Stock Up Showcase: 2019 & 2020 Scouting
The PrepHoopsIllinois Stock Up Showcase was this past Sunday in Deerfield. There were over 100 prospects in attendance and many prospects elevated their stock with solid performances. Here is our scouting report on the 2019 and 2020 prospects in attendance.
PF Keenon Cole (Streamwood – 2019)
Cole might have been the most dominant performer of the day. The explosive 6’6” sophomore plays with a never ending motor! In a camp setting if you play with constant energy and have the athleticism that Cole has you are going to stand out. He was a monster on the glass. Quick second jump and explosion off the floor as he snatches boards off the rim. Length plays very well on the defensive end of the floor as he is a major shot blocking presence. Runs the floor tremendously well and finishes above the rim for slams. The most impressive development in his game we saw was some pick and pop skill. He drilled a couple threes back to back at one point. The form is a little off, but with some tweaking he could be a good shooter. Significant upside especially if he continues to grow! D1’s should start monitoring him.
PG Isiah Burd (Bolingbrook – 2019)
How many quality point guard does Bolingbrook head coach Robert Brost need? He has another one coming up in this sophomore 6’2” point guard. Burd jumped off the floor with his ability at the lead guard spot. Rangy guard with long arms and projectability. Will need to add strength in the future, but has the frame to do it. Great ball handler in transition weaving through defenders. Burd wins in one on one situations off the bounce in the half court. Rotation and form on shot are solid. Works well around ball screens.
PG Davis Belford (Hersey – 2019)
Belford is a fun player to watch! He plays with a ton of flare. The thin 6’1” guard is an outstanding passer that loves to find his teammates in traffic with the spectacular dish. Feel for finding his guys in spots to succeed. Drive and kick when he gets in the lane. Shows solid athleticism. Flashes ability as a scorer as he can shoot it a little from deep. Best at this stage as a ball handler and set up guy. He will take over the spot left by Joey Coffaro at Hersey.
SF Keeshawn Chambers (Solorio – 2019)
Chambers is a 6’5” freak show athlete! Oh man can this kid run and jump. I told him one time down the floor to dunk everything. He then proceeded to have five dunks in that half! The bouncy small forward is a problem in the transition game with his speed and ability to finish. He is still a bit raw skill wise, but does enough to where you can see it is definitely in there and with development he should be able to find it in the near future. Defensively he has the potential to defend multiple positions and be a shot blocking presence. Big upside here! D1 prospect.
G Michael Salter (Romeoville – 2019)
Salter is a 6’3” guard from Romeoville that has a smooth combo guard feel to his game. He has size to play the two guard spot, but the feel of a point. Outstanding passer that has a high basketball IQ and vision especially in the half court to find cutters going to the hoop and open shooters. Slick handles attacking off the bounce as he consistently gets in the lane. Good form on his shot with range out to three. We will continue to track him heavily this spring as we liked the progress we have seen since our last evaluation of him. Has D1 skills.
G Detalian Brown (Morton – 2019)
Brown is a combo guard with a very bright future! The 6’2” ultra-smooth guard gets anywhere he wants on the floor with ease. Extremely explosive with the rock in transition when he has his head up as both a playmaker and scoring threat. Plus shooter off the catch that can get hot from deep. Also sound defender that moves well laterally and has quick hands. Brown should be looked at by D1’s this spring.
PF Jackson Tanner (Latin – 2019)
Tanner is a 6’7” power forward that has an angular build. Once he continues to add strength over the next couple years he should be an intriguing post prospect. The post has skill potential on the block. Good footwork and loves to use a hook shot. Tanner is a plus offensive rebounder that has a feel for where they come off the glass. Runs the floor tremendously well. He can struggle a bit with length at times. Tanner has D1 potential.
SG Rocco Ronzio (Hersey – 2019)
The 6’2” wing excels at shooting the ball. Clean looking perimeter shooting stroke both pulling up and off the catch. In the later games when others legs were going he still had his and was letting it fly from deep! Look forward to seeing how his overall game develops.
SF Nick Pierson (Hononegah – 2019)
Pierson is a 6’4” small forward with a thick and physically mature body. He has crafty handles attacking. Productive player, but has limited upside. Should be a very productive high school player and could play at the small college level.
PG Tommy Surges (Marmion Academy – 2019)
The 5’10” point guard from Marmion Academy is a lefty guard that is a streaky shooter. Can get really hot from distance, but also bricked a few. Competed on the defensive end as he got a couple steals including one he converted on the other end in transition.
SF Sha’den Clanton (Guilford – 2019)
Clanton is a 6’5” small forward that is ultra-smooth with the ball. Strong slasher off the bounce that is slippery through traffic. Handles it well in tight spaces. Angular wing with upside!
PF Kendrick Williams (Joliet Central – 2019)
Williams is a bit undersized at 6’4”, but the four man plays with a tremendous motor. That along with his length and activity level make him intriguing. He is a plus rebounder that has a mindset that every single rebound is his! Solid touch around the hoop offensively finishing. If he grows watch out, but looks like he is tapped out physically height wise.
PG Kenae Gonnigan (Rich Central – 2019)
Gonnigan is an angular 6’0” point guard that is shifty off the bounce. The sophomore hit a couple threes when we were watching and has leadership potential as he was vocal encouraging his teammates. Also played tough perimeter defense.
SG Jaxson Dian (Lemont – 2019)
Lemont 6’0” shooting guard Jaxson Dian can really shoot the basketball. He was lights out all day from beyond three. He has a clean perimeter stroke especially off the catch. Quick release and consistent accuracy. Solid wing passer that can handle it at times, but his perimeter shooting is by far his strength.
SG Chris Burnell (Rockford East – 2019)
At 6’3” Burnell has a nice combination of strength and athleticism. Plays both on and off the ball, but is more of a natural scorer at this stage in his development. Burnell is a “bucket getter” that makes it look easy at times. Attacks downhill where he can either finish through contact or dish off to open shooters on the perimeter. D1 prospect.
SF Jeremiah Hernandez (St. Viator – 2019)
Hernandez is a 6’4” athletic and rangy small forward. One of the more intriguing upside wing prospects in the 2019 class. He has a smoothness to his game on the perimeter. Looks effortless handling it and slashing off the bounce. Likes to play above the rim finishing with big dunks. Playmaker as a finisher getting out in transition. D1 prospect that should pick up some offers this spring.
PG Jalen Thorpe (North Lawndale – 2019)
Thorpe stands at 6’0” and will have to step into a bigger role playing for his dad next year after the graduation of Steven Ross, Martrell Barnes, and Carlos Hines. He has the ability to make some noise next season. The point guard is a quality passer at the lead guard spot. Can shoot it a little as well. Look forward to continuing to evaluate this prospect.
PF Dominic Franklin (Urban Prep Englewood – 2020)
Franklin is new to Chicago as he has only been in town for literally a few days after moving up from Atlanta. He will be going to Urban Prep Englewood. The 6’5” freshman made us take immediate notice! He didn’t get a ton of post touches, but his talent jumps off the floor. Long and lanky build with an outstanding second jump off the floor. The power forward is quick to the glass particularly on the offensive end. Mobility around the hoop and athleticism to finish. Projectable long term prospect!
SG Dan Florey (St. Ignatius – 2020)
The St. Ignatius freshman is a guard with significant potential. At 6’3” he has quality size and length for the position. Fundamentally sound player. Knows how to use shot fakes and hesitation to keep the defense off balance and give himself room to get his shot off. Clean looking three point stroke. Improved lateral mobility defensively. Florey is definitely one to watch in the 2020 class with his skilled perimeter game.