Top 40 2016 Prospects In Illinois
We can debate all we want about who the top players are in this class, but across the board the consensus is that this a down year in Illinois and its crystal clear during the club team play.
1. Nick Rakocevic 6-9 F HM St. Joseph/Mac Irvin Fire
Still developing physically, but at times lacks maturity, but he’s versatile scorer who can take on defenders on the perimeter and shoot over the top of them. Finished up the season on a good note. Not that it matters much, he is the highest ranking prospect nationally among the state’s juniors.
2. Rapolas Ivanauskas 6-9 F HM Barrington/Full Package
Recently gave Northwestern a verbal. Once he strengthens that frame of his, we would have witnessed the growth of a high-scoring multi-talented European star.
3. Barret Benson 6-10 C HM Hinsdale South/Illinois Wolves
The big fella with a feathery touch, more of a face-up threat now; Big 10 schools, Stanford & Georgetown in pursuit. He should be a priority for Illinois as well.
4. Isaiah Roby 6-8 SF HM-MM+ Dixon/Quad City Elite
Had a superb season, the Nebraska recruit and his mates have revitalized the small farming town. Isaiah is developing into one of those players that impact a game with a double digit stat line in various categories. “Nebraska landed a gem!”
5. Jerry Myles 6-5 WF MM+-MM East Moline/Net Gain Sports (MN)
South paw very talented has versatile scoring ability capable of knocking down jumpers on the perimeter but he has some layers of off the court stuff he needs to clean up we just hope he can surface after high school.
6. Devin Gage 6-3 G MM+-MM Chicago Curie/Mean Streets
Very talented combo, consistency continues to be the key ingredient to his growth as a player; just coming back off of injury he may suit-up in Kentucky during the weekend. DePaul could be at the top of his list.
7. Charlie Moore 5-10 PG MM+-MM Chicago Morgan Park/Mac Irvin Fire
Brings winning intangibles to any team. He’s tough as nails and possess a knack for making huge shots in big game settings. “Our state colleges can’t allow him to leave the state.” Recently received an offer from Iowa.
8. Zach Norvell 6-4 G/F MM+-MM Chicago Simeon/Mac Irvin Fire
Received an offer from University Illinois a couple months ago, he combines a package of versatility, toughness & defensive tools to impact a game. Lacks consistency on the perimeter; can be a productive player even when he’s not scoring. Struggled with his shooting in Virginia.
9. Brandon Johnson 6-7 F MM+-MM T.F. South/Mac Irvin Fire
In most years he won’t he wouldn’t be considered a top 10 nominee, but with a class that lacks depth and no budding NBA lottery pick, he has a golden opportunity to enhance his stock. Has to improve his understanding of the game; plays on sheer athleticism; off to a slow start on the club team circuit.
10 Darias Oliver 6-5 WF MM+-MM Chicago Leo/Illinois Express
Based on his stat’s he’s deserving of a top 10 recognition; perhaps one of the top scorers in the junior class; he can get you buckets; 2nd leading scorer in the Catholic League. “Oliver’s recruiting is starting to heat-up but he is going to have to pick his game up because he’s off to a slow start thus far this spring.” In Vegas this weekend.
11. Lorenzo Edwards 6-7 SF MM+-MM Lake Forest/Mean Streets
“Great hands; very good length; feathery shooting touch; huge upside; best days ahead; excellent shot-blocker; limited ball-handler now; he will eventually be a top 10 player in the 2016 class.
12. Micah Bradford 6-2 PG MM Bradley Bourbonnais/Example Sports
Scratch all of the malarkey about “is he tough or is he soft?” What Micah demonstrates is shrewd heady play! He’s a slick ball-handling guard, makes good reads when doubled & tripled teamed and he has a torch on his J from long range. “One of the top point-guards in the state regardless of class.”
13. James Jones 6-3 WG MM Chicago Bogan/Mean Streets
A high-flyer who lost some zip during the high school season after lofty preseason expectations. Jones is off to a good start on the club team circuit and has a chance to redeem himself immediately. Jump shot looks good now.
