Centralia Shootout Standouts
Saturday PrepHoopsIllinois was at the Centralia Summer Shootout featuring teams from across southern Illinois and the St. Louis area. Here are our standouts from the day!
PF Jake Hall (Alton Marquette – 2018)
Hall was probably the best player on the floor throughout the day. The Alton Marquette 6’7” power forward has good size and mobility. Excellent area rebounder that snatches boards with his strong hands. Versatile offensive threat. Hall has expanded his game to where he is now a legit threat in the pick and pop game shooting it. Good screener that can both pop and roll to the hoop. Good hands catching passes in traffic and finishes with a soft touch around the rim. Seals in the high/low game. Solid passer out of the post. High level D3/NAIA post prospect that has his stock on the rise heading into July!
PG Isaiah Ervin (Alton Marquette – 2019)
Ervin opened our eyes on Saturday. This was our first time seeing this 6’0” 2019 point guard and was he impressive. Ervin ran in the show in the morning while Green was on his way to the event. He looked comfortable with the ball in his hands. Wiry point guard that shoots it well from deep. Consistently drilled pull up threes from deep as well as stop and pop jumpers. Not a lot of lift on his shot, but they went down at a high rate throughout the day. Feel for getting others involved in the half court. Will need to add strength and score more consistently off the bounce, but definitely a new name to track!
PG Sammy Green (Alton Marquette – 2018)
Green had a standardized test in the morning, but made his impact later in the day! The 6’0” Alton Marquette point guard is coming off a strong spring with Gateway Illinois 17U. Green is a quick point guard that takes and makes tough shots. He did just that against Mt. Vernon as he made an array of contested layups and mid-range jumpers. Also mixed in a few threes which might be the strength of his game along with his vision. Exciting passer that makes the spectacular dish a couple times a game. Got in the lane consistently against pressure. Green is a high level small college point guard.
SG Jaquan Adams (Civic Memorial – 2018)
Adams is a 6’2” shooting guard with good strength and length. For his high school team at Civic Memorial he plays on the ball quite a bit, but projects off the ball at the next level in college. He isn’t an overly explosive athlete, but has the ability to get in the lane where he likes to finish with floaters and runners. Almost all of his points come in the paint on short shots or getting on the offensive glass for put backs. Jump shot is a big weakness in his game at this stage. Adams projects as a D3/NAIA prospect.
SG Jordan Maines (Centralia – 2018)
Maines lit it up late in the day for the Orphans! He is an undersized two guard that we would like see diversify his game showing more point guard skills this upcoming season, but there is no doubt the 5’11” guard can flat out shoot the rock! He had 15+ points in the first half of their game against MICDS. Plus catch and shoot threat that has a quick and effortless release. Money spotting up shooting it. Also cut a pass lane for a steal and got a layup in transition. Maines is a small college shooting specialist.
G Luke Ervie (Freeburg – 2020)
Ervie was the prospect we were most looking forward to seeing at this event. We had heard some buzz about this young combo guard and he lived up to the billing. Ervie is a 6’0” 2020 guard out of Freeburg that plays with a lot of toughness and grit. The guard has an advanced feel for the game at a young age. Plays with good pace and doesn’t rush things. Takes what the defense gives him. Sound perimeter shooter especially off the catch from three. Can also hit a pull up shot with some consistency. Made a few slippery drives through the paint. Struggled a bit finishing through contact. Creative passer in the half court making sound reads with the ball. Rebounds well for a lead guard. One to watch going forward!
SG Connor Diecker (Freeburg – 2019)
Diecker is a 2019 that stood out with his shooting from beyond the arc. Was outstanding off the catch in their first game of the day. Quick and easy stroke on his shot. Feet are set and has clean release. Understands how to find the weak spot on the perimeter that the defense has vacated to get an open look. Solid defender that competed on that end.
SF Damond Crosby (Salem – 2018)
Crosby is a 6’5” small forward from Salem that when locked in has a chance to be a very good player. For the first time in his high school career he will be forced into a role where he has to be the best player on the floor. Crosby has the physical tools to be a go to weapon, but the mentality to be the man is the question. He has played with the Illinois Bears this spring and bulked up his upper body since we last saw him. Crosby really struggled in the Wildcats second game of the day as he over dribbled and tried to do too much. The last game he let the game come to him and in doing so was effective. Crosby has a smoothness to his game. Makes plays in the open floor and likes to use his euro step to finish at the rim. Clean looking jump shot. It doesn’t always go in, but he shoots a good ball and is starting to be more balanced with it. Crosby could be an excellent small college wing prospect!
PG Dawson Linder (Salem – 2018)
Linder runs the show for the Salem Wildcats. The 2018 lead guard is a facilitator first and foremost. He has a solid feel for the game and makes quick passes to his teammates. Like how he is constantly moving without the ball. Plays with toughness and has leadership potential. He will need to show that more this season as the Wildcats graduate two key seniors from last season. As a scorer he can hit an occasional three off the catch. Pass first point guard and spot up shooter are what this small college prospect brings to the table.
SF Jake Martin (Mt. Vernon – 2019)
Martin is a junior 6’2” forward that is more of an interior player for the Rams. Tough forward that is crafty in the post and powers his way through contact. Shoots it well from mid-range. Gets on the offensive glass. Carves out space on the interior.
SG O’Shea Hardin (Mt. Vernon – 2018)
Hardin is a 6’0” two guard that flies a bit under the radar. The Mt. Vernon wing was the most consistent scorer for the Rams and sparked their offense when they couldn’t get anything going. Can hit a pull up jumper although he is a bit streaky at times. Over dribbles a bit when attacking, but does have spurts where he uses his strength to score inside.
SG Austin Thompson (MICDS, MO – 2018)
Thompson is a 6’2” combo guard that plays a lot on the ball, but looks to score. Broad shouldered guard with a strong build and fluidity to his game. Thompson is the younger brother of recent MICDS standout Robin Thompson who signed with Missouri State out of high school. The younger brother is best getting to the basket. Handles the ball well especially in tight spaces. Changes directions in the lane and attacks the creases in the defense. Made multiple slippery drives to the rim. Showed he could create his own shot getting clean looks at jump shots, but they just weren’t falling on this day. Does shoot a good shot mechanically.
SG Darion Smith (MICDS, MO – 2020)
Smith is a football prospect more than a hoops one, but the physical 6’2” shooting guard can really rebound the ball! He is extremely strong and physical with ability to go beast mode on the boards. Explosive hops allow him to high point rebounds. Offensively all his points come in the paint on put backs or in transition. Struggled shooting it from the field outside of the paint and also from the charity stripe.
PG Cameron Teson (St. Charles, MO – 2019)
Teson is much like his older brother. He can really shoot it! The St. Charles, Missouri guard is a bit smaller at 5’9” than Casey who signed with Eastern Illinois out of high school. The junior can really shoot it from deep! Quick release off the catch. Also flashed some passing with several crisp dishes in the half court and secondary break!