Nike Spring Showdown: Scott’s Saturday Standouts
PrepHoopsIllinois was once again in the house Saturday in Romeoville for Day 2 of action at the Nike Spring Showdown. Let’s take a look at the day with Scott’s Saturday Standouts!
PG DeAndre Heckard (Hoops4Health 17U)
Heckard is one of the more highly coveted recruits playing in this event. At 6’3” he has broad shoulders and an athletic build. He is a smooth operator with the ball in his hands. Hoops4Health blew out both opponents they played that we saw and the first opponent only scored one point in the entire first half. That doesn’t take away from the skill set that Heckard brings to the table. Heckard accelerates with the ball in his hands. Strong and aggressive takes to the hoop. Pushes it in the open floor and is at his best in the transition game. Finishes through contact. Can also be effective in the half court slashing, hitting mid-range jumpers, and continues to improve his ability to run a team in the half court. Heckard is a top 10 player in the state’s 2018 class and a low-major recruit that is starting to get mid-major attention. Expect the Romeoville guard to pick up more attention on the recruiting trail.
SG Eddie Creal (Hoops4Health 17U)
Creal is an electric athlete that when he is free to work in space is a high flyer. The Joliet West two guard has a strong body and big time athleticism. He is explosive attacking the hoop with a monster first step. Easy acceleration and blow by ability off the bounce. Explosive leaper. Got to the rim for several slams. A few he started with his defense getting steals. Did hit one three when we saw him, but his jump shot is very streaky. Potential low-major/D2 prospect.
SF Zion Griffin (Hoopers Basketball Club 17U)
Griffin was a complete beast when we saw him at Nike Spring Showdown! The 6’5” small forward did whatever he wanted on the floor. He has a physical body and bounce to match! Griffin has improved his handles over the last year. The Hinsdale South forward is best attacking on straight line drives. Glides to the hoop and explodes at the rim! At times he can struggle finishing through contact, but seems to be getting better at that. Jump shot has got better for the forward. He shoots it with a low release point. Best off the catch spotting up when his feet are set. Hit several, but also falls in love with it at times. In the post he seals well. Definitely transitioning his game into more of a small forward however. Snatches rebounds at a high point. Would like to see more volume on the boards. Defensively he is a good weakside shot blocker. Low-major D1 prospect that is inching his way closer to mid-major territory.
PG Sammy Green (Gateway Illinois 17U)
Green is a 6’0” point guard from Marquette Catholic. The lead guard is a solid ball handler that is slippery with the rock in his hands. Can dish it with some flare. Where he excels is shooting the ball. He is money off the catch once he gets in a flow. He was definitely in a zone against Hoopers Basketball Club. Green drilled huge threes to try to keep his team in the game. He had 16 points. Small college prospect.
SG Jaquan Adams (Gateway Illinois 17U)
Adams is a 6’2” shooting guard that is a power wing. He does almost all of his damage in the paint. The guard slashes to the hoop and is crafty getting in the lane. Not overly explosive, but has a feel for finding open spots where he can get his floater off. This is by far the strength of his game. Not a great jump shooter. Rebounds well for a guard. Adams is worth consideration at the D3/NAIA level for a team in need of a tough power guard.
PF Kyle King (Tri City Thunder 17U)
King impressed again on Saturday. The 6’5” undersized power forward seals great on the interior. Crafty using his body and has a feel for scoring on the block. Outstanding passer! He is particularly effective out of the high post where he makes great dishes to cutters and finds shooters on the perimeter. Elevating stock as a small college priority prospect.
SG Colton Sandage (Team Illinois 17U)
Sandage is a 6’3” two guard from Bloomington. He is known as a marksmen from deep. The 2018 prospect is a plus shooter from three off the catch. Quick release and consistent accuracy. Can really fill it up from beyond the arc. There is more to his game than just that! Sandage has gotten better with his ball handling and his athleticism continues to improve. That was shown on a posterizing dunk that had everyone in attendance asking ‘where did that come from?’ Sandage is an underrated passer that makes good reads within the flow of the offense. Capable defender that competes on that end. Put himself on the D2 radar with a strong performance. He had 32 points.
SF Martin Macenis (ET21 Buckeyes 16U)
Macenis was mentioned in yesterday’s top performers and he was at it again on Saturday. The 6’5” small forward has a European type game on the wing. Smooth handles with long strides. Likes to use euro step in the lane to finish. Very skilled wing that works well around screens as a passer, driver, and jump shooter. One of his more impressive plays was a shot fake, allowing his man to fly by, and then finished with a one dribble pull up. Ability to knock down threes off the catch with a bit of a long release. Lots of arc on shot. Defensively he is an underrated player. Moves well laterally and his length allows him to get deflections. Had a few impressive blocks recovering. Macenis is a low-major prospect with mid-major upside. Great weekend for Stagg junior.
PF Jackson Connor (Ramey-Jets United 15U)
Connor stands at 6’5” with a strong upper and lower body. The Marion face up four man handles it well from 18 feet and in. He likes to take his opposing post player out on the perimeter and attack them off the bounce. Crafty forward that is a solid athlete. Connor has a knack for getting to the free throw line at an extremely high rate where he is a plus shooter from the charity stripe. Good second jump getting on the offensive glass. Connor is a southern Illinois 2020 to track.