Class of 2016 Wing Breakdown
The wing position is a solid one at the shooting guard position and one that lacks much depth at the small forward spot. Let’s jump into the wing prospects in the class of 2016 in this overall breakdown of the…
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Continue ReadingThe wing position is a solid one at the shooting guard position and one that lacks much depth at the small forward spot. Let’s jump into the wing prospects in the class of 2016 in this overall breakdown of the position.
The top shooting guard prospect is Zack Norvell (Simeon) and small forward honors belong to Isaiah Roby (Dixon). Both are among the top five prospects overall and each are high major talents. Norvell is a big scoring lefty two guard that has improved his all-around game over the last year. Roby is a 6’8” long and projectable wing with considerable upside. His athleticism and passing feel make the Nebraska commit one of the best in the class.
At the shooting guard position there are no other high-major prospects, but a group of solid D1 targets at the mid-major and low-major levels. They are led by Nate Kennell (Metamora) the state’s premier shooter who is headed to Bradley and the biggest stock riser in the class in versatile scorer Justin Pierce (Glenbard West). A trio of athletic shooting guards that have shown they can really score are James Jones (Bogan), Zion Morgan (Kenwood), and Antonio Williams (Proviso East). A couple of crafty guards that score well from 15 feet and in are Donovan Oliver (Kewanee) and Josh Thomas (Simeon). A quartet of prospects that are also getting D1 looks include Dakota Bennington (Peoria Christian), Chris Harris (Lake Forest Academy), Drew Evans (Thonwood), and Rodney Herenton (Stevenson).
There are several intriguing shooters that are on the boarderline D1/D2 radar at the shooting guard position that are led by Mike Ballard (Fenwick), Evan Hines (Niles West), Kevin Krieger (Plainfield North), and Tyler Houston (Knoxville). There are some solid options at the D3 and NAIA levels. Perimeter marksmen at that level are headlined by Mike Schroeder (St. Charles North), Dylan Vaca (Kaneland), Zach Knobloch (Marengo), and Logan Kohrmann (Breese Central). Some prospects that are more known for slashing to the hoop include Chamar Hawkins (Marist), Miles Curry (Kenwood), and Keymonta Johnson (Decatur MacArthur). A couple of defensive specialists at the small school level to look at are Jamal Burton (Morgan Park) and Lucas Simon (Niles Notre Dame).
The small forward group is topped by Roby. Like Norvell he is the only high-major target at his position. He is followed by Nick Robinson (Kenwood) who is a big and physical wing that flashes mid-major plus potential, but doesn’t bring it game in and game out. A program at the mid-major level will be getting a steal if he realizes his full potential. He is followed by a pair of commits in Cal Poly verbal Jacob Cushing (Neuqua Valley) and Brendon Gooch (Belleville Althoff) who is headed to SIU. Ben Coupet (Simeon) and Daniel Ogele (St. Ignatius) are two physically gifted prospects that have all the tools to play at the D1 level, but it is about putting it together consistently.
Not as many D2 options at the small forward spot with Zach Hollywood (Bradley Bourbonnais) and Isaac Gassman (Ottawa) being the best of that group. A pair of prospects that will be watched closely during their senior years are Skyler Nash (Riverside Brookfield) and Chris Williams (St. Rita). Both have D1 type talent, but Nash missed most of the travel team season with a serious medical issue that he is recovering from and Williams was in a log jam behind so many talented seniors last year at St. Rita. There are a few solid candidates at the D3/NAIA ranks, but not a ton. Names to watch would be Devin Blake (Downers Grove North), Will Fleming (St. Ignatius), and Chance Armstrong (O’Fallon).