Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Top 2016 Prospects (Revised 9/30/2014)

Top 2016 Prospects
Revised on 9/30/2014

1
Jerry Miles Johnson
6’5”
G/F
East Moline
2
Rapolis Ivanukas
6’9”
WF
Barrington
3
Nick Rakocevic
6’9”
PF
St. Joes
4
Devon Gage

6’3”
G
Curie
5
Rodney Herrington
6’2”
PG
Young
6
James Jones
6’4”
WG
Bogan
7
Isaiah Roby
6’8”
F
Dixon
8
Barrett Benson 6’9” C Hinsdale South
9
Brandon Johnson
6’7”
F
T.F. South
10
Zach Norvell
6’2”
G
Simeon

A class headlined by stellar point guards (best crop in recent years). The shooting guard slot has quality players as well.  I’m intrigued by the growing makeup of this class as a whole.  Not one of our prime-time groups in terms of high-major recruits; but we do have some quality players. 

Point Guards

Name
HT
LEVEL
High-School/Club
Comments
Rodney Herenton
6’1”
MM+-MM
Chicago Young/Mean Streets
PAC 12 Interest; Solid Player
Matty Smith
5’9”
MM
South-Elgin/IL Wolves
“Capable Big-Time Scorer”
Mike Smith
5’10”
MM
Fenwick/Mean Streets
Proven player; So-So Summer
Charlie Moore
5’10”
MM
Chicago Morgan Pk./Mac Irvin
“A Proven Winner”
Xavier Bishop
5’8”
MM
Springfield Lanphier/St. Louis Eagles
“Lefty Jump-Shooter; Has to become More of a PG”
DeAngelo Hughes
5’10”
MM
Springfield S.E./IL Irish
“Big Game Performer”
Micah Bradford
6’1”
MM
Bradley –Bourbonnais/Mac Irvin
“Skilled Performer; Bradley just Offered”
Bryce Barnes
5’10”
MM
Chicago Bogan/?
“Smooth General; Plays at a Good Pace”
Darius Branch
5’7”
MM
Leo H. S./Young & Reckless
“Had a Super Soph. Campaign”
Micquel Roseman
5’11”
LM+
Evanston/Full Package
“This Lefty had a Great Summer; Now We have to View Him in His School Environment”
Tommy Lucca
5’9”
LM+
Genoa Kingston/IL Wolves
“A Tough Floor General; High IQ”
Braden Fitzjerrells
5’5”
LM+LM
Mount Vernon/SW Jets
“Small; but a Scoring Lead Guard”

Players to Watch at the Position –Need More Viewing
Jarrin Randle-5’10”-Morgan Park; Daniko Jackson-5’10”-Riverside Brookfield; Byron Choice-6’2”-Orr; D’Aaron Owens-5;’10”-Centralia; Deshawn Wilson-5’9”-Zion Benton; Jordan Thornton-5’11”-Hoffman Estates; Jordan Baum-6’3”-Deerfield; Jason Jones-Rock Island; Malique Ross-5’11”-Oswego

Shooting Guards

Name
HT
LEVEL
High-School
Comments
Devon Gage
6’2”
HM-MM+
Chicago Curie/Team Rose
“Top 5 in the Class Future PG”
James Jones
6’4”
HM-MM+
Chicago Bogan/Mean Streets
“Explosive Scorer-Top 10”
Zack Norvell
6’2”
MM+
Chicago Simeon/Mac Irvin
“Has some Gaps in His Game”
Christopher Harris
6’3”
MM+-MM
Lake Forest Academy/IL Wolves
“Could be a Stud one Day; Combo Type Now”
Keymonte Johnson
6’3”
MM+-MM
Decatur MacArthur/?
“A Serious Hooper; Vastly Unknown”
Nate Kennell
6’5”
MM
Metamora/IL Wolves
“Lights Out Shooter”
Josh Thomas
6’3”
MM
Chgo Simeon/Mean Streets
“Talented; Needs Work on His Shot”
Zion Morgan
6’1”
MM
Chgo Kenwood/Chgo Lock-Down
“Just a Solid Prospect”
Chris Duff
6’1”
MM-LM+
Waukegan/NLP
“Very Smart Player; Productive”
Karon Randolph*
6’4”
MM
East St. Louis/?
“Versatile Threat; but Supposedly Elite Football Prospect”
Ethan Meeker
6’1”
MM
Galesburg/Mac Irvin
“Promising Superb Shooter; Summer Was?”
George Willbourn
6’2”
MM
De LaSalle/Team Rose
“Offensive Threat”
Antonio Johnson
6’3”
MM
East St. Louis/?
“Starting to Emerge”
Donovan Oliver
6’3”
MM-LM+
Kewanee/Quad City
“High Energy Athlete; has to Work on Skills”
Daniel Hoekstra
6’4”
MM-LM+
Bishop McNamara/IL Irish
“Underrated Athlete; Capable Scorer”
Tyler Houston
6’3”
MM-LM+
Knoxville/Quad City
“Makes Shots & Plays; Dynamite Motor; Stock on the Rise”
Mike Ballard
6’3”
-----------
Fenwick/Mean Streets
“Coming out Party in Vegas; A Shooter”

