10 Best: Belleville East vs Springfield
Wednesday night we once again checked out Belleville East after an impressive opener on Monday. They played Springfield in their second game at the Centralia Thanksgiving Tournament and took home a relatively easy win by the final of 66-43. Checkout…
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Continue ReadingWednesday night we once again checked out Belleville East after an impressive opener on Monday. They played Springfield in their second game at the Centralia Thanksgiving Tournament and took home a relatively easy win by the final of 66-43. Checkout our report on the game.
MVP
SF Javon Pickett (Belleville East – 2017 – Committed to Illinois)
Pickett makes it look so easy. The Illini commit stands at 6’4” with a long and rangy frame. He is silky smooth with the ball. Uses his long strides to get to the hoop with ease. Did it consistently throughout the contest as he was aggressive attacking off the bounce. Finished through and around contact. Jumper wasn’t falling like it did on Monday, but he did hit one triple. Got out in transition pushing it in the open floor. Rebounded well. Was good on the defensive end using his length. He had 29 points and 7 rebounds.
Play of the game
Javon Pickett had a sweet pump fake where he blew by his man and finished at the cup. Showed his immense potential.
Best offensive performance
SG Malachi Smith (Belleville East – 2018)
The 6’3” shooting guard has officially made the jump from prospect to player. He has a strong body that he knows how to use being physical against weaker guards. Got in the lane at will throughout the contest where he finished in the paint. Can take a bump in and finish with and-1’s. Also a solid perimeter shooter especially off the catch with a soft touch on his jumper. Passed it better than we have ever seen too. Sound perimeter defender. Smith went for 22 points. Low-major prospect that could elevate to mid-major.
Best defensive performance
SF Jaylen Lacey (Belleville East – 2017)
Lacey flashed on Monday especially on the defensive end. He is definitely a quality wing defender with his quickness, athleticism, and strength. Was hoping to see more out of him offensively, but it didn’t happen. Like what he brings defensively getting steals and rebounding.
Best rebounder
SG Josh Washington (Springfield – 2018)
Washington is a 6’2” power wing that does most of his work on the interior. Crafty with his moves in the post. Got on the offensive glass for second chance points. Really good high school player that is a junkyard dog. Didn’t see any perimeter skill. He had 14 points.
Best passer
PG Rico Sylvester (Belleville East – 2017)
Sylvester is a 6’2” point guard that is playing much stronger with the ball. Slippery through traffic and is doing a good job getting others involved. Takes quality angles and is more aggressive on drives. Hit a catch and shoot three. Looks more confident shooting it. Missed several free throws. Sound decisions with the ball as a passer. Pesky defender. Sylvester had 8 points. High level D3/NAIA prospect.
Best catch and shoot guy
SG Trevor Minder (Springfield – 2017)
Minder is a 6’2” spot up shooter that cuts well off the ball. Has trouble getting his shot off against length. Not a great athlete and didn’t show much off the bounce. Potential low D3/NAIA shooter.
Best intangibles
SG EJ Aldridge (Belleville East – 2017)
Aldridge is only 6’0”, but plays on the interior using his strength and bulldog mentality to hit the glass. Great high school team player.
Best under-the-radar performance
PF Chasten Hughes (Springfield – 2018)
Hughes hardly played, but flashed ability when in there. At 6’7” he has legit size and length to play at the next level. On a pair of post touches he had a couple sweet post moves. They were slow developing, but he had a soft touch on them. Bricked three free throws. Ran the floor well. Hughes had 4 points.
Best underclassmen
PG Zaire Harris (Springfield – 2019)
Harris is a 5’11” lefty point guard with a long and angular frame. Quick and shifty point guard that gets in traffic. Little wild with it at times. Solid passer. Didn’t show much of a scoring game.