O’Fallon Shootout: Standout Performers
The Bank of O’Fallon Shootout is only in its third year, but it has become one of the premier events in the entire state of the high school basketball season. We will have wall to wall coverage of the event…
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Continue ReadingThe Bank of O’Fallon Shootout is only in its third year, but it has become one of the premier events in the entire state of the high school basketball season. We will have wall to wall coverage of the event including scouting on all of the prospects. Today we start off with the standouts from the day! Let’s just say the stars brought their A games!
SF Torrence Watson (Whitfield, MO – 2018)
Watson is one of the elite prospects in the Missouri 2018 class. He really struggled early in their game against Peoria Manual. The 6’4” strong and athletic wing couldn’t get it going. He was over dribbling a ton on the perimeter which led to turnovers and taking forced jump shots that weren’t connecting. It was apparent that the three point shot wasn’t going to fall as he finished 1-7 from deep. He started attacking the basket more in the second half. Used his size and explosive first step to get in the lane where he either converted or got to the foul line where he made 11-14. Did hit a pair of mid-range jumpers. Has good form and elevation from mid-range pulling up off the bounce. Watson was solid on the glass as well. He finished with 26 points and 9 rebounds. Not bad for an “off game.” High-major prospect out a stellar group of 2018 prospects in Missouri.
SG Tim Finke (Champaign Central – 2018)
The state’s #2 2018 prospect played absolutely as hard as I have ever seen him. He played all out from start to finish. He has the physical tools with plus size for the position along with improving strength. Quality athlete that has a high IQ for an off guard. Finke was absolutely spectacular shooting it from three early in the game. He drilled one after another after another. He moves well without the ball and is ready to let it fly as soon as it touches his hands. Pure stroke with elevation off the floor. Finke has to be watched in transition as he can run into a three with ease. Showed off his athleticism on several plays including a huge block, monster dunk, and several transition finishes. Finke did a nice job getting on the glass throughout the contest. Had several offensive rebound put backs. He had 30 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. High-major prospect!
C Jalen Shaw (Larkin – 2018)
Shaw continues to elevate his stock. We bumped him up to the #1 center in the 2018 class in the latest rankings after we saw his improvement in the first half of the high school season. That continued at the O’Fallon Shootout! He has legit size and length at 6’10” to play at the next level. Used to be more of a mechanical big man, but he has really grown into his body and is looking a lot more fluid with his post moves. Shaw has an outstanding right handed jump hook. With his improved footwork in the paint he can seal off his man, use up and under moves, and has an effective spin in the lane. When he is aggressive with the ball he can be a very good low post scorer. Shaw is also a quality rebounder high pointing boards. He blocks shots with his length and is actually an underrated passer out of the post. Projects as a mid-major prospect. He had 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 4 dimes.
SF Javon Pickett (Belleville East – 2017 – Illinois)
The Illini commit has been outstanding in every game we have seen him play this season. He was great again at the O’Fallon Shootout in his head to head matchup with fellow Big 10 wing commit Nana Akenten. He was in attack mode looking to get buckets. Pickett knew that he had to bring everything he had to take down the top team in the state. The Illini commit loves to attack the rim using his euro step in the lane. Bolingbrook was aware of this and took it away. He eventually started just taking it at the rim without finesse and scoring or getting to the line on several and-1s. Hit a pair of threes including a sick step back on Akenten. Pickett has proven he is an elite scorer that is very underrated nationally. Also was impressed with how he passed the rock. Made consistently sound decisions with a 7/0 assist/turnover ratio in the game. He had 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 dimes. This is the prospect in the Illini class nobody is talking about, but long term could be the best.
SF Nana Akenten (Bolingbrook – 2017 – Nebraska)
Akenten answered everything that Pickett had for him. He has outstanding size on the wing with a combination of strength and athleticism that make him a special player. The Nebraska commit was on fire from deep. Akenten uses his size and elevation off the floor to get his shot off with ease. Loves to pull up from deep. Also had a couple great step back threes where he created significant space. He is an elite pull up jump shooter especially from mid-range. Very balanced and little movement. Got on the glass throughout the game including several put backs. The Nebraska commit and top 10 senior had 31 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 steals.
PG Courtney Ramey (Webster Groves, MO – 2018 – Louisville)
Ramey was playing his first game as a Louisville commit after making his college decision on Friday. He is one of the truly elite point guards in the country. It was a great matchup between him and Ayo Dosunmu who is also a five-star floor general. They guarded each other in spurts in the high level game. Ramey displayed his complete game! He scored in multiple ways. Hit a three early, but it didn’t really fall from beyond the arc the rest of the game. Ramey controlled the pace of the game. Great speed off the bounce in both the half court and transition. Blow by ability where he can get in the lane. Had several acrobatic finishes at the rim. Also got to the foul line at an extremely high rate where he was 13-14 from the line. Also was very impressed with his rebounding from the point guard position. Dished it well and put his teammates in positions to succeed. Ramey had 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists. Great early get for Louisville!
PF Carte’Are Gordon (Webster Groves, MO – 2018 – SLU)
Gordon is still getting back into the swing of things with his new squad after setting out the first half of the high school season because of his transfer. Gordon is a 6’9” 255 pound beast on the interior. What makes him special is for his size he has tremendous mobility. Gordon scored on multiple right handed hook shots. Was physical down low and attacked the glass. Even hit a 15 foot jumper. Defensive presence in the lane with athleticism and pure size. Gordon had 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Top 25 prospect nationally.
PG Ayo Dosunmu (Morgan Park – 2018)
Dosunmu as usual was the go to player for the Mustangs. He was best in this particular contest using his explosive speed to get in the lane where he was fouled consistently including a strong and-1 on big boy Carte’Are Gordon. Dosunmu is a plus foul shooter that was 7-11 from the line. Slick ball handler in traffic pushing it in transition. Was 2-5 from three in this game. Really liked his passing. Worked well in the pick and pop finding his shooters. Got his teammates involved in positions to score. Dosunmu had 21 points and 5 dimes. He is the top 2018 prospect in Illinois and a high-major player.
PG Nojel Eastern (Evanston – 2017 – Purdue)
Eastern closed out the night leading his team to a blowout win over Belleville Althoff. He displayed his versatility. Eastern hasn’t put up monster scoring numbers this year, but the 6’6” point guard who is the top senior in the state at his position beats a team by contributing across the board. He did just that on Saturday. The future Boilermaker was outstanding passing the rock! Eastern made crisp dishes and showed his flare for the game with some dimes through multiple defenders. Hit the glass well getting on the boards for second chance opportunities. As a scorer he got in the lane and to the rim. Showed some explosion on a two footed monster dunk. Eastern had 10 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds.
SG Colton Sandage (Bloomington – 2018)
Sandage is a 6’2” shooting guard that is known for his perimeter shooting. He certainly showed that off against Marian Catholic. The junior connected on four triples in the contest. He hit several off the catch and even drilled one in step back fashion. Sandage mixed in a couple drives to the hoop along the way. Rebounds well for position. Should be tracked as a small college prospect in the junior class. He had 21 points.