OUR SLEEPER POOL IN 2019, 2020, & 2021 CLASSES

SIX 2019 SLEEPERS TO WATCH

NAME HT POS RANK LEVEL HIGH-SCHOOL/CLUB TEAM

• Anthony Roberts 6-5 F 15 MM Oak-Park/Made Men
“This kid is a gem; despite of being under-sized in the paint, he plays above the rim. In College he will transition to a wing position. Has a good motor, superb athlete with strong defensive ability.”

• Trey Calvin 6-0 PG 14 MM St. Viator/Illinois Stars
“A smooth performer, he recently won the State’s Class 4A three-point shoot-out last month after carving out a solid season averaging 17 points, five rebounds and three assists. Trey, has demonstrated the ability to score as well distribute to his mates.”

• Marquise Kennedy 6-1 PG 13 MM Brother Rice/Illinois Wolves
“We love his game as he transitions into a lead guard. Marquise, has all the intangibles of being a really good player at the Collegiate level. Competitive, plays tough & has had some of his best performances against Public League foes. Recorded 17 points per outing, 6 boards and 3 assists.”

• Anthony Fairlee 6-4 WF 17 MM Springfield S.E./Mac Irvin Fire
“Enjoyed a fine season guiding his squad to a 2nd place finish in 3A State Tournament. Fairlee, one of the state’s top athletes, can really rise near the rim. Offensive game is starting to take shape. I won’t be surprised if his stock soared after the April evaluation period.”

• Dajuan Gordon 6-4 WF 6 MM-MM Chicago Curie/Team Rose
“This kid is a hidden gem; he makes plays, has a nose for the ball. Very good athlete, even though we rank him high, a lot of observers aren’t familiar with his name (after April they will). Makes shots on the perimeter and has that uncanny knack for drawing fouls.”

• Alex Timmerman 6-8 C 30   LM+  Crystal Lake Central/Fundamental U.
“Saw the big-fella last week-end & he’s got some potential. We were impressed with his ability to run floor and finish plays around the rim versus taller defenders, he has soft hands. Alex, could rise to be one of the north suburbs break-out players this spring.”

SIX 2020 SLEEPERS TO WATCH

NAME HT POS RANK LEVEL HIGH-SCHOOL/CLUB TEAM

• Romelle Howard 6-8 F/C 8 MM+ Lincoln Pk/Chicago Elite
“The left-handler is starting to emerge out of the shadows of others. He has good hands, rebounds the ball efficiently, an area he need to focus more on. The strength of his game is his ability to score around the rim, with jump-hooks as well as short jumpers 12-feet in reliable shot-blocker when all things shake out, Romelle will be one of the top 3 or 4 players in the class.”

• Keshawn Williams 6-3 G 7 MM+ Bloom/Y&R
“Has prime-time abilities. A breath-taking athlete, has a floor game that resembles some previous athletic guards we used to produce around here. Namely (Darrell Walker-Corliss H.S./Arkansas/NBA) you get my drift? His development must stay on course though, Keshawn likely could develop into a high major recruit. The potential is there.”

• Ramean Hinton 6-4 G/F 15 MM Chicago Curie/Team Rose
“A bad dude; swingman type brandishes athleticism to go with an exceptional motor. The kid is a high-light-reel, often making eye-popping plays offensively & defensively where he showcases shot-blocking ability. Ramean is an emerging stand-out. “

• Kee Hargrove 6-7 WF 25 MM+-MM Joliet Central/Y&R
“If Kee can take care of his business off-the-court as well as the class-room, he could become a special talent! He can handle the rock like a lead guard and distribute while making good decisions. Kee, also has the abilities to put- the- ball in the basket. To his credit, he is a gym-rat and if he lands at a Juco, bet he’ll be All-American.”

• Connor Kochera 6-4 G 33 MM St. Viator/Fundamental U.
“Savvy poised prospect, understands the game plays with a good flow moves well with-out the ball. Connor is skilled, he makes mid-range shots & has reliable three-point marksmanship. One of my favorites in the class, I look for him to land in a good conference in College.”

