Next Level Invitational: 2019 Evals Pt 1
PrepHoopsIllinois took in all the action from the Next Level Invitational in Mequon, Wisconsin this past week. Now we dive into our player evaluations from the event. Here is our 2019 Evaluations Part 1!
PG Josh Berry (Mercury Elite Fano 17U)
We were impressed with what this Lyons Township 6’1” point guard showed at the Chicago High Academic Camp last week. He was able to display his full repertoire with his travel team. Berry is naturally a pass first guard that threaded the needle on several occasions connecting on passes to teammates. Was particularly effective hitting cutters on the move for layups. As a scorer he connected on a pair of deep threes. Also pushed it in the open floor and was a solid ball handler.
G Jeff Kratz (Mercury Elite Fano 17U)
This Wheaton Warrenville South guard displayed a skilled game. Hit a nice three while fading to the corner to get open. Used a variety of fakes and crafty drives. Active hands defensively.
SF Adem Mehmeti (Mercury Elite Fano 17U)
This Addison Trail 6’2” wing is a tough kid that is very active on both ends of the floor and was more than willing to throw his body around to make plays.
SG Jimmy Braddish (Mercury Elite Fano 17U)
Braddish is a 6’1” guard from Sandwich that has solid handles although he was a bit wild on a few drives. Sound passer that fed the post well.
G Will King (All-In Athletics Braverman 17U)
King is a 6’4” combo guard that isn’t going to wow you with his athleticism, but he is a crafty combo guard that knows how to play the game. Handles it well in the open floor and has plus vision as a distributor making the correct pass on a regular basis. Made plays in the drive and kick. Rebounds well for his position. Not a huge scoring game, but did flash his three point stroke.
SG Fillip Bulatovic (All-In Athletics Braverman 17U)
Bulatovic is a two guard from Maine South that flies a bit under the radar, but this kid can play! He is best as a spot up shooter with a clean release from three. Plays really hard. At times he is a bit wild and missed some layups, but you will take the aggression he plays with any day. Got on the glass for a put back. Productive scoring wing with sneaky athleticism.
PG Andre White (All-In Athletics Braverman 17U)
White is a point guard that has bounced around high schools throughout his career. He is a quick point guard with some natural athleticism. Shifty with the ball in his hands. Best playing in the open floor. Turned the ball over quite a bit as he was wild with the ball.
C Jackson Kenyon (All-In Athletics Braverman 17U)
Kenyon is a 6’8” big man from Deerfield that has good size and length on the interior. High pointed rebounds in traffic and scored on a few quick post moves. Deep sleeper in this class.
SG Essam Hamwi (All-In Athletics Braverman 17U)
Hamwi is a better athlete than I remembered. He moves well without the ball to get open and can hit open shots.
PF Frank Siegien (All-In Athletics Braverman 17U)
Siegien is an undersized five that has a thick body. Plays below the rim with a lot of toughness and grit. Good offensive rebounder that gets second chance points.
SG Erik Cohn (All-In Athletics Braverman 17U)
Cohn is a projectable small college wing that has gotten stronger in his upper body. The York wing is best as a three point shooting threat that drills them off the catch.
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. Can hit jumpers off the catch when left open.
G Sean Houpt (Illinois Irish 17U)
Houpt is a favorite of ours with the competitiveness he brings to the table on both ends of the floor. The Danville combo guard opened the game in front of a large number of college coaches drilling a pair of threes. Mixed in a couple tough takes. Like what he brings defensively as he is a pit bull at the point of attack.
SF Landon Wolfe (Illinois Irish 17U)
This Effingham small forward started off a bit slow, but then got it rolling. Was just average shooting it from the perimeter as compared to how well he usually shoots it. Most of his scores came on crafty drives where he finished through contact at the rim for and-1’s or drifted floaters over the defense.
