Run N Slam: 2018 Scouting Pt 2
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 two of our 2018 Scouting Report!
SF Nathan Scott (All-In 17U)
Scott is a 6’6” unsigned 2017 recruit that is looking to go to JUCO for a year. He has a lot of tools to work with. The senior has a nice frame and length for a wing. Very projectable as you can see once he gets in a college weight program he could add on significant strength. Smooth athlete that can put it on the deck attacking from the high post with a couple dribbles. Likes spin moves in the lane when going to the hoop. Passes it fairly well for a wing. Streaky shooter, but can connect from three with a nice looking stroke. Defensively has potential as he contests shots on the perimeter and his length allows him to recover blocking shots. He had 11 points. Worth a serious look from all JUCOs.
SG Izayah Lee (All-In 17U)
Lee is a combo guard that is tough as nails. The scorer is at his best taking his man off the bounce and going on straight line drives to the rack. Has a knack for finding creases in the defense and converting acrobatic layups through traffic. Rebounds well for a guard. He had 16 points. Small college recruit that packs a scoring punch.
F Ron Thompson (All-In)
The Phillips 6’6” small forward has nice size as a combo forward. He is a plus rebounder that snatches them out of the air high pointing them consistently. Rebounds well both in and out of his area. Not much of a scorer at this stage. Small college player.
SF Ronnie Allgood (All-In)
Allgood is a thick bodied 6’5” small forward that moves pretty well for his size. Shoots it solid from three as he had a nice jab step and then pull up triple. Physical player around the hoop as he gets on the glass and finishes well at the rim. Had a posterizing dunk. Not an overly explosive athlete off the bounce he has a crafty feel for gliding by his opponent. Allgood would be a great D3, NAIA, or JUCO candidate out of Proviso West.
SF Devonire Glass (SYF)
Glass will make his return to the state of Illinois this season at Simeon after transferring for his junior campaign in Utah. Glass is a 6’6” wing with all the physical tools to be a great player. Size, length, and athleticism are all pluses. He just has to put it all together. We only saw a little of their game, but he had a couple of nice takes to the rim off the bounce with his long strides. Should project as a top 15 player in the class and a D1 recruit.
SF Jordan Boyd (Chicago Lockdown)
Boyd is a power forward out of St. Joseph’s that stands at 6’6”. He is a crafty low-post scorer that finishes well around the hoop. Very efficient with his touches. Not an explosive athlete, but has a feel for getting scores on post touches. Got to the free throw line at a high rate. Small college post.
PG Carter Higginbottom (Chicago Lockdown)
Higginbottom is a 5’10” pass first point guard. The St. Ignatius floor general can score on an occasion, but is most comfortable setting up others. He made several nice dishes that led to buckets including a sick one in transition. This 2018 point guard would be worth consideration for high academic small college program.
SG Josh Boulanger (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Boulanger is a 6’2” shooting guard out of Brother Rice High School. The 2018 wing flew a bit under the radar with the dominance of their senior backcourt duo last year, but we came away extremely impressed with what he brought to the table. First and foremost he is an outstanding rebounder for his position. Crashes the glass hard and high points the ball. Offensively he showed potential on a jump shot as he hit a couple threes when we saw him with Chicago Lockdown. Smooth and fluid athlete that is comfortable playing in transition. Had a posterizing dunk! Should be on the D2, D3, and NAIA radars.
PF Luke Nauman (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Nauman is an undersized 6’4” power forward that plays bigger than his height. Strong and physical frame. He is effective on the offensive end getting on the glass for putbacks. Quick to the boards for second chance opportunities. Plays with a ton of toughness inside. Not a big time scorer, but he does make an occasional quick move on the block. Nauman should be on the small college radar.
PG DeAndre Heckard (Hoops4Health)
Heckard is one of the best point guards in the state of Illinois in the 2018 class. At 6’3” with broad shoulders and athleticism he is a prospect that mid-majors and low-majors should be all over. We only saw him once in Ft. Wayne as they were away from the main site for most of the event. All reports were he was a monster in the early pool play games. He was just ok in the game we saw against Chicago Lockdown. Started off hot shooting it from mid-range with a couple pull ups and a step back. Got cold shooting it in the second half and settled too much for it instead of attacking the rack. Good passer that makes crisp passes. Top 10 player in the state.
F Donita Johnson (Hoops4Health 17U)
Johnson stands at 6’7” with a great frame and strength. He totally looks the part of a big time player. Early in his career he has flashed in spurts, but never put an entire game together. He did that on Sunday against Chicago Lockdown. The biggest thing was with how much a motor he played with. The hardest we have seen him consistently play as he usually drifts in and out of games. His jump shot was on point. Hit a three along with an array of mid-range shots. The projectable combo forward made a few nice passes and had a coast to coast drive. Defensively he has the tools, but needs to get lower in his stance and have more of a defensive mentality. Right now he is a D2 prospect with low-major upside.
SG Ryan Saunders (Hoops4Health 17U)
Joliet Central 2018 Ryan Saunders played one of the best games we have seen him over the last year. He is a big time athlete that is extremely bouncy with his long strides and jumping ability. Connected on a pair of threes. Attacked the basket with force and hit the offensive glass for multiple put backs. High-level athlete that projects as a D2 prospect at this stage.