Swish N Dish: 2019 Scouting Pt 1
PrepHoopsIllinois was at the NY2LA Sports Swish N Dish in Mequon, Wisconsin this past weekend for the premier grassroots kickoff event featuring all of the best Illinois teams. Now it is time for our extensive scouting report on the event. Check out part one of our report on the 2019 Illinois Prospects in attendance.
PG Zach Toussaint (Kessel Heat 16U)
We were huge fans of this 6’0” point guard last year and he has continued to get better. The first thing we noticed is he has grown since we last saw him both height wise and getting stronger in his upper body. Toussaint is a flashy point guard that is a slick ball handler in traffic. He consistently gets in the lane where he can score with a nice runner over the big. Also is an excellent drive and kick facilitator. Finds teammates for open looks on a consistent basis. Pushes it in the open floor with speed and makes crisp passes time after time. Toussaint is a plus three point shooter that has range on his shot. Hits them both pulling up and off the catch. Fun player to watch that should get some college attention soon.
SG Wesley Hooker (Kessel Heat 16U)
First look at this Downers Grove South 2019 prospect. The 6’2” shooting guard uses his length very well on the defensive end. Active defender that uses his hands to get deflections and steals. Solid rebounder for a guard that got on the glass for a couple put backs. Kid just plays with a motor. Skill level needs improvement, but like the intangibles.
SG Justin Eaging (Kessel Heat 16U)
Eaging is a 6’2” two guard that hails from Downers Grove South. The lefty is an angular kid with nice length. Solid defender that gets in passing lanes. Pure mechanics on three point shot. One to continue to track.
PF CJ Wilbourn (Quad City Elite 16U)
The 6’6” power forward from Normal Community High School has good length, broad shoulders, and strength early in the process. Keeps his hands up on the defensive end altering shots without fouling. Positions himself well in the post and finishes junk buckets and dump off passes. At times missed several bunnies. Nice passer out of the high post. Slow release on jump shot.
PF Aidan Shore (Quad City Elite 16U)
This Sterling 6’8” big is a long and thin post with a projectable frame. Will definitely need to add more strength going forward. The lefty has mobility around the hoop and is a plus offensive rebounder. Still raw, but has long term upside.
C Jermaine Hamlin (Quad City Elite 16U)
Big bodied 6’9” center out of Lincoln. The post is very impressive from a physical standpoint with how big he is. Space eater on the interior. Raw prospect that is still in the process of learning how to use his body down low and be effective on the offensive end. Intriguing down the road.
PG Eric Cannon (Illinois Wolves 16U)
Cannon is a high IQ point guard that knows how to run a team. He is the point man on a very well rounded Illinois Wolves 16U squad. The Waubonsie Valley point guard has a feel for running the team and getting others involved. Crisp passer that makes sound decisions. Two other areas really impressed us. He was outstanding on the defensive end. The Wolves started up 18-0 against Wisconsin Swing and a lot of it was the on ball pressure of Cannon. He was moving his feet and not allowing dribble penetration. Also the consistency on his shot has improved. Looked more smooth and confident shooting it from three as he drilled a pair from deep. Potential low-major prospect in 2019.
SF Johnny Roeser (Illinois Wolves 16U)
Roeser is a 6’4” small forward from Carmel that has an intriguing game. He handles it excellent at his size and can really pass it. Almost a point-forward in some respects. Gets the ball off the backboard and pushes it end to end. Makes crisp passes on the money for dimes. Plus wing passer. Rebounds well for his position as well especially clearing the defensive glass and starting the break. As a scorer we liked one slick baseline drive he had. Jumper has a long release. Roeser is a top 15 prospect in the 2019 class and a D1 prospect.
SF Bryant Brown (Illinois Wolves 17U)
Brown is extremely intriguing at 6’5” with his length, athleticism, and emerging skill. The 2019 prospect is playing up on the 17U level and definitely held his own. Solid defensive player with his length and toughness. Contests shots and has the defensive versatility to guard on both the perimeter and inside. Brown showed us he could shoot it a little too which we haven’t seen much out of the uber athlete. Drilled a pair of corner threes off the catch. Potential high-major prospect.
PF Chris White (Meanstreets 16U)
White is a 6’8” power forward that we liked during the high school season as he played a limited role. This spring he will get an expanded one playing with Meanstreets 16U squad. The four man is a plus offensive rebounder that has a quick second jump getting on the glass for put backs. Also has a nice skill level around the hoop. Soft touch and good feel. Uses a right handed jump hook to score on the block. White has D1 potential.
PG Joseph Yesufu (Meanstreets 16U)
Yesufu stands at 5’10” with a strong and compact frame. He is a powerfully built and an uber athletic guard. The Bolingbrook guard floor general a strong weekend. He showed off his athleticism on several dunks where got up really high for explosive slams. Early in the game we saw he wasn’t finishing as well, but in the second half made more of an impact slashing and dashing to the rim. Jumper continues to get better as he made several from three and pulling up from mid-range. Mid-major target in 2019.
SF Isaac Stanback (Meanstreets 16U)
Stanback is a 6’5” small forward that almost plays an undersized four at times. Junk yard dog type player with an elite motor. Physical player that forces that on his opponent. Major defensive presence with lockdown ability on the perimeter and is a shot blocker around the rim. Very bouncy. Raw prospect offensively that is best scoring on put backs and getting out in transition where he can use his physical gifts.
PG Malik Tidwell (Meanstreets 16U)
Tidwell plays at Marian Catholic where the 5’11” point guard makes plays on occasion as a passer, but most of the time is used as a shooter. Did that at a solid clip for Meanstreets. Thick bodied kid that is best spotting up from the corners and wings for triples. Will be tracking how his floor game develops this spring and summer.
SF Jeremiah Hernandez (Rockford Elite 16U)
Hernandez played with Rockford Elite up in Milwaukee where he displayed some of the skills that make him intriguing. Good size and excellent feel as almost a point forward. He made several nice decisions in the pick and roll game. Hernandez got to the rim a couple times on slippery drives including an up and under. Very skilled offensive player at a young age that is definitely tracking as a D1 prospect.
PF Keith Randolph (Jets-Ramey United 16U)
Randolph is a 6’5” post that didn’t get much run playing behind EJ Liddell and senior Tyler Dancy, but look for him to make some noise the next two seasons for Belleville West. He is a wide bodied post that consistently gets deep post position on the block. Plays physical in the paint bullying his way to the hole. Solid offensive rebounder that works hard for positioning on the glass. Definitely another metro east name to watch going forward.