Illinois Holiday Stock Boosters: 2018
What prospects elevated their recruiting stock the most over the past week at the holiday tournaments that we evaluated across the state? College coaches here are your answers! Next up is the class of 2018. F Zion Griffin (Hinsdale…
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Continue ReadingWhat prospects elevated their recruiting stock the most over the past week at the holiday tournaments that we evaluated across the state? College coaches here are your answers! Next up is the class of 2018.
F Zion Griffin (Hinsdale South – 2018)
Griffin is a new name to our radar and wow was he impressive at the Tosh Classic. He stands at 6’5” with a broad frame that he should be able to add strength onto. The lefty works best of out of the high and mid-post area. Griffin has the ability to face up and take his man off the bounce with an explosive first step. Potential on shot as he shoots a good ball, but it is inconsistent falling. Griffin flashes skill in the post with a turnaround fadeaway and quick moves inside. Needs to continue to add strength so he can finish better through contact. Struggles shooting free throws. Quick second jump to the offensive glass where he gets put backs. Shot blocking presence coming from the weakside. Griffin had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He should be on the low-major radar in 2018. He will go from unranked to probably a top 30 player in 2018.
SF Justin Hardy (St. Charles East – 2018)
Hardy opened the day in style for St. Charles East despite the loss. The junior stands at 6’5” with a strong upper body. He plays with a consistent motor and toughness. The biggest area of improvement in his game has been the progression of his perimeter game. The ball handling has made strides as has his jump shot. Consistency on the jumper is coming around. Improving athlete that will flash a dunk above the rim on occasion. Hardy had 22 points (9-14 FG) and 6 rebounds. Quality low-major prospect in 2018. Been a fan of this prospect for a while, but continues to improve each time we see him.
PG Chase Adams (Marian Catholic – 2018)
Quite simply the best I have seen Adams play was his performance on Tuesday. The 5’8” point guard is a slick ball hander that knows how to run a team. Works well around screens and makes sound decisions with the ball when not trying to be flashy. He is most effective when making the simple play and not the highlight play. Speed in the open floor pushing it and getting others involved. Shot the ball well pulling up from mid-range and hitting floaters. Got to the rim late for a key bucket. Quick and shifty off the bounce. Gets in lane. Adams had 23 points and 7 dimes.
C Jalen Shaw (Larkin – 2018)
The 6’10” center from Larkin is one of the top post prospects in the junior class. He has always had the “prospect but not player” label. Meaning that he looks the part, flashes potential, but has never put it all together. We saw him put it all together at Proviso. He picked up two fouls in the first two minutes of the game. His coach trusted him to play through it and it paid off with a monster performance. Shaw who in the past was seen as a bit mechanical in the post showed multiple fluid hook shots and counter moves. His high release point on his hook was unguardable. Sealed well when working on the block. Defensively his length was a factor altering shots. Struggled with turnovers, but all in all it was the breakout performance for Shaw as his stock is one the rise. He had 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Low-major programs need to be tracking him. If he plays consistently like this he is in contention for the top post in 2018.
PG Michael Smith (Joliet West – 2018)
The junior Joliet West point guard came off the bench to provide some scoring punch with Teyvion Kirk in foul trouble. He is a spark plug player that comes in and lets it fly from the perimeter. Smith is a catch and shoot threat from beyond the arc as he drilled four of them. Also mixed it up inside some getting a couple put backs on the glass. Next step in his evolution will be becoming a true point guard. He finished with 20 points. Smith will make his debut in the next rankings.
PG Kendle Moore (Danville – 2018)
Moore was the best I have ever seen him at Pontiac. The thin point guard isn’t the biggest guard, but he knows how to utilize his speed in the open floor to make plays. Against an extremely athletic Curie squad Moore got where ever he wanted blowing past defenders off the bounce, but particularly was effective in the transition game where he weaved in and out of the defense. Finishes at the rim well with great body control. Shot the ball good from the perimeter connecting on a nice amount of threes. Showed good feel passing it and got after it on the defensive end. Moore played like a mid-major prospect and a top 10 kid in 2018. He finished with 34 points (11/21 FG), 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. The #16 junior played like a top 10 kid at Pontiac.
PG Jack Marinko (Edwardsville – 2018)
Marinko put himself on our radar with his play at Collinsville. The point guard is by far the most unheralded prospect in their starting five, but he might have hit the biggest shots throughout the game. He is a plus perimeter shooter that drills triples off the catch. Plays off the ball mostly with Smith on his team, but projects as a point at the next level. We look forward to continuing to evaluate the junior. He had 21 points. He will make his rankings debut later in January.
PF Barlow Alleruzzo (Sandburg – 2018)
Alleruzzo stands at 6’8” with a long and projectable frame. Right now he plays mostly on the perimeter as a face up four. Can hit a three pulling up and in the pick and pop with a clean looking stroke. Runs the floor great for his size. Would like to see him be stronger around the hoop, but there is a ton to like here. Potential low-major prospect. He had 14 points and 5 rebounds. Look for him to be in the top 50 in the new rankings.