Show Me Showdown: 2021 Evals
PrepHoopsIllinois covered the Show Me Showdown over the weekend in St. Louis. Time to breakdown the prospects from the Land of Lincoln in the last event of the spring. Here are our evaluations of the 2021 prospects at the event!
F Ashawn Burbridge (Illinois T-Wolves)
The Illinois T-Wolves 15U group was super impressive! This 6’4” Joliet West forward has broad shoulders, length, and projectability where he should grow some more. The first thing that stands out is how well he rebounds the basketball. He is a beast with his ability to high point and just having an overall feel for where it is coming off the glass. Finishes well around the hoop converting and-1 opportunities. He passed it extremely well on the interior dishing off several quick passes for buckets. Hit a few short jumpers. Shot blocking presence as well. If this kid grows he could be a force! Should debut as one of the better power forwards in the 2021 rankings.
SG Jaiden Lee (Illinois T-Wolves)
Lee is a long and lanky shooting guard that stands at 6’4” and is a flat out knock down shooter from deep! I mean he couldn’t miss from three! Steps into his shot and has a quick release up top. Clean and consistent mechanics. Looks like one of the premier shooters in the 2021 class early on. The Joliet West wing also got on the glass a few times for some put backs. Like his projectability a lot! Had a little Dajuan Gordon to his game with the qualities we saw out of Gordon the first time a few years back.
SF Andrew Johnson (Illinois T-Wolves)
Johnson is another projectable wing from Joliet West. He had a strong day slashing with strong drives to the hoop off the bounce. Slippery through traffic. Was aggressive in the second half with the ball. He also had his mid-range pull up jumper on point! Consistently grew on me throughout the weekend!
PG Terrance Moncrief (Illinois T-Wolves)
The fourth Joliet West 2021 for the T-Wolves ran the show from the point guard position. The 5’10” floor general is a lefty that can handle it in space and is crafty with the ball. He connected on some threes. Leans forward too much on his shot. Potential on his floater.
SF Cameron Mallory (Illinois T-Wolves)
Mallory is a 6’4” wing from Lockport High School that came on strong as the weekend went on. He is at his best slashing from his wing spot in the half court and made quite a few nice finishes in transition.
SF Nathan Thompson (Illinois Bears)
Thompson has size on the perimeter. The Effingham wing has offensive scoring potential with the way he can shoot it and making quick moves off the bounce. Also flew in from the perimeter for a couple nice put backs.
PG Parker Wolfe (Illinois Bears)
This Effingham 5’9” point guard is a tough scoring lead guard that gets the most out of his ability every time he steps out on the floor. Wolfe lived at the free throw line in the first half against the T-Wolves getting in the lane and drawing contact. Also made some excellent passes including several on the money full court outlets for layups. In the second half he scored with tough jumpers and pushing it in the open floor. He converted some really difficult layups at the rim including the game winner at the buzzer. He had 32 points leading his team into the championship which they eventually won.
PG Jordan Hardiek (Illinois Bears)
Hardiek is a guard that compliments Wolfe well in the backcourt. He is bigger at almost 6’0” and is a threat shooting it from three especially off the catch. Good IQ and basketball smarts out of this point guard.
C Matthew Deters (Illinois Bears)
This Teutopolis 6’4” undersized post is a wide bodied big man that played a major role in the Bears capturing the 15U championship. He is a tough five man that was super productive on the interior with the way he competed on the glass. Got a ton of tough offensive rebounds that he put in for scores. Limited with his height from a prospect standpoint.
SG Evan Addis (Illinois Bears)
Another Teutopolis standout for the Bears 15U squad. He hit some big shots from three. The tough wing played with a lot of grit and made some key buckets. Gritty wing that will need to grow to be more than a small college player, but love his intangibles.