Scouting KC: Friday Standouts
PrepHoopsIllinois had another marathon day of hoops in Kansas City where we saw games at both the Hardwood Classic as well as the Jayhawk Finale. Let’s breakdown the standouts from the final Friday of the grassroots season. SG Tim…
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Continue ReadingPrepHoopsIllinois had another marathon day of hoops in Kansas City where we saw games at both the Hardwood Classic as well as the Jayhawk Finale. Let’s breakdown the standouts from the final Friday of the grassroots season.
SG Tim Finke (St. Louis Eagles 17U)
Without Finke the Eagles are done for the summer. It is that plain and simple. The 6’5” shooting guard carried them to a win. He was the only starter who looked locked in early in the game and his intensity continued throughout. The 2019 prospect from Champaign Central shot lights out. He has always been a plus shooter, but this was one of the best we have seen. Finke was money off the catch. Also showed toughness in the paint grabbing 50/50 balls and diving on the ground after loose balls. Such a high IQ player. He had 21 points. High-major no doubt and one of the best prospects regardless of class in Illinois.
PG Darius Garland (St. Louis Eagles 17U)
The Brentwood Academy (TN) point guard came up big when his team needed him in the second half. Garland is a slick lead guard that is slippery in traffic and tough to track for opponents. His acceleration and speed off the bounce make him a tough cover. As does his deep range on the jump shot. Their opponents found that out the hard was as he drilled some big shots. Vision and feel as a point guard in the half court. High-major.
PG Tyree Spencer (ET21 Buckeyes 17U)
The Downers Grove South 2017 point guard had one of the best games we have seen out of him. The lefty went head to head with fellow lead guard in his class from Illinois Tray Buchanan of Kingdom Hoops and more than held his own. Spencer was slick driving through traffic and changed directions on a dime in the paint for scores. Finished with runners and floaters. Speed in transition, but can be a little wild at times with it. Impressed with his on ball pressure defense.
PF Cameron Harris (ET21 Buckeyes 17U)
Harris put his name squarely on the map on Friday with his play. The 6’6” power forward has a big and physical body. He used that boxing out and securing rebounds throughout the contest. Extremely active with his motor and energy level. Most of points came on dump offs and put backs. The Bolingbrook big man would be a great small college big!
PG Isaiah Coleman-Lands (Illinois Wolves 17U)
The La Lumiere (IN) lead guard continues to be one of the more underappreciated lead guards in the Midwest. He has great handles getting where he needs on the floor to operate. Lethal pull up jump shooter that knocks them down consistently off the bounce from mid-range and can hit threes off the catch. Gets in the lane where he either kicks to shooters or puts up a nice floater. Should be a coveted mid-major target.
PF TJ Clifford (Illinois Wolves 17U)
The recent Western Michigan commit showed out early for the Wolves. Clifford is a strong and mobile 6’6” four man that runs the floor and is active. Scored on his opportunities in the post with quick and assertive moves. Soft touch on the interior with his post finishes. Continues to show his go to hook shot. Also displayed his underrated athleticism with a monster tip dunk! Will be a great player at Western Michigan.
PG Jalen Clanton (Hoopers/Celtics 17U)
Have a game Jalen Clanton! On the big stage against PSA with tons of coaches and high major talent on the other side the Riverside Brookfield 2017 point guard had one of his best games of the summer. Clanton opened the game with four threes off the catch. At times he can be a streaky perimeter shooter. That streak was trending hot on Friday. Also mixed in a few tough scores inside and some mid-range shots for 21 points. Should be a coveted D2 commodity with the chance to play at the low-major level.
PF Hamier Wright (PSA Cardinals 17U)
We were told by Wright’s coaches with PSA that he will be reclassifying to 2018. He was already impressive and that makes him even more intriguing. Wright is a long and lanky forward that moves extremely well on both ends of the floor. Can handle the ball in the open floor or in the half court taking his man off the bounce. Skilled offensive game stretches out with the ability to hit face up jump shots with ease. High-major top 50 type kid nationally in 2018.
SG Armon Brummett (Team Manimal 16U)
Brummett is a 6’3” shooting guard from Decatur MacArthur High School. The 2018 prospect is one of the best pure scorers in his class across the state. He has a strong and compact body to go along with solid athleticism. Where the junior guard is at his best is shooting it from three. Deep range on his shot as he can hit both pulling up and off the catch. One sick step back three in this contest. Love the way he competes and his motor. Powerful finisher around the hoop and gets on the glass using his strength. He had 23 points against MoKan. Needs to be on the D1 radar in 2018.
PF Edward Chang (MoKan 16U)
Chang is a long and lanky combo forward that stretches the floor with his perimeter jump shot. Great looking stroke shooting the basketball. Also quick to the glass for second chances. Snatches rebounds out of the air with his length. Chang had 16 points. Very intriguing D1 prospect.
SG Perry Cowan (Illinois Wolves 16U)
Cowan is among the top prospects in the state’s 2019 class. He is playing up on the 16U level for the Wolves and is one of their go to players. Cowan has a silky smooth offensive game that is highlighted by his ability to shoot it from the mid-range. That is without a doubt his strength as he can knock those down for days. Handles it well getting to his spots and can take them all the way to the rim on occasion. Cowan is a high-major 2019 recruit.
PF DJ Jeffries (Team Thad 16U)
Jeffries was good, not great in our first scout of him the other day. The 5-star top 10 player no doubt backed up that lofty ranking with his play Friday. The 2019 power forward has a great frame with strength and fluidity. He was a complete beast on the boards all game long. Jeffries snatched one after another. He is one of the better outlet passing bigs from an elite player standpoint that I can remember over the past few years. Scored with power and force in the paint leaving zero doubt. Jeffries had 18 points and 10 rebounds in their win. The Mississippi young forward has superstar written all over him.
SF Kai Bates-Diop (Illinois Wolves 15U)
Normal U-High 2019 small forward Kai Bates-Diop started off Friday with a bang. The projectable wing has long arms and a frame he can add weight on to very much similar in that way to his older brother who is at Ohio State. The younger KBD can also really shoot the basketball. That was on full display as he knocked down quite a few including several from the corners off the catch. Defensively he moved well laterally and had a few blocks in the transition game. Also excels in transition. UPSIDE! He had 18 points in their first game of the day.