• Jayson Kent 6-2 PG 42 MM Oak-Forest/Next Level 24
“The wiry guard has enormous potential, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t rise through the ranks before his high-school cage tenure closes. Skilled offensive player, who likely will hit a growth spurt. Jason lacks strength now, but his confidence is growing as he competes at the 17-U level.”

FIVE 2021 SLEEPERS TO WATCH

NAME HT POS RANK HIGH-SCHOOL/CLUB TEAM

• Jaylin Gibson 6-3 G 9 Evanston/Hoop Avenue
“This kid already has a physical build of a junior or senior. He has demonstrated good quickness & speed, while laboring quality minutes as a frosh on a state 4A third place finisher. Potential two-way stand-out, Jaylin can lock-down ball-handlers affectively.”

• Scotty Ebube 6-8 F 11 Mundelein/Kessel Heat
“Silky-smooth, wiry frame lad with a huge upside. I admire his loyalty because he chose to stay with his original Club Team, which was the correct decision. This kid is skilled & possesses all the necessary intangibles to be a terrific top-notch prospect. Scotty, could blossom to stardom.”

• Jalen Butler 6-6 F 12 Niles North/Chicago Elite
“14 years old, won’t turn 15 until next month (May). Physically looks like he’s been registered to vote for several years. Has excellent length, he displayed the ability to defend multiple positions, while having the knack for making plays. I’m a huge fan of his anticipate the offensive part of his game is coming.”

• Ismail Habib 5-9 PG 15 Lincoln Park/Chicago Elite
“Ismail, has that un-flappable swag that certain athletes cart around “the air” about him. He has a nice flow to his floor game & doesn’t lack confidence as he’s often tangled-up against older opponents. Good speed & quickness with the ability to make shots & score.”

• Brandon Hall 6-2 G 23 Thornton/ Mean Streets
“Has nice length in the back-court, excels at making good decisions where he’s sure-handed & skilled. Out-side shooting has improved, versatile defender on both sides of the ball.”

TOP 35 2021 PROSPECTS

“A highly anticipated cast of potential high-major recruits.”

NAME HT POS RANK HIGH-SCHOOL/CLUB TEAM
• Brandon Weston 6-4 WG 1 Lake Forest Academy/PSA
• Max Christie 6-4 G 2 Rolling Meadows/Illinois Wolves
• Ahmad Bynum 5-9 G 4 Chicago Simeon/Team Rose
• Kimarhi Wilson 6-0 PG 5 Carmel/Y&R
• Chris Hodges 6-7 F 6 Schaumburg/Illinois Wolves
• Anthony Sayles 6-0 PG 7 Niles Notre Dame/Illinois Wolves
• Jaylin Gibson 6-3 WG 9 Evanston/Hoop Avenues
• Tevin Smith 6-3 WG 4 Danville/Mean Streets
• Amar Aguillar 6-5 WF 10 Zion-Benton/Mac Irvin Fire
• Jallen Butler 6-6 F 12 Niles North/Chicago Elite
• Ismail Habib 5-9 PG 15 Lincoln Park/Chicago Elite
• Isaiah Donnell 6-1 PG 8 Peoria Richwoods/Bradley Beal
• Scotty Ebube 6-8 WF 11 Mundelein/Kessel Heat
• Troy Pilon 6-5 PF 16 Niles Notre Dame/Mean Streets
• Khaillieo Terry 6-5 F 3 Champaign Central/Indy Heat
• Blake Peters 6-3 WG 13 Evanston/Mean Streets
• Darrion Jones 6-0 PG 29 Chicago Bogan/Chicago Huskies
• Kevin Miller 5-8 PG 24 Morgan Park/Mac Irvin Fire
• Nick Petty 5-11 G 28 Peoria Manual/---
• Julio Montes 5-9 PG 26 Lincoln Park/Chicago Elite
• Isaiah Holden 5-7 PG 22 Evanston/Y&R
• Isiah Barnes 6-5 WF 20 Romeoville/Illinois Wolves
• Norvell Meadows 5-8 G 18 Chicago Prosser/Chicago Grainers
• Brandon Hall 6-2 G 23 Thornton/Mean Streets
• Elijah Bull 5-7 G 25 Evanston/Y&R
• Marquis Irvin 5-9 G 17 Hillcrest/Team Rose
• Kenton Wright 5-8 PG 32 Hillcrest/Mean Streets
• Kyonte Thomas 5-9 PG 21 Bolingbrook/Team Rose
• Grant Newell 6-5 F 19 Whitney Young/Mean Streets
• Kai Evans 6-1 WG 30 Montori/Team Rose
• Connor Enright 5-11 PG 29 Mundelein/Illinois Wolves
• Bryce Hopkins 6-4 G/F 21 Fremd/Illinois Wolves
• Jolo Arrovan 5-8 PG 33 Andrews/Next Level 24
• Nathanael Hoskins 6-2 G 34 Danville/Mean Streets

