Monday, March 18, 2019

SPOT-LITER’S EARLY SPRING SEASON’S TOP 50 2020 PROSPECTS

Widely viewed as a class assembled with good players, not a collective group of high-major recruits though, particularly after the first five listed. The locals share a mixed bag of opinions with this cast. We will give more yada, yada info in upcoming weeks.

NAME HT POS RANK LEVEL HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB TEAM

  • Adam Miller 6-3 G 1 HM Morgan Park/Mac Irvin Fire
  • D.J. Steward 6-3 G 2 HM Whitney Young/Mean Streets
  • Martice Mitchell 6-10 F 3 HM Bloom/Mac Irvin Fire
  • Tyler Beard 6-3 WG 4 HM-MM+ Whitney Young/Mean Streets
  • Isaiah Rivera 6-5 G 5 HM-MM+ Geneseo/Mean Streets
  • Keshawn Williams 6-2 G 6 HM-MM+ Bloom/Y&R
  • Sincere Parker 6-3 G 7 MM+ Rockford East/Mac Irvin Fire
  • Antoine Bloxton 6-4 WG 8 MM+ Chicago Bogan/
  • Ahron Ullis 6-3 PG 9 MM+-MM Marian Catholic/Mean Streets
  • Ra’Shad Taylor 5-10 PG 10 MM+-MM Collinsville/Gateway Club IL
  • Destin Whitaker 6-6 WF 11 MM+-MM Romeoville/Mean Streets
  • Jeremiah Williams 6-4 G 12 MM+-MM St. Laurence/Mean Streets
  • Will Wolfe 6-6 WG 13 MM+-MM Aurora Christian/Illinois Wolves
  • Dante Maddox 6-2 PG 14 MM Bloom/Mac Irvin Fire
  • Seryee Lewis 6-8 PF 15 MM Chicago Kenwood/Mac Irvin Fire
  • Devon Davis 6-2 G 16 MM Westinghouse/-----
  • Damonte Taylor 6-5 WF 17 MM Zion-Benton/Y&R
  • Marcus Watson 5-9 PG 18 MM Morgan Park/Mac Irvin Fire
  • Ramean Hinton 6-4 WG 19 MM Chicago Curie/Team Rose
  • Romelle Howard 6-8 F/C 20 MM Lincoln Park/Illinois Stars
  • Reggie Strong 6-0 PG 21 MM St. Joseph/Illinois Wolves
  • Dom Martinelli 6-3 G/F 22 ----- Glenbrook South/Fundamental U
  • Devon House 6-8 F/C 23 MM Sterling Newman/Quad City Elite
  • Chris Williams 6-2 G 24 ----- Peoria High/
  • Davis Walker 6-3 PG 25 MM Home School/RWA
  • Jimarius Sneed 6-5 F 26 MM Chicago Crane/Team Rose
  • R.J. Ogom 6-6 F 27 MM Homewood-Flossmoor/MeanStreets
  • Chris Conway 6-8 F/C 28 MM Naperville Central/Mac Irvin Fire
  • Aquan Smart 6-3 G 29 MM Niles North/
  • Kendale Anderson 6-7 PF 30 MM-LM+ Chicago Leo/Y&R
  • Paul Zillinskas 6-5 F 31 MM-LM+ Richards/
  • Beau Frericks 6-1 PG 32 MM-LM+ Cary Grove/RWA
  • Jayson Kent 6-3 G 33 MM-LM+ Oak Forest/Next Level Elite
  • Demarius Splunge 6-3 G 34 MM-LM+ Chicago Orr/Chicago Demons
  • Micah Schnyder 6-4 PG 35 MM-LM+ Lincoln Way West/Mac Irvin Fire
  • Connor Kochera 6-4 G 36 LM+ St. Viator/Fundamental U.
  • Kyndall Davis 6-4 G 37 LM+ Chicago Bogan/All in Athletics
  • Donovan Newby 6-2 G 38 LM+-LM Bloom/
  • Josh Holmes 6-1 PG 39 LM+LM DeLa Salle/Y&R
  • Marcus Skeete 6-4 F 40 LM+-LM Waubonsie Valley/
  • Everett Stubblefield 5-10 PG 41 LM+-LM Willowbrook/Buckeyes
  • Jabari Chiphe 6-4 F 42 LM Walter Payton/Y&R
  • Atharva Atreya 6-3 PG 43 LM Carl Sandburg/Windy City Magic
  • Deandre Hagan 6-3 G/F 44 LM Brother Rice/
  • Joe Green 6-2 G 45 LM Marian Catholic/
  • Ryan Sroka 6-4 WG 46 LM Huntley/
  • Kennedy Brown 6-7 PF 47 LM Chicago Bogan/
  • Elijah Jones 6-6 F 48 LM Marian Catholic/RWA
  • Frank Jakubicek 6-8 PF 49 LM Cary Grove/Illinois Wolves
  • Nate Shockey 6-0 PG 50 LM York/Breakaway
  • Levell McIntosh 6-3 WF 51 LM Kankakee/Old Gold


TOP JUNIOR COLLEGE RECRUITS

NAME HT POS HIGH SCHOOL

Cortez Mosley 6-4 WG Peoria Richwoods
“A DaJuan Gordon clone, could be headed to Moberly, he’s a true hooper.”

Donovan Clay 6-6 WF Alton
“Multi-dimensional performer, one of the Top 5 players in St. Louis area which is metro east. Folks will hear about him later.”

Dachaun Anderson 6-7 PF Chicago Leo
“A brute strong, physical player; went for 19pts, 12 rebounds an outing.”

Chris Burnell 6-2 PG Rockford East
“Steady sure handed general, enhanced his value with his play in recent weeks, had a strong state tournament.”

