KC: Thursday Standouts
PrepHoopsIllinois split up day two of the week in Kansas City between the morning at Jayhawk Finale and afternoon/night at the Sunflower Showcase. Check out which players made the biggest impact!
PF Charlie Hoehne (Made Men 16U)
This OPRF face up four man is an underrated post prospect. The 6’6” forward is a bouncy post that runs the floor tremendously well. He scores running and catching passes in traffic. Hoehne did a nice job finishing around the hoop through contact. Has some pop off the floor and can convert with acrobatics when needed. He had 15 points. Needs to be on the LM and D2 radar.
PG Mario McKinney (Brad Beal Elite 16U)
McKinney is a quick and shifty left handed point guard that has the ball on a string. The Vashon (MO) lead guard is a plus pull up jump shooter especially from mid-range. Shakes and bakes his defender and then pulls up in their grill. That was on point Thursday morning along with his ability to get to the rack. Floater is a weapon as well. Pressure on a ball defender that can get after it the length of the floor. Shown the growth as a passer we were looking for this July. High-major prospect. Went for 25 points.
SG Anthony Fairlee (Illinois Irish 16U)
We have said it before and will say it again….Anthony Fairlee is the biggest freak athlete playing high school basketball in Illinois! His combination of explosion, athleticism, quickness, and speed are unmatched. He showed that off again Thursday with a few monster posterizing slams. With some missing pieces for the Irish the wing took a more assertive mindset into this week and it has shown through in his production. Getting on the offensive glass for put backs. The biggest thing we saw was that he drilled multiple threes. Looked comfortable shooting it. Traditionally hasn’t been a great shooter in the past. If he can do that he is without question a D1 player. Fairlee had 20 points.
SG Malcolm Miller (Illinois Irish 16U)
Miller struggled a bit shooting it the first two weeks, but the big Shelbyville 2019 wing lit up Thursday morning. He is a spot up shooter with size. He drilled a handful of threes off the catch. Quick release and was shooting with confidence. Mixed in a nice drive and got on the glass for a put back. Big game for Miller as he had 19 points.
PF Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (KC Run GMC 16U)
This forward is one of the premier post prospects in the country. The 2019 Kansas native has a lot of Trey Lyles in his game. They not only look similar, but have a lot of the same tools in their games. Robinson-Earl opened with eight consecutive points to begin the game. He has a long and projectable frame where he will be able to add strength easy going forward. Excellent hook shot and footwork on the block. Can handle it from the mid-post attacking with his long strides. Plus rebounder that snatched them with ease. Five-star and high-major prospect.
PG Alex Wood (Young & Reckless 15U)
Wood is the next point guard in line at Normal U-High. He is a quick and shifty lead guard that gets in the lane and is a playmaker with the rock. He can finish with scoop shots, up and under layups, floaters, and pull up jumpers. Always in control of the game and has a feel for running his team. Wood had 15 points.
PG Branden Ellis (Kessel Heat 17U)
Ellis continues his strong spring/summer. The Warren point guard is an athletic combo that gets his offense started on the defensive end. Pushes it in the open floor and consistently has the speed to beat anyone down the floor to get layups. Acceleration with the ball in his hands. Passes it well in traffic. Does the little things well. Most of the time he is a plus shooter, but didn’t connect much Thursday afternoon. Low-major prospect.
PG Benjamin Tompson (Kessel Heat 17U)
Tompson is a point guard out of Bartlett. With several players missing he had to play more meaningful minutes than he is used too and performed well. The Bartlett rising senior is a 6’1” guard that is a good ball handler. Gets where he needs to on the floor to get his shot off especially from mid-range and finishes solid around the hoop. He had 17 points. Worth a look at the D3/NAIA levels.
SF Zion Griffin (Hoopers Basketball Club 17U)
The talk of last week in KC was this 6’6” small forward from Hinsdale South. The explosive wing put on a show at the Hardwood Classic and there were several high-majors on hand to see if he could duplicate it this weekend. He had a workman like 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Impressed defensively with his high activity level and pinning a few LBJ type blocks on the backboard. Really knows how to get on the offensive glass for put backs. Toughness around the hoop and high points boards. Finished some monster jams including a couple in transition and a huge alley-oop. Shot it solid from three drilling multiple threes off the catch. Gets elevation off the floor.
PG DeAndre Heckard (Hoops4Health 17U)
We only caught the second half of this Romeoville top 10 2018’s game, but he dominated! The 6’2” point guard was in attack mode going downhill and getting to the rim. Finishes through contact throughout as he made regular trips to the line for and-1s. Acrobatic finishes around the hoop. Pushes the ball with crisp passes in the open floor. Finished with 26 points. Mid-major prospect.
SG Ryan Saunders (Hoops4Health 17U)
Saunders is the ultimate glue guy for Hoops4Health. He doesn’t get all the attention that Heckard, Creal, and Johnson do. Don’t get it wrong though he is extremely important to this team. The Joliet Central wing is a versatile player that does the dirty work. Gets after it on the defensive end and flies around for rebounds. Gets out in transition for finishes and when his three is falling it opens up a lot for him on offense. Great D3/NAIA player.
SF Ethan Helwig (Illinois Stars 16U)
Helwig is in this spot again after he was a standout two days last week. The Metea Valley wing can flat out shoot the basketball! He drilled a handful of threes with his smooth and effortless shooting stroke. What separates him is he is more than just a shooter. Has the handles that allow him to get to the rack in the open floor and slashing in the half court. Willing to make the extra pass for a better shot.
SG Malik Smith (Jets-Ramey United 16U)
Smith is a new name to the radar. This Alton 2019 wing stands at 6’2” and is all about getting to the rim. Scored in a variety of ways in the paint throughout the game on runners, layups, and making trips to the foul line. One to continue to track as he will team up in the backcourt with senior Kevin Caldwell.
SF Ismael Massoud (PSA Cardinals 16U)
Massoud is one of my favorite 2019 national prospects. The 6’8” small forward has plus size and length for the position. He absolutely took over the game in the second half! He drilled three after three. Effortless shot that he gets off with ease. Can also handle it and finish in the open floor. Plus passer as well. Length plays well on the defensive end. Top 50 player nationally in 2019.