Southern Illinois Fall Open Gym Scouting Report
PrepHoopsIllinois was in attendance on Sunday at the Southern Illinois Fall Open Gym where we were able to evaluate some of the top prospects from southern Illinois in the classes of 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Great event hosted by…
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Continue ReadingPrepHoopsIllinois was in attendance on Sunday at the Southern Illinois Fall Open Gym where we were able to evaluate some of the top prospects from southern Illinois in the classes of 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Great event hosted by Justin Barrington which allowed us to see the best prospects in the region with a group that included players for all college levels. Take a look at our scouting report from the event!
PG Grant Wolfe (Effingham – 2017)
Wolfe was the top ranked senior prospect in the gym. At 6’0” Wolfe is a high IQ point guard that never gets rattled. He consistently makes sound decisions with the rock and puts himself as well as his teammates in the position to make the highest quality play on that possession. Slick ball handler that gets in the paint with a tight handle. When in the lane he can pull up for a lethal mid-range pull up or kick to shooters for open shots. Pushes the ball in transition and always has his head up. Priority D3/NAIA prospect that should be considered by D2 programs with how fast point guards are coming off the board in Illinois this year.
G Justin Shadowens (Marion – 2017)
The 5’11” combo guard from Marion was one of the better prospects in attendance. He will be a high level small college or JUCO prospect because he just knows how to play the game. Shadowens is a plus shooter pulling up off the bounce from mid-range and can drill threes for days off the catch. Lacks ideal size and isn’t a true point guard, but his competitiveness and scoring ability make him intriguing. More than just a shooter on the offensive end. Also a crafty ball handler that can be slippery in the lane at times.
PF Taylor Heil (Carterville – 2017)
Really like what this 6’6” power forward brings to the table. He has good length and great mobility. Runs the floor hard and can be a factor scoring a couple buckets a game by just beating his man down to the other end of the floor. In the half court Heil excels as a pick and pop shooter. Stretches the floor with his shooting ability which is consistent from 15-18 feet and shows range out to three on occasion. The face up four man can also flash a quick post move in the paint. Heil would be an outstanding D3/NAIA prospect for a team in need of a floor spacing four man.
SG Austin Wills (Benton – 2017)
Wills is a 6’1” shooting guard that can really shoot the basketball. The Benton 2017 wing has range on his jumper with consistent mechanics. Is at his best in the catch and shoot where he can spot up and get his feet under him for a quality look at a three. Solid athlete that can change direction with the ball and flashes ability off the bounce. High level D3/NAIA prospect.
PG Trevor Kreke (Effingham – 2017)
Kreke was a kid that we saw at this work out a few years ago as a youngster and then he disappeared. He stands at about 5’10” with a thin frame. Solid point guard that is smooth with the ball and quick off the dribble. Solid shooter.
SG Jered Cain (Patoka – 2017)
Cain is a 6’2” thick bodied guard that is crafty with the rock in his hands. Good feel with the ball and is a solid passer. Jump shot release needs some work and struggles defending moving his feet. Possible small college in right system.
SG Isaiah Saulsberry (Harrisburg – 2018)
Saulsberry might have been the biggest new name to jump on our radar at the event. The Harrisburg 6’2” shooting guard is an excellent athlete. Good combination of strength and athleticism out of the junior wing prospect. Smooth off the bounce that accelerates with the rock in his hands both in the half court and in transition. Also really shot it well from beyond the arc both off the catch and pulling up. Just an effortless athlete that makes it look easy. Plus perimeter marksmen. Potential as a wing defender as he moves well laterally and stays in front of his man. One to track at the D2 and potentially low-major level in 2018.
PG Braden Webb (Goreville – 2018)
Webb is a 5’11” point guard that has put up big numbers early in his high school career at Goreville. Smart point guard with a quality feel for the game. Doesn’t do anything that wows you, but is just rock solid all around. Can shoot at a good clip especially when given space. Solid handles. Active player. D3/NAIA kid in 2018.
