2017 Wings Breakdown
The class of wings is probably the strength of the 2017 class in Illinois with a great group of shooting guards and small forwards with a variety of skill sets and strengths. The shooting guard position is headlined by a…
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Continue ReadingThe class of wings is probably the strength of the 2017 class in Illinois with a great group of shooting guards and small forwards with a variety of skill sets and strengths.
The shooting guard position is headlined by a St. Louis metro east duo from the same city. Jordan Goodwin (Belleville Althoff) is a power guard that plays with a never ending motor and can beat a defense in so many ways. Illinois commit Javon Pickett (Belleville East) is a rangy 6’4” wing that is smooth with the ball in his hands and can score at all three levels. Both are among the five best players overall in the class.
Elijah Joiner (Curie) is making a strong run to put himself in the high major group as well with his lethal scoring ability and playing more consistent on a nightly basis. Fenwick duo Jamal Nixon and Jacob Keller along with Demarius Jacobs (Uplift) and sharp shooter AJ Youngman (Peoria Manual) need to be looked at my mid-major programs. The depth keeps going with potential D1 talents in Tyler Chisom (Proviso East), Lucas Williamson (Whitney Young), Dwayne Rose (Crete Monee), Craig Beaudion (Whitney Young), Breenen Woods (Hampshire), Noah Frederking (Okawville), Jaylan Catledge (Richards), and Denis Alibegovic (Downers Grove South).
Some under the radar names that are emerging include Jared Murphy (Rolling Meadows), Josh Strama (Stagg), Austin Wills (Benton), and Marvin Nesbitt (Butler College Prep).
Small forward crop is another solid position! Led by high-major duo Justin Smith (Stevenson) and Charles Payton (Bloomington). Smith is a smooth wing that can score with ease. Payton is an athletic freak that plays with a great motor.
Several small forwards elevated their stocks this season. Two in particular are Coreyoun Rushin (Westinghouse) and Romon Douglas-Watkins (Peoria Manual) who both added significant areas to their game in the last six months. Trevian Bell (Joliet West), Nana Akenten (Bolingbrook), and Marvin Bateman (Belleville Althoff) also need to be monitored by mid-major programs.
Lots of upside guys at the low-major level that could emerge higher as the process goes on like Romelo Burrell (Morgan Park), TJ Smith (Marian Catholic), Elijah Ward (Joliet West), Jameel Alausa (University High), Oliver Stephen (Edwardsville), and Terry Smith (Curie).