Scouting Next Level Invitational: 2017 Prospects
PrepHoopsIllinois was in the gym all five days at the NY2LA Next Level Invitational. Here we break down our scouting report of the class of 2017 prospects that impressed. PG Tai Bibbs (Mercury Elite 17U) Bibbs struggled a bit…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingPrepHoopsIllinois was in the gym all five days at the NY2LA Next Level Invitational. Here we break down our scouting report of the class of 2017 prospects that impressed.
PG Tai Bibbs (Mercury Elite 17U)
Bibbs 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. Struggled at times when being face guarded. Defensively has quality lateral movement skills. Bibbs is a solid mid-major to low-major prospect.
SF Bryan Jakobsze (Mercury Elite 17U)
The Downers Grove North 6’5” small forward showed us a lot more to his game than we saw in the spring. Jakobsze was flying all over the floor and playing with a motor. At times he will turn it over or run into a teammate because of it, but he is always moving. His defense got things started turning turnovers into points on the other end. He had a stretch of a few possessions where he got a stop on one end and converted on the other including a big flush. Tough wing that competes on both ends. Better athlete than we initially thought. He displayed some solid three point ability as well. Potential D2 prospect.
G Jack Nolan (Mercury Elite 17U)
Nolan is a 5’11” combo guard that mostly plays off the ball, but at the next level will have to be a point guard. The Benet guard is a big time perimeter shooter. He might be among the best catch and shoot guys in the state. He is starting to show more to his game however. Displaying he can put it on the deck a bit and get to the rim on occasion. Also setting up his jump shot off the dribble more effectively. Great D3/NAIA prospect.
PG Yaakema Rose (Yanders Law 17U)
Rose is a Springfield Lanphier lead guard at probably about 5’9” that is a bulldog competitor. Rose has a thick and compact body which allows him to attack going downhill where he finishes with force. At times can be a bit out of control with it, but he keeps going at the rim. Powerful finishing in the lane and sticks his nose into rebound. Best move of the day was when he crossed his man leaving him in the dust and scoring in the paint. Potential D2 prospect that could be a spark plug for a team.
SG Demarius Jacobs (All-In/Young & Reckless 17U)
With Jacobs it was one bad half and one phenomenal half in all three games we saw. Friday was no different in his matchup up with fellow top wing Nana Akenten 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.
PG Teyvion Kirk (All-In/Young & Reckless 17U)
It was a solid week for Kirk, but not a dominant one like he had in the spring. Kirk is one of the state’s top floor generals with his ability to push the pace and get others involved. Was best as a distributor dishing to his shooters for open looks. Best as a scorer attacking off the dribble and being slippery through traffic getting to the cup. Jump shot needs to continue to develop consistency. Like his potential on the defensive end. Mid-major prospect.
PG Keondre Schumacher (All-In/Young & Reckless 17U)
Schumacher is an understated lead guard from Normal U-High. Doesn’t have great size, but can really shoot the basketball. Big time spot up shooter including hitting a clutch game winner from the corner in one contest. Plays with toughness and swagger. Improving point guard skills as spring and summer have progressed. Potential LM/D2 target.
PF Jameel Alausa (All-In/Young & Reckless 17U)
Alausa is making a strong case for the #2 power forward in Illinois especially with what he did Saturday. The Chicago U-High product has a great frame with broad shoulders and big time athleticism. When he locks in and uses those physical gifts he is a problem. Quickness around the hoop finishing offensively and dominating the glass defensively made him a standout on Saturday. Jumper needs some work. Mid-major to low-major target in 2017.
F Justin Bottorff (Quad City 17U)
Bottorff made the move over to Quad City Elite and in his debut was impressive. The 6’6” combo forward was best using a variety of fakes and crafty moves to get his shot off. Was particularly effective working in iso situations from the mid-post area where he drilled 15 foot jumpers. Also hit a few threes off the catch. One of the events we have seen out of the Quincy Notre Dame senior. Worth a look at the D2 level, but would be an outstanding small college face up four man!
SF Nana Akenten (Illinois Celtics/Hoopers 17U)
The highest rated prospect we saw this week was this wing. The Bolingbrook 6’6” small forward has plus size, strength, and athleticism. That is a pretty good combo when you throw in his has a lethal jumper as well. Akenten takes and makes tough jump shots pulling up off the bounce. Got out in the transition game and accelerates with the ball in his hands off the bounce. Mid-major plus prospect.