TOP PROSPECTS IN 2019 CLASS

Pre-Spring Evaluation Rankings
*There will always be subject to changes*

POINT-GUARDS

NAME HT LEVEL   RANK IN CLASS H.S. CLUB TEAM
• Markese Jacobs 6-0 MM+ 5 Chicago Uplift Mac Irvin Fire
• Raymond Dennis 6-2 MM 11 Oswego East Kavon Looney
• Marquise Kennedy 6-0 MM 12 Brother Rice Illinois Wolves
• Trey Calvin 6-0 MM 13 St. Viator Illinois Stars
• Kejuan Clements 5-11 MM 14 Chicago Simeon D. Rose
• Marquise (Pearl) Walker 5-11 LM+ 17 West Aurora/Curie Mac Irvin Fire
• Terrion Murdix 5-11 LM+ 25 Springfield Southeast Mac Irvin Fire
• Jaheim Holden 5-10 LM 33 Evanston Hoops Avenue
• Fred Cleveland Jr. 5-7 LM 34 Chicago Leo RWA
• Lawrence Brazil 6-1 LM 39 Belleville West STL Gateway
• Traevon Brown 5-11 LM-D2 57 West Aurora Illinois Stars
• Treye Tucker 5-8 LM-D2 53 Harlem RWA
• Demetrius Douglass 5-11 LM-D2 58 North Lawndale Team Rose
• Andre White Jr. 5-9 LM-D2 68 Waukegan All in Athletics
• Jordan”Tiger” Booker 5-7 LM-D2 71 Chicago Bogan -------
• Payton Havens 5-9 LM-D2 72 Metamora RWA
• Elijah Stewart 5-10 LM-D2 73 Chicago Kenwood Y&R
• Tim Irvin Jr. 5-5 LM-D2 76 Providence St. Mel Chicago Select
• A.J. Palmer 5-9 LM-D2 80 Chicago Longwood RWA

WING/SHOOTING GUARDS

NAME HT LEVEL RANK HIGH-SCHOOL/CLUB TEAM
• Lance Jones 6-2 MM 7 Evanston/Mean Streets
• Tyler Cochran 6-3 MM 27 Bolingbrook/Hoopers
• Deonte Billups 6-3 MM 8 Moline/Mac Irvin Fire
• Jerry Hernandez 6-4 MM 19 St. Viator/Y&R
• Joseph Yesfu 5-11 LM+ 31 Bolingbrook/Mean Streets
• Chase Robinson 6-2 LM 43 Oak-Park/Made Men
• Myles Baker 6-3 LM+ 30 Whitney Young/D. Rose
• Dashon Enoch 6-0 LM 51 Oak-Park/Made Men
• Aaron Strong 6-2 LM+ 34 Chicago Farragut/----
• Chris Roberts 6-2 LM 37 Lincoln Park/Y&R
• Beau Bailey 6-3 LM-D2 60 Dixon/Rockford?
• Demari Nixon 6-3 LM-D2 42 Fenwick/Chicago Select
• Khaleb Rouse 6-1 LM-D2 69 Alcot/All In Athletics
• Malik Tidwell 5-10 LM 48 Marian Catholic/Mean Streets
• Antonio Reeves 6-4 MM 18 Chicago Simeon/Mac Irvin Fire
• Semaj Henderson 6-0 LM-D2 52 Downers Grove North/Ill. Heat
• Chris Burnell 6-2 LM-D2 70 Rockford East/Ill. Stars
• Latik Murphy 6-3 LM 61 Morton/Mustangs
• Sean Houpt 6-3 LM-D2 62 Danville/Ill. Irish
• Mohammed Alausa 6-4 LM-D2 68 Chicago U. High/Team Rose
• Tahir Thompson 6-2 LM-D2 64 Lincoln Park/----
• Andrew Stewart 5-11 LM-D2 77 Kenwood/Y&R
• Julian Barr 6-3 LM-D2 75 Lincoln Way East/RWA
• Deion Jackson 6-3 LM-D2 65 Providence St. Mel/Chic. Select

