Prospect Spotlight: Deonte Billups (2019)
Deonte Billups is a 6’3” shooting guard from Moline High School. Good frame and athletic build. Nice strength. Like the physical tools with this 2019 wing. He has potential to be a plus defender if he wants to lock in on that end of the floor. Solid ball handler that attacks in transition. Streaky shooter that far too often settles for jump shots from three when he doesn’t shoot it at that high of a rate.
How was his junior season?
“We started off slow. We had a bunch of young guys. We needed to keep getting better every day. At the end of the season we executed better.”
Where did he feel he grew the most as a player?
“I had to improve on scoring because last year I wasn’t that good at shooting so I had to get in the gym every day to practice my shot because I knew playing against the older guys I wouldn’t be able to get in the lane as easy.”
He discussed the big spring for his Quad City Elite 16U group.
“Coming out I didn’t think we would be getting ranked like this, but we have been playing really good as a team. I think I am playing decent. I could be playing better, but as long as we keep winning I will try to get better.”
What is going on with recruiting?
“I have heard from the assistant and Drake and gotten letters from Western Illinois.”
Drake is the one school that he has spoken with. What did they talk to him about?
“The style they play and how they like long players.”