Latik Murphy 6-2 G Morton
“Has the ability & potential to become a very good player down the road.”

Eddie Boston 6-1 G Downers Grove North
“Electric performer, finished the season with a bang.”

Clyde Benton 6-5 G/F DeLa Salle
“Has a wealth of potential, in 2 yrs he might be a standout.”

Noah Chatman 6-1 G Chicago Senn
“Prolific scorer, had several high scoring nights.”

Lamarius Lillard 6-7 PF Momence
“Un-heralded front-courter, rebounds well, needs some polish. Best hoops await.”

Demetrius Douglass 5-11 G North-Lawndale
“Excels as a down-hill slasher always in attack mode.”

Sha’den Clanton 6-4 F Rockford East
“Lefty a tough cover off the bounce. Played well in the State run.”

Austin Freeman 6-3 G St. Patrick
“Sleek leader, averaged 18pts, 5 rebounds, & 4 assists.”

SPOT-LITER’S 2019 ALL-STATE TEAM

1st TEAM
NAME HT YR POS HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE CHOICE

  • E.J. Liddle 6-7 SR F Belleville West Ohio State Univ.
  • DaJuan Gordan 6-4 SR G Chicago Curie Kansas State
  • D.J. Steward 6-4 JR G Whitney Young     --------
  • Adam Miller 6-4 JR G Morgan Park     --------
  • Marquise Kennedy 6-1 SR G Brother Rice Loyola-Chicago


2ND TEAM

  • Markese Jacobs 6-0 SR G Chicago Uplift DePaul Univ.
  • Terrence Hargrove 6-7 SR F East St. Louis St. Louis Univ.
  • Rashaun Agee 6-8 SR F/C Chicago Bogan undecided
  • Jack McDonald 5-10 SR PG Geneva Augustana Univ.
  • Tujautae Williams 6-6 SR G Chicago Orr undecided


3rd TEAM

  • Antonio Reeves 6-4 SR G Chicago Simeon undecided
  • Isaiah Rivera 6-4 JR G Geneseo      --------
  • Dachaun Anderson 6-7 SR F Chicago Leo      --------
  • Perry Cowan 6-4 SR G/F DePaul Prep Brown Univ.
  • Lance Jones 6-2 SR PG Evanston Southern Illinois U.


4th TEAM

  • Donovan Clay 6-7 SR G/F Alton undecided
  • Max Christie 6-7 SO G Rolling Meadows      --------
  • Ryland Holt 6-5 SR F Gibson City Minnesota State
  • Terrion Murdix 5-11 SR PG Springfield Southeast Chicago State
  • Trevon Hamilton 5-9 SR PG Chicago Curie undecided


HIGH-HONORABLE MENTION

  • Cortez Mosley 6-4 SR Peoria Richwood
  • Sincere Parker 6-3 JR Rockford East
  • Deonte Billups 6-4 SR Moline
  • Greg Outlaw 6-5 SR Chicago Orr
  • Ra’Shad Taylor 5-10 JR Collinsville
  • Tom Welch 6-8 SR Naperville North
  • Alex Timmerman 6-8 SR Crystal Lake Central
  • Bryant Brown 6-4 SR Waukegan
  • Mitch Mascari 6-5 SR Geneva
  • Ray Dennis 6-2 SR Oswego East
  • Fred Cleveland Jr. 5-8 SR Chicago Leo
  • Jeremiah Hernandez 6-4 SR St. Viator
  • Dhashon Dyson 5-10 SR Chicago Corliss
  • Keenon Cole 6-7 SR Streamwood
  • Aaron Strong 6-2 SR Chicago Farragut
  • Bryce Bultman 6-5 SR Nashville
  • Deion Jackson 6-3 SR Providence St. Mel
  • Richard Robinson 6-7 F East St. Louis


SUPREMACY

The State Tournament down in Peoria over the weekend was terrific. A lot of buzz and excitement, attendance was one of the largest we’ve seen in many many years due to the contingent of schools representing corners of our State. East St. Louis/Belleville area, Rockford, Evanston, and our beloved Chicago area teams. The metro east/St. Clair county fan base was down there in full force, colorful and entertaining. The Peoria Civic Center was a happening environment and a place to be over the weekend. The Southern part of our State near the STL pretty much validated what we’ve been saying for few years now about some of our best players residing in that area. The likes of Liddle, TJ Hargrove-East St. Louis, Donovan Clay-Alton, Ra’Shad Taylor-Collinsville, Bryce Bultman-Nashville, Will Shumpert-Belleville West, Richard Robinson-East St. Louis, Emmitt Gordon-Madison, Jaylin Mosby-Belleville West, Tommy Williams-Belleville West, Malik Smith-Alton; supremacy in the South.

4A State Final: Belleville West 71, Evanston 59

The State’s top player E.J. Liddle performed with grace and precision, reaffirming what his game/play is all about, which is winning. He racked up 24 points, 10 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists. On Friday night in the Semi-Final game he was a stud in a victory over Curie.  Ohio State is getting a bonafide winner.

3A State Final: East St. Louis 68, Bogan 63 (OT)

East boogie was in the house in true fashion, they had about 2000 fans descend on Peoria. They were a fun bunch that took over the arena, which added to an exciting weekend. T.J. Hargrove capped off a monster weekend demonstrating why he is widely recognized as one of the top 5 players in the 2019 Class. The St. Louis U. recruit treated the fans to an exhilarating display with numerous dunks. He and Bogan’s Rashaun Agee put on an afternoon ariel show. Hargrove recorded 32 points, 10 rebounds, & 7 or 8 dunks. Agee finished with 24 points, 14 rebounds, & 5 or 6 dunks, he was magnificent as well. This was a great ball game, Bogan had control for most of the game but had a difficult time closing it.