PF Brandon Lawani (Illinois Celtics/Hoopers 17U)
Angular power forward that might be a bit undersized, but makes up for it with his length and motor. Quick to the offensive glass where he gets second chance opportunities. Shoots a high percentage on the shots he takes, but they are mostly junk points or dump off passes. Needs to improve back to the basket game to max out. Defensively is a presence rebounding, anchoring in the paint, and blocking shots. Solid D2 prospect.
SG Trevor Ross (Illinois Celtics/Hoopers 17U)
Ross was incredibly consistent throughout the event. The physically built shooting guard shot the ball well from both mid-range and three. While not the greatest athlete he is a solid rebounder for his position. D3/NAIA candidate.
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 Devin Whitelow (Illinois Irish 17U)
Whitelow is the engine that makes the Irish go. The small point guard pushes the pace, makes quality decisions with the ball, and has such a high basketball IQ. Most of the week was in set up mode as he didn’t score a ton. The majority of his points came in transition after getting steals where he is a pesky on ball defender. Worth a look at the D2 level or a really high D3/NAIA kid.
PG Aundrae Williams (Illinois Irish 17U)
Williams played his best game of the event in the Irish’s final contest. The Springfield Lanphier product got to the basket consistently with his athleticism off the bounce. Also hit a couple jumpers. Defensively he was effective trapping and getting steals starting the break the other way.
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 weeks consistently hitting them from deep off the catch.
PF Taylor Bruninga (Illinois Irish 17U)
The Illini Bluffs power forward continues his rise up the board. After a strong spring he has continued that into the summer. Stretch four man that can shoot it from the perimeter. Particularly likes the corners off the catch. Had several nice baseline drives showing some athletic burst we have not seen before. Runs the floor well. Fought hard on the glass for 50/50 balls. D2 prospect that is going to possibly get some LM consideration with the lack of bigs in 2017.
PF Connor Niego (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Another strong day for Niego on Saturday. The 6’8” power forward had 21 points in their morning contest. He did it by drilling a variety of jumpers from all areas including several threes and multiple mid-range jumpers. Showed grit and toughness on the glass and on some finishes inside. Plus passer out of the post finding shooters. Needs to be more heavily considered by low-major programs.
SF Jared Murphy (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
This Rolling Meadows wing had his best event of the circuit. He shot the ball well from the perimeter with more consistency from both three and mid-range. Also displayed more athleticism than we had seen in the past on drives and defensively. Most likely a D3/NAIA kid.
C Alex Filo (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Best I have seen this 6’8” Neuqua Valley post play. He was a beast on the boards rebounding everything in his area. He was gobbling them up with regularity. High pointed defensive boards and outleted them quickly to his guards. Not the greatest athlete vertically he does use his length to alter shots. Offensively is a bit raw finishing, but has tools to work with. D2 to D3/NAIA prospect.
PG Joey Coffaro (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Coffaro is a point guard that is effective playing off the ball as well. Great spot up shooter. Makes crisp passes to his teammates and really competes. D3/NAIA.
PG PJ Pipes (Illinois Stars 17U)
Everyone knows I am a huge PJ Pipes fan. This 6’1” point guard just gets the job done. He did it again to open July leading them to several wins and carrying them for stretches. Pipes is a powerful and compactly built guard that can score at all three levels with a pull up jumper, three off the catch, mid-range stop and pop, as well as getting to the rack. Passing continues to make strides. He holds four D2 offers. I believe he is a no brainer low-major prospect and possibly under consideration at the mid-major level.
PF Tee’Aaron Powell (Illinois Stars 17U)
Powell had his most complete day of the circuit on Thursday. The 6’8” power forward from Marian Catholic is a long and angular big that at times can be mechanical and think too much. Thursday he got deep post position on a consistent basis and went to work from there. Powell used a variety of hook shots especially with his right hand to finish on short shots. Kept the ball high in the post which has been a problem in the past bringing it low and getting stripped by defenders. Competed on the glass for contested boards. Solid D2 prospect with the potential to get to low-major.
PF Matthew Szuba (Kessel Heat 17U)
Szuba came out of nowhere to almost lead Kessel to an upset win over All-In/Young & Reckless. The 6’6” four man is a floor spacer that was in a zone shooting it from beyond the arc. Hit them both off the catch and pulling up on his own. Despite his lack of athleticism he fights hard on the interior. Great D3/NAIA prospect.
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.