WING FORWARDS

NAME HT LEVEL RANK HIGH-SCHOOL/CLUB TEAM
• Terrence Hargrove 6-7 MM+ 4 East St. Louis/Bradley Beal
• Dajuan Gordon 6-4 MM 6 Chicago Curie/Team Rose
• Tom Welch 6-7 MM 10      Naperville North/Illinois Wolves
• Perry Cowan 6-4 MM 9 DePaul Prep/Illinois Wolves
• Evan Taylor 6-4 MM 26 Glenbard West/Illinois Heat
• Taujauae Williams 6-6 MM 17 Chicago Orr/Team Rose
• Bryant Brown 6-4 MM 20 Waukegan/Illinois Wolves
• Chris White 6-6 MM 32 Marian Catholic/Mean Streets
• Nate Ferguson 6-8 MM 21 Lemont/Lock-down
• Anthony Fairlee 6-5 MM 16 Springfield Southeast/Mac Irvin
• Adam Taylor 6-4 LM 67 Providence Catholic/RWA
• Bryce Hopkins 6-4 LM 38 Fremd/Illinois Wolves
• Jeremiah Oden 6-7 LM 37 St. Rita/RWA
• Greg Outlaw 6-4 LM 47 Chicago Bogan/Chicago Select
• Keenan Jones 6-4 LM 50 Whitney Young/Y&R
• Martin Macenis 6-4 LM 40 Stagg/Buckeyes
• Collin Dietz 6-6 LM 46 Metamora/RWA

STRONG- INTERIOR FORWARDS

NAME HT LEVEL RANK HIGH-SCHOOL/CLUB TEAM
• E.J. Liddle 6-7 HM 1 Belleville West/Bradley Beal
• Chris Payton 6-7 MM+-MM 3 Bloomington/Bradley Beal
• Anthony Roberts 6-5 MM 15 Oak-Park/Made Men
• Rashawn Agee 6-8   MM 22 Chicago Bogan/Mac Irvin Fire
• Dachaun Anderson      6-6 MM-LM+ 24 Chicago Leo/Y&R
• Christian Wilbourne 6-7 LM 41 Normal /Quad City Elite
• Charlie Hoehne 6-6 LM-D2 69 Oak-Park/Made Men
• Karl Wright 6-6 LM 39 Springfield Lanphier/ Ill. Irish
• Spencer Boehm 6-8 LM-D2 54 New Trier/Fundamental U.
• Keeshawn Chambers 6-6 LM 44 Thornton/Mean Streets
• T.J. Wicks 6-8 LM-D2 74 Kankakee/
• Kameron Leonard 6-7 LM-D2 55 Bolingbrook/Illinois Hoopers
• Marquise Ratcliff 6-5 LM-D2 70 Bolingbrook/Illinois Stars
• Pavle Pantovic 6-6 LM-D2 64 DePaul Prep/Illinois Wolves
• Demetrius Shavers 6-6 LM-D2 56 Chicago Farragut/Chicago Grainers
• Dylan West 6-7 LM-D2 67 Hillcrest/Team Rose
• Danardo Jones 6-6 LM 49 Timothy Christian/ Chicago Select

