Illinois Scouting: Highland Shootout Standouts
The 25th Annual Highland Shootout was another huge success! Sold out crowd with a great atmosphere combined with high level talent. Can’t beat that! Here we look at the top performers from the day. We will have an in-depth breakdown…
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Continue ReadingThe 25th Annual Highland Shootout was another huge success! Sold out crowd with a great atmosphere combined with high level talent. Can’t beat that! Here we look at the top performers from the day. We will have an in-depth breakdown on all prospects at the event later in the week.
SG Jordan Goodwin (Belleville Althoff – 2017)
The 6’3” shooting guard has made another jump in his game. This time it was with his body. In our first time seeing him in a few months the big time junior has slimmed down and lost some of the excess weight while still maintaining very good strength. This has allowed him to be more athletic and fluid with his handles and quickness off the bounce. Goodwin is a punishing wing that has a never ending motor. He is constantly in attack mode going downhill. Finishes in the paint through contact on a consistent basis. Most of his points came in the paint and from the charity stripe. He did hit one three point shot, but the jumper wasn’t very consistent. Powerful on the glass mauling opponents much bigger than him. Passed it well including a couple nice dimes on the interior. Defensively was active and got his hands on several balls. Goodwin went for 23 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. Secured a spot in the top 3 in the next 2017 rankings.
SF Jayson Tatum (Chaminade, MO – 2016)
The Duke commit in my opinion is the top prospect nationally in 2016. At 6’9” he has the ability to score in so many ways. Early in the game he was forcing his jump shot and it just wasn’t falling. Tatum then started to attack with authority! He had a pair of impressive transition finishes with explosive dunks. His agility and quickness changing directions in the lane is just absurd. As the game went on he realized he could get to the hoop and started taking his man off the bounce with more consistency. Mixed in some jumpers and took his team to new heights in the second half. He had 32 points and 7 rebounds.
SF Romon Douglas-Watkins (Peoria Manual – 2017)
The 6’6” small forward has continued to elevate his stock throughout his junior campaign. He has great size and length for position. Known mostly as a slasher that can get through traffic to the hoop he showed a different aspect of his repertoire against Tolton. Douglas-Watkins displayed improvement on his perimeter jumper. The wing hit multiple three point shots and looked comfortable and confident in doing so. Also hit the glass including a nice offensive rebound put back. With his combination of athleticism and emerging skill mid-majors need to be all over him. He had 15 points.
SF Michael Porter (Father Tolton, MO – 2017)
The 6’9” small forward is one of the truly elite prospects nationally. He is supremely skilled and combined with his athleticism projects as a one and done lottery pick in 2018. Porter is an elite mid-range shooter that gets separation and tremendous elevation off the floor. Attacks the hoop in transition with his long strides and elite hops. Also utilizes a slick euro step. Solid rebounder that is quick to the glass on the offensive end. Porter had 31 points and 11 rebounds. Elite top 5 prospect nationally.
PG Xavier Bishop (Springfield Lanphier – 2016)
Bishop got off to a slow start. The 5’9” scoring point guard couldn’t get his jumper to fall missing some tough shots. Bishop is a volume scorer and tends to heat up where he carries his team for stretches. He did just that late in the third quarter hitting a three, followed by a step back, then a drive in the lane, and another three to start the fourth. The scrappy guard tried to help get his team back in the game late. He had 22 points. He is a quality D2 prospect that will be most effective in a system that the coaches play to his strengths.
SG Xavier Sneed (Hazelwood Central, MO – 2016)
Sneed is a big and athletic wing that can flat out score! His perimeter jumper has continued to improve over the years to where now it is a viable go to weapon. Sneed hit several threes both pulling up and off the catch. The Kansas State commit is explosive around the rim finishing alley-oops and getting on the offensive glass. Explosive first step off the bounce. Solid rebounder that also projects as a plus defender at the next level. He had 23 points.
C Carte’Are Gordon (Vianney, MO – 2018)
Elite prospect at 6’8” with his combination of strength and mobility. Knows how to use his body on the interior to get position and finish on the interior. Likes working in the high/low as a finisher. Seals well when receiving the basketball and moving in the paint. At times makes some spectacular moves in the open floor handling the ball including one where he went behind his back, one on one, and finished with a spin. That tends to lead to him trying to do it too much however. Conditioning and more consistent effort on defense are areas of improvement. Rebounds at a high rate and can block shots. Solid passer for a post player. The high major prospect had 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
SG Logan Kohrmann (Breese Central – 2016)
This 6’2” senior guard is one of the top small school scorers in southern Illinois. The guard is an impressive outside shooter that can hit threes both off the catch and pulling up. He showed better as an athlete than we had previously seen with improved handles and his ability to score off the bounce every now and then. Rebounded well for his position. Kohrmann had 18 points and 8 rebounds. Look for him to be a very solid small college prospect.