Powerade Platform Saturday Top Performers
Of the 41 AAU teams competing in Franklin, Tennessee Saturday six traveled from the Land of Lincoln. Those six teams represented three different programs: TAW Basketball, Illinois Stars, and Illinois Young & Reckless.
In the 17u A division, a injury-plagued Illinois Y&R struggled (1-3), while 17u B featured a strong TAW squad (3-1) and respected Illinois Stars (1-2).
Play continued Sunday for all three teams. Take a glance at which players shone brightest from these programs.
2018 G Christian Brookens (TAW Basketball 17u) — Brookens buried a bucketful of three-pointers in an embarrassingly easy win over the Tennessee Edge. The shooting touch of Brookens was matched by two guard teammates. Already a blowout at the half, the foreboding rain cloud outcome burst into a downpour of three-pointers.
The final score of 80-45 indicates how much of a laugher the tilt became.
Brookens can handle too. He projects as a D3-LM lead guard.
2019 G Ethan Helwig (Illinois Stars 17u and 16u) — Helwig plays high school ball with Metea Valley. The sophomore made DuPage Valley All-Conference Honorable Mention playing alongside Jeremy Hunter. Helwig was a top-two scorer with Trey Calvin (St. Viator) in all the Stars games Saturday. He can score in a variety of ways, especially against inferior defenders. Helwig still has not hopped onto numerous D1 radars, but Stanford is sniffing around.
'19 Guard Ethan Helwig (6'4"; Metea Valley) will also be on the Stanford radar this summer.
— Illinois Stars IBA (@Illinois_Stars) May 17, 2017
2019 PG Raymond Dennis (SYF 16u) — The 16u division was more erratic and scrambled. Clearly the backcourts were less poised. The attacks lacked focus and refined intent. Montini Catholic’s Raymond Dennis emerged as a clear exception. Smooth with the ball, Raymond Dennis comfortably moved the basketball to open operators.
He did not force shots, despite the frenetic environment. Dennis plays beyond his years and welcomes defensive pressure. His handles are advanced and the SYF coach need not worry when Dennis is leading the attack.
2019 G Raymond Dennis (IL) has INT: NIU, IUPUI, IPFW, and Central Michigan. Runs with SYF 16U. @PrephoopsIL
— Andrew Force (@AndrewForce8) May 27, 2017
2018 C Paul O’Leary (Illinois Stars 17u) — Vocal, committed, and invested Paul O’Leary was clearly the most engaged big in the building. He reminds of Evan Boudreaux (Dartmouth 17.5ppg, 9.5rpg) with his commitment to winning and his unbridled enthusiasm.
Notre Dame College (D2) and NAIA-Michigan-Dearborn offered him already. He is woefully under-recruited right now. You can find more details about his appearance at StockUp Showcase on PrepHoopsIL.
2018 PG J.J. Flores (Illinois Y&R 17u) — Flores showed off his elite shooting touch Saturday. The Harvest Christian Academy guard executed an effortless pump-fake into an effortless pull-up jumper. He dribbles with his eyes up, constantly surveying the landscape. Flores has a strong handle, but will benefit from increased upper body strength. J.J. Flores draws fouls frequently. He could improve his vocal leadership. Flores’ recent ACT score makes him eligible for Ivy-League offers. NIU is very interested already.
2018 G Kenneth Pittman (Illinois Y&R 17u) — Class of 2018 off-guard Kenneth Pittman (Simeon) is an interesting prospect. The athletic wing is working out on the ball for Head Coach Justin Brim’s team. The 6-foot-3 bouncy guard is still learning where and when to use his innate explosion, but understands floor spacing and projects as a plus rebounder from the backcourt.
Top players from the Powerade Platform series will be invited to Powerade Platform All-American Camp July 13th in Charlotte.