14. Nick Robinson 6-5 WF MM Chicago Kenwood/Mac Irvin Fire
Sparkled in Virginia a few weeks ago, was one of the Fire’s top players, his offensive game has started to take shape the last month or so. In Kentucky this weekend. Stock could rise!
15. Keymonta Johnson 6-4 WF MM Decatur MacArthur/Illinois Express
This long-armed lefty is one of my favorites in the 2016 class; he brings all-around intangibles to the court that is so essential in winning; Keymonte is a productive performer even when he isn’t scoring in double digits. “Vastly under-rated now, by spring that will change.” He’s in Vegas this weekend.
16. Zion Morgan 6-1 G MM Chicago Kenwood/All-In Athletics
He’s more comfortable playing off-the-ball; a potential 2-way player who would probably excel in more of a system environment (Northern Iowa quickly comes to mind); limited offensively now, but he’s got a promising future & superb attitude.
17. Tarkus Ferguson 6-4 WG MM Belleville Althoff/Southwest Jets
Athletic wing with some 3 point shooting ability; can handle adequately; built a rep for himself during the 3A state tournament; he could be a diamond in the rough in this class. Now consistency will be the key for him.
18. Terrell Phipps 6-8 SF MM Chicago Al Raby/All-In Athletics
Promising prospect; has started to add some perimeter tools to his offensive game; I may have evaluated him a tad below where he could be; Phipps is a defensive swatter, once he adds some strength to his frame, things could spin upward.
19. Mike Smith 5-10 PG MM Fenwick/D’Rose
He’s proving to have the patience & intelligence; he’s capable of running a team; he will probably be more successful in a system type environment; he really improved his speed and quickness during the course of the season; in Indy this weekend.
20. A. J. Beckett 6-8 WF MM Champaign Central/B&B Elite
Still unproven. Sat out this past season after transferring over from Centennial, A.J. could be one of the more talented players in the class; he’s thin now, but possess guard skills and the ability to knock-down shots on the perimeter. “Big spring & summer await.”
21. Elyjah Goss 6-7 SF MM Plainfield East/Illinois Celtics
Very good athlete; has improved his ball-handling and shooting from the perimeter; now just refining his understanding of the game will only enhance is stock. “Dynamite frame with a wealth of potential; he’s one of the more talented prospects in the class.”
22. Brendon Gooch 6-6 WF MM Belleville Althoff/Southwest Jets
Teases you with his length & versatility; has the ability to drain jumpers on the perimeter, but then tends to drift during stretches of a game, he’s a capable ball-handler. One of the bright spots in his teams 3A state tournament runner-up finish.
23. Xavier Bishop 5-7 PG MM Springfield Lanphier/St. Louis Eagles
Exciting little lefty; settles for a lot of jump shots even though he can drain them which he proved in Virginia; now his emphasis has to turn towards being a play-maker and showing he can run a team. In Kentucky this weekend.
24. Travon Bell 6-2 WG MM Chicago Mather/D’Rose
A 3 year starter, came into his own this past season with some stellar performances; a pure jump-shooter with limited ball-handling ability; now we need to see if he can get through some layers of deficiencies centered around him.
25. Tawone Keith 6-9 C MM Chicago Farragut/Chicago Admirals
A rising prospect has slowly come along in his development after playing his first 2 years at Marshall. Has done a transformation with his body as well as his game, now we are starting to see the fruits of his labor; he possess a feathery touch and his post-game is starting to take shape. If he continues to improve he could become the best front court player in the class. A hidden gem.
26. Kevin Kreiger 6-5 WG MM Plainfield North/TAW
Impressive athlete, he’s long bouncy with a nice shooting stroke, ball-handling better than adequate, a good passer who sees the floor well; he’s been a hidden all season. “His stock could soar this spring, this kid is vastly underrated.”
27. Bryce Barnes 5-10 PG MM Chicago Bogan/Mac Irvin Fire
Stock to a dip in recent months. His biggest problem we see is his indecisiveness on the floor; things weren’t always smooth & flowing for him now he’s on the circuit and looking like himself again. He could be successful in the right environment; Horizon League, MAC, OVC could be a good fit. A10 could be a stretch.
