Next Level Invitational: Saturday Standouts
The Next Level Invitational continued well into the second bracket tournament as many teams faced win or go home games on Saturday afternoon. Check out the standouts from the day here!
SF Trevon Jordan (Quad City Elite 15U)
We started the morning off by checking out QCE 15U group. The most impressive performance they had from an Illinois prospect was this Sterling 6’4” small forward. He is a strong wing that did a lot of damage pounding the offensive glass for second chance opportunities. As the game went on he displayed more perimeter game connecting on a trio from down town.
SG Jayden Houston (Quad City Elite 15U)
Houston was another prospect that shined for the young Quad City Elite group. The lead combo guard displayed a natural knack for scoring the basketball. He had multiple aggressive takes off the dribble. Also has a clean looking shot from three. He is out of Davenport North High School on the Iowa side of the border.
SF Odin Lium (HIT 15U)
Lium is an intriguing prospect. Stands at 6’4” with super long arms and a rangy frame. Very thin at this stage and will need to add on bulk as time goes on, but it should come throughout his career. Opened with a sweet looking pull up jumper and mixed in a right handed hook shot. Seems like a prospect that is just scratching the surface of his long term developmental potential. Goes to Oswego East High School.
SF Dylan Engler (Mercury Elite 17U)
Engler is a 6’4” wing from Oswego that has proven to be a great glue player for Mercury Elite throughout the event. What you have to like about his game is the way he can contribute a little bit across the board and is efficient with his touches offensively. In their Saturday morning contest he made a lot of plays off the bounce scoring in the lane with crafty drives that he often converted with runners. Sound passer for a wing.
C Aidan Shore (Mercury Elite 17U)
Shore stands at 6’10” from Sterling and came in as one of the prospects I was most looking forward to evaluating. Rail thin and will have to add significant strength at the college level. Could be a redshirt candidate. It has been a bit of an up and down week, but Saturday night going head to head with a post that is athletic and outweighs him by probably 50 pounds he more than held his own. Rebounded in traffic insanely well flying in to grab many of them! Was very aggressive on the glass on both ends of the floor. Also worked in a lot of skill with mid-range lefty jumpers, couple post moves, and an emphatic and-1 slam to close the half. He went for a double double. Also did a nice job as a rim protector.
SG Jamir Price (Quad City Elite 17U)
Price is a two guard from Rock Island that with DJ Carton (who committed to Ohio State on Saturday) not in attendance has been able to play on the ball more and proved to be a playmaker. Saturday morning he was looking to get downhill and to the rim. Did just that with slick drives and acrobatic finishes at the cup. Also mixed in some nice passing when he drew multiple defenders as he was more than willing to give it up to his big fellas.
PG Demari Grant (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Grant is a scoring point guard from Oswego East that has continued his momentum over from the spring to July. Quick and shifty point guard that is wired to score. Speed end to end with the basketball in his hands. He loves to get in the lane were he floats the ball over opponents or maneuvers around them for difficult layups. Did hit a corner three as well. Speed is the name of the game for Grant!
SF Trevon Jones (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Jones opened our eyes with his play back at the holiday tournaments with Richards where he played more on the perimeter as a three. Lockdown uses the 6’2” thick bodied forward as an undersized post that does the dirty work. He is a junk yard dog that is physical on the offensive glass and finishes through contact going to the line regularly on and-1s.
G Dashon Enoch (Made Men 17U)
Enoch has created a buzz among college coaches in attendance with his play throughout the week. At times he can definitely be a bit out of control, but there is absolutely no questioning how hard this kid brings it every game! Super competitive kid that has an all-out motor. Not the greatest outside shooter, but can hit from mid-range pulling up. Is at his best using his strength to get to the rim off the bounce with power and burst. Tenacious on ball defender that regularly causes turnovers.
PF Charlie Hoehne (Made Men 17U)
Hoehne is another intriguing prospect for a lot of D2 programs. He is a mobile four man that knows how to use that to his advantage on both ends. Comfortable defending in a ball screen and switching to multiple positions being able to stay in front of guards and defend big men. He can slash it at times when facing up, runs the floor really well, passes it out of the post, and got a lot of second chance points. Didn’t show much of his pick and pop shot which might be one of his biggest strengths.
PG Luke Yoder (Illinois Irish 17U)
Yoder has picked up several D2 offers with his play in Milwaukee. He was at his best when he didn’t settle for jumpers and displayed some athleticism that we didn’t see earlier in the week getting in the lane for an array of layups, scoop shots, and runners. Also banked in a few flying in.
SF Ryland Holt (Illinois Irish 17U)
Let the rise of this Gibson City forward continue. One of the top stock risers of the week he kept it rolling on Saturday. Skilled 6’5” wing with length and athleticism. Spaces the floor with his shooting. When defenders run at him he can shot fake and go around them. Showed well defensively checking an array of positions on switches.
PG Ray’Sean Taylor (Gateway Illinois 16U)
Taylor’s team didn’t play great in their Saturday game, but this Collinsville point guard put on a show again. The top 25 prospect in the 2020 class can really score it! He is excellent in transition with his speed and changing gears. Finishes well around the hoop despite his lack of ideal size. Gets elevation at the rim and shields defenders away.
G Grayson Goetz (HIT 16U)
Goetz is also from Oswego East (seeing a theme?) and was the key player when we saw HIT in their game on Saturday afternoon. The rising junior is a sound shooter both off the catch and pulling up from mid-range. He mixed in a baseline drive as well.
SF Marcus Skeete (HIT 16U)
Skeete is a huge jumbo forward that has an imposing body. The lefty is a mismatch problem as he is too strong for wings down low and can take big men off the dribble on the perimeter. He is a powerful finisher at the cup. Tenacious rebounder.
PG Joel Watts (All-In Williams 16U)
Watts stood out when we saw him at the Hoop Group camp recently and was very good again for AIA. The St. Rita point guard is quick off the bounce with tight handles in traffic. He is slippery getting in and out of the defense and made several tough layups. Playmaking guard that can shoot and pass it a little too.
PG Corey Crowder (Breakaway Basketball 15U)
Crowder stands at 5’8” from Glenbard South High School. The tiny point guard opened their game with a bang on Saturday night. He drilled a three from the wing and then came right back at the defense with a pull up from 15 feet that had a ton of arc on it! Crisp ball handler that also is a pesky on ball defender.
C Jalen Thomas (REACH Legends 17U)
Thomas stands at 6’10” out of the state of Michigan. He is just an enormous kid with broad shoulders and grown man strength. Proved to be a very good rebounder with his long arms and imposing stature. Strong hands. Offensively he looked good working in the pick and roll. Also drilled a couple mid-range jumpers and looked comfortable with a hook shot.
SG Harlond Beverly (REACH Legends 17U)
Beverly is a Michigan native that has an inconsistent motor. For an elite top 50-75 type kid he goes missing at times, but has special talent. In their Saturday night game he started off hot throwing several sick dimes along with hitting threes. Then went away for most of the game before he rattled off a run of points to get them back in it with finishes at the cup along with jumpers.