The Platform 16U Standouts – Illinois
In this article:
The Platform was an incredible event, with plenty of talent to boast about, and even more college coaches to watch it. And while the 17Us were the stars of the show, the 16Us had a load of standouts too. Here…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Platform was an incredible event, with plenty of talent to boast about, and even more college coaches to watch it. And while the 17Us were the stars of the show, the 16Us had a load of standouts too.
Here are the Illinois standouts:
Kade Lustenberger Kade Lustenberger 6'5" | SF Carterville | 2023 State IL , 6’4″, 2023, Grassroots: Illinois Bears
“Lusty” had a great crowd and great team behind him, but was definitely the standout and had a group of huge games against some high level talent. Lustenberger can knock down shots with ease and get to his spots well, making him a great target for his offensive players and a reliable cornerstone guy for when they needed a bucket. Lusty had one of the best jumpers of the weekend and could hit pro-level mid range pullups that he would hit with ease. He has a lot of other parts of the game to work on before he becomes a major prospect, but with a reliable jumper and a solid foundation underneath him, he can develop to become a real issue in the near future.
Mason Funk Mason Funk 6'5" | SF Normal U-High | 2023 State IL , 6’5″, 2023, Grassroots: Illinois Hoopstarz
Funk was one of my favorite guys this weekend because of his unique blend of skill and hustle. The big man was not scared to get on the floor, fight for rebounds, or hustle for the ball out of bounds (even if it almost came at the expense of the baseline scouts). But he wasn’t just a guy who would slap the floor or annoy you defensively, he was one of the better shooters on his team and was a reliable scorer on the offensive end. This unique combination made him catch my eye, and if he continues this style of play all season, he will no doubt have a breakout year.
Ahmere Carson Ahmere Carson 5'11" | PG Morgan Park | 2023 IL , 6’2″, 2023, Grassroots: Bulldogs Elite
Ahmere was one of the better guards I watched throughout The Platform. The big guard was an electric scorer who was effective on the offensive end with his relentless finesse and his unstoppable size. He could move through defenses and challenge big men with his elite footwork and general bully ball. Carson was also a reliable shooter, especially from the free throw line, where he found himself frequently because of his relentless fight on the interior. Carson has a great handle and is one of the shiftiest big guards I’ve watched this season. He’s a standout who will no doubt make some noise at Morgan Park High School this year.
Sam Lewis Sam Lewis 6'5" | SF Oak Park River Forest | 2023 State IL , 6’5″, 2023, Grassroots: Meanstreets
Lewis was a standout on one of the best teams in the 16U division, which is really saying something. His ability to get down the floor and flat out score the ball was unmatched at times, and he was an offensive top performer for almost every game he played across the entire weekend. He was one of the best shooters I’ve seen for his age and he was an unstoppable force running the floor and making plays. Meanstreets is loaded full of guys who are super solid, but Lewis takes the cake in terms of the most effective player overall.