Players to Watch at the Position-Need More Viewing
Almir Ailoska-6’2”-Taft; Kevin Kreiger-6’3”-Plainfield North; Mike Pollack-6’4”-DeKalb; Sidney Mason-6’4”-CVS; Travon Bell-6’1”-Mather; Isaac Gassman-6’4”-Ottawa; Kalin Lee-5’9”-St. Ignatius; Antonio Willians-6’1”-Proviso East; Dallas McClain-6’0”-MacArthur; Jake Rhode-5’10”-Mount Carmel; Isaac Nelson-6’1”-Springfield High

Name
HT
LEVEL
High-School
Comments
Rapolas Ivanaukas
6’8”
HM
Barrington/Full Package
“He’s my No. 1 Player in the Class”
Jerry Myles
6’5”
HM-MM+
United Twp./All Iowa Attack
“This Lefty is a Stud; He can Score in a Variety of Ways; Top 2 or 3 in the Class”
Brendon Gooch
6’6”
MM+-MM
Belleville Althoff/S.W. Jets
“Versatile Wing who can Score”
Nick Robinson
6’5”
MM+-MM
Chgo. Kenwood/Mean Streets
“Very Spotty Summer Performance”
Ben Coupet
6’6”
MM+-MM
Chgo. Simeon/Mac Irvin
“We Love His Potential”
A.J. Beckett
6’8”
MM+
Champaign Central/?
“A Thin Transfer from Centennial; Stardom Awaits”
Skyler Nash
6’5”
MM
Chgo. Young/IL Wolves
“Going to have to Prove Himself again in School Setting”
Darias Oliver
6’6”
MM
Chgo. Leo/Chgo. Express
“Wealth of Talent; Needs to Play Harder”
Jack Clausen
6’5”
MM
Newark/IL Wolves
“A Scorer; Shelved by Injury in July”
Elyiah Goss
6’7”
MM
Plainfield East/IL Celtics
“Probably more of a 4 Man now, a Raw Talent”
Patrick Benka
6’6”
------------
Fremd/Fundamental U.
“Good Frame & Excellent Skills”
Kieran Cook
6’5”
------------
Decatur MacArthur/?
“A Raw Talent with a Bright Future”

Strong Forward
We are going to have to have some patience with players at this position; slow developing.”

Name
HT
LEVEL
High-School
Comments
Nick Rakocevic
6’9”
HM-MM+
St. Joseph/Mac Irvin
“Observers this Summer weren’t too High on His Performances”
Isaiah Roby
6’8”
HM-MM+
Dixon H. S./Quad City
“Future on the Perimeter; Stock Climbing Fast; Top 10 in 2016 Class”
Brandon Johnson
6’7”
MM+
T.F. South/Young & Reckless
“Skills somewhat Raw now, but He’s headed for Stardom”
Terrell Phipps
6’8”
MM
Chgo Al Raby/Young & Reckless
“Athlete who’s starting to come on”
Rashawn Epting
6’6”
MM
Immaculate Conception/
IL Wolves
“Caught my Eye; Lefty has a Good Motor; Underrated”
Carlton Williams
6’8”
-----------
West Aurora/Mean Streets
“Slow in His Development”
Brandon Hall
6’5”
LM+
Hoffman Estates/NLP
“Promising-Starting to Play Harder”
Alonzo Chatman
6’6”
LM+
Chicago Morgan Park/Mac Irvin
“Long Arm Athlete; Very Raw”
Mark Smith
6’7”
------------
Riverside-Brookfield/TAW
“I have to see more of Him”
Keating Rombach
6’6”
------------
Ottawa/IL Attack
“Intriguing; I have to Keep Watching; Played well in June”
Daniel Ogele
6’6”
------------
St. Ignatius/IL Celtics
“A Player to Watch for Me; Currently Hurt”
Luke Davis
6’6”
------------
Dekalb/Pryme Tyme
“Good Genes; Al will Help Him”
Devin Harris*
6’6”
------------
Springfield Lanphier/?
“A Beast-Football Player as Well
Ammar Becar
6’6”
------------
Niles Notre Dame/?
“Undersize; But He can Score”
Tyler Hankins*
6’10”
------------
South-Elgin/?
“Is a Big-Time Baseball Player”
Will Fleming
6’6”
------------
St. Ignatius/?
“Emerging; Long Arms-Good Rebounder”

Post-Men

Name
HT
LEVEL
High-School
Comments
Barrett Benson
6’9”
MM+-MM
Hinsdale South/IL Wolves
“Enjoyed a Decent Summer; Still Coming Along”
Royce Newman
6’7”
LM+
Nashville/S.W. Jets
“Learned a lot During Club Season”
William Miles
6’7”
------------
Rock-Island/Quad City
“Banger coming along; a Year away”
Tawong King
6’8”
--------------
Chicago Orr/?
“He’s going to be Good one Day”