Run N Slam: 2018 Scouting Pt 1
PrepHoopsIllinois spent the weekend in Ft. Wayne at the Run N Slam. This prestigious event is one of the annual must stops on the spring evaluation tour. Here is part one of our 2018 Scouting Report!
SF Justin Hardy (Illinois Wolves 17U)
Hardy is a 6’5” small forward out of St. Charles East that plays with a lot of toughness and grit. He started out early in his career as more of an interior player and has made the transition to the perimeter successfully. Likes to get in the lane and hit runners. His range off the catch stretches out to beyond the arc. Really enjoy watching how much Hardy competes on both ends of the floor and how high of an activity level he plays with. Quality wing rebounder. Low-major prospect.
SF Drew Peterson (Illinois Wolves 17U)
Peterson is one of the best wing prospects in the state of Illinois. At 6’7” with great length he has the projectable frame that is intriguing to college coaches. That along with his ability to shoot it from the perimeter make his a coveted mid-major plus recruit. Peterson showed off that feathery jumper in Ft. Wayne. Drilled them from all over the floor including threes of the catch along with stop and pop mid-range jumpers. Hit a sick turnaround fade away. Did a solid job on the glass. Another impressive effort for the top 5 2018 prospect in Illinois.
PF Dusan Mahorcic (Illinois Wolves)
This post has only been in the country for less than 18 months and is rapidly improving his game. At 6’9” he has size and length that project well long term. Broad shoulders to add the strength that he will need to for the college level. Played sparingly during his high school season as a junior, but showed flashes. He is making more strides this spring with the Illinois Wolves. Mobile post that runs the floor well and has good footwork in the post. Makes sound post moves sometimes they are just a bit slow. His go to on the block is a right handed jump hook. Soft touch around the basket and has potential on a mid-range jumper with a good looking stroke. Tough rebounder that plays with a lot of grit on the glass. Still gaining confidence in his game. Would be wise for low-majors to start investing some time recruiting this 2018 post.
SG Kenny Strawbridge (Illinois Wolves)
Strawbridge is a 6’4” shooting guard with solid, but not great ball handling. What he is best at is shooting it from the perimeter. Spot up shooter that knocks them down at a decent clip from three. Got hot from deep in their Saturday afternoon game. Projects right now as a D2 prospect.
SF Jake Wolfe (Illinois Wolves 17U)
Wolfe is a strong wing that when we saw him last summer was mostly a spot up shooter. His ball handling has greatly improved over the last year. The Aurora Christian 2018 small forward showed better handles getting through traffic as he got to the rim with more ease than in the past. Also did what he does best which is let it fly from deep. Wolfe is a plus shooter off the catch. Hit the glass and played with a lot of toughness. He had 15 points against the Akron Bobcats. Low-major/D2+ prospect.
G Tyron Mosley (Illinois Wolves)
Huge fan of Mosley. The long and rangy prospect went from power forward to a point forward in the last six months. His ball skills and overall feel have improved so much. He joined the Illinois Wolves for his first event with the UAA team at Run N Slam. Still trying to get in the flow of things, but the potential is definitely there. Played on the ball quite a bit making good decisions. As a scorer did most of his damage getting in the lane for runners/floaters. Jump shot is streaky. Hit a couple, but range can be extended. Love his upside on the defensive end as a lockdown defender with his length, lateral quickness, and anticipation. Low-major prospect.
PG Ayo Dosunmu (Mac Irvin Fire 17U)
Dosunmu was outstanding. That is what we have come to expect on a nightly basis from the #1 2018 prospect in Illinois. He scored at will throughout in his head to head matchup with Jordan McCabe. Ayo has such an explosive burst in the open floor which allows him to get to the hoop with ease. Big time crossover and finishes with athleticism around the hoop shielding the ball away from shot blockers. Despite scoring 28 points the thing I thought he was best at in this game was dishing the rock. Dosunmu found shooters especially Cam Irvin in spots where they could be successful. Was phenomenal in the pick and roll finding his bigs for dunks. High-major player.
PF Tamell Pearson (Mac Irvin Fire 17U)
Pearson continued his momentum from Indy last weekend! The 6’8” four man continues to progress. He has broad shoulders and a physical body. His motor is at an all-time high and that has elevated his stock. Pearson competed tough on the interior against a bigger bodied Ryan Davis. He was effective getting on the offensive glass for tip ins and rim running. Also had several big dunks in transition. Runs the floor very well. Even hit a mid-range jumper. Pearson had 24 points. Potential mid-major prospect.
SF Talen Horton-Tucker (Mac Irvin Fire)
We only saw the Fire 17U play in their Friday night game at Run N Slam after watching them extensively the previous weekend in Indy. THT is one of the top three prospects in the 2018 class. The 6’5” wing out of Simeon didn’t score a ton in the game we watched. Had a mid-range jumper and a couple nice takes, but he was looking to set up others more in that contest. This is a very underrated part of his game. THT can play a point-forward role at times with his feel and vision setting his teammates up. High-major prospect.
C Ryan Davis (Wisconsin Playground Warriors 17U)
Davis has had a breakout spring and it continued on Friday night. The 6’9” thick bodied center landed a handful of D1 offers in the last week and he showed why playing against the Mac Irvin Fire. Davis was assertive on the glass. For his size he moves extremely well rebounding both in and out of his area. Was all over the offensive glass throughout having several offensive rebound put backs. Finished strong through contact around the hoop. Early in the game he couldn’t miss from three. Davis has really developed into a pick and pop five man. Worked well playing off Jordan McCabe. Also is an underrated passer out of the high post. Davis had 30 points. Mid-major prospect.
SG Ryan Phillips (Wisconsin Playground Warriors)
Phillips is a wing with size and strength at 6’4”. The Jacobs 2018 shooting guard is coming off a strong junior campaign where he provided a lot of the outside presence to open up things for their all-state post. Phillips is a floor spacing shooter. He is best shooting it from beyond the arc off the catch. Worth consideration as a D2 player.
PF Jack Halverson (Windy City Magic 17U)
Halverson is a 6’7” four man out of Peotone. He is a skilled face up power forward with a long and lanky frame. He handles well for his size as the 2018 forward is more than comfortable attacking from the perimeter after taking posts out of their comfort zones. Finishes extremely well through contact converting and-1s and shielding the ball away from defenders. Mades some tough up and unders. High level D3/NAIA prospect.
PG Jake Pygon (Windy City Magic)
Pygon is a heady point guard that likes to dish the rock. Crisp dishes. Showed he could handle the ball better off the bounce than we had seen in the past as Pygon got in the lane well making plays for himself and others. High IQ point guard would be a nice fit at the D3/NAIA level.
SG Joe Buggemi (Windy City Magic)
Buggemi is a 6’2” shooting guard out of Lincoln Way West High School. He has a strong body and really lets it fly from beyond the arc. Doesn’t do much off the bounce, but would be a nice fit for a small college looking for a spot up shooter.