Top Sophomores (2017) in our State - 2/17/2015 updated

Top Sophomores (2017) in our State

Heavy weight schools roll into Illinois for this collection of talented players across the state; my evaluation of these top notch prospects will be based on my viewing them at least once or twice and not off the word of friendly sources nor serial social browsing of the media out-lets.  For almost a year now, quite a few of these kids have illustrated the type of potential that may brand them collectively for one of our deepest talented classes in quite some time.  2014 was loaded with 3 or 4 primetime recruits, but the group has the makings of having more depth.  Level will be based solely on improvement, including over-all package of skills.

Point-Guard

Name	HT	Level	High-School	Comments
Alonzo Verge Jr.	6-3	HM	Willowbrook	“Terrific Talent; Exciting to Watch; worth the price of admission”
Willie Herrenton	6-1	MM+	Chicago Young	“A Wealth of Confidence & Smarts; Capable Scorer”
Elijah Joiner	6-2	MM+-MM	Chicago Curie	“Potential Scorer; an Unproven Talent; Still Learning”
Yaakeema Rose	5-8	MM	Springfield Lanphier	“A Tough Penetrating PG who can find an Open Man”
Edwyn Brown	6-4	MM+-MM	Bellleville Althoff	“Wiry with Strong Ball Handling Skills; has a Good Understanding; for some reason had Limited Minutes versus St. Joes on the 7th”
Octavis Parker	5-11	MM	Niles West	“A Scoring Lead; had 37 recently & another high scoring out-put”
Evan Gilyard	5-8	MM	Chicago Simeon	“Starting to Log Heavy Minutes; still needs Polish”
Mahir Williams	5-11	MM	Proviso East	“Can be a Lethal PG, but Academics keeps Him Shelved”

Other Lead Guards who can Potentially Climb the Ladder

Name	HT	Level	High-School	Comments
Maurice Edwards	6-1	----------	Alton	“He’s starting to get Rave Reviews with His Play; need to see soon”
P.J. Pipes	6-0	----------	Lemont	“A Solid Player; already Considered One of the Top Young Guards in South Suburbs”
Iman Reynolds	6-1	----------	Hinsdale South	“Lefty has Potential to be a Scorer; Recently quit the team”
Michael Johnson	5-10	----------	DePaul Prep	“Sees the floor well; not always aggressive late in games”

Shooting Guards

Name	HT	Level	High-School	Comments
Jordon Goodwin	6-3	HM-MM+	Belleville Althoff	“Number 3 in the class; Punishes Defenders; Quality Athlete; very Versatile Player; can Play a 1 – 3; had 33 versus St. Joes”
Nojel Eastern	6-4	HM	Evanston	“Ambidextrous Talent; when Strength comes Look Out; more of a Wing now”
Da’Monte Williams	6-2	HM-MM+	Peoria Manuel	“Oh-So-Talented; has to Learn how to be Productive every Night”
Craig Beaudion	6-3	HM-MM+	Chicago Foreman	“Slender Scorer Averages 25 per Game; Promising”
Josiah Wallace	6-3	MM+	Marshall (IL)	“Skilled; Knows how to Play; Capable Scorer. Productive Player”
Carson Newsome	6-3	MM	Waukegan	“A Seasoned All-Around Player; Potentially could be real Good”
A.J. Youngman	6-3	MM+-MM	Peoria Manuel	“Hot-Shot Scorer; Billed as the Next Peyton Allen Transferred into Manual Prior to the Holidays; has to Prove Himself again”
Jalen Clanton	6-0	MM	Riverside-Brookfield	“Combo; gets Double Figures in Scoring Consistently; Promising Recruit; I need to go see again Soon”
Noah Frederking	6-3	MM	Okawville	“Can really stroke-it; putting up his quality numbers; averages over 20 points”
Marvin Bateman	6-4	MM	Belleville Althoff	“Slender Shooter with Range; was Impressive vs St. Joes”
Jamal Nixon	6-4	MM	Fenwick	“Has the Versatility to Defend 3 Positions; He’s a Potential Stat Sheet Filler; Good Understanding of the Game; Decent Athlete”
Jeameril Wilson	6-5	-----------	Niles Notre Dame	“Good Athlete with Great Frame; Ball-Handling Strong; Shot needs Work; I’m High on His Potential”
Dwayne Rose	6-2	----------	Crete Monee	“Good Genes; His Development will be Fun to Watch”
Rashaad Williams	6-0	----------	Seton Academy	“Has Extra Gear in Term of Speed; needs Polish”
Mark Johnson	5-11	----------	Springfield Southeast	“He can Score; now the Game Should be Emphasis on Improving Understanding & Ball-Handling”
Ramar Evans	6-1	----------	Loyola Academy	“Has Shown the Ability to Score; He’s Heady & Patient; We Envision Him as a System Type; could Develop into Mid-Low Recruit”

