Top 250 Expo: Scott’s Standouts
The PrepHoopsIllinois Top 250 Expo was held on Saturday at Joy of the Game in Deerfield. Our PrepHoops staff will have wall to wall coverage of this event including scouting, interviews, and much more. Make sure you check back throughout the week for all the exciting content. We start off with Scott’s Standouts from Saturday!
Morning Session
Action got kicked off at 9:30 AM with the older players in the event. It featured some great 2018 and 2019 talents. Here are four that had big days!
PG Michael Smith (Joliet West – 2018)
Michael Smith of Joliet West recently won our program MVP for the Illinois T-Wolves after his stellar play for them this summer. He is primed for a big year at Joliet West with the graduation of quite a few key players along with transfers. Smith is a scoring point guard that plays with a lot of energy. The senior is a sound perimeter shooter that drills them off the catch. Pushes it in transition with his speed. He is finishing better at the rim and taking it to the rack more instead of settling for less than ideal shots. Active defender that gets a couple steals a game by cutting passing lanes and going the other way. Smith brings energy to whatever team he plays for!
PF Kurt Kozarits (Naperville Central – 2018)
Kozarits broke out on our radar the PrepHoops Top 250 Expo! The 6’7” Naperville Central power forward has good size, a nice frame, and potential to get even stronger up top. Already has quality functional strength. Stood out as a rebounder snatching them with both hands in traffic. Very impressive rebounder on both ends of the floor. Has a knack for getting on the offensive glass for put backs. Flashes skill on the block including a sweet hook shot. Gets consistently deep post position. Positions his body well. Emerged as a player that D2 schools should look at.
PG Fred Cleveland (Leo – 2019)
Cleveland might not be the biggest player, but he plays with a lot of heart and has some game to back it up. He is a slick handling lead guard that is quick and shifty with the ball in his hands. Has it on a string at times. Got dribble penetration in the lane consistently throughout the day. He shoots it pretty well from deep. Takes a bit of a long release which will be a concern at the next level. Drilled them throughout the day. Pushes it in the open floor with his speed and has court vision to make both the flashy and simple passes.
PG Demari Grant (Bolingbrook – 2019)
The guards keep coming for Bolingbrook. This time it was their junior guard Demari Grant that shined. He gets over shadowed by more heralded prospects in his schools 2019 class, but he made noise at the camp. Powerful guard at 5’10” with a compact build. Good handles getting in the lane for scores and was a solid passer as well connecting on a few impressive transition dimes. Tough and competitive kid that will see minutes for Coach Robert Brost’s squad. He was on our radar, but definitely helped his stock with a strong showing!
Afternoon Session
After a short break the day continued with 2020 and 2021 prospects from across the state of Illinois. These are four that made statements with their play!
SF Isaiah Rivera (Geneseo – 2020)
In past years the PrepHoopsIllinois Top 250 MVP has gone to some big names before they became state wide stars like Ayo Dosunmu and last year Adam Miller. Another high-major recruit in the making took home the MVP honors from this year’s event. That went to Geneseo 2020 small forward Isaiah Rivera. The 6’4” wing is a top 10 prospect that is making a serious move toward the top 5 overall. His play at the camp cemented that thought. He is a strong wing that still has some room to grow vertically. He showed off his complete offensive repertoire at the camp. His offensive skill level is at another level compared to others on the floor. As a scorer he can beat you with a feathery jumper from the perimeter, but if you get up too tight he will take it to the rack. Smooth acceleration off the bounce and finishes through contact. After one take he looked at me and said “It’s too Easy!” Playmaker with the ball in the open floor as he can finish himself taking it all the way for a dunk or finding teammates. Was excellent getting others involved with his passing making some insane dishes. Rebounds well for his position. Was impressed with the growth he has made on the defensive end of the floor. Rivera isn’t the quickest on the defensive end, but especially in one on one drills he used positioning and active hands to win time after time. Rivera is a player high-majors need to get on ASAP!
SF Christian Shumate (Plainfield East – 2020)
Shumate is a super freak athlete! The 6’4” small forward is a human pogo stick! He is a high flier and was doing it throughout the day with emphatic slams. Shumate is aggressive and plays with an all-out motor all the time. Offensively he is a monster in transition as a finisher and can slash off the bounce from 18 feet in. Handles need to continue to improve as does his jump shot, but you absolutely cannot teach his athleticism and tenacity! Projects as a plus defender down the road.
SF Jayden Johnson (Batavia – 2020)
Johnson is a power wing from Batavia that is steadily making a case for a top 10 ranking in the next update of the 2020 rankings. He opened our eyes when we saw him in July at the High Academic Showcase and continued that momentum at the PrepHoops Top 250 Expo! The 6’4 small forward has a strong body, but one to where he should be able to continue to grow and maintain strength as he gets taller and body matures. Johnson is mostly known as a perimeter shooter. He did show that off drilling quite a few sweet jumpers. Quick release and gets elevation off the floor. Going to be a big time shot maker the next three years at Batavia. He displayed improvement in two key areas. His driving game has developed with tighter handles and finished well through contact at the rim. Defensively his lateral mobility and anticipation was much better than what we had seen in the past. Really looking forward to continuing to track this D1 prospect.
C Nate Seputis (Lincoln Way East – 2020)
Seputis is a player that we are very high on. He is one of the higher ranked posts in the 2020 class already, but will get a bump in the next update. The 6’9” Lincoln Way East center has the ability to contribute in a number of areas. First and foremost he brings a lunch pail attitude and plays hard every possession. Runs the floor both looking for a pass as well as getting back on D. High level rebounder on both ends of the floor. He high points the ball grabbing it at the peak. Physical down low with a strong frame and legit size. Offensively he flashes post moves on the block and getting some garbage points. Can finished with powerful dunks. Legit range on his shot out to beyond the three point arc as he looks comfortable shooting from there with ease. Seputis is a mid-major prospect that could explode this season!