Swish N Dish: Scott’s Sunday Standouts
PrepHoopsIllinois took in the final of action at the NY2LA Sports Swish N Dish. There were plenty of Illinois prospects that shined. Let’s look at the Sunday Standouts!
SG Malachi Smith (Jets-Ramey United 17U)
Smith is a 6’3” shooting guard that can really score. The Jets fell to Gateway, but this Belleville East wing more than did his part. He is a scorer that gets to the rim with ease. Puts combination moves together off the bounce to score in the paint. Finished at the rim with some acrobatics including a nice up and under. Smith is a low-major 2018 prospect.
C Francis Okoro (St. Louis Eagles 17U)
Okoro is the #1 prospect in 2019 and it isn’t close! The 6’9” center has elite physical tools. He is built like a grown man with broad shoulders and incredible strength. He is without question the best rebounder in the state of Illinois. Okoro snatches them in traffic with his strong hands. He high points them consistently. Gets on the offensive glass. He gets a lot of his points off rebounds. Physical force finishing. He powers slams home. Flashes skill on occasion with a hook shot or a short jumper, but is mostly power. Defensively Okoro protects the rim with his length and explosion off the floor. Can also defend in a ball screen with his mobility. Okoro is without question a high-major prospect.
SF Jericole Hellems (St. Louis Eagles 17U)
At 6’7” Hellems is coming off an outstanding junior season at Chaminade. He is a versatile hybrid forward that can play some four, but is transitioning into more of a full time three. His jump shot was on point! Hellems gets elevation off the floor and has a pure stroke pulling up on his jump shot. Hit them from all over including a sick step back. The 2018 is also a quality athlete that can attack and finish above the rim in transition. He had 19 points against Meanstreets. Hellems is a high-major prospect.
PG Courtney Ramey (Jets-Ramey United 17U – Louisville)
Ramey started off a bit slow in their game against Wisconsin Playground Warriors, but once he got rolling he was great. The Louisville commit has speed in the open floor. That combined with his slick handles make him a tough cover when defenses are running back in transition. Accelerates with the rock on his first step as he gets by defenders with ease. Can hit a three on occasion. Best attacking and setting his teammates up. Top 20 player nationally.
SF Torrence Watson (Jets-Ramey United 17U)
Watson is the other high-major prospect on this team. The Whitfield (MO) wing stands at 6’5” with a strong and athletic body. He is a beast slashing to the hoop. When he wants to get to the rim he is hard to contain. Also has a solid stroke on the jumper. I was impressed with his improved passing ability. Made several nice dishes in traffic for assists. Watson is a coveted Midwest wing player.
PG Mario McKinney (St. Louis Eagles 16U)
This was my first look at the Vashon (MO) 2019 point guard. Liked what I saw! He is an angular lead guard that is slippery through traffic. McKinney has a knack for getting skinny going through the lane. Hard for defenders to get their hands on him. Makes plays in the lane finishing or dishing off to his bigs. Love the toughness and tenacity he brings to the table. Quick defensively. McKinney is a high-major prospect.
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 Talen Horton-Tucker (Mac Irvin Fire 17U)
THT was money on Sunday! The 6’5” small forward continues to steadily elevate his game. He is in the best shape of his life and ready to show he is a top 100 prospect nationally this spring in the EYBL. In his kick off to the season at Swish N Dish THT put his team on his back and almost carried them to a win against a loaded Brad Beal Elite. Was very aggressive looking to score. Sometimes Horton-Tucker tries to feel the game out and pick his spots to score. Against BBE there was none of that. He opened with a DEEP three! Followed that up with a straight line drive to the hoop that he hammered home with a one handed dunk. The jump shot was solid as he made an array of them from all over the floor. Liked how aggressive he played. In that game full of big time college prospects he was the best player on the floor. High-major prospect.
SF Kahlil Whitney (Mac Irvin Fire 16U)
Whitney moved from Solorio High School out east to Roselle Catholic for his sophomore campaign. Whitney looks like a different player. Last summer he was a raw athlete that was trying to find his game. He has found it and Whitney is playing at an extremely high level. He is an explosive athlete that flies above the rim for transition dunks, lobs, and gets on the glass for put backs. Playing with a lot of aggression and force from the wing position. The skill has made major strides. Jump shot has become more consistent from mid-range pulling up with smooth form. He also blocked several shots. High-major prospect that is a top 50 player nationally.
C Devon House (Quad City Elite 15U)
House is a new name to add to the radar! The 6’6” center has a wide body that he moves well. Quality mobility for his size. Nimble footwork around the hoop. Showed nice skill with his ability to score on the block with a soft touch and a nice hook shot. Understands at a young age how to create space and get deep post position. Showed a feel for playing the post. Not much of a vertical athlete yet, but knows how to play on the block. Area rebounder that can gobble them up. Positional defender that plays big and makes it tough for opponents to score over him. House is a player we look forward to see how he develops in 2020 class.
SF Tevin Smith (Mac Irvin Fire 14U)
Welcome to the party Mr. Smith! We had heard that this 6’4” 2021 Danville product was the next big thing out of that area for a while. He showed just that when we watched him at Swish N Dish. Plus size for the position early in the process. Should be able to grow a couple more inches as well with his frame. Lengthy wing with some early strength. Explosive first step with long strides covering a lot of ground in a short amount of time. Skill level is impressive for an athlete of his caliber at a young age. Smith handles it putting combination moves together to get in the lane. Shoots it well with a clean looking stroke from both mid-range and three. Works well in the pick and pop game as a screener and stretching the floor. One we will be watching closely over the next four years.