Show Me Showdown: Sunday Illinois Standouts
The PrepHoops Show Me Showdown concluded on Sunday with another great day of games! Check out our Illinois standouts below!
SG Eddie Creal (Hoops4Health 17U)
Creal capped off his big weekend with a monster performance in the championship game. Saturday he showing off his improved jumper. Sunday he stuck to what he does best. Get to the cup and foul line. Strong and explosive guard that makes plays at the rack. Excellent transition player! He had 17 points in the 17U title game win!
SF Donita Johnson (Hoops4Health 17U)
Johnson has great size at 6’7″ with a college frame and athleticism to match. Biggest thing with Johnson is being locked in every game and playing with a motor. He did that in the championship game especially early. Ran the floor with a purpose. Snatched rebounds. He was aggressive with the ball. Drilled a couple jumpers from mid-range. Also had a couple aggressive takes from the high post where he showed touch at the rim. Johnson drilled some clutch free throws late to seal the win.
PG Michael Smith (Illinois T-Wolves 17U)
Another solid performance from Joliet West 2018 point guard. Like Saturday it was bit of a slow start, but he heated up in the second half. He just has a knack for making tough layups with acrobatic finishes. Plus shooter off the catch with range. Solid handles and has leadership potential.
PG Darren Williams (D Up Elite 17U)
Williams teams up in the backcourt with his twin brother for D Up. His brother is the set up man while Darren looks to score. He was more effective on Sunday getting buckets. Williams is thin and wiry which allows him to get through traffic with his solid handles. He converted several tough finishes. Plays with reckless abandon.
PG Artese Stapleton (Young & Reckless 16U)
This Kenwood 2019 lead guard certainly helped his stock over the weekend. What you have to like about his game is his combination of scoring and dishing. More of a natural passer than his backcourt running mate as he mostly handles the duties on the ball. Electric passer especially when he gets in the lane to find others. High IQ guard that plays fast, but makes quality decisions. Speed in the open floor. Capable shooter that can hit a pull up from mid-range and three.
SF Landon Wolfe (Illinois Bears 16U)
Wolfe was at it again on Sunday! The Effingham 2019 wing was the most productive player at the event. Strong wing that can score in a variety of ways. Attacks downhill with a relentless motor! Finishes so well at the cup through and around traffic! Also compliments that with a nice pull up jumper to keep the defense honest. We have seen Wolfe a ton in high school, but he boosted his stock even more this weekend.
SG Christopher Skinner (Illinois T-Wolves 15U)
This Lockport shooting guard has a physical body, but also has some shake to his game. The 2020 two guard gets on the glass for put backs. Uses his quickness in paint to score. Competed on the defensive end.
PG Alex Wood (Young & Reckless 15U)
Wood is a lead guard from Normal U-High who will take over the lead guard duties for graduating D1 senior Keondre Schumacher. Wood is the player that makes Y&R Brown 15U go. Slick guard that gets to the cup where he finishes well. Can score at all three levels with a runner as well as mid-range jumper. Mixed in a few threes too. Speed in the open floor. He was the best player on the floor in the Y&R vs Y&R 15U semi final program battle. Plus leadership qualities!