Chicago Elite Classic: 2023 Evaluations
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The Chicago Elite Classic was held this past weekend. The event featured many of the top players from the Chicagoland area. Time to breakdown what we saw from a scouting perspective. Here is Chicago Elite Classic: 2023 Evaluations! Darrin…
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Continue ReadingThe Chicago Elite Classic was held this past weekend. The event featured many of the top players from the Chicagoland area. Time to breakdown what we saw from a scouting perspective. Here is Chicago Elite Classic: 2023 Evaluations!
Darrin Ames Darrin Ames 6'1" | PG Kenwood | 2023 State #99 Nation IL (Kenwood)
Ames had the best outing of anyone all day. The Kenwood star point guard showed out with an array of high-major head coaches in the front row watching. The lefty made a super strong case to take the top spot that was vacated by his former teammate. Ames was straight money from three going 7-9 from distance in the game. Known more as a volume scorer but he was extremely efficient in this game going 11-16 overall. Mixed in his stellar shooting form deep with slick takes and playing off his defense in transition. Looked the part of a #1 player in a 30 point performance where he also racked up 3 dimes and 4 steals.
Davius Loury Davius Loury 6'8" | PF Phhoenix Prep | 2024 State AZ (Kenwood)
Loury was almost as good for Kenwood. The top 5 2023 prospect drained 4-8 from distance. When the face up four is shooting it that well he is about unstoppable to defend. Shot it with confidence and it was nothing but net quite a few times. Also played above the rim with dunks and acrobatic finishes. Was good on the defensive end as well using his strength and length. Went for 20 points (8-12 FG).
Wesley Rubin Wesley Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State IL (Simeon)
Rubin made his debut for the Wolverines and was fantastic. The skilled four man is one of the best passing posts we have had in the state since Cameron Krutwig. Feel for finding cutting teammates for dimes is so much fun to watch. His scoring was on full display as well in this one consistently converting dump off passes from his guards for dunks and even stretched it out to three. Was good on the offensive glass too. He netted 17 points (8-11 FG), 6 rebounds, and 5 dimes. Mid-major prospect.
Miles Rubin Miles Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State #243 Nation IL (Simeon)
The other Rubin twin was equally as good in the victory. Different player as he relies more on his quick twitched athleticism in the paint. So explosive finishing in the around the hoop as he was 7-8 from the field for 17 points in just 18 minutes of play. Like his brother he is a mid-major prospect.
Jalen Griffith Jalen Griffith 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2023 State IL (Simeon)
Griffith stuffed the stat sheet in the Simeon victory. He has a burst in the open floor exploding past defenders with tremendous change of the direction. Gets in the paint where he can convert layups or dish off to teammates. Flies around on the defensive end creating havoc. His line read 8 points (3-6 FG), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 4 turnovers. Low-major prospect with mid-major potential.
Dalen Davis Dalen Davis 6'0" | PG Whitney Young | 2023 State #167 Nation IL (Whitney Young)
Davis is the only true point guard the Dolphins have. Rock solid player that doesn’t get too high or too low. He will be the key to how far they go this season. Well built guard that pushes in the open floor and did a nice job of that in the second half. Scored on spinning layups and a corner three. He had 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Mid-major prospect.
Richard Barron Richard Barron 6'5" | SF St. Ignatius | 2023 State IL (St. Ignatius)
Barron is a prospect that has had some buzz with his play during the summer and early in the season. This was not his best game. The big bodied wing had a baseline take, but outside of that wasn’t very aggressive at all going 1-6 from the field. Barron did hit the glass well recording seven rebounds to go along with his two points.
Jackson Kotecki Jackson Kotecki 6'9" | PF Saint Ignatius | 2023 State IL (St. Ignatius)
Kotecki is a face up four that has upside, but it hasn’t really shown through yet early in the season. Capable spot up shooter that likes to let it fly from the corners as he was 2-5 from distance in the game. Those were his only two buckets of the game going for 8 points and 5 rebounds. Would like to see him rim run more and mix it up inside on both ends. Looking like a D2 prospect.
Ronald Chambers Ronald Chambers 6'1" | PG North Lawndale | 2023 State IL (North Lawndale)
Chambers had a couple spurts in their game against Vashon where he went to work! The point guard is a physical guard that loves to get to the rim. Was aggressive putting it on the deck where he made acrobatic conversions. Finished with 16 points on 4-12 from the field along with 5 rebounds and 3 dimes.
Damarion Wyatt Damarion Wyatt 5'8" | PG North Lawndale | 2023 IL (North Lawndale)
Wyatt opened eyes with his play especially in the second half on Saturday. The smaller point guard had some electric moments as North Lawndale hung with national power Vashon to the very end. He shot 5-7 from three in the game. Gets elevation off the ground and plays with a lot of flair to his game. He had 17 points in the win. Could works his way into a D2 look.
Aidan Payne (North Lawndale)
Payne popped for North Lawndale on the interior as well. The 6’4” combo forward has good length and is bouncy around the hoop flying in for rebounds and was a presence blocking shots on the defensive end. Capable shooter hitting a mid-range shot and a three. Went for 9 points (3-7 FG), 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
Vincent Rainey (Thornton)
Rainey was one of the surprises of the event. The Thornton junior guard came off the bench to light up the scoreboard! He hit some big threes going 3-9 from distance. Also had some effective mid-range shots and used his athleticism. Finished with 19 points (7-14 FG). Going to track him as the year goes along as he could be an x-factor for this team.
Kaiden Space Kaiden Space 6'2" | SG St.Rita | 2023 State IL (St. Rita)
Space is a combo guard from St. Rita who is coming off a strong summer. He has good strength and can play on and off the ball. Continue to like what he is showing as a distributor as he dished out 5 dimes in their game against Thornton with no turnovers. Got in the lane for a couple runners, but still hasn’t been able to find the touch from deep in the games we have seen this season. Went for 7 points (3-11 FG), 6 rebounds, and 5 rebounds. Potential mid-major prospect.