Class of 2018 Top PGs
Who are the top point guard prospects in the class of 2018 in the state of Illinois? We have the best of the best right here!
Ayo Dosunmu (Morgan Park)
Overall Rank: #1
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Dosunmu is the top prospect in the state of Illinois. He can really score the basketball. Right now his shot is streaky, but shoots a clean shot mechanically where he should continue to improve his consistency. He splits defenders getting in the lane where he makes plays at the rim. Great body control at the cup and has the ability to draw contact and finish while still drawing the foul. One of the best finishers at the rim and layup makers in the country. Great speed in the open floor and change of direction. As a distributor he put his guys in positions to get stuff done. Ayo does a nice job of trying to put his teammates in positions to succeed. High-major prospect!
Xavier Castaneda (Whitney Young)
Overall Rank: #6
Travel Team: Meanstreets
Castaneda is a 6’1” point guard that was the man running the show for Whitney Young in their state title season. He was the point man for Meanstreets 17U this spring. The floor general made nice dishes getting others involved and pushing it in transition during the Dolphins state title run. He has blow by speed breaking defenders down in one on one situations. Drive and kick ability. As a scorer he can hit an occasional mid-range. Most defenders play him as a passer first. Mid-major prospect with the chance to elevate to high-major. Biggest question with him is staying consistently healthy.
Kendle Moore (Danville)
Overall Rank: #8
Travel Team: Team Rose
Moore is a quick and shifty point guard out of Danville. The explosive lead guard played at a high level when we saw him in the spring with Team Rose. He is a speedy point guard that makes a lot of his plays in the open floor. It is becoming apparent that he has made significant strides on his perimeter shot. We saw the growth in it during the season and it has continued. The majority of his scores are transition layups and threes. Moore played off the ball a good portion of the time we evaluated him this spring. Projecting as a mid-major/low-major scoring point guard.
DeAndre Heckard (Romeoville)
Overall Rank: #9
Travel Team: Hoops4Health
The top 10 2018 in-state prospect is one of the more heavily recruited lead guards in the state. Heckard is a big combo with broad shoulders, strength, and athleticism to match. He is a scoring point guard that has also made strides as a distributor over the past year. Explosive first step off the bounce allows him to get anywhere he wants of the floor. Attacks downhill and gets to the rim. Also has a crisp pull up jump shot that he can drill from 15 feet all the way out to three. He is shooting it with a lot more confidence. Crisp passer that at times can get a bit wild with it when his team is up a bunch. Gets to the line at a nice rate where he is effective with his free throws. Mid-major point guard prospect.
Kaleb Thornton (Bolingbrook)
Overall Rank: #12
Travel Team: Meanstreets
Thornton stands at 6’0” with a slender build. The Bolingbrook lead guard is at his best in transition. Has great speed in the open floor with handles that allow him to weave in and out of traffic while still accelerating. Makes good passes in the open floor as he always has his head up looking to make a play. Looks up the floor for long outlets and also makes crisp dishes in the lane on dribble penetration to shooters when driving. Most of his points come at the rim on layups or short jumpers. Streaky perimeter shooter. Competes on the defensive end as he will get a steal and take it coast to coast on occasion. Thornton is a low-major prospect with mid-major upside.
Tyronn Mosley (Orr)
Overall Rank: #23
Travel Team: Illinois Wolves
The long and rangy 6’5” 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 mid-way through the spring. Still trying to get in the flow of things, but the potential is definitely there. Plays on the ball quite a bit making good decisions. As a scorer does most of his damage getting in the lane for runners/floaters. Jump shot is streaky. Hits 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 with mid-major upside.
Maurice Commander (Curie)
Overall Rank: #29
Travel Team: Young & Reckless
Commander is coming off an outstanding junior campaign which saw him win player of the year in his conference and lead Marist to a monster season. This upcoming season he will be transferring to Curie. The lefty lead guard is shifty and quick with the ball in his hands. Has the ability to break his man down off the bounce as well as work in the pick and roll game. Streaky shooter from three, but is quite effective pulling up from mid-range. Big time leadership qualities and everything he does is crisp and with a purpose. Commander is a low-major/D2 prospect.
Xavier Pinson (St. Patrick’s)
Overall Rank: #30
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire NY2LA
Pinson has had a strong spring with the Mac Irvin Fire on the NY2LA circuit. Pinson is a smooth point guard that can both score and dish. Probably best as a facilitator. Vision in transition is at a very high level. Completes multiple full court dimes a game. Makes quick passes in traffic that he fits in tight spaces. As a scorer he likes to get in the lane finishing with runners. Tons of arc on his shot. The thin and rangy guard has definitely put himself in D1 consideration this spring.
Branden Ellis (Warren)
Overall Rank: #38
Travel Team: Kessel Heat
Ellis continues to impress us each time we see him. The 6’3” point guard went to work both scoring and distributing late in the spring for Kessel Heat 17U. Everything he did seemed to work. Very crisp lead guard with good size. He loves to get in the lane and work in the mid-range where he can hit a pull up jumper or floater over a big guy. Consistently got in the lane which put pressure on the defense to make decisions to either stop him or stay on their man. When the help defender comes Ellis does an outstanding job of finding his teammates for dump off passes, lobs, or open jumpers. Ellis should be on D2 and low-major D1 radars!
Bailey Dee (Champaign Central)
Overall Rank: #51
Travel Team: Illinois Irish
Dee is the man running the show for the Illinois Irish 17U. The Champaign Central 6’0” lead guard is coming off a strong junior campaign where he was able to show he is more than just a scorer. The stocky built guard is a tough cover when he gets a head of steam behind him. Gets dribble penetration and has explosive speed pushing in transition. As a scorer he finishes with runners in the lane and pull up mid-range jump shots. Tough prospect that is a D2 guy right now.