jake Fiegen Jake Fiegen 6'3" | SG New Trier | 2023 State IL . He proved it again on Sunday dropping 51 points on 13 made threes. The guard has established himself as a no doubt low-major prospect as an elite shot maker. He did it again later in the day with a three point barrage. Just such quick, concise, and repeatable release. Gets open with ease off the ball. Few of his teammates caught our eye as well for Full Package. Matas Castillo and Rokas Castillo Rokas Castillo 5'11" | PG Lemont | 2023 State IL of Lemont are creative point guards that can dish and drive. Jaxxon Hardy defended well on the perimeter and is a perfect glue guy for their talented 16U squad. Nikola Abusara Nikola Abusara 6'5" | SF Benet | 2023 State IL from Benet brings perimeter scoring and projectable frame. In their final game he had 16 points.
Illinois Bears 17U Win at Buzzer to Close Out Event
Last game we caught on Sunday was the Illinois Bears 17U win. Their star point guard from Mascoutah Justin King Justin King 6'4" | PG Mascoutah | 2022 State IL drained a crisp pull up mid-range jumper at the buzzer for the game. He handles it with fluidity and has shown more consistency as a perimeter shooter. The lengthy guard had only 9 points, but was clutch with the last two. His high school teammate at Mascoutah Jack Siebert continues to play well this summer. Strong utility wing was effective scoring in the post and from the mid-post in for 21 points. Nashville forward Saxton Hoepker Saxton Hoepker 6'6" | PF Nashville | 2022 State IL also did some damage crashing the offensive glass and playing tough defense recording 11 points. Breese Central guard Brady Moore Brady Moore 6'4" | SG Breese Central | 2022 State IL is the ultimate rock solid small college recruit. He is consistent with his toughness, effort, and production as he hit one three, but did most of his damage in the paint from his guard spot for 11 points.
Quick Hitters
We touched on several of the higher ranked Kessel Heat standouts, but we want to give some props to Mark Williams Mark Williams 6'3" | SG Zion Benton | 2022 IL and Kenneth Hayes both from Zion Benton. The 2022 duo have made a name for themselves over the last month. Williams is a high energy wing that crashes the offensive glass. Hayes is more of a rangy guard that has good length and size at 6’3”. Will be key players for ZB next season.
Got another look at Eli Hofmann Eli Hofmann 5'11" | PG Mercer County | 2022 State IL and Kayden Nation Kayden Nation 6'6" | SF Elevation Prep | 2022 IN from Archangels on Sunday. Hofmann can really score it. Tough scoring point guard with a clean and ease shot both off the catch and creating his own. Nation reestablished himself after we hadn’t seen him in a while. Wide bodied post that moves pretty well and finished through contact.
Another good day for the Champaign Heat as they went 2-0 on Sunday and finished 4-1 for the weekend. St. Thomas More guard David Hubbard David Hubbard 6'4" | SG Champaign Centennial | 2022 State IL dropped 15 points in one win and Sam Bradbury Sam Bradbury 6'8" | C Mattoon | 2022 State IL went for 17 in the other. Both are on the radar of quite a few D2 and small colleges.