KC: Friday Standouts
The festivities in Kansas City continued on Friday with games at the Sunflower Showcase. Here are a few of the standout performers.
G Keshawn Williams (Young & Reckless 15U)
This Bloom combo guard is a long and lean prospect. He makes his money in the transition game. Explosive speed in the open floor and finishes well at the cup through and around contact. In the half court he can really slash getting to the rim with some smooth drives. Also makes trips to the foul line at a high rate. He had 14 points.
SG JaQuan Davis (Young & Reckless 15U)
Davis is a plus athlete with great strength. The Bogan 2019 shooting guard is one of the premier athletes in his class with his ability to play above the rim. Converts monster slams and pounds the offensive glass for put backs. The development we liked most was the improved skill since the spring handling it and hitting a few jump shots. He went for 14 points.
PF Ethan Schuemer (Mercury Elite 17U)
Schuemer is a 6’6” combo forward that is leaning toward the four at the next level. Not overly athletic, but he is a highly skilled forward that can beat a defense in a number of ways. Sound passer that makes quality decisions dishing it from the high post area. Handles have gotten much better which allows him to attack from the mid-range when facing up and finished through contact. Solid shooter from 10-15 feet and has a skilled right handed hook shot. He had 16 points in their morning game. Should be considered heavily by D2 programs.
PG Jack McDonald (Mercury Elite 17U)
McDonald is a point guard playing up a year. The Geneva 2019 floor general makes great decisions with the ball consistently. Takes care of it and handles well against pressure. As a scorer he mixes it up with runners, pull ups from mid-range, and stretches it to three on occasion. He had 18 points.
PF Josh Sorenson (Mercury Elite 17U)
This Wheaton North product has steadily seen his stock rise over the last three weeks to where he should now be a priority small college prospect. High percentage scorer when playing with his back to the basket on the block. Also can shoot it in the pick and pop from both three and mid-range. Solid rebounder. The face up four man had 13 points.
PG Artese Stapleton (Young & Reckless 16U)
Huge fan of this Kenwood point guard. With the graduation of several of their key guards last year they are going to be looking for someone to run the show and that will be Stapleton! He is a long and rangy point guard that uses his physical tools first and foremost on the defensive end of the floor. Gets after it pressuring the ball as soon as his opponent crosses half court. Consistently gets steals and turns them into points on the other end. Quick in transition with his speed and acceleration. Blow by speed off the bounce getting to the rim. Good passer that at times can try to fit some passes in a little tight, but projects as above average as a distributor. He needs to be on the D1 radar.
C Erik Lahm (Shooting Stars 16U)
This Lindbergh (MO) 6’9” center caught our eye in the first half with his play against Young & Reckless. He was going up against a similar sized post player and went to work! The mobile post was efficient with his touches in the paint and finished well around the hoop. Really impressed with his ability on the defensive end of the floor protecting the rim, playing outstanding post defense, and getting on the glass! He had 13 points. Should be on the D2 watch list for schools this upcoming high school season.
SF Zion Griffin (Hoopers Basketball Club 17U)
The Zion Griffin show continues. Just another huge performance against an EYBL team. Nothing new for this Hinsdale South 6’6” small forward. He did it last week and this time it was PSA that were the opponent. Griffin started off a bit slow in the first half struggling with his shot. A thunderous alley-oop slam got him going and that opened the floodgates. Started to get more confidence in his jumper hitting a couple of threes and mid-range shots. Once he refines his consistency game in and game out he should be a good shooter as he has sound mechanics and elevation off the floor. Underrated passer that knows how to find teammates when the defense doubles him as he zoomed several bullet passes. Still best getting out in transition and finishing with authority. Struggled rebounding in this contest. Stock continues to soar as more and more schools are coming in to see what all the talk is about!
PG Tyler Cochran (Hoopers Basketball Club 17U)
Cochran is definitely Robin to Griffin’s Batman on the Hoopers, but this top 25 2019 prospect had another quality day in his own right. He is a power point guard that is learning not to force things and let the game come to him. He contributes across the board with points, rebounds, assists, and tough defense. In this game he was at his best as a facilitator on drive and kick opportunities as well as spotting up for threes himself. He had 13 points. D1 prospect.
C Tyler Joest (Gateway Illinois 17U)
Joest is one of the more intriguing post players in southern Illinois. He has great size and length for the center position. This Breese Central post is a plus shooter from 10-15 feet and that is exactly what he excelled at on Friday. Joest hit three impressive baseline jumpers in the first half alone. Mixed in a hook shot and overall played more aggressive in the paint. He went for 14 points. With the lack of posts in Illinois this is one that D2, D3, and NAIA’s should be keeping tabs on.
PG Jack Marinko (Gateway Illinois 17U)
Edwardsville point guard Jack Marinko can really shoot the basketball. He is fun to watch! He is a competitive kid that plays with a lot of fire. Plus shooter especially off the catch. Can mix in a drive on occasion where he likes to use a floater to get it over opposing big men. Marinko had 19 points. Excellent small college sharp shooter in 2018.
SG Quinlan Bennett (Kessel Heat 17U)
It was a fairly balanced attack for Kessel in their one point afternoon victory. Proviso East 6’3” shooting guard Quinlan Bennett was one of the guys who stepped up on both ends of the floor. He is best working in the mid-range where he is most comfortable getting to his spots for jumpers. Defenders can’t just play the shot though as he is comfortable driving around defenders for scores as well. Defensively showed flashes of being able to get after it on that end with his lateral quickness staying in front of his man. He had 14 points. Low-major prospect.
C Jalen Shaw (Kessel Heat 17U)
Shaw had a double double going for 10 points and 10 boards. What makes this Larkin 2018 prospect so intriguing is his size at 6’10” and frame that should allow him to continue to get stronger. Flashed on the offensive end with a sick baseline spin in this contest. Had another and-1 and a put back. Fighting harder on the glass. It is all about consistency with Shaw game in and game out. D1 prospect.