NY2LA Next Level: Friday Standouts
PrepHoopsIllinois was in gym at Homestead High School all day on Friday for action at the NY2LA Sports Next Level Invitational. Check out the standout performers from the day! PF Connor Niego (Chicago Lockdown 17U) At 6’8” Niego is…
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Continue ReadingPrepHoopsIllinois was in gym at Homestead High School all day on Friday for action at the NY2LA Sports Next Level Invitational. Check out the standout performers from the day!
PF Connor Niego (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
At 6’8” Niego is a skilled four man. We have known this for years. The area he is rapidly improving is his strength and toughness. Niego has added strength in his upper body and is showing that doing work on the glass. Really competed on the boards especially offensively where he snatched away multiple 50-50 opportunities. Had several tough scores going through interior defenders. Drilled one three, but most of his other buckets were on short jumpers from 10 feet. Low-major prospect!
PF Brandon McCombs (Illinois Irish 17U)
McCombs is a strong 6’7” power forward that plays to his strengths. He likes to post up, face, and attack. The Jacksonville 2017 post displayed a few quick moves attacking the hoop using his improving athleticism slashing from the mid-post area. Quick around the hoop and is extremely active. McCombs would be a great D3/NAIA prospect.
PG De’Ante Walker (Illinois Irish 17U)
Walker was part of an Irish guard trio that got pressure on the ball defensively and turned them into points on the other end of the floor. The rising senior also had one of his better shooting days consistently hitting them from deep off the catch.
SG Demarius Jacobs (All-In/Young & Reckless 17U)
With Jacobs it has been one bad half and one phenomenal half in all three games we have seen. Friday was no different as he was a non-factor in the opening frame against the Celtics/Hoopers. In the second stanza he took over the game with his elite athleticism on both ends of the floor. Attacked with his quickness getting in seams of the defense. Great in transition including one posterizing dunk. Flashes jump shot, but needs to improve consistency. Solid mid-major prospect.
SG Nana Akenten (Illinois Celtics/Hoopers 17U)
Akenten got the better of his matchup with Jacobs in the first half as he drilled a quartet of threes. The Bolingbrook top 10 2017 prospect has great size for position with the ability to create separation on his jump shot. Elevation off the floor with pure mechanics at the top of the release. At times can settle for it a bit too much. No doubt mid-major target that when he is on can carry the offensive load.
PG Bryson Langdon (TAW 17U)
Langdon is a smaller point guard that can go! He transferred to Kenwood after playing his prep ball in Utah. Langdon is a pesky on ball defender that gets up into his man. Often turns steals into points on the other end. Shot it solid from three pulling up off the bounce. Small college prospect.
PG Tai Bibbs (Mercury Elite 17U)
Bibbs has struggled a bit this week, but showed his immense ability in the second half of their afternoon game on Friday. The West Chicago lead guard is one of the more heavily recruited point guards in the class. He displayed that with a variety of pull up jump shots going down working with and behind screens. Had a few nice takes to the hoop where he sliced through defenders. Impressive missed dunk where he elevated up and above the rim over his man. Defensively has quality lateral movement skills. Bibbs is a solid mid-major to low-major prospect.
PG DeAndre Heckard (Hoops4Health 16U)
Have a day DeAndre Heckard! The Romeoville 6’1” point guard lit it up in a pair of games. Heckard has great size for position along with broad shoulders and strong arms. Totally looks the part along with quality athleticism. Has a nice feel for the game and is a plus passer with the ability to find teammates in the open floor as well as dish it off on the interior in the half court. Explosive off the bounce slashing to the basket where he is slippery through traffic getting to the rim. Powerful finishing at the paint. In the afternoon he didn’t shoot it much, but displayed that part of his game at night drilling multiple pull up mid-range jumpers. Really competes and has a passion for the game. Should be monitored by LM and MM programs.
SG Eddie Creal (Hoops4Health 16U)
Creal is a wing from Joliet West that is emerging on our radar. He is a power two guard that excels using his strength and physicality around the basket. Gets on the offensive glass and plays above the rim in the transition game. Solid passer and quality on ball defender that locks in on that end. One to continue to track.
SG Deonte Billups (Quad City Elite 15U)
Billups is a strong and athletic 6’3” two guard from Moline High School. The 2018 prospect is a plus rebounding guard that gets on the offensive glass as well for put backs. We hadn’t seen him shoot it much prior to Friday, but he got hot in the first half of one of their games. Displayed quality form and a lot of arc on it. Connected on a pair from deep. One to track at the LM/D2 level in 2018.
PG Jeremiah Washington (All-In/Young & Reckless 15U)
The 5’7” 2019 point guard is quick with the ball in his hands. Pushes the tempo with the rock. Best as a distributor finding teammates in traffic and getting them the ball in position to score. Can be a bit loose with it at times and over dribble, but his slick handles allow him to get where he needs to operate.
SG Morgan Grant (All-In/Young & Reckless 15U)
Grant has been impressive with Y&R in Milwaukee. He is an athletic slashing wing that uses his speed/jumping combination to finish in transition, get on the offensive glass, and beat his man off the dribble. Potential on pull up jump shot.