PF Thomas Hall (Illinois Irish 17U)
It was a solid week for this Metamora post. He wasn’t spectacular, but had his moments. Early in the week his pick and pop shot was falling connecting on three pointers from deep. The three didn’t fall as much later in the week. Solid rebounder in traffic that can block shots on occasion.
PG Payton Havens (Illinois Irish 17U)
Havens is a tiny point guard that plays with a ton of grit. The Metamora point guard is a pass first guard that pushes it in transition and makes quick passes. Can make an occasional three point shot.
SF Ryland Holt (Illinois Irish 17U)
Holt is becoming a very intriguing player for a lot of D2 schools as he has already picked up a pair of offers at that level. What you have to like about this 6’6” forward is his ability to stretch the floor with his shooting. Sound perimeter stroke and can be a small ball four in certain lineups at the next level with his ability to switch and guard multiple positions. Potential to be a big time threat from beyond the arc at the college level.
PF Karl Wright (Illinois Irish 17U)
Wright had an understated week. The uber athletic Springfield Lanphier four man is an elite level athlete that would post a monster jam once a game. Was just ok as a rebounder and scorer throughout the week.
C Patrick Torrey (Illinois Irish 17U)
Torrey jumped on our radar with his size. Didn’t get a ton done other than rebounding ok, but the size he presents at the small college level is impressive.
SG Justin Eagins (Mercury Elite 17U)
Eagins is an undersized shooting guard at 6’1” that can flat out stroke it from the perimeter. He came out hot shooting from the beginning and kept it up throughout the contest. Plus spot up sniper that also displayed he could get off his own three creating space with a step back. Was solid on the glass and went coast to coast on one drive for an impressive bucket.
SG Mitch Mascari (Mercury Elite 17U)
After watching Mascari early in the week we clearly have him too low in the rankings. We hadn’t seen the Geneva shooting guard play in a while. He has gotten taller and a lot stronger since we last saw him. He is a smooth scoring wing that likes to attack off the bounce and score on athletic drives to the cup. He did that on a regular basis in their opener. Converted some tough layups. Moves well without the ball including getting a bucket on a back cut.
PG Jack McDonald (Mercury Elite 17U)
McDonald is a lead guard from Geneva that we were huge fans of a summer ago. He isn’t the greatest athlete, but he knows how to play the game with a high basketball IQ and crafty handles. Gets to the spots where he needs to operate finding the opening among the defense. Shoots it well from mid-range and uses his body positioning to be able to convert layups in the lane.
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.
SF Kross Garth (Mercury Elite 17U)
Garth is the ultimate glue guy for Mercury Elite. Rangy and athletic combo forward that rebounds and defends.
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.
G Chase Robinson (Made Men 17U)
Robinson is an athletic combo guard that has a high competitive streak. Attacks with strength and does a nice job shielding the ball from his opponent on finishes at the rim. Can hit an occasional three, but is at his best using his athleticism off the bounce.
SF Anthony Roberts (Made Men 17U)
Roberts is a 6’4” small forward that plays bigger than his height. The OPRF forward rebounded well in traffic snatching them with two hands. Offensively he works best out of the high post. Connected on a three and had a pair of sweet takes to the hoop. One where he crossed his man and another with a strong rip followed by a layup at the cup.
SG Ryan Trotter (Made Men 17U)
Trotter is a two guard that is a plus shooter from the perimeter and mixes in some tough drives every now and then, but his shooting from deep is definitely where he stands out the most.
SF Donovan Clay (Ramey-Jets United 17U)
Clay has become a name that has created buzz among D2 and low-major coaches. The Alton wing is 6’6” with long arms and can shoot it from deep. Projects as a classic three and D guy at the next level. Ability to defend multiple positions and is a plus shooter from beyond the arc. Clean looking stroke from three.
SG Malik Smith (Ramey-Jets United 17U)
He came off the bench in most of the games that we saw and didn’t seem like he could ever get into a rhythm. Jumper wasn’t falling. When he did score it was on drives including a nice one through Harlond Beverly.