SG Caleb Frederking (Okawville – 2018)
The 6’2” shooting guard is the younger brother of 2017 prospect Noah Frederking. The younger Okawville guard isn’t as physically mature in his upper body as his older brother, but is smooth with the ball handling it. Even showed the ability to bring it up and handle in the open floor when getting up and down the floor in a 5 on 5 setting. Feel for the game. Can hit a runner in the paint. Sound perimeter shooter. Should be a quality D3/NAIA kid in 2018.
PF Isaiah Thompson (Massac County – 2018)
Thompson made a name for himself at the Southern Illinois Fall Open Gym. The Massac County 6’5” power forward is extremely bouncy and active in the paint. Got on the offensive glass multiple times for put backs and finishes. Plays with a high activity level and rebounds well high pointing the ball and snatching it out of the air. Would like to see him play against post prospects of a bigger size to see how he fairs. Runs the floor great both looking to score and getting back on the defensive end. Strong hands catching passes inside on dump off passes. Shot needs some work and didn’t show much perimeter skill. One to track for D2 programs.
SF Kani Acree (Carbondale – 2018)
This Carbondale 6’5” small forward is a prospect that flies under the radar, but produces in every setting we evaluate him in. Strong wing with good athleticism. He stands out in the transition game where he can finish as a wing or even handle it a bit. In the half court he is best slashing off the bounce where he can finish in the lane through contact with strength. Average jump shooter that settles too much for it at times. Potential defensively with his strength and toughness. Could be a low-major D1 prospect.
PG Zee Johnson (Carbondale – 2018)
This 6’1” point guard jumped on our radar last year when we saw him in the playoffs for Carbondale. The first aspect that stands out is his athleticism. Quick and shifty point guard that changes directions in the lane and is a plus athlete for the point guard position. Best attacking off the bounce as a scorer. Very streaky with his perimeter jump shot. Was at his best defensively getting after it with active hands. Has a chance to develop into a small college prospect with more skill development.
SF Landon Wolfe (Effingham – 2019)
The younger Wolfe is a 6’3” wing that has a physically mature body. He is a tough wing that rebounds very well for his position. Shoots it solid from 15-18 feet. Has a chance to develop into a small college prospect.
SF Lamontay Daughtery (DuQuoin – 2020)
Daughtery was without question the top prospect in the gym. At 6’5” the highly touted incoming freshman has a long and lanky frame with a body to add strength as time goes on. Will definitely need to get in the weight room, but has the frame to do so. Early in the day he struggled a bit in the shooting drills lacking touch on his outside shot with an inconsistent release point. Once the games started to get going he loosened up and played his game. Daughtery runs the floor great! He is at his best in transition as a finisher. When his motor is running few wings are going to be able to beat him end to end. Attacked off the dribble as he won on a fairly consistent basis in his one on one matchups with wings that quite frankly aren’t the same caliber he is as a player. He did have a great head to head battle with 2018 potential D1 prospect Kani Acree where they both took it at each other, but Daughtery more than held his own. Slick handles in traffic which have improved since we last saw him in the spring. Took over games later in the day with his raw athleticism and playmaking ability. Drilled a couple mid-range pull up jumpers off the bounce and even hit a three. Can force jump shots at times however. Defensively he blocked a couple shots and has the physical tools to transition into a quality defender. For sure D1 prospect and one of the best 2020 prospects we have seen early in the process. The ultimate question will be how bad does this kid want to be great because he has a chance to be high major D1.
SG Braeden Pursell (DuQuoin – 2020)
DuQuoin’s other freshman is a 6’2” shooting guard that has solid height already. Will need to get stronger throughout his career. Best as a catch and shoot guy right now.
PF Jackson Connor (Marion – 2020)
Connor is a physically mature 6’4” power forward that has a strong body, but maintains solid mobility at that strength. Plays with a great motor running the floor, diving after loose balls, and having a nose for the basketball. Strong hands allow him to catch tough passes in traffic. Showed mobility with nice form on a pick and pop shot. Long ways to go here as he is only a freshman. Level will depend on how much his foot speed improves and if he grows more to be a post in college.