What We Learned: Run N Slam
Another great weekend of hoops at the annual Run N Slam in Fort Wayne, Indiana over the weekend. What did we learn at the event? Find out here!
Wolves 15U Inside/Out Duo Have Big Weekends
With star 2021 Max Christie now playing up on the 17U and 16U levels the Wolves 15U team has to fill the void, but has plenty of talent to do so. The two prospects that impressed most over the weekend were Niles Notre Dame point guard Anthony Sayles and Schaumburg center Chris Hodges. Each is trending toward being the top prospect at their respective positions in the debut 2021 rankings. Sayles is a dynamic and explosive lead guard that gets to the rim and is improving as a distributor as well as perimeter shooter. Hodges was an outstanding rebounder that gobbled them up in bunches! Showed more of a scoring touch on the block. The duo worked well in the pick and roll together!
DJ Steward Reaffirms National Status
Steward lived up to his status as a top 30 player nationally in 2020. The slick handling lead guard absolutely dominated. This Fenwick guard shot it about as well as we have seen him especially from three. Also controlled the game as a distributor dishing the rock to his shooters on the money time after time. He works so well running the show for this Meanstreets 16U squad.
Tyler Beard Looks Like New #3
With DuQuoin’s Lamontay Daughtery moving out of state to St. Louis that opens up the #3 spot in the 2020 rankings. Whitney Young point guard Tyler Beard made a statement with his play over the weekend that he deserves that spot. He is playing the best basketball of his career and peaking at the right time. Beard got to the hoop at will on Friday night for Meanstreets. Great speed in the open floor. Finishes well around the hoop with acrobatic layups.
Ahamad Bynum Makes Statement
The Simeon 2021 played a highly rated prospect from Michigan on Friday night. In a late (really late) night game Bynum played at a high level. He scored 31 points taking it right at the defense over and over in a relentless manner. Bynum is a powerfully built wing that when he plays with a dominant mindset is a tough matchup!
Young Out of State Talent
The player that Bynum matched up with was 2022 6’7” forward Emoni Bates of Bates Fundamental out of Michigan. He is a long and lanky forward with a lot of skill, projectability, and potential. Flashed major skill handling the ball at his size and getting his shot off with ease. Perhaps the top 2021 player in America Michael Foster from Milwaukee was in the house on Kevon Looney Rebels 15U. He put on a show in the game we saw especially in the second half against the Wolves. To be able to do what he does at 6’9” at the 15U level is totally absurd! He is an elite rebounder that can play bully ball in the paint. Foster shoots it incredibly well and handles it out on the perimeter. Young DeMarcus Cousins type big man!
Ray J Dennis Going to Be Commodity in July
Oswego East 2019 point guard Ray J Dennis had a nice weekend for Kevon Looney Rebels. The combo guard is a smooth guard that can shoot it from three especially off the catch. He might be best as a distributor getting others involved. Made some outstanding passes and decisions in the half court. Dennis is going to be a coveted point guard that will be heavily tracked in July.
Wolves 17U Trio Fights Through Illness
The Wolves 17U group had multiple players sick including a pair from Illinois that have had strong springs. Marquise Kennedy fought through showing in multiple games his burst off the bounce and athleticism attacking with the ball in his hands. He is one of the spring’s biggest stock risers. Naperville North 2019 power forward Tom Welch was also under the weather. He played well in a couple of games showing he could handle it, pass, and score off the bounce. Tough rebounder on the interior. Picked up more offers than anyone in the state over the last month.
Khailieo Terry Can Still Dunk with Force
Champaign Central 2021 forward Khailieo Terry just dunked again….and again. He has been doing it ever since we saw him back in November. The 6’4” forward is playing for Indy Heat 15U and in Fort Wayne he displayed his freakish above the rim prowess to fans and scouts across the Midwest. He hammered a ton of dunks home including an insane revere alley-oop over a man for an and-1. Now we just want the skill to come along!
Indy Heat 17U Top 25 Duo Shines Again
A week ago Indy Heat defeated the Mac Irvin Fire at EYBL in Indianapolis. They did the same thing again at their home gym and the reason was the same once again. Trayce Jackson-Davis and Keion Brooks are the best interior duo in the nation. They both looked like McDonald’s All-Americans scoring inside at will with powerful jams and Brooks stretched the D with his shooting.
Adam Miller Makes Spring Debut
Morgan Park top 2020 prospect Adam Miller made his spring debut over the weekend at Run N Slam. He was injured the week after their state championship win so he had yet to play on the circuit. It was great to see him back out there as rumors were swirling as to how bad the injury was. We saw him Saturday shoot it about as well as he had in his career from three. The 6’4” point guard drilled them at a high rate both off the catch and pulling up. Great to have the state’s top sophomore back on the floor!
Lockdown 2019s Shine
One of the more underrated duos on the circuit is Chicago Lockdown’s Nate Ferguson and Demari Grant. Ferguson has got some attention from us with his play in Madison earlier in the spring. Once again the Lemont big man was impressive shooting it from deep and showing off his hops at the rim. Grant is a point guard from Bolingbrook that is quickly becoming a major scoring threat. His mid-range jumper was on point from all over the floor!
Max Christie Leads Wolves 16U to Historic Win
The chances that the 0-8 in UAA 16U play Illinois Wolves defeated the #1 nationally ranked Indiana Elite riding a 60 game winning steak in pool play was really long odds. Well it happened. I watched it with my own eyes and the only explanation was the best player of the floor had on a Wolves uniform. That was top 2021 prospect Max Christie. The Rolling Meadows wing playing up an age level was so calm on the big stage executing key plays when they needed to be made and knocking down big shots. Consistently makes the right play passing or scoring. High IQ player and winner went for 21 points in the upset win!
Greg Outlaw One to Watch
Bogan is a sleeper threat in the CPS next year. They have quite a few talented prospects and one quickly emerging is Chicago Select 17U small forward Greg Outlaw. The athletic 2019 wing is powerful in transition and explosive taking it to the hoop. Plays with an all-out motor and gets after it on the defensive end. Outlaw is a breakout candidate in July.