Young Guns Stand Out In Pocket City Fall League

The Evansville area has progressively getting better and better and that was proven again this weekend with a trip down to the Pocket City Fall League. Players from all over the southern part of the state were there and a number of them caught the eye including some new names. The upperclassmen played well but the underclassmen showed that the area could be flush with talent for the foreseeable future.<h3>Senior Guards Made Plays All Day</h3> Whether it was Dru Smith's game winner or Erik Bell's speed, senior guards were exciting to watch. Smith wasn't as crisp as he was to end July but he did what he always does and that is win games. The Evansville commit is really the only one of his kind in this class and he was tough to stop this weekend when he made up his mind to score. At 6'2 and with a strong build, the Reitz guard bullies his way to the basket but can also flip it around and make the highlight level pass. He's not a point guard and he's not really a two-guard but he's just that guy you want on your team because all he does is win games. Another guy who is building off a big summer is Erik Bell. Bell finished the year playing as well as I have ever seen him and on Sunday he showed out with one of the elements that caught my eye, his speed. He's got a good first step and overall speed that when he is pushing the ball up the floor he can keep the tempo high and then explode to beat the backpedaling defender. He needed a few more ball screens to help his driving ability but he still managed to put up good numbers and keep his team in every game. He's still fairly under-recruited for his skill level and collegiate level. Watch for South Knox senior guard Isiah Stafford to have a better high school season. His team last year was stockpiled with players and he had some ups and downs this summer but on Sunday he was more comfortable and back in his element running the show. Stafford came to our Combine and tested really well in the agility and vertical drills surprising most. Combine that with his solid play at the point and ability to score the ball and you have a player that is going to be looking to be a steal for a coach. He's not the quickest guy but he's able to make plays in space and in the half-court and has a little fearlessness to him. C.J. Hedgepeth has been tough to follow over his high school career dealing with injuries and now football but there is no doubt the kid can play. He's got great size and athleticism and isn't a bad option at the point guard spot. He's now healthy and ready to go. <h3>Young Guns Steal The Show</h3> I've seen a lot of the younger talent in Evansville the last six months and they have consistently impressed. The 2017 class is pretty solid and has a ton of size. 2018 has depth at guards and 2019 is just been impressive to this point. Castle forward Jack Nunge needs to have a big year. The 6'9 forward is going to be asked to do a lot at Castle and expectations are high for that team. He's found success on the recruiting front and for good reason as he is one of the best stretch forwards in the Midwest. He'll have to become tougher and fight more in the post but that is a criticism of almost all stretch forwards. Freshman wing Alex Hemmenway of Castle was impressive at our Freshman showcase in September and this was another look at him this weekend. The 6'2 guard looked comfortable handling the ball and still had his aggressive scoring mindset. He's still fairly thin and over the next year strength would go a long way for him. He already has an offer from Evansville and it's a good bet he gets to that level. 2018 guard Mekhi Lairy of Evansville Bosse is tough as nails and while he's really small, he's a guy you love to have on your team. Lairy passed the ball well and does so effectively on dumpoffs in transition for easy buckets. He's a better shooter than most sub-5'9 guards. Young, skilled guard Rilee Epley, a 2018 out of Evansville Day, has had some big games in this league and it is easy to see why. The 6'2 guard has a wide skill set and looks to make a bucket any chance he gets. He has a bit of an awkward release but has enough touch to hit basically anywhere on the floor. He scored 410 points as a freshman last year, one behind Tindley's Eric Hunter. In his sophomore season, I'm expecting much of the same. Maybe the most impressed all day was watching 2019 forward Isaac Beverly of Evansville Memorial. He's a guy that has a body already strong and a mentality that means to take advantage of that. He's a bully, strong with the ball in his hands and driving. Skilled in the paint with a turnaround fadeaway. He can get a little too full of steam at times but the ability to handle the ball on the perimeter and drive isn't something most, if any, have at his age. <h3>New Names To Watch</h3> This weekend was a chance to catch up on some names from the summer and hopefully discover another few. Two new guys I liked are Trey Schafer and Jaylen Minor. Schafer, a 6'3 guard from Evansville Harrison, was extremely impressive. The senior wasn't flashy but had his way scoring the ball from distance in his two games. He's big and strong and handles the ball really well. Can play him at the point or off the ball and while he's not likely to be a big time scorer, Trey can do all the little things for you to win games. Smart and active, he's got a lot of things coaches love. Jaylen Minor, a 6'3 wing from Bosse, had some good times and bad times on Sunday but the talent was evident. He's got a long, lean body that is perfect for driving to the rim. Jaylen's a solid athlete and showed an ability to knock down a jumper. The sophomore wing has to be more involved in the game and on both sides of the ball. If he does, there is more than enough talent there for him to be a special player. <h3>More Notes From Sunday:</h3> De'Ante Booker - 6'3 SG Evansville Harrison - 2017 Booker looked really good and much more aggressive going to the rim. If he can become more of an offensive threat, his stock should go up. Brandon Eades - 6'4 SF Castle - 2017 Eades was impressive on the perimeter handling the ball. Good frame that can take more weight and once he bulks up he'll be on a lot of coaches lists. Jermiah Bradley - 6'3 SG Evansville Central -2016 Tough guard with a great body. Struggle to hit shots on the day but got a ton of good looks and was aggressive. Should put up big numbers this year. Alex Eberhard - 6'6 SF Evansville Memorial - 2016 He's not his brother and that is okay. Alex looked good as a perimeter shooter this week. Small school colleges should love his ability to stretch the floor with size. Jaylen Lengacher - 6'2 SG North Daviess - 2017 Jaylen is a solid guard from a small school in the middle of nowhere. He's got talent and showed a solid jump shot this weekend. Name to watch for small colleges in 2017. Jonathan Walker - 6'2 SG Barr-Reeve - 2017 I sure do love Barr-Reeve kids and Walker is the next in line. The tall shooting guard didn't have his best stuff this weekend but was active and still managed to pick up points. Jaylin Chinn - 5'11 PG Evansville Bosse - 2018 Chinn is one of the toughest players in the state and goes hard on every play. Good defender with a solid grasp on how to run a fast-paced offense. Lance Lane - 6'4 SF Vincennes Rivet - 2016 Lane was a name that popped up this weekend with his play. Undersized forward who showed some aggressiveness. Some skill but really good effort on both ends. Luke Foster - 6'7 PF Jasper - 2016 Foster isn't the most skilled forward but his effectiveness around the basket is solid and he provides a great body and outstanding grades for a small school prospect. Sam Corrona - 5'9 PG Vincennes Lincoln - 2018 Height will always be an issue for Sam but he can sure shoot the ball. He lit it up in the first game of the day hitting at least four in a few minute stretch.