NY2LA Lone Star Invitational: Standouts, Sleepers, & Stock Raisers
Prep Hoops Network was in Dallas this weekend watching the NY2LA Basketball League in the Lone Star Invitational. From Friday night through Sunday afternoon we scouted some of the best talent in the Midwest and here are some standouts, sleepers, and stock raisers you should know about:
Tai Bibbs (Mercury Elite/West Chicago-IL, PG, 2017). Drake, Belmont, and Wright State followed Bibbs each game and all three have offered the smooth Chicago guard. His handles are dangerous as initial defenders had to play a step off and still couldn’t react in time while the backside of the defense was often late to have an affect on his second level playmaking.
Alou Dillon Jr (Playground Elite/Wauwatosa West-WI, PF, 2017). Was able to get position inside all weekend after beating defenders with a quick fight into deep position. Did a great job finishing softly after contact and was able to face-up from 15 feet to dribble separate. Showed range and this is what offering schools South Dakota State, Wright State, and UC-Davis was watching all weekend in Dallas.
James Glenn (CYM/CYM Academy-TX, PF-C, 2016). At 6-foot-8, 220 pounds, rock solid inside with more agility than the 3 Minnesota Comets bigs Glenn was able to beat his opponents up the floor in the 17U title game every possession and he won the low post battle against scholarship bigs every possession. Showed good straight line speed, good hips fighting in the post, a quick shoulder turn, and overall this is a sleeper for D1 teams needing a big. Is he a qualifier (people have to wonder considering he is still available)? We were told the grade point average is a 3.0.
Trevor Hansen (Dakota Schoolers/Sioux Valley-SD, C, 2018). A strong based 2018 who really should be in the 2019 class because he is so young for his age Trevor had a fantastic weekend in Dallas with a pair of double doubles. At about 6-foot-7/6-foot-8 and very early in the development Hansen was immovable on the block and bumped guys off with a shoulder turn followed by one of the softest touches at the event. Playing 17U despite his youth and leads his team in scoring and rebounding.
Brandon Hau (WI Shooters/Mukwonago-WI, SF, 2017). Coaches from South Dakota, American University, Brown, and others followed Brandon from Minneapolis last weekend down to Dallas this weekend and saw Hau score 64 points for the Shooters in four games. Had 15 points in 15 minutes against the Schoolers as a 6-foot-8 small forward. Knocked out a couple shots at the arc and more impressively, Hau scored over size on the move regularly all weekend.
Bryce Irsfeld (Comets Lewis/Browerville-MN, PG, 2017). The Comets were a perfect 4-0 on the weekend led by one of the toughest point guards in the Midwest, Bryce Irsfeld. Bryce took on the athletes of SYF Players and Playground Elite, ignored their frantic ball pressure, ignited the offense in the right spots, defended his opponents with constant toughness and perfect positioning to stop corner turns, and made a high percentage of his perimeter looks. Ran the offense perfectly but we liked his toughness even better. A D1 level lead guard who has six D2 offers at this point.
Xavier Johnson (Grassroots MN/Hopkins-MN, G. 2016). One of the better available guards in the Midwest Johnson is a 5-foot-11 guard that is capable of exploding at any minute. Had 34 points in the Grassroots 20 point win on Sunday that gave them a perfect 4-0 record. Johnson simply took turns going on distribution runs and explosive scoring runs. Has the ability to run a high octane offense and is at his best when his team is in constant transition.
Terrance Lewis (Playground Elite/Milwaukee Riverside-WI, SF, 2017). The 6-foot-6 guard had a couple scoring explosions this weekend and most of it was open floor production or backside movement into receiving on the cut for scores above the rim. Lewis really caught our eye with his passing lane jumps as well as his lateral movement denying both in the halfcourt and when Playgroud Elite pressed full court. Not quite the weekend he had Minneapolis but still excellent. Minnesota and Memphis are the latest to offer.
