Summer Jam: Friday Standouts
PrepHoopsIllinois spent another day of evaluating during the second live period at the NY2LA Sports Summer Jam. Let’s look at the standouts from Friday.
PF CJ Wilbourn (Quad City Elite 16U)
Wilbourn played on of his better games of July on Friday morning in their 8:00 AM contest. The 6’6” post from Normal Community has broad shoulders and a good frame. He has quite a bit of potential, but usually just flashes it. Put together a more consistent effort with his motor and production. Had a couple quick scores inside with fast post moves. Drilled a pair of mid-range jump shots from 10-15 feet out. Fought on the glass and high pointed rebounds. Wilbourn has low-major/D2 ability depending how he progresses over the next year.
SF Justin Hardy (Illinois Wolves 17U)
This St. Charles East 2018 wing is one of my absolute favorites. He is tough as nails and super competitive. The 6’5” small forward plays with a lot of grit that translates over to both ends of the floor. Skill level is there with his improved shooting and he can put it on the deck some. That was evident on a pump fake followed by a blow by past his defender. Active on the glass and made a few nice passes. Great glue guy for the low-major level!
PF Simi Shittu (CIA Bounce 17U)
Shittu is one of the premier prospects in North America. He is a smooth combo forward from Candana at 6’9” that handles it incredibly well for his size. Those handles allow him to get to the cup with relative ease even against very good competition. He did that against Game Elite hammering in a few poster slams. Plus rebounder that snatches them out of the air. He is a future lottery pick that had a ton of big time coaches on hand to see him play.
SG Christian Brown (Game Elite 17U)
Brown came off the bench for Game Elite, but he still made a huge impact. The top 15 national 2019 prospect out of AC Flora High School in South Carolina is an elite athlete. He plays with a never ending motor and tenacity for the game. Explosive athlete in transition that hammers home huge dunks like he did on a couple transition conversions and an alley-oop. His shot has gotten better since we last saw him as he is capable of connecting from three. Has the tools to be an elite defender!
SG Josh Nickelberry (Game Elite 17U)
Nickelberry was ELITE in their game Friday shooting the rock from the perimeter. The Trinity Christian (NC) product has size at 6’4” with a lights out stroke. He drilled threes from all over the floor with an effortless release. Quick shot that has consistent accuracy. Elite national shooter that is also a plus athlete and just a bucket getter. Top 25 talent nationally.
PG Ashton Hagans (Game Elite 17U)
Hagans scored a limited amount of points, but this Newton (GA) point guard might have been the best player on the floor in a game full of five stars. The lead guard is an excellent passer with crisp dishes that are precise time after time to put his teammates in position to succeed. Strong and athletic body allow him to be powerful getting in the lane making plays for himself and others. Rebounds great for a guard. Five star point guard.
SF Ethan Helwig (Illinois Stars 16U)
Helwig is a Metea Valley wing at 6’4” that is lengthy and a good athlete. He is at his best playing in the open floor where he can get out and run in transition. Finishes with some acrobatics around the rim as he converts up and under and layups in traffic. Hits an occasional three ball and uses length cutting passing lanes on defense. New name to add to radar.
PG Anthony French (Illinois Stars 16U)
French hails from Zion Benton and is in the mold of many other ZB guards. He is tiny at only 5’8”, but can flat go! The 2019 point guard pushes the tempo and loves to shoot the pull up three. That is his go to especially in the transition game when he has his opponent on their heels. The lefty is a pesky on ball defender that has active hands.
SF Jaemyn Brakefield (MBA 2019 17U)
I thought Brakefield was impressive when I initially thought he was going to be a senior. Then I saw he was a 2020! Oh My! He has great size at 6’9” with length and a projectable body. Brakefield drilled triples from deep consistently in their game with a sweet lefty stroke. Incredibly skilled for a player his size and at his age. Elite second jump off the floor grabbing rebounds. No doubt high-major player for this Mississippi product.
C John Rawls (MBA 2019 17U)
Rawls is a beast rebounder. The 2019 prospect from Mississippi is a 6’7” GROWN MAN! He has an incredibly strong body that he knows how to use. Plays physical around the hoop and is a dominant rebounder. Gobbles everything up that is in his area. A bit raw skill wise as everything is dunks with him, but you can’t teach his physicality and power. High-major.
PF Jordan Boyd (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Boyd is coming off a solid year with St. Joe’s that he has continued into the spring/summer with Chicago Lockdown. The 6’6” power forward is a crafty low post scoring lefty that shows a consistent mid-range game as evident by his shot from 15 feet in this game. Rebounded well in traffic against some pretty athletic and big post players. Boyd is worth consideration at the D2 level.
SF Jalen Boyd (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Jalen Boyd is more of a wing that is a slasher. The small forward has gotten so much tighter with his handles over the last year. That has made him a more effective player off the bounce and being slippery through the defense getting to the hoop. Solid mid-range shooter that can also use a runner. Should be looked at by D2 programs.
F Gaven Pinkley (Ramey-Jets United 17U)
The Hillsboro (MO) 2018 combo forward is one of my favorite players out of Missouri in a loaded class. He is extremely skilled at 6’8” as he can put it on the deck getting to the hoop as he did on a few drives including a slick take to the rim finishing through traffic. What he does best is shoot the ball with a clean stroke from three. He drilled multiple from distance. His combination of being able to finish inside on drives, stretch the defense, and get on the glass make him a very intriguing mid-major prospect.
PF Joe Reece (Ramey-Jets United 17U)
Reece has bounced around some travel teams this spring/summer, but the Vashon 6’9” four man looked comfortable playing with the Jets. He settled into his role and was doing what he is best at which is using his length defensively to protect the rim, high pointing rebounds, running the floor, and finishing with ferocious dunks at the rim. Upside low to possibly mid-major prospect. It all depends on his consistency and effort game in and game out because he is very talented.