Summer Jam: Friday Standouts
Friday was another long day of hoops at Homestead High School in Mequon, Wisconsin for PrepHoopsIllinois at NY2LA Sports Summer Jam. We saw a ton of talent so it makes it all worth it! Here we breakdown the standouts from the day!
SG Ahamad Bynum (Mac Irvin Fire 15U)
Yesterday Bynum was on this list for being a standout in 17U and playing back at his normal age level on Friday morning the state’s #3 2021 prospect showed why he is such a coveted prospect. The Simeon shooting guard played with a great deal of confidence and it showed through in the numbers. He was a scoring machine drilling pull up jumpers all over the floor. His shot was on point! Electric burst off the bounce and can also finish with a floater.
PG Bucky Irving (Mac Irvin Fire 15U)
Irving is a scoring point guard that did just that for his Fire squad. This Hillcrest rising sophomore is a high energy player and plays bigger than his height. Outstanding shooter both off the catch and pulling up off the bounce. Scores on scoop shots in the paint. Also is quick defensively getting steals and going the other way with his speed.
PG Ahron Ulis (Meanstreets 16U)
Ulis is one of the premier point guards in the state and with the other 2/3 of their three headed point guard monster playing up it is the Marian Catholic’s guard that gets to be the feature player. He is a guard that handles the ball well and is particularly effective working in the pick and roll game. Ulis is a sound jump shooter and is actually best pulling up from both mid-range and three. Acrobatic finishes at the rim. Advanced feel passing at the lead guard spot.
SG DeAndre Hagan (Chicago Lockdown 16U)
This Brother Rice 2020 wing had the best game we have seen out of him in his career on Friday afternoon. The angular wing had it all working. Hagan is athletic and strong enough to be a factor on the boards getting second chance points. Finishes through contact well on drives. He has improved his perimeter shot some which was shown as he went for 20+ points.
PF Ryan Isaacson (Chicago Lockdown 16U)
Isaacson is a very intriguing four man in the 2020 class. The Hinsdale Central 6’7” forward has a lot of mobility to his game. Runs the floor very well and is a good athlete. Pick and pop ability as he shoots it well off the catch. Came away impressed with how he high pointed rebounds in traffic and blocked shots with both hands.
PG DJ Carton (Quad City Elite 17U)
The recent Ohio State commit is back with his guys for QCE and he showed he is on another level than everyone else on the floor. Carton who hails from Bettendorf (IA) is so explosive with the ball attacking the hoop. One of the best layup makers in the country with his ability to finish through or around defenders. Went coast to coast on several occasions. Ran the show at the point guard position and threw several outstanding passes for assists or starting the break.
PF CJ Wilbourn (Quad City Elite 17U)
Wilbourn was a standout last week at Next Level Invitational and was again on Friday. This Normal Community post has a nice combination of skill and athleticism. Face up game has improved hitting a three, handling it, and made a few nice passes. Also worked well in post with a hook shot along with sealing off his defender for a score. Tough defender that will block an occasional shot.
PF Romelle Howard (Mac Irvin Fire 16U)
Howard is a big and physical four man that is so powerful inside. The Lincoln Park post is a plus rebounder that is quick to the glass. Has a chance to be a plus rebounder at the college level because of his physical tools and toughness. In a blowout win he made quite a few spectacular dunks in transition and even handled it some.
C Martice Mitchell (Mac Irvin Fire 16U)
This Bloom 6’9” center displayed his high flying with a dunk party in the game we saw. Regularly played above the rim with rim rattling jams. Even had a two handed rock the cradle that was very impressive. His college potential comes with his rim running and protecting the rim.
PF Nate Ferguson (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Ferguson is one of the top prospects in the state checking in at #6 in the latest 2019 rankings. The Lemont post has size, versatility, skill, and athleticism. Face up four man that can beat a defense in so many ways. He did it in a variety of ways on Friday. Baseline spin, put backs, mid-range jumpers, threes, running the floor, and consistently rebounded well in traffic.
PG Demari Grant (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Grant who will be transferring to Oswego East for this upcoming season is a scoring point guard that can really shoot the basketball. Loves to hit pull up threes getting a lot of elevation on his jumper each time. Also not afraid to take it right at his defender for scores in the paint. Always in attack mode and plays really hard!
PG Will King (All-In Athletics Braverman 17U)
King is a player that we have featured multiple times over the last couple weeks. Another solid showing with AIA group. 6’4” combo guard that has an advanced feel for the game being able to pass it well in the half court. In the lane he loves the floater game. Also a capable shooter from beyond the arc. Very crafty playmaking guard.
PG Semaj Henderson (Illinois Heat 17U)
Henderson had a lot of talk about his play the first two days and we can confirm that the Downers Grove North 2019 point guard is playing some of the best hoops of his career. Henderson is a guard that loves to get downhill where he finishes well at the rim or gets to the charity stripe. Good initial first step. Solid jump shooter that is picking his spots better on when to take those shots.
PG Tyrese Shines (Illinois Heat 17U)
Shines is a big guard that can play both on or off the ball. Has a knack for scoring with his mid-range game and has improved as a spot up shooter. Did a nice job as well of getting to the line. Like his potential defensively with his long arms.
SF Ethan Helwig (Illinois Stars 17U)
This Metea Valley rising senior is a wing we have been writing about for a while. He is a wiry wing that can score it particularly with his deep three point shooting. That was exactly what he featured on Friday afternoon. He opened up absolutely stroking threes from way beyond the arc. Mixed in some runners, mid-range shots, and got on the glass some.
SF Isaiah Barnes (Illinois Wolves 15U)
Barnes is a high upside 2021 prospect from OPRF that displayed all of that in a spurt in a big win. The rising sophomore has big time athleticism and size on the perimeter. He has a lot of potential on his jump shot with a clean release. Plays well in transition as a wing finisher and when he is aggressive going to the hoop it can be a problem for the defense.
C Julian Campbell (Illinois Wolves 15U)
Campbell is a huge bodied center at 6’5” that takes up space on the interior. In the past we have seen him hang out quite a bit on the perimeter, but it was his play inside that impressed. Great job rebounding in traffic and finished with a soft touch. A lot of put backs for the Palatine big man.
PG Marcus Watson (All-In Athletics Williams 16U)
Watson made the move over to AIA Williams this week and the Morgan Park top 10 2020 prospect is still up to his old tricks. Defense and speed are the biggest assets of his game. Watson regularly picked the pockets of defenders and took them the other way leading to points. Explosive speed in the open floor!