Next Level Invitational: 2019 Evals Pt 2
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PrepHoopsIllinois took in all the action from the Next Level Invitational in Mequon, Wisconsin this past week. Now we dive into our player evaluations from the event. Here is our 2019 Evaluations Part 2!
SF Martin Macenis (ET21 Buckeyes 17U)
Macenis will team up with Masys next high school season as he is transferring to Willowbrook. He is a big small forward at about 6’6” that has a European feel to his game. At his best when he is passing with flair and creating shots for others. Feathery jumper stretches out to beyond the arc. Elevation off the floor with a high release point.
SF Deng Reng (ET21 Buckeyes 17U)
Reng is a rangy wing from Wheaton North that can even play some small ball four at the next level. Super long and rangy prospect that has a lot of developmental upside. When he gets in a roll he is an impressive shooter from mid-range that can stretch it out to three on occasion. A bit of a streaky shooter in Milwaukee. Long strides. Went coast to coast once looking very smooth doing so. Defensive potential. Needs to add strength.
PG Matas Masys (ET21 Buckeyes 17U)
Masys is one of the premier snipers in the state. He is a smaller point guard that gets his shot off from super deep and they go in on a regular basis. Bombed in an array of threes from NBA distance. Competitive kid that brings a desire to win to the table.
PG Christian Davis (ET21 Buckeyes 17U)
This St. Ignatius lead guard is an athletic point guard that comes strong off a ball screen going at the rim. Capable pull up mid-range shooter that can hit a three on occasion, but it isn’t consistent.
SG Matthew Brend (ET21 Buckeyes 17U)
Brend is a Wheaton North two guard that was best shooting the ball from the perimeter off the catch.
PG Zach Toussaint (Kessel Heat 17U)
The “Baby Faced Assassin” is back with his passing flair, speed in the open floor, and deep threes. The Johnsburg standout is such a fun player to watch with the way he can pass it throwing exciting dimes. Gets to the rim with quickness preferring to use his floater over big men. Connects on threes from deep with a quick release.
G Daniel Fillippone (Kessel Heat 17U)
Fillippone is a 6’0” guard from Antioch that gets to the line and score a lot of transition points. Competitive kid.
PF Brian Johnson (Kessel Heat 17U)
Johnson is a 6’5” power forward that decent size and strength in the post. Can put it on the deck a little and connected on a three off the catch in the game we saw.
SG Jamir Price (Quad City Elite 17U)
Price is a two guard from Rock Island that with DJ Carton (who committed to Ohio State on Saturday) not in attendance has been able to play on the ball more and proved to be a playmaker. He was looking to get downhill and to the rim. Did just that with slick drives and acrobatic finishes at the cup. Also mixed in some nice passing when he drew multiple defenders as he was more than willing to give it up to his big fellas.
SG Deonte Billups (Quad City Elite 17U)
Billups is back with QCE and he showed growth since we saw him in the spring with the Fire. The Moline two guard played about as hard as we have seen him during his career. He was super active on the offensive glass with his second jump. Got a handful of put backs in the game we saw. Also mixed in a three off the catch and a strong take to the rack.
PF CJ Wilbourn (Quad City Elite 17U)
Wilbourn might not have blown you away when just looking at the scoring numbers, but it was the little things that impressed us. This Normal Community power forward looked much more comfortable playing as a face up four man handling the ball and hit several threes which we haven’t seen before. Liked what he did on the glass snatching them in traffic and protected the rim. Very good week for him.
C Jermaine Hamlin (Quad City Elite 17U)
What you have to like about Hamlin is his pure size at strength for the center position at 6’9”. Raw strength and athleticism make him a solid rebounder and rim protector. Best right now as a defensive player that will block shots at a nice rate. Good instincts defensively. Offensively he is a bit raw. Tried to step out and hit some jumpers and the lefty didn’t look too comfortable doing that. Most of his scores come on dump off passes or offensive rebounds.
PG Bryce Bultman (Illinois Bears 17U)
Bultman is a 6’5” point guard with excellent vision and feel as a point guard. He is at his best when he can use that passing to get his guys the ball and let them do damage. Reads defenders and is an effective drive and kick distributor. Bultman did a nice job of handling the basketball in the open floor and getting to the rim for several finishes. Got on the offensive glass for some put backs. Jumper needs to improve its consistency.
SG Austin Rager (Illinois Bears 17U)
Rager is a sleeper prospect from Southern Illinois. This Mt. Carmel 2019 wing is a plus athlete with strength in his upper body. Really like what he brings to the table defensively. Contests shots and moves well staying in front of his man on the perimeter. Offensively can hit a mid-range jumper and created his own shot off the bounce on a few occasions.
PG Wyatt Krohne (Illinois Bears 17U)
Krohne is a small guard from Okawville that is a plus shooter off the catch. Definitely most effective as a spot up shooter.
SF Keith Kiner (Illinois Bears 17U)
Kiner is an above average athlete that can handle it in the open floor and is a sound rebounder. Quick twitched athlete that finishes around the rim.
PF Michael Tyler (Illinois Irish Gus 17U)
Tyler emerged on our radar during Springfield Southeