Sunday, September 22, 2019

5 UNDER THE RADAR TYPES, WHOM LIKELY WILL EMERGE TO LOFTIER STATUS PRIOR TO THE UP-COMING SEASON

NAME / HT / POS / LEVEL / RANK / HIGH SCHOOL

• Ismail Habib 6-0 PG MM 22 Lincoln Park
“Got game & confidence to ride on his beliefs. Plays with poise & precision. Handles himself well under pressure while learning how to move & manage his team.”

• Devon Ellis 6-4 G/F MM 30 Conant
“We caught a glimpse of his play over the summer, possesses excellent length on perimeter where he’s demonstrated the ability to be a scorer & defender.”

• Hamahrie Bowers 6-5 G/F MM+- 20 Hillcrest
“Lefty plays with a competitive spirit, he’s currently in the blossoming stages, you can see his rise as we witnessed last weekend at the ISL Fall Classic.”

• Jakobi Heady 6-5 WF MM 38 Hillcrest
“Promising prospect, still in the developing stages with learning intricacies of the game & his play. He’s raw but still awfully productive.”

• Dionysius Hogan 6-4 G/F MM 23 Peoria High
“Starting to utilize his versatility effectively during the course of a game. He can handle the rock, make decisions, and score. We like his potential in moving forward.”

TOP PROSPECTS IN 2021 CLASS

There’s a surplus of high-major recruits in this group and immensely a quality of depth positioned at the mid to the bottom half of the class. Some observers see a resemblance of our 1997 and ‘98’ Classes. The Blue Bloods, Duke, and the Carolinas including Wake Forest have all been sighted as frequent visitors in the area. You can bet Kansas, Kansas State, the Oklahomas, and Arizona schools along with the Big 10 mainstays will continue to invade. Hopefully we will have very few skid marks in terms of development within the core group.

NAME / HT / POS / LEVEL / RANK / HIGH SCHOOL

• Max Christie 6-5 PG HM 1 Rolling Meadows“He is smooth & plays the game so effortlessly at times. Shaun Livingston clone, likely could land at Duke.”

• Bryce Hopkins 6-6 G HM 2 Fenwick
“We love his floor game & where it’s headed. Can score in variety. Nebraska, Northwestern, and the Blue Bloods in a hunt for his services.”

• Ahmad Bynum 6-2 G HM 3 Chicago Simeon
“Prolific jump shooter can drain them in bunches. Has a little of former New York city legend/NBA stand-out, Lloyd B. Free. Nebraska, DePaul, just to name a few.”

• Louis Lesmond 6-6 WG HM 4 Niles Notre Dame
“Smooth operator has a nice feel/flow to his game. Highly skilled. Big 10 schools draped all over him.”

• Brandon Weston 6-5 WF HM 5 Morgan Park
“New York native plays with an enormous amount of energy and emotions. Very talented performer, we are still learning more about him & his game.”

• Chris Hodges 6-8 PF HM 6 Schaumburg
“Potential to be terrific player in the right setting/system. He does play hard, still learning how to exhibit his athleticism more.”

• Josh Ausler 6-4 G HM 7 Rockford Auburn
“Coming off of MVP honors at the ISL Fall Classic last weekend. High-level shooter on the perimeter & will take defenders off the bounce hurriedly.”

• John Poulakidas 6-5 G/F HM 8 Neuqua Valley
“High character/academics, a budding stand-out. This South Paw can shoot & has that unorthodox feel offensively that he keeps defenders off balance. Made all Tourney at the ISL Classic.”

• Grant Newell 6-8 WF HM 9 Whitney Young
“Not even close to being a finish product at this present stage but he has a wealth of potential to eventually become a top-notch player.”

• Darrion “D.J.” Jones 5-11 PG HM 10 Chicago Bogan
“A punishing play-maker, flat-out hooper. Ambidextrous attacking both sides of the rim. Plays like Chicago guards used to in the 1970s.”

• Kimarhi Wilson 6-1 PG HM 11 Carmel
“Has the necessary physical gifts to be a high-level recruit, now has to polish up certain areas of his game after a spotty summer of play.”

• Isaiah Barnes 6-6 WG HM 12 Oak Park
“Sleek cager has Illinois & a host of big schools angling for his services. Awfully skilled, needs to bring tools with him regularly.”

• Troy D’Amico 6-7 F MM+ 13 Niles Notre Dame“Rugged performer has the ability to be a stat-stuffer. Excellent motor, respectable out-side shooter. Valuable part in a good system.”

• Anthony Sayles 6-2 PG MM+ 14 Niles Notre Dame
“Terrific athlete may opt for football but he’s fun to watch on the hardwood. Capable of managing his team or a game.”

• Tevin Smith 6-4 G MM+ 15 Danville

“Has stand-out capabilities, he’s currently in the recovering stages of a knee injury, reportedly prognosis looks bright for a return in up-coming months.”

• Bennie Slater 6-5 WG MM+ 16 Springfield High
“Still masks as an unknown prospect on many charts/grids. He is one talented lad who is destined for a breakout season.”

ILLINOIS SPOT-LITE 2019 FALL CLASSIC

(WRAP-UP) SEPT. 14TH-15TH

SITE: PLAINFIELD CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

ROCKFORD AUBURN 33 – CHICAGO BOGAN 25

In Plainfield, IL – this year’s event will always be a memorable one. Our entire crew was razor sharp throughout the two-day Classic. We knew on all four courts who shined statistically and how well their teams fared.

Auburn outlasted Bogan in the title game behind six-foot four Junior guard Josh Ausler’s 20 points, senior forward Javion Davis chipped in with 10. In the semis Bogan slipped by Lincoln Park 53-50 and on the other side of the bracket, Cary Grove ran out of fuel tussling with Rockford Auburn in the other semi-final game. Ausler tallied 20 in that contest, he drained six three pointers in the 50-36 win over C. Grove. Beau Frericks finished with 15. Cary Grove had its hands full in the quarters slipping by Chicago Corliss 52-47 in an entertaining match-up where Frericks dropped seventeen including three clutch 3pointers late in the ballgame, Belmont recruit Frank Jakubicek went for 12 markers. Overall the games were great on Sunday which is what we hope for. Ausler was outstanding during the entire Classic, the Junior averaged over twenty points in 7 games, he gave a talented Hillcrest team 17 points in the early round of the playoffs, the sleek cager was named Tourney MVP. Chicago Bogan played well both days despite of missing talented swingman, Kyndall Davis who was on a recruiting visit to New Jersey Institute and ultra-rebounder/shot-blocker, Tremear Fraley was out with an injury. Bengals still showed-up with enough arsenal to play their trademark suffocating style defense. They received stout performances from junior guard D.J. Jones and senior Antione Bloxton, little known 6-4 sniper Scott Lanier who nailed four threes in a playoff game versus West Aurora.

