Illinois Spot-Lite Spring Jamboree – March 26th
in Plainfield
Overview From Up Top
(Early Spring
Synopsis of the Event)
The twenty-second year this event has existed, it was
constructed and fueled by some competitive programs that competed fiercely
against with one another on the AAU National circuit at the 13-14-U age levels,
embodied by the breath-taking class of 1998 which featured the likes of - Quinton
Richardson, Corey Maggette, Cordell Henry, Dennis Gates, Lance Williams, Rod
Thompson, Tavaras Hardy, Travon Davis, Frank Williams, Traves Wilson, Wat
Marsh, Bobby Simmons and Rob Wall. Those
guys were revered as 13 & 14 years-olds. So opposing national squads would descend into
Blue Island Rec Center for 2 days late in March to measure their newly
assembled rosters versus some of our best collection of young talent we had in
one class since the famed 1979 group.
The venue became must see viewing so as the years went we ventured into
a much larger setting. Most notable
facilities were North Western, DePaul, and then Joliet Central H.S., Blue
Island Eisenhower H.S. and Rich Central H.S. before arriving in Plainfield in
recent years which was only used for the Spot-Lite shoot-outs. Cleveland Basketball club, Detroit Super
Friends, Hawks Huddle (Martin Bro’s), Atlanta Celtics, Arkansas Wings,
Wisconsin Playground were big game travelers.
“That picture above helped revolutionize youth hoops in the Chicagoland
area, obviously today the event hasn’t been able to manufacture enough arsenal
to land the cream of the crop programs or the prima-donna type prospects.” The entertainment value then was priceless! Through the years my perspective has changed;
you aren’t really a true hoop connoisseur if you can’t appreciate all levels of
talent & hoop!
“On–the-17-U Scene”
Our 11:00 am games opened in the Central Field-House,
Example Sports faced-off against newly arrived club program RWA who compiled a
roster of players from south-suburbs/western burbs and as far as Rockford. Logan Windeier (Example) Manteno’s 6-9 face-up
threat was hyper and ready for action after missing most of the season with a
hip injury, so you could see he’s working off some rust and rounding into
shape. He’s so skilled, once he becomes
saddled in the weight-room with much needed strength, mid-majors will flock to
the Kankakee area. Richards Jaylen Catledge
(Example) a six foot four swingman with a powerful build performed from the
onset, engaged and primed for a big spring, at the Spot-Liter we view him as a
mid-major recruit, if he continues to polish his ball-handling the sky is the
limit for him; Tevin Watson (Example) caught our eye he is a six four wing from
Bishop Mac who is explosive in the open floor and we will add him to our 2017
grid – a player to watch; Rockford Boylan’s under-rated third team all-stater “2017”
recruit Zac Couper (RWA) looked impressive his first set of games; he knocked
down shots on the perimeter consistently with 3 range, attacked the rim with
authority and demonstrated he was a good passer. Couper ran-up on the likes of All-In’s
quintet of perimeter players, Tyler Chism, Teyvon Kirk, Henry Trenlenberg, and
Calvin Hill in his third game of the day, we will get to that contingent later.
Couper did not have enough talent
surrounding him to neutralize their athleticism but he will be thoroughly
watched this Spring. He looks like a mid
– low major plus.
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