Class of 2018 Top Wings
Solid group of wings at the top in the 2018 class from Illinois. Here we look at the top prospects at shooting guard and small forward for D1 programs to pursue.
Tim Finke (Champaign Central)
Overall Rank: #2
Travel Team: Meanstreets
The big two guard has good strength and athleticism. Finke has a feathery jumper from all over the floor both pulling up off the bounce and from three off the catch. Moves well without the ball to get open setting up his shot with crisp cuts. Toughness and athleticism off the bounce have shown through more this spring. Passes it well making crisp dishes to find teammates for open shots. Doesn’t panic when he is double teamed as he has the ability to see over defenders and make the right play. Moves it around the perimeter and finds guys off the drive for threes. Rebounds well and is making strides as a defender. High-major prospect.
Talen Horton-Tucker (Simeon)
Overall Rank: #3
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Horton-Tucker is a 6’5” small forward that has a strong body. The Simeon wing is the #3 prospect in the 2018 class due to his immense versatility. He has a shiftiness to his game which allows him to break down defenders and get to the cup. Sound passer that makes quality decisions with the ball finding open teammates for good looks. THT rebounds well and can hit a three off the catch. His recruitment continues to soar. High-major recruit.
Drew Peterson (Libertyville)
Overall Rank: #4
Travel Team: Illinois Wolves
At 6’7” he has great size and length. The fluid athlete has always been able to slash and be a playmaker in the open floor. His jump shot consistency has taken his game to another stratosphere. Peterson is able to get his shot off with ease from anywhere on the floor. Feathery shot from both mid-range and three. That has been on display this spring as he hit tons of pull ups from 15-18 feet off the bounce as well as a few threes off the catch when we have evaluated him. The top 5 2018 prospect is a high-major player.
Javon Freeman (Whitney Young)
Overall Rank: #7
Travel Team: Meanstreets
Freeman was the star for Whitney Young in their playoff ride to a state title. Slippery through traffic attacking downhill. Gets and-1s at the rim. Smooth handles allow him to get where he wants on the floor. Plus scoring in transition. Jump shot needs to become more consistent as he is mainly just a driver at this stage. Flashes the ability to pass the ball, but his scoring game is where he excels at this stage. Mid-majors should take a look.
Kezo Brown (Simeon)
Overall Rank: #10
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Brown is a lefty 6’2” shooting guard that had a strong junior campaign for the Wolverines. He is a prospect that can light up the scoreboard in a hurry. Quick release on his jumper from three and lets it fly with confidence. This past high school season he was in the best shape of his life and looked primed to have a monster spring. He was not seen at all on the circuit this spring with his usual Mac Irvin Fire or anyone else.
Zion Griffin (Hinsdale South)
Overall Rank: #13
Travel Team: Hoopers Basketball Club
He has a physical body and bounce to match! Griffin has improved his handles over the last year. The Hinsdale South forward is best attacking on straight line drives. Glides to the hoop and explodes at the rim! At times he can struggle finishing through contact, but seems to be getting better at that. Jump shot has got better for the forward. He shoots it with a low release point. Best off the catch spotting up when his feet are set. Will hit several, but also falls in love with it at times. In the post he seals well. Definitely transitioning his game into more of a small forward however. Snatches rebounds at a high point. Would like to see more volume on the boards. Defensively he is a good weakside shot blocker. Low-major D1 prospect that is inching his way closer to mid-major territory.
Raekwon Drake (Orr)
Overall Rank: #14
Travel Team: Team Rose
The Orr 2018 forward is an uber athlete just like he has been since the first time we ever evaluated him. What has impressed us the most is the progression in his perimeter game. Before he was looked at as more of an undersized power forward that relied on his freakish athleticism. His skill level has greatly improved in the last 12 months. That was seen during the high school season and continued into the spring. His jump shot is very consistent from 15 feet and can stretch it out to three on occasion. Drake can now handle it with more ease attacking off the bounce from the perimeter. This is in addition to the elite motor that he plays with. Nobody in the state plays harder than Drake. He rebounds outstanding in traffic and is a tough defender. His second jump to the offensive glass is a major weapon. Mid-majors and low-majors should look into him ASAP!
Malachi Smith (Belleville West)
Overall Rank: #19
Travel Team: Jets-Ramey United
Smith is a two guard that is wired to score! He is a slick ball handler through traffic that has the ability to get in the paint. Turns the corner with speed coming off a ball screen attacking downhill. Can beat his man off the bounce and get in the lane where he likes to finish with runners and acrobatic layups. On occasion will throw down a poster dunk. He is a solid jump shooter with the ability to knock down a one dribble pull up from mid-range and has a clean looking shot from three off the catch. Has the ability, but sometimes took a backseat to Javon Pickett last year and faded in games. Rebounds well for his size and is active on the offensive glass getting at least one put back a game. Solid athlete at the wing position. Could improve on the defensive end. Projects as a low-major prospect with mid-major upside.
Darius Beane (Carbondale)
Overall Rank: #20
Travel Team: Gateway
The uber athletic guard elevated his game as a junior for Carbondale especially on the defensive end. He is cat quick moving laterally and staying in front of his man. Recovers well when he does slightly get beat. Offensively Beane is more aggressive than we had seen in the past looking for his shot. Plus mid-range jump shooter. Beane has a picture perfect jumper with elevation off the floor. The junior is a plus passer for an off guard. Makes sound decisions with the rock including slick passes in the lane. D1 prospect in the 2018 class.
Zion Young (Simeon)
Overall Rank: NR
Travel Team: Spiece Indy Heat
Young is a physical shooting guard from Merrillville, Indiana that played prep ball last season in Utah. He is moving back to the Midwest to finish out his prep career as he will be running with the Simeon Wolverines. Young is a kid that flat out gets buckets. The wing is an effective scorer at all three levels. He can finish at the rim with strength, hit pull up mid-range jumpers, and is lethal from three off the catch. Just a born scorer and potential mid-major prospect.