28. Josh Thomas 6-3 G/F MM-LM+ Chicago Simeon/Mean Streets
A fearless competitor opened some eyes with his play in Virginia a few weeks ago now he needs to keep that momentum going in Lexington this weekend. He’s widely been recognized as a defensive specialist.
29. Chris Duff 6-1 G MM-LM+ Carmel/NLP
“Combo with the ability to score; he’s already committed to Western Illinois; C.J. may be zeroing in on some scoring records at the north suburban schools.
30. Nate Kennell 6-5 WG MM-LM+ Metamora/Illinois Wolves
This sharp shooter had 52 versus Westinghouse during the season, then shot it pretty well in New Orleans a few weeks ago. There will always be questions about his lateral move and his quickness but he can flat-out stroke it. He should be a prime target for Northern Illinois and SIU-E. He’s already bagged several Div I mid-major offers.
31. George Wilbourn 6-2 G MM-LM+ De LaSalle/D’Rose
Has offensive ability, but tends to be lax during stretches of a game which has consequently hurt his recruitment; he’s a silk-smooth talent, us observers would like to see more from him.
32. Matty Smith 5-9 PG MM-LM+ South-Elgin/Illinois Wolves
He could be a lethal jump-shooter or a threat attacking the rim, in fact he’s made a strong case for himself as PG, but for some odd reason things have tailed-off for him rather he realizes or not this is a big spring and summer for him.
33. Ben Coupet 6-6 WF MM-LM+ Chicago Simeon/Mean Streets
Struggled cracking the rotation on consistent basics this past season; he has some potential with his versatility, he could be an asset on the defensive end; but now he has to figure out how to be productive during games. Rumors have swirled of him transferring to rival Bogan
34. Chris Harris 6-3 G MM-LM+ Lake Forest Academy/Illinois Wolves
Strong bodied athletic combo; has played in obscurity after leaving Loyola Academy; he’s a prospect to watch; capable of being explosive; perimeter shooting may need some work; he will be a player on our must watch list.
35. Jarrin Randle 5-10 G LM+ Chicago Morgan Park/Mac Irvin Fire
Has big game experience and has shown the ability to make huge shots; displays a sense of toughness & confidence; we’d like to see him handle the ball more. Right now he’s utilized as a specialist.
36. Rodney Herenton 6-1 PG LM+ Chicago Young/Mean Streets?
Capable of playing on both sides of the ball; a system type, versatile enough to play a variety of roles for his team. “A winner with a great attitude & high academic kid, but his game has taken a huge dip recently. The last we heard he left Mean Streets.”
37. Jacob Cushing 6-5 WG LM+ Neuqua Valley/?
Liked him during the season, the south paw has excellent length and a nice stroke with accuracy from three, now he has to prove himself in a big game setting along the circuit.
38. Donovan Oliver 6-3 WG/WF LM+ Kewanee/Quad City Elite
I’m sure someone in his camp will be heckling me soon about his evaluation or ranking, but he’s a good player from a small town setting and we want to see him make good. Everyone knows how I pull for our central Illinois kids, he does have a great motor and capable of being productive during stretches of a game. The knock on him has always been his outside shooting and his limited ball-handling skills. Hopefully he’s improved in those areas, we will find out this weekend in Minnesota. He received an offer from Wisconsin-Milwaukee a few months ago.
39. Justin Pierce 6-5 WF LM+ Glenbard West/Mercury Elite
Has created some buzz for himself this spring and has had some viewings from several Missouri schools as well as a few locals; has a 30 on his ACT and just may be suited for an Ivy League situation such as Yale. I’m not falling from the okie doke, he’s still unproven, he did average close to 17 a game this past season.
40. Jordan Bell 6-7 SF LM+ Chicago Vocational/Old Gold
Has a wealth of potential; plays within his limitation, but a very raw talent; he needs to be locked in the gym refining his fundamentals and skill work; very good athlete just doesn’t understand how to utilize it. We will watch his progress this spring & summer.
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