TOURNAMENT MVP

ROCKFORD AUBURN JUNIOR: JOSH AUSLER

ALL-TOURNAMENT SELECTION
NAME / HT / YR / POS / HIGH SCHOOL

• Darrion “D.J.” Jones 6-1 JR PG Chicago Bogan

• Javion Davis 6-4 SR F Rockford Auburn

• Beau Frericks 6-2 SR G Cary Grove

• Cooper Schmidt 6-4 JR G Plainfield South

• Ismail Habib 6-0 JR PG Lincoln Park

• Charles Doyle 6-0 JR G Chicago Farragut

• Axel Motola 6-5 SR WF West Aurora

• Frank Jakubicek 6-8 SR PF Cary Grove

• Antoine Bloxton 6-2 SR G Chicago Bogan

• Jabari Chiphe 6-5 SR F Walter Payton

• Atharva Atreya 6-3 SR PG Carl Sandburg

• John Poulakidas 6-5 JR G/F Neuqua Valley

EARLY VERBAL COMMITMENTS

NAME / HT / POS / HIGH SCHOOL / COLLEGE CHOICE

• Frank Jakubicek 6-8 F Cary Grove Belmont University

• Ahron Ullis 6-2 PG Marian Catholic University of Iowa

• Marcus Watson 5-11 PG Morgan Park Wake Forest

• Elijah Jones 6-5 WF Marian Catholic Western Illinois

• Connor Kochera 6-4 G St. Viator William & Mary

• Colin O’Rourke 6-8 PF Plainfield North Wisconsin Parkside

• D.J. Stewart 6-3 G Whitney Young Duke University

• Daniel Burford 6-2 G Bolingbrook Elon University

The state’s No.1 player decided against staying local, Young’s D.J. Stewart will start his Collegiate career in Durham where he will suit up for Coach K at Duke. We suspect he broke the hearts of a couple of our local schools.

Sunday, September 8, 2019

TOP INCOMING PROSPECTS IN 2023 CLASS

“We try to be very cautionary when it comes to hyping young players, growth and development are key factors, but the main ingredient that attaches it all is how they fare in the classroom. We’ve witnessed too many guys in the last 40+ years who enter high school with a huge bill-up but never grow or learn to channel some of those lofty expectations, which isn’t fair from the start to place on most young student athletes. Within this class there seems to be a lot of size, even in football and baseball around our area. Even just random students walking the halls we’ve seen a significant number of youngsters with height.”

• Javonte Taylor 6-7 G Simeon or Morgan Park
“Slenderly built, already a dynamite shooter, arguably the #1 player in the Class.”

• Jaylen Griffith 5-9 PG Simeon
“Already receiving rave reviews, big time distributor has natural PG skills. High IQ.”

• Dalen Davis 6-0 PG Whitney Young
“Very poised young prospect, can make shots & plays. High academic kid.”

• Ty Pente 6-4 WG St. Joseph-Ogden“Very good athlete, has a scorer mentality, projected to be a four-year starter.”

• Davius Loury 6-7 F Simeon“Wiry cager who already possesses the ability to shoot the ball at a high clip as well as rebound effectively.”

• Jeremy Fears Jr. 5-10 PG Joliet West“Has displayed leadership ability at an early stage of his career. Can score and distribute. Already has a College offer.”

• Camron Williford 5-10 PG Lincoln Park“Signaled already as a kid who has a special kind of presence which is rarely seen often entering high school. Has a wealth of talent and understanding of the game, especially having a pulse for tempo. Very poised, can really handle and defend as well as manage his team.”

• Ethan Kizer 6-5 F Metamora“Long arms with good length, has good bounce, highly regarded prospect in Central Illinois, we’ve only been hearing about him for 3 years. Offensive game is still work in progress.”

• Ronald Chambers 5-10 G North Lawndale“Highly touted back court player. Already has the knack for making big plays & shots, from all indicators he is exciting to watch.”

• Jacquez Adams 5-10 PG Chicago Marshall“Strong body, can really score. His high school coach will start him slowly without lumping too many expectations on his young standout.”

• Damarion Wyatt 5-11 G North Lawndale“Slick scoring general with some special gifts who will soon get a chance to see his total game. High school coach high on his potential to be a high level player.”

2020 RECRUITING UPDATES

“Player watch, more to come”

NAME / HT / POS / LEVEL / HIGH SCHOOL

• D.J. Stewart 6-3 G HM Whitney YoungDePaul, Duke, Louisville, North Carolina, Texas

• Adam Miller 6-3 G HM Morgan Park
Arizona State, Arizona, Illinois

• Martice Mitchell 6-10 F HM-HM+ Bloom
Rutgers, Oregon, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Xavier, Maryland

• Keshawn Williams 6-2 G HM-MM+ Bloom
Colorado State, Colorado, Kansas State, Loyola-Chicago, West Virginia, Murray State

Transfer Wire: 
Jeremiah Williams made the biggest splash over the summer when he departed St. Laurence for Simeon, which was rumored to happen for months. The six-foot four explosive wing is considered one of the top 7 players in our 2020 Class. Valparaiso, Southern Illinois, & Akron seem to be front runners. It seems he likely won’t be in any hurry to make a decision anytime soon.

