Chicago Elite Classic Saturday Standouts
PrepHoopsIllinois attended the second day of the Chicago Elite Classic on Saturday. It was an action packed day of hoops with eight games running all day long. Exciting games capped off the night with a big crowd at UIC. Let’s…
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Continue ReadingPrepHoopsIllinois attended the second day of the Chicago Elite Classic on Saturday. It was an action packed day of hoops with eight games running all day long. Exciting games capped off the night with a big crowd at UIC. Let’s take a look at the Saturday Standouts! Check back early in the week for a comprehensive scouting report of the event.
SG Demarius Jacobs (Uplift – 2017 – SIU)
The SIU commit once again had a big game. Jacobs is a slender built 6’3” shooting guard that has big time athleticism. He used that athleticism to score off the bounce and in transition throughout the contest. Jacobs is slippery with the ball in his hands through traffic and gets to the cup with ease. Speed with the rock in the open floor. He also did an outstanding job on the glass. Defensively he was beat a few times against Chaminade’s talented wing duo, but Jacobs did get multiple steals and had several blocks at the rim which are becoming his thing as one of the best shot blocking guards in the state. Jacobs had 18 points and 10 rebounds.
SF Karrington Davis (Chaminade, MO – 2018)
It was a quiet first half for the Chaminade standout who is considered a top 150 player nationally. Davis has nice physical tools at 6’5” with an athletic build and wiry strength. Once the second half started Davis was lights out from the perimeter shooting the rock. He has a beautiful shooting stroke that he hit from all over the floor. Started off from 15-18 feet pulling up and eventually stretched it out to beyond the arc. Davis was extremely efficient shooting 8-9 from the field for 24 points in only 20 minutes of action. High-major prospect.
PF Jameel Alausa (U-High – 2017 – Yale)
Alausa is one of the top post prospects in the state’s 2017 class. He is an underappreciated player at times because he just goes out and does his job. Not a highlight guy, but does the little things that will get noticed more at the next level. Alausa was very good on the glass throughout the contest. He was particularly effective on the offensive end where he grabbed five offensive rebounds. Quick second jump and has the athleticism to high point the ball. Got to the free throw line throughout the contest. Needs to work on his free throws, but did get there for 6-10 from the charity stripe. Alausa had 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
PG Teyvion Kirk (Joliet West – 2017 – Drake)
Kirk was the star from the state of Illinois on Saturday. The rangy point guard had one of his best high school showings. Despite being in foul trouble for chunks of the game he was insanely productive and helped lead Joliet West to a big win over North Lawndale. Kirk was outstanding getting in the lane and converting in the paint. Slippery through traffic with the ball. Likes to use the euro step in the lane. Also used his defense to flip into points by getting blocks/steals and going coast to coast for buckets. The Drake commit had 27 points (10-11 FG) and 8 rebounds.
PG RJ Barrett (Montverde, FL – 2019)
This was my first time seeing Barrett play and the nation’s top sophomore was extremely impressive. Great size and length for the lead guard spot. He is a slick ball handler that proved he could get literally anywhere he wanted on the floor against Evanston. Big time athlete that plays above the rim and contains an explosive first step. Range on shot out to beyond the arc. Plus passer with vision and feel. Barrett had 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 dimes. Elite prospect.
SF Talen Horton-Tucker (Simeon – 2018)
THT proved on the big stage that he was ready to be the go to scorer for the Wolverines. The big and physical 6’5” junior has a strong body, but is also a good athlete that carries his strength well. What you have to like about Horton-Tucker is his versatility and skill level. He plays with a high basketball IQ and makes winning basketball plays. Horton-Tucker is a crafty driver that uses fakes and hesitation to keep the defense guessing. Showed some explosion off the bounce on a couple drives. Good body control at the rim. Was kind of streaky from three in this one although that is one of his strengths. Plus passer that is more than willing to kick to the open man when the defense collapses on him. Horton-Tucker was a man on the boards. He is one of the tallest players on Simeon and even though he will be a wing at the next level he has to board for his high school team to be successful. He did just that! Horton-Tucker had 26 points (10-14 FG), 14 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. He solidified a high-major status with this performance.
SG Lucas Williamson (Whitney Young – 2017)
Williamson is one of the top uncommitted prospects in the state of Illinois. He is a 6’5” wing with a projectable body. The senior is a stat sheet stuffer. Contributes across the board. Offensively as a scorer Williamson hit a trio of triples with a smooth stroke. Also was tough on the offensive glass with a few put backs. Loves to use euro step in transition and had a sweet one against Kenwood. He rebounded at a high rate and shared the ball as a distributor. Williamson had 25 points (9-15 FG), 11 rebounds, and 3 assists. Mid-major and low-major schools need to be recruiting this unsigned senior.
PF Manny Patterson (Kenwood – 2017)
The biggest man of the floor for Kenwood stepped up! Patterson who stands at 6’8” with a grown man’s body played physical and tough in the paint against a Whitney Young team that had no size to match up with him. Patterson was a beast on the glass throughout the contest. He consistently high pointed rebounds and snatched 50/50 balls with his strong hands. Was assertive manning the paint on the defensive end of the floor. Offensively he showed flashes of improved skill with a few hook shots and a mid-range jumper. Was overall efficient from the field. Patterson had 16 points (7-11 FG) and 14 rebounds. He is the top uncommitted post in the state. Should attract more mid-major and low-major interest/offers after this performance.