Brandon McCombs (IL Irish/Jacksonville-IL, PF, 2017). One of the toughest and most consistent battling bigs there are. When we watched him play it was all about physically producing. Going out of his area for boards, moving into help areas to stop penetration, going physically at the rim to produce. Nothing fancy when we watched, just all out effort and all out production at 6-foot-7. A throwback player that gets regular results.
Javorian Miller (West Texas/Odessa Permian-TX, SG, 2018). If you do a little research on Miller you will quickly see that as expected the sophomore is a football standout at a nationally known football school. He’s pretty good on the hardwood too though. West Texas was flying up the floor rarely getting past a single pass in the offense and Miller was a key part of the open run. He had 25 points and 11 rebounds many of which he grabbed on the defensive end and then pushed the other way. Likely a name that southern football schools will know about but could hoop as well.
DeMarcus Morris (RL9/Westfield-TX, PF, 2017). One of the meanest looking frontcourt players I’ve seen this year, Morris intimidates people with his scowl, size, and ink before they even have to bang with him inside on a single possession. Totaled 16 and 10 in a loss to Grassroots and there was nobody to stop him from shoulder turning and muscling the ball to the glass. No opponent wanted to block him out on the backside either and Morris has more bounce than you would expect. Texas State has offered but there will be more, if doesn’t scare them away.
Zac Olson (Comets DLR/WEM-MN, SF, 2017). The 6-foot-5 former power forward has made the transformation into a small forward with a perimeter game that includes a pure stroke at the arc made 40 percent of the time but also a strong build that allows him to score on the move regularly. If you want him to post he can but now he is a threat to score at the arc with his jumper or moving off the ball and absorbing contact for the finish. The 17U open division MVP.
Chaz Painter (Indy Eagles/Columbus East-IN, PF, 2017). One of the best players we’ve seen using the pivot this year. Chaz used fakes, constant rip-through face-ups into a move, and step-throughs to points on the board. And when defenders got wise Chaz also moved to the perimeter to make some shots around the arc. A skilled player at about 6-foot-6 that will be a bear to deal with when some power is added to the core.
Jalen Suggs (Grassroots MN/Minnehaha Academy-MN, Guard, 2020). The 2020 talent has got some national notice over the past three months for his maturity and big number production at the varsity level as an 8th grader. Once again Jalen was facing guys three years his age and getting the better of them with his crafty handle, his burst into a gap, and his intelligent play off the ball into space for eventual production. Jalen scored 15-16 a game and played both guard positions leading his team to a 4-0 mark.
Chris Weatherly (Oklahoma Magic/Fairview-OK, SG, 2016). One of the best shooting releases we’ve seen this summer, Chris nearly led his team to the final with a three-point barrage of second half makes. Also defended well as he was able to body guys as well as cut them of because he is a matured senior with good strength. Like the touch at about 6-foot-1 as a definite shooting guard who works as a defender. Colorado kid playing with an Oklahoma squad.
Milton Wordlow (Yanders Law/Hales Franciscan-IL, PG, 2017). One of nastiest hesitation attack moves you will see, the six-foot point guard freezes players and then goes 0 to 60 while opponents feet haven’t been sent the message to move yet. Help defenders regularly were helpless to shuffle to position before Milton was at the rim or pulling up from six feet. Had a game winner for his faking a left dribble and the blowing back to his right to score amidst four defenders who all weren’t quick enough to make a play. That’s the type of bursting plays he makes and that is why Chicago State is his latest offer.
Simon Wright (Comets Elite/Hopkins-MN, Forward, 2017). Wright defines forward toughness. At about 6-foot-6, maybe 6-foot-7 he has the motor to do whatever the defense gives him to help for his team. And if the defense gives him little Simon out-works them for production. Wright is an outstanding defender who can go to his post game if needed but he is more comfortable as a face-up player who can guard threes and fours and has the skills to play a three or four for his team. His grabbed recent offers from North Dakota State, North Dakota, Elon, Furman, and Wisconsin-Green Bay.