Program MVP: DeAndre Heckard

Who was the MVP of each grassroots team program this past spring and summer?  This might not necessarily be the best player although in many cases it is.  We are looking at the player from Illinois that elevated their game and stepped up when it mattered most taking both themselves and their teams to the next level. Hoops4Health is a program that has saw steady growth with their teams over the last several years.  Their core team was this 2018 group that played on the 17U level this spring and summer.  They have several players that had strong showings and elevated their stock, but without question the one that made the biggest impact on the team and program as a whole was Romeoville 2018 point guard DeAndre Heckard.  The Romeoville lead guard is a 6’3” broad shouldered and athletic point guard that when he gets his shoulders squared going downhill he is tough to stop.  Fluid athlete that has improved his all-around feel for the game and jumper has become more consistent over the last year. The two games that stood out for us with Heckard are probably the two highest profile contests they played this past July.  The first was against Game Elite and their superstar 2019 point guard Ashton Hagans.  The Georgia point guard is known for being an elite defender and Heckard sliced him up throughout the game getting in the lane where he made plays for himself and others.  Even in a loss he was spectacular.  Heckard’s other standout game was the last game we saw in July against Hoopers Basketball Club in front of 30+ college coaches where he was outstanding.  Got out early and attacked the hoop.  Controlled the tempo of the game and was strong with the ball. Congratulations to Romeoville 2018 point guard DeAndre Heckard for winning the PrepHoopsIllinois Program MVP for Hoops4Health.