POST-MEN

NAME HT LEVEL RANK HIGH-SCHOOL/CLUB TEAM
• Francis Okoro 6-10 HM 2 Normal West/Bradley Beal
• Ciaran Brayboy 6-9 MM 24 New Trier/Illinois Wolves
• Alex Timmerman 6-8 LM+ 36 Crystal Lake Central/FundamentalU
• Taeyon Neal 6-10 LM- 28 Providence St. Mel/Chicago Select
• London Denman 6-10 LM- 73 T.F. South/D1 Express
• Cameron Bartman 6-10 ---- 79 St. Rita/Buckeyes

To be continued…

BUZZ WORTHY

It saddens me to report that Armon Gates, a one-time Whitney Young/Lincoln Park stand-out, has departed Northwestern. Armon, vastly recognized as one of the nation’s bright young Assistants will join Mike White’s staff at Florida as an Associate Head-Coach. Gates, spent five memorable seasons as a valuable Coach & Recruiter for Chris Collins Wildcat Program. Us locals will miss him and his always positive spirit. We are happy for Armon’s rise through the coaching ranks but I can’t say we’re surprised.

In a surprise move Fenwick Coach Rick Malnati has decided to step-down as the Coach at the Oak Park based Catholic School. In today’s climate of self-inflicted players & parents, who could blame him. Assistant Coach Staunton Peck will replace Malnati. Rick did an outstanding job of reviving that Program which started to sag before he got there.

University Illinois has created some steam recently, receiving commitments from highly touted Junior College point-guard Andres Feliz, a 6-foot 2 sophomore who registered 20 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds per outing at Northwest Florida State College. Rutgers, SMU, and Wichita State sought his services. Also joining will be Tevian Jones, a 6-6 wing guard from Culver City, California; most observers in that area regard him as the 10th best prospect in the state and viewed as a top-notch talent. My sources in California say the Illini landed a gem in Jones. Arizona, San Diego, UNLV, and Cal lost out to Brad Underwood’s crew with him. Three-star center Samba Kane, East Coast shooting guard Alan Griffin, and power forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili, and Morgan Park’s slashing guard Ayo Dosunmu will round-out an impressive recruiting class.

Champaign native Michael Finke has opted to spend his post grad year playing for Dan Majerle at Grand Canyon Program, where he will join his brother- incoming freshmen Tim Finke. Mike entered University of Illinois as a promising recruit, but his tenure was plagued by injuries & unforeseeable off-the-court issues his team-mates endured. Nevertheless, Finke still carved out a pretty good career for Illini.

Scott Pera’s Rice University Program signed top available prospect, Drew Peterson. He was a huge get for Rice, the Libertyville forward had been viewed as one of the state’s best kept secrets in the 2018 Class. He will have a fine career competing in the Conference USA while performing for a terrific Head Coach.

Jay Spoonhour and his staff at Eastern Illinois signed 3A first team All-Stater Cam Burrell. The OVC Conference and their style of play fits the Morgan Park stand-out and his open-court talents. He will Flourish in Spoonhour’s system.

Rockford Lutheran’s six-foot four combo guard Kenny Strawbridge has inked on with UMKC.

Our state’s top player in the 2019 Class, E.J. Liddle, has been tearing up the Club circuit in recent weeks. The six-foot seven Belleville West stand-out has teamed with Normal West Center, Francis O’Koro (2) and East St. Louis athletic forward, Terrence Hargrove (4), forming a lethal trio with the St. Louis based Program Bradley Beal Elite. Liddle, has his recruitment narrowed down to Ohio State, Missouri, Illinois, and Florida.

Edwardsville native and former Mr. Illinois Basketball in 2017 Mark Smith has transferred to Missouri, after a less than impressive first year in Illini country, he will sit out next year for the Tigers.

We finally viewed hot-shot eighth grader, Amari Bailey, playing 16&17-U for the Mac Irvin Fire last weekend. The six-foot three Skinner Elementary guard looks awfully promising. He can shoot and he’s athletic with a really good understanding of how to play. Bailey could be the next elite prospect coming out of Chicago.

