Team Rose Classic: 2019 Evals Pt 1
PrepHoopsIllinois covered the Team Rose Classic over the weekend at Whitney Young High School. A lot of quality prospects in the house. We dive into the evaluations here with Part 1 of our 2019 Evaluations!
PG Chris Roberts (Young & Reckless Parham 17U)
Roberts continues to see his stock steadily rise after the momentum from last summer, his high school season, and now that helium has continued into the spring. The Lincoln Park lead guard is a beast attacking downhill and getting to the rim. Roberts consistently takes the ball right at the rim for runners and acrobatic layups. Gets in the lane time and time again many times going coast to coast. Didn’t show much of a jumper again this weekend. Not that he can’t shoot it, he just never attempted them. Mid-major prospect.
PG Artese Stapleton (Young & Reckless Parham 17U)
Stapleton is a slick handling lead guard that is at his best scoring in the lane on slippery takes to the hoop. The thin and angular guard scores the majority of his points on drives and scores in transition created off his defensive pressure. Did have a stretch in one of the games where he struggled converting layups. Hit one pull up three. Solid shooter, but not a go to weapon at this stage. Like the way he distributed the rock throughout the event with crisp dishes especially in transition. Stapleton definitely needs to put on some weight, but I like his potential at the low-major level.
G Trey Boston (Young & Reckless Parham 17U)
Boston is a scoring point guard that brought it in the opening game of the event for Y&R. The Downers Grove North 2019 guard can really score it. He drilled multiple threes showing a clean release from deep. Also got on the offensive glass for several put backs. Tough and athletic guard that can really score when he gets rolling. Played with a higher motor than we saw a week ago. Put pressure on the ball defensively. Finished with 22 points in that game. Was solid, but not quite as effective in the other game. Probably a D2 prospect at this stage.
SG LJ Johnson (Young & Reckless Parham 17U)
Johnson is returning to Chicago after spending his sophomore season out of state. The strong and athletic wing is incredibly tough. He plays with an all-out motor on both ends of the floor. Offensively he is best getting downhill and attacking the hoop where he finishes with his strength through contact. Finishes very well at the rim. Defensively he gets after it with his tenacity and anticipation. One area that I saw growth since we last saw him was his passing making a couple sweet dishes. Love his competitiveness and heart that he brings to the table. Johnson is a low-major prospect right now.
F Keenan Jones (Young & Reckless Parham 17U)
Jones was on his home turf at Whitney Young. The 2019 rangy 6’5” small forward is your classic 3 & D guy at the next level. He is a quality on ball defender that uses his length and lateral quickness to guard on the perimeter. He is a mismatch with his spot up shooting from deep as well as being able to get on the offensive glass for put backs with his quick second jump. He has been a bit up and down so far this spring, but was solid at Team Rose. D2 prospect.
PF Dachaun Anderson (Young & Reckless Denard 17U)
Anderson is a high energy four man that is a beast on the glass. Anderson rebounds at a very high rate with his ability to box out and maul opponents on the glass. Quick off the ground. A lot of his points come on offensive rebound put backs. He also showed some more skill than we saw last weekend as he handled it in the open floor several times grabbing rebounds and starting the break on his own. He had 13 points in their first game. Projects as a nice D2 prospect.
SF Jeremiah Hernandez (Young & Reckless Denard 17U)
Hernandez is one of the top wing prospects in 2019 class. He showed the versatility in his game against the Hoopers. The 6’5” small forward had an array of takes off the bounce for scores including a sweet shot fake and blow by for a baseline layup. Couple nice straight line takes changing paces. Jumper wasn’t on in this game. Made a few nice passes which his teammates didn’t convert. He had 11 points. Mid-major player at this stage.
PG Jeremiah Washington (Young & Reckless Denard 17U)
Washington is a quick and shifty point guard from Bogan that is a plus passer. Pushes in transition with his speed. Feel for getting others involved, but can also score. Most of his offense comes off his handles whether it is drives to the hoop or creating space to get his jumper off. Struggled some defending on Saturday with his man getting around him. Lack of height might hurt him a bit, but we are fans of his competitiveness. Low-major prospect.
SF Dannie Smith (Young & Reckless Denard 17U)
Smith was a star this past season for Orr and one of the more dominant wings in the state. He has decided to go to prep school and reclassify to the 2019 class. Because of that he is running with Y&R this spring. The tough and physical wing brings off the charts competitiveness to the table. Plays with a high end motor all the time. Plus spot up shooter from three and took it right at the defense on some drives where he has the ability to finish through them. After a year of prep he is going to find a home as a quality mid-major prospect.
G Tyler Cochran (Hoopers 17U)
Cochran didn’t have a wow moment in the game, but he just produces. The Bolingbrook 2019 combo guard used his strong upper body to finish through defenders over and over again at the rim. He recorded a handful of and-1s where he drew the contact and got the shot up and in. Finishes well at the rim for a guard. Also hit a three. Plus rebounder. Cochran had 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 dimes. Didn’t show the athleticism that we saw during the season and looked a bit stiff at times. Low-major player.
SF Ikenna Okeke (Hoopers 17U)
There are some intriguing tools with this rangy 6’5” wing from Bolingbrook. He is a quick leaper that can get on the glass. Mobile on the defensive end. Shot mechanics are clean and hit a three in one of the games. Shows potential to become a threat with the shot. Raw player with some upside. High upside small college kid right now with the chance to get more attention from D2s as the summer and high school season goes on.
C Kameron Leonard (Hoopers 17U)
Leonard stands at 6’8” with a great frame and size at the center position. Quality area rebounder that high points balls and is a presence blocking shots with his length. Flashes skill every now and then. Has a different type of build to his body and isn’t overly fast or athletic. One to definitely track this summer as bigs tend to develop late. Right now a high level D3/NAIA/JUCO option that could go higher depending on his development.
SF Diamond Presniakovas (Hoopers 17U)
This 6’3” wing from Plainfield South is a high motor kid that plays all out. Super competitive 2019 prospect that gets the most out of his ability. Not super gifted athletically he gets the most out of what he has and scores in a crafty way in the lane. Small college player.