Wing Forwards

Name	HT	Level	High-School	Comments
Justin Smith	6-6	HM	Stevenson	“A High-Flyer who can Drop Jumpers from 3 and Beat You Off-The-Dribble; Very Talented Prospect”
Colin Stallworth	6-4	MM	Rochester	“Promising Prospect; Already a Reliable Scorer; a Heavy Contributor for His Team now”
Bailey Balsala	6-5	MM	Moline	“High volume Shooter; Skilled; Handles the Ball Fairly Well; Versatile”
Lucas Williamson	6-4	MM	Chicago Young	“Skilled/Smart; Solid Defender; Good Mid-Range Shooter; System Type”
Javon Pickett	6-4	MM	Belleville East	“Lacks Strength now, but He’s a Potential All-Around Scorer”
Elijah Williams	6-5	-----------	Evanston	“Long Arms; Competitive Offensive Game will Flourish One Day”
Marquees Henry	6-0	-----------	Zion Benton	“Promising Prospect; has to Improve His Skills”
Dylan Henderson	6-3	----------	DePaul Prep	“Shoots the long ball well; can score some attacking the rim; needs to improve ball-handling”

Strong Forwards

Name	HT	Level	High-School	Comments
Christian Negron	6-6	HM	Elgin-Larkin	“His Jumper is Improving; He’s Starting to Figure out ways to Manufacture Points; Still needs to be more Productive during a Game”
Manny Patterson	6-8	HM	Chicago Kenwood	“Before His Shoulder Injury Shelved Him, You could see His Game improving at Both Ends”
Coreyun Rushin	6-5	MM+	Chicago Westinghouse	“Explosive Player gets to the Rim; once He gets His Shot Together and Develops an Idea on how to Play He could be a Strong Player”
Charles Payton	6-6	MM	Bloomington	“Opened a lot of Eyes with a Sparkling Performance at Pontiac”
Trevian Bell	6-5	MM	Joliet West	“Has Recorded some Big Scoring Nights vs Elite Rivals, but Inconsistent overall”
T.J. Smith	6-7	MM	Marian Catholic	“Shelved with a Knee Injury; may Return soon; Promising Player”
Malik Binns	6-5	MM	Chicago Hope Academy	“Physical Player; Starting to Understand the Game Better”
Stephon Harris	6-5	MM	Oswego East	“Did not Suit-Up the Night I was there to View Him; Eligibility Issues probably Stemming from His Transfer from North Lawndale; We know He can Play”
Austin Richie	6-5	MM	Marian Catholic	“Excellent Frame; can Step-Out & make Shots”
Warren Allen	6-5	------------	Marian Catholic	“Good Lookin Athlete; Scores well around the Rim; Football maybe his Sport”
T.J. Clifford	6-5	-----------	Downers Grove South	“Promising Prospect; haven’t seen Enough”
Nana Akenten	6-5	-----------	Bolingbrook	“Saw Early on; Raw now, but Future could be Promising”
Romon Douglass	6-4	-----------	Peoria Manuel	“Not Productive Nightly, but He has a Wealth of Potential”
Mitch Lewis	6-5	-----------	Naperville North	“Lefty; Plays with a lot of Confidence; Shot looks Unorthodox Right now, but Manages to go in; We will follow his Progress”

Post-Men

Name	HT	Level	High-School	Comments
Jeremiah Tilmon	6-11	HM	East St. Louis	“More than held His own against Chaminade’s Trio of Jayson Tatum, Tyler Cook & Will Gladson at the O’Fallon Shoot-Out; His Offensive Game is Starting to Blossom & he Competes at both ends”
Cameron Krutwig	6-8	MM+	Jacobs	“Once He gets His Body together, He could be Unstoppable”
Joseph St. Pierre	6-9	MM+-MM	Richmond-Burton	“A Stud; can Rebound & Protect the Rim; Offensive Game coming”
Tyler Dancy	6-7	MM	Belleville West	“Already a Proven Scorer; now Getting in Shape will Help His Continued Development”
Sam Ohlrich	6-8	----------	Marian Central	“Promising Player; can Step-Out; just needs Work”
Shomari Tillett	6-7	----------	Perspective Calumet	“Very Raw now, but with some Work His Future could Lead to Big things; Area People continue to Inquire about Him”
Tee Aaron Powell	6-8	-----------	Marian Catholic	“A Project now, has Big Hands and Mobility is Improving”
Michael Downing	6-7	----------	St. Joes	“Doesn’t get much Run; A Project now; Coaching Staff High on His Potential”