We have no qualms about young players expressing themselves, but in a manner where they’re respecting the game. Now, to be on the court posturing & trash talking, in addition to be engaged in pointless chatter with spectators during the course of a game resembles bush league behavior/antics. It’s labeled as taboo. And enough of that was on display at the Nike Foster Park Venue over the weekend where Mean Streets, Mac Irvin Fire, Team Rose, and the Y&R Program collaborated in a rarely featured local event. There was a lot of buzz behind this event.

Central Michigan landed Springfield native Larry Austin Jr. a rare feat for a grad-transfer to go from a high-major situation to a mid-major setting. Austin, spent his last 2 seasons at Vanderbilt. Remember his Collegiate career began at Tennessee with Cuonzo Martin. “Wasn’t this where he belonged from the start?” Kudos to CMU Assistant Coach, Kevin Gamble, also is a Springfield native.

MY 2019 JUNIOR WATCH LIST

“Colleges will have the luxury of observing several of these prospects listed below during the up-coming evaluation period, in which their play (on the court) will determine what level they are or where “little Johnny” needs to be for now. Now, for some the hype engine ends. We are at that state where auditioning well, becomes your main source of fuel. I’ll identify some candidates.
OUR WATCH LIST

NAME HT POS HIGH-SCHOOL CLUB

• Adam Taylor 6-5 G/F Providence Catholic RWA
“Good work ethic, makes shots, high-academic recruit now with Providence Catholic Alum Tavaras Hardy landing the Loyola-Maryland head gig, this is where he should return to in starting his 2019 recruiting.”

• Chris Roberts 6-2 G Lincoln Park Y&R
“This acrobatic finisher has to polish his tools, if not D2 awaits. Must improve decision making.”

• Dashon Enoch 6-1 G Oak-Park Made Men
“Has some abilities, court demeaner must improve as well as maturity.”

• Collin Dietz 6-7 F Metamora RWA
“Has been billed as a rising D1 prospect. His first week-end out has the jury watching.”

• A.J. Palmer 5-9 PG Longwood H.S. RWA
“Currently a combo guard. Focus presently must be on transitioning into setting the table for others. Good defender.”

• Chris White 6-7 G/F Marian Catholic          Mean Streets
“A huge Spring awaits which would cast what level he could thrive in. Rice Univ. may have an interest.”

• Myles Baker 6-3 G Whitney Young D. Rose
“His play slipped towards the season’s end, hopefully mid-majors still hang-in.”

• Khaleb Rouse 6-1 G Alcot        All In Athletics
“First spotted at the ISL Jamboree, has game potential 2-way threat, should seek a platform where he can show his talents. Likely will transfer to either Prosser, Lincoln Pk, Walter Payton, or Lane Tech.”

Messiah Jones, Simeon’s high-jumping forward has now surfaced back on the availability board after receiving his release from Drake. Now, word has circulated that he may opt to look at several Missouri Valley School nearby. Hmmm…

One of my favorite guys in the 2018 Class is Talen Horton Tucker and for reasons beyond basketball. The attribute that defines him the most is that he’s a model kid. If he didn’t hoop, he still would be looked upon as a beautiful person & student. It’s un-fortunate that the state’s prestigious Mr. Basketball Honors eluded him this season, that being a lesson/memory he should frame. Neither Talen or his mates performed well the last month of the season losing the honor to the talented Junior, E.J. Liddle doesn’t validate who Talen is anyway. Iowa State landed a gem.

While I’m on the Simeon wagon senior guard Kenny Pittman gave a verbal to Oakland University. The 6-3 spot-up shooter’s play late season was aided to the disappointing finish for the Wolverines.
Colleges looking for a knock-down shooter in the 2018 Class, may want to go observe six-foot three Grant Goers from Bilonia H.S. in Arkansas. He’s a point-guard whom fits the mode of Loyola’s Clayton Cluster. Goers has 29 on his ACT. Dad is Tim Goers 479-675-6049. We received some gloating reviews regarding his play.