Wednesday, December 5, 2018

ROUND-TABLE CONVERSATION

In the mist of the reported dust-up over at Leo High-School between Coaches Frison & Cleveland, its hoops business as usual in Chicago. Most of our locals thrive off of noise/confliction. “We witness drama/theatrics regularly around here, the masses just keep marching forward. Leo High School did hire a new Coach, Alum Jamal Thompson replacing Shawn Frison in a last-minute shake-up.”

Down in Central Illinois at the Decatur Team Soy capital Thanksgiving Tournament, fans were treated to a fast pace frenzy affair in the title game when Bolingbrook out-lasted Springfield South East 90-88. Lewis University recruit Kameron Leonard’s field goal with 2 seconds remaining won the thriller for the Raiders. Drake recruit Joseph Yesufu was the high-man recording 32 points, while Southeast guard Terrion Murdix registered a team high 25. Murdix will suit-up next season for Lance Irvin at Chicago State. Northern Illinois signee Tyler Cochran will be out 2 more weeks with a hand injury. He did not play at all in Decatur.

Over the Turkey break, I slid over to the Northwest Suburb and watched talented sophomore Chris Hodges’ Schaumburg squad go head-on with Bucknell signee Alex Timmerman and his Crystal Lake Central Team, where CLC ripped them 63-47. The six foot seven Hodges (19 points) is going to become a difficult cover soon, especially when his mates learn to toss the ball into him more frequently. He’s a good athlete who runs the floor & competes at a high-level. Sure, there are areas of his game that needs improvement, but in time he could develop into a mid-plus to high-major recruit. Timmerman, who finished with 25 plus was un-guardable in the paint, Bucknell landed a player who may contribute early, in fact the big fella looks like an All-State candidate this season. He has some really nifty moves & foot-work in the paint.

We just spoke about Hodges, there are some other 2021 prospects off to a fast start high-majors should begin processing/recording their growth & progress.

Name HT POS RANK HIGH-SCHOOL
Ahamad Bynum 6-2 G 1 Chicago Simeon
Max Christie 6-4 G 1 Rolling Meadows-“saw him get 36”
Brandon Weston 6-4 WG 3 Lake Forest Academy-“will see him soon
Khaillied Terry 6-5 WF 4 Champaign Central
Kimahri Wilson 6-1 PG 5 Carmel-“terrific talent”
Bryce Hopkins 6-5 G/F 6 Fenwick- “had 30pts/10 rebounds vs Oak                            
                                                                    Pk at Chicago Elite Classic, including the
                                                                               Game winning shot.”
Anthony Sayles 6-0 PG 7 Niles Notre Dame
Chris Hodges 6-7 WF 8 Schaumburg
Scottie Ebube 6-8 F 9 Mundelein-“Envision Big 10”
Jaylin Gibson 6-4 G 10 Evanston
Grant Newell 6-7 WF 11 Whitney Young
Bennie Slater 6-5 WG 12 Springfield High
Ismail Habib 5-11 PG 13 Lincoln Park
Jalen Butler 6-5 WF 14 Niles North

Rockford East six-foot three wing Sincere Parker “is a bad dude” he’s had an impressive start; the junior is averaging close to 30 markers per outing, recorded 31 points vs Indianapolis Pike including 5 dunks. Parker has rapidly soared as a Top 10 rated prospect in the 2020 Class. He’s a high-riser athlete with the ability to score on perimeter in a variety of ways. 

Benet Academy has drawn some attention in the last week with the play of book-end interior players, Kendrick Tchoua and junior Colin Crothers. Tchoura, a 6-6 senior transfer from the Maryland area had a monster outing versus St. Charles East last week registering 28, 13 & 4 assists, then went for 16 points & 6 boards against DeKalb at the Ridgeway shoot-out on Sunday. The six foot seven Crothers amassed a double-double versus St. Charles 21-12 & DeKalb on Sunday came away with 26 pts/14 rebounds. Tchoua has several Division One Mid-Majors tracking his play. The real test for the pair will occur at the Pontiac Holiday Classic later in the month.

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