2015 showcase Continued

2015 showcase Continued

Capping off-the-rest of the high-school division results, there were some teams as well as individual performances that left a mark on observers during our 2 day event, Hammond High out of Indiana guided by Larry Moore Jr, a former All-Catholic league stand-out at St. Francis DeSales had his team in the thick of things despite of a slow start dropping his first 2 games to Fenwick 22-18 and Hyde Park 45-35 but redeemed themselves nicely to finish 2nd in the pool and advance to the semis before bowing out to De LaSalle.  Hammond High showed-up with some players led by the athletic tandem of highly regarded 6-6 junior Caleb Coleman a high-flying leaper who can ignite an audience with his high-wire-act (4 dunks vs. Richards on Sunday) and 6-5 junior Dwayne McClendon, in addition to six foot seven senior John Wilson.  Coleman had a stellar performance versus Richards H.S. where he registered 20 points and several highlight reel dunks.  McClendon is a deadeye perimeter shooter, while the rapid rising Wilson will need a junior college after the season.  Oak-Lawn’s Richard’s High-School came in relatively unknown but left Plainfield with a respectable identity.  Former H.F. grad Javon Mamon led his unheralded group that lost to Hammond 52-46 in the highly contested playoff game.  6-3 junior swingman Jaylan Catledge was superb in 4 games, he recorded 14, 17, 18, 17.  The silent assassin averaged 17.8 as a sophomore, Div I, mid-majors are starting to take notice of his athletic feats.  Mamon, one of our bright young coaches we have in the area will have this program at the top of the South-Suburban Red division in a short period, watch for freshman point-guard Sean Willis.  Bogan who has been one of the cities elite programs the last 6 or 7 years brandished their noted trademark, tough hardnosed team play.  East St. Louis had them on their heels early in the heated battle Saturday night, but Bogan prevailed forcing the flyers into numerous miscues, the Bengals finished them off 52-40.  The only game Bogan lost was a quarter-final match-up to eventual tourney champion Metamora 53-35.  Some of us suspect the Bengals had a prior engagement at the Whitney Young fall league, so bouncing out of the Plainfield area was a priority, but we’ve always appreciated Arthur Goodwin’s & his crew’s support.  James Jones, Bogans six foot three guard was terrific, he had his arsenal on full display in the East St. Louis contest demonstrating why he is one of the top ten players in the 2016 class.  His jumper was deadly off-the-bounce, something he worked hard on over the summer as well as his ball-handling.  Bryce Barnes was brilliant, quarter-backing his team, and he looked awfully confident.  I hope he finds the right fit at the next level.  East St. Louis made the track in with newly appointed head-coach Phil Gilbert a one-time Flyer star who graduated in 2000 with famed team-mate Darius Miles.  Gilbert had a dynamite career with the Bradley Braves.  The local son will push the program to thrive for excellence, I see him being nothing but successful at his alma-mater.  The Flyers have an abundance of gifted athletes led by point-guard Marquise Chairs and senior swingman Antonio Johnson.  Highly acclaimed big-man Jeremiah Tilmon, the no. 1 2017 prospect in the state didn’t make the trip.  He was on an unofficial visit in Illini Country, no qualms regarding that.  These guys have a world of talent in which they displayed, it’s just a matter of sharing the ball and eliminating mistakes.  Gilbert had them playing hard, they lost by one to De LaSalle 47-46 in the quarters.  Hyde Park migrated to Plainfield with a talented laden line-up and was impressive all weekend, but suffered a heart-breaking loss to Metamora 53-52 in the semis in which they spent an awful amount of time sulking about officiating.  Coach Samuels and his staff do a good job but have to dig a little deeper with building a culture that exhibits discipline and heady play while establishing a foundation for winning, but also developing their players and eliminating the stigma of being snake-bitten in big games.  Thunderbirds have a future stud in late bloomer Tajuan Agee a 6-7 senior who is multi-talented and showed it with 15 points and stellar floor-play versus Hammond High in pool play.  Fenwick made their appearance at the event opening some eyes in Saturday’s action.  Jamal Nixon and Ivy League recruit Mike Ballard were superb, but 6-7 forward/center Charlie Boyle was a surprise, he was mobile, ran the floor, finished plays at the rim, made some face-up baskets and showed some athleticism.  “Mike Smith was a no show.”  Nixon appeared both days, the six foot four junior guard played well each outing (He’s a great kid).  Farragut came out and joined us after playing in the storied Nike Back to School bash that Forrest Harris operates, they’d already played 2 games prior to their arrival.  Even though they were fatigued, they came out and supported us.  Dulan Scott a six foot two senior guard and 6-8 senior Tawon Keith played fairly well in spurts.  We will have to evaluate them at another time.  Even coaches Nelson & E were tired!  “Now six foot two junior guard Darnell Jones caught my eye in a contest that the Admirals lost to Oak-Park at the buzzer 50-48.”  Jones is skilled and knows how to play and has a strong body.  We will view this group again soon.  Oak-Park-River-Forest was the surprise team in my eyes, Cameron Gross is vastly underrated in a deep talented 2017 class, he has a powerful built at 6-4 and he’s a versatile athlete that can play inside or outside.  Conner Fuller hit a buzzer beater against Farragut, he’s a 6-2 combo guard that’s being courted by Roosevelt College as well as a few other division threes.  6-2 DeAndre Enoch was also a player to watch, he has good length and some nice skills.  Oak-Park was playing without several of their players who suits-up for football they will be a surprise team this season.   

Tomorrow we will continue the top team performances in the high-school division and then proceed to the top performances in the open individual play headlined by Micah Bradford and Darius Martin and young 14 year old phenom Matthew Brown Jr.