NY2LA: Saturday Standouts
It was a very eventful day at the NY2LA Sports Invitational at Homestead High School in Mequon, Wisconsin on Saturday. Here we breakdown all the top performances from prospects across the state of Illinois.
C Jalen Shaw (Kessel Heat 17U)
Shaw had a very nice day. He went head to head with the challenger for his current #1 center ranking George Conditt and more than held his own. The Larkin post played aggressive and with the best motor we have seen out of him in a long time. He is still growing into his body, but the 6’10” post has become much more fluid with his movements over the last year. He is starting to get confident and play with a swagger. Rebounded well in the head to head matchup snatching several boards at their highest point, but more impressive was flying in from out of his area to fight on the glass. At times he can miss time his jump and get there a little too early, but in this particular game was solid on the glass. Had a couple monster dunks. Also displayed his face up game hitting a couple from mid-range and even stretched it out three. Defensively was more comfortable than he would have been a year ago chasing a perimeter oriented post on the arc and staying with them laterally. Shaw is a no doubt mid-major prospect that needs to be a guy that more schools are making a priority.
PG Branden Ellis (Kessel Heat 17U)
We talked about Ellis yesterday, but he deserves another mention today as well. The Warren point guard who is also a track and field star uses that athleticism in the open floor with his speed and slick handles. His combination of transition skills and defensive prowess on the perimeter are impressive turning steals into buckets. Extremely active on both ends of the floor. Quickness off the bounce in the half court has improved beating his man in one on one situations. Capable three point shooter. Ellis needs to be look at by low-major D1 and high D2 programs.
C George Conditt (Team RWA 17U)
Conditt used his length and athleticism to swat a ton of shots against Kessel Heat. A couple he came from out of nowhere to pin them against the glass. The long and rangy 6’10” center has a chance to be a major defensive force at the college level. He has timing and anticipation to change shots both on the interior and perimeter. Good enough athlete that he has no problem defending in a ball screen. Jumper wasn’t falling on Saturday. He attacked a couple times facing up off the bounce including a sweet move where he shook his man, put them in a spin cycle, and finished with a right handed hook. Solid job on the glass. Conditt continues to see his stock rise each time we see him.
SF Kani Acree (Team RWA 17U)
The Carbondale 6’7” small forward is the running mate to Conditt, but is a D1 prospect in his own right. He has a nice combination of size, strength, and athleticism. His skill level has greatly improved over the last couple years from the first time we saw him. Drives it well off the bounce with a powerful first step, but his jumper was really on point Saturday. Acree hit back to back threes along with connecting on a variety of mid-range shots. Also makes plays in transition. Acree is a low-major prospect with mid-major potential if he continues to develop.
PG Xavier Pinson (Mac Irvin Fire NY2LA 17U)
Pinson has had a strong spring with the Mac Irvin Fire on the NY2LA circuit. He continued that over the weekend. Pinson is a smooth point guard that can both score and dish. Probably best as a facilitator. Vision in transition is at a very high level. Completes multiple full court dimes a game. Makes quick passes in traffic that he fits in tight spaces. As a scorer he likes to get in the lane finishing with runners. Tons of arc on his shot. The thin and rangy guard has definitely put himself in D1 consideration this spring.
PF Nate Ferguson (Chicago Lockdown 16U)
This Lemont 6’7” power forward got on our radar in a major way at the NY2LA Sports Invitational. Strong frame and good length. He is a stretch four man that can knock down pick and pop shots with ease. Faded away from drivers on several occasions for feathery jumpers. Was dominant on the glass. Ferguson was a beast on the defensive glass. Also very effective on the offensive glass not only high pointing balls for himself, but when he can’t grab it he taps it out to his guards. Does this numerous times a game. D2 prospect.
G Dashon Enoch (Made Men 16U)
Enoch was good last weekend in Minnesota and did it again in Milwaukee. The powerful combo guard out of Oak Park River Forest is a beast attacking downhill. Strong and explosive first step that he attacks his man and finishes well at the rim on a consistent basis through traffic. Takes quality angles. Flashes improvement on perimeter shot. Solid passer, but will need to continue to improve his feel to be a full time point at the next level. More of a combo at this stage.
SF Martin Macenis (ET21 Buckeyes 16U)
Huge fan of this 6’5” Stagg High School small forward. At that size he handles the ball tremendously well weaving in and out of the defense. Seems to get into the lane with relative ease. He isn’t the quickest twitched guy, but eases by defenders and finds creases to go to work! Has the ability to create his own shot. Does that by getting to the rim particularly enjoying baseline drives. Also can go get his own shot with a silky smooth jumper. Excellent passer with feel in the half court. D1 prospect that needs to be on more programs radars in 2019.
SG Josh Holmes (ET21 Buckeyes 15U)
Holmes is an impressive scoring guard. The 6’0” Jones 2020 prospect just has a knack for getting buckets. He is a sound perimeter shooter with a clean looking stroke from three. Drilled a trio off the catch in the game we saw. Also had a nice shot fake where he let his man fly by and then drilled a pull up jumper. Holmes will either need to grow or develop point guard skills to become a D1 player, but early in the process he is worth monitoring.
G Dan Florey (Chicago Lockdown 15U)
Florey has tremendous size at 6’3” for a young combo guard. He plays with a great feel for the game. Not an overly explosive athlete, but he has a feel for getting where he needs to on the floor to get what he wants accomplished. Florey makes sound decisions with the ball in the half court and is becoming more assertive on the glass. Nice looking perimeter stroke. Skilled guard one to track from St. Ignatius in 2020.
SG Isaiah Rivera (Quad City Elite 15U)
Rivera has the looks of a young D1 prospect. He is a versatile prospect with size at 6’4”. Can play the one through three positions on the offensive end of the floor. Very strong when attacking downhill putting the defense on their heels. He attacks his man and can either go around them or through them with his strength. Gets to the rim with relative ease against 15U competition. So smooth with the ball in his hands. Not a knock down shooter at this stage, but is capable of hitting a pull up jumper from both mid-range and three on occasion. What makes him such a tough cover is his passing ability. Great passer in half court and transition. Feel for getting others involved at a young age. Rivera also competes on the defensive end moving well laterally.
C Devon House (Quad City Elite 15U)
House is a 6’6” center that has a wide body. He is effective using it to create space on the interior. Carves out room to work in the paint. Soft touch around the hoop and uses the glass well. Although an under the rim athlete at this stage he has nimble footwork and some agility around the hoop including a nice up and under. Dominates rebounding in his area. The part that was most impressive was the passing he displayed going post to post, high/low, and finding cutters through the lane. House should be monitored by low-major D1 programs early in the process.