Top flight athlete, Christian Shumate abruptly decided to leave Plainfield East. The 6-5 senior will add depth to an already talented Bloom squad. Shumate made his presence felt in his debut the opening night of the H.F. Monday Fall League.

Lincoln-Way West slender guard Micah Schnyder will spend his senior campaign at Yorkville High where he will team with sophomore wiz Jaden Schutt to form a high-scoring tandem.

Talented top 40 junior guard Norvell Meadows elected to leave Prosser to attend Chicago Orr. T.F. North lost six-foot seven forward Darrell Reed, he will return to Hammond, Indiana and return to Hammond High where he reportedly was enrolled his freshmen year. Reed was recognized as a rising top 40 prospect in our impressive 2021 group.

Hillcrest has the talented set of junior quadruplets, 6-5 swingman Hamahrie Bowers, 6-6 wing Julius Rollins, Jakobi Heady a 6-6 forward whose rapidly emerging up the recruiting ranks, and heady playmaker/defender Kenton Wright. The ariel show will be exciting the next few years in Country Club Hills.

Former St. Rita 6-7 forward Jeremiah Oden just came off a visit from Valpo over the weekend. He now resides at Sunrise Christian Prep where his recruiting is starting to soar.

EARLY VERBAL COMMITMENTS

NAME / HT / POS / HIGH SCHOOL / COLLEGE CHOICE

• Frank Jakubicek 6-8 F Cary Grove / Belmont

• Ahron Ullis 6-2 PG Marian Catholic / University Iowa

• Marcus Watson 5-11 PG Morgan Park / Wake Forest

• Elijah Jones 6-5 WF Marian Catholic / Western Illinois

• Colin O’Rourke 6-8 PF Plainfield North / Wisconsin Park-Side

• Connor Kochera 6-4 G St. Viator / College of William & Mary

IN GAME 2 - ILLINOIS SPOT-LITE HIGH SCHOOL FALL 2019 CLASSIC

ILLINOIS SPOT-LITE HIGH SCHOOL FALL 2019 CLASSIC
(SITE: Plainfield Central)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2019
&
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2019

32 TEAM INVITATIONAL

We will list 10 un-heralded gems to follow. These aren’t a bunch of household names but Division II & Small Colleges on-hand will find some terrific players that may fit a particular need. Several prospects listed below are on track to likely land a Division I scholarship. This will be a very good event to cover.

NAME / HT / YR / POS / HIGH / SCHOOL

• Beau Frericks 6-2 SR G Cary Grove“Plays with a wealth of confidence & precision. He can score & distribute with the best. Once he adds some strength-look out. Drawing interest from Patriot League & East Coast schools.”

• Elijah Watson 6-7 SR F T.F. South“Slender forward with a huge upside just returning from injury that occurred over the summer. Potential wing player down-the-road.”

• Fin Walsh 6-2 SR PG St. Laurence“Spunky & confident, energetic general, superb at setting the pace for others. Fun to watch his swagger & play.”

• Josh Holmes 6-2 SR G De LaSalle“Combo clone amped-up his overall play over the summer attracting University Pennsylvania and Northern Arizona among others.”

• Romelle Howard 6-8 SR F Lincoln Park“Lefty is the traditional back to the basket player with a potent jump hook, his patent go to move. Howard has become a very good rebounder & rim protector.”

• Jabari Chiphe 6-5 SR F Walter Payton“The classic, under-size athletic interior forward has a standing offer on the table from prestigious Washington University. Very effective player.”

• Jimarius Sneed 6-5 SR F Chicago Crane“Strong finisher around the rim, has the physical attributes of being a really good defender. Jimarius really likes Chicago State.”

• Andre Stewart 6-6 SR PF South Shore
“Starting to come into own as a player. Has the potential capabilities of being a Small College gem. Good student.”

• Donovan Taylor 6-4 SR WF Chicago Fenger
“This cager caught our eye at the UIC Team Camp in June where he once was an early target of theirs. Slashing, transition type could be a nice find.”

• Jamari McClendon 6-2 SR G Hope Academy
“Clutch performer, makes big shots-loves to play in huge moments. This kid has a winning ingredient along with being a high character person.”