Wednesday, July 26, 2017

TARGETING OUR 2018 CLASS

The last two weeks a slew of us coverage types, have zero in closely with this group, sorting through, attempting to identify who our key performers are. The recent play of some, buoys optimism. This cast actually gives me a confident feeling that quite a few could blossom into valuable contributors at the next level. In fact, our optimism regarding the depth of this class exceeds our once promising 2019 crop. After that group’s first-five, “the best of the rest is a free for all process…” One thing that has become crystal clear, our high-school coaches, along with Club coaches & so-called work-out, trainer/guru types need to become more effective with developing players skills & fundamentals; this has contribute partly to our state’s recent drought in talent, particularly Elite. (Just saying, too many kids don’t understand how to play!)

We will identify some under-valued dudes who just may thrust their way into a formidable role at the next level, especially under the guardianship of a good coach. Conferences we see imagines of for this particular cast of rising prospects are: Mac, Horizon, OVC, Summit, Southern, NEC, Metro Atlantic, and MEAC.
ville, which indicates, he’s for real! Floor game is improving.”

NAME / HT / POS / LEVEL / SCHOOL / CLUB

• Quinlan Bennett 6-3 G MM Proviso East / Kessel Heat
“A bad dude, one of our state’s more exciting talents. The last few weeks, he’s performed on a bum ankle, despite of that he still managed to impress viewers with his silky-smooth play. He shoots his mid-range jumper with accuracy. Q.B. could blossom into stardom in the next few years.”

• Morgan Taylor 6-2 G LM+-LM Marist / Fast Break
“Enjoying a really good summer averaging over twenty points each outing. High expectations loom as he enters his senior campaign, his solid all-around play indicates he’s more than up for the challenge.”

• Maurice Commander5-8 PG MM Curie / Young & Reckless
“My lens hasn’t been as clear with him as some of the others, maybe I’m suffering from cataract in one of my eyes. The lil lefty landed a recent offer from Evans

• Eddie Creal 6-3 G/F MM-LM+ Romeoville / Hoops for Health
“Can flat-out play & fun to watch. Very good athlete who competes hard & thrives defensively. Creal, is better than previously advertised by some of my local scouting gurus. Yes, he can shoot! OVC, Summit, MEAC should follow him in Kansas City this week.”

• Brandon Ellis 6-3 WG LM+ Warren / Kessel Heat“His play settled in nicely each time out last week. Sleeper type recruit, equipped with athleticism and out-side shooting, where he spots-up effectively. Has long arms which allows him to be an ace defender on the perimeter. His stock should soar before school starts.”

• Dontia Johnson 6-7 F MM-LM+ Romeoville / Hoops for Health
“Last week this kid gave coaches & viewers blemishes of what his potential could look like. Right now, he’s sized-up as a prep-school or red-shirt candidate. Dontia, can handle the rock & make plays at the rim. His defensive effort needs to show improvement though!”

• Isaiah Fuller 6-1 G LM+-LM Oak-Pk / Elite
“Has a sizzling first step, can really attack the rim with either hand. We’d like to see him understand pace better; his frenzy style some-times leads to turn-overs & poor shot selection. Improving his perimeter shooting & decision-making should be his focus.”

• Malachi Smith 6-3 G LM+ Belleville West / Ramey Jets
“A versatile & solid performer, plays with pace & a good understanding of situations. Shoots-it-okay on the out-side. His size allows him to see the floor effectively playing on both-sides of the ball. Can really flourish in the right system.”

• Jalen Shaw 6-10 C MM+-MM Elgin-Larkin Kessel Heat
“Finished-up the NY2LA tournament playing extremely well. His play had the gym buzzing on Saturday. Jalen, displayed shot-blocking ability, rebounding in traffic, superb out-let passes & the ability to finish around the rim. He has enormous up-side when he matures & continues to play with a purpose/passion which we saw, with his size & mobility he is the one dude in the class who can earn some serious loot. High-majors should keep sniffing him out. Academically, we hear he has some work to complete; Big 10 coaches-here’s your diamond in the rough! He’s in Kansas City this week.”

• Ethan Schuemer 6-7 SF LM Willowbrook / Mercury Elite“What a nice player; very skilled with superb passing ability & has those winning intangibles coaches look for. Ethan, has excellent foot-work in the paint & scores well around the rim. Capable of being a consistent 12-15-foot mid-range shooter. On the fence with D1 Schools, but why can’t he excel in the Southern or NEC Conferences. In Kansas City.”

• Naseer Turner 6-6 F LM+-LM Kenwood Chicago Demons“Plays like a young colt-plenty of energy-makes plays on both ends. Good athlete; just raw in certain areas of his game. Needs skill development work, which would allow him to blossom into a really good specialist type, especially defensively, his future is bright.”

• Ryan Kutsor 6-4 WG LM+-LM Lake Zurich / Kessel Heat“A very good player & student; the Metro Atlantic, NEC Conferences should pursue a kid like Kutsor. He rebounds well from the guard slot, and presents a respectable threat on the perimeter. Quick enough to arrive at his sweet spots. Vastly under-valued, in Kansas City this week.”

• Sam Schafer 6-4 WG MM Lincoln Way East / Young & Reckless“Un-assuming athlete & capable of taking defenders off-the-dribble to the rim, where he might flush-it-down. Then he sprays jumpers on the perimeter with three-point distance attached. Yes, he’s tough! Likely a Missouri Valley recruit or league comparable.”

• Kaleb Thornton 5-11 G LM+ Bolingbrook / Mean Streets
“To his defense, he was caught in a numbers situation, playing in a crowded back-court for his club program. Therefore, Kaleb hasn’t had a ton opportunity to show how lethal his game is capable of. In Vegas this week.”

• Cardell McGee 6-3 PG MM-LM+ Springfield Lanphier / Wisconsin Playground Warriors
“A scoring combo, who seems to have made the transition to point-guard. After a spring where he struggled with his new club, he’s put together a quality summer. Cardell, is a nice player, now his focus should be academics when school resumes. He’s in Vegas.”

• Ben Wolf 6-8 C LM Naperville Central / Mercury Elite
“This big fella was impressive last week. He’s on the fence as a D1 recruit but has a slew of D2 interest. Big Ben, competes at a high-level has a great motor, doesn’t back-down from anyone. Masks as a defender, he’s a traditional back-to-the basket player. Summit, Southern, and MEAC should take a look. “

• Anthony Lynch 6-2 PG LM+ Elgin-Larkin / Kessel Heat
“He’s actual better than a lot of guards in the 2018 class. He’s clever, possesses good speed & quickness, sees the floor well and he drains jumpers on the perimeter consistently. Lynch, would be a legit pick-up for several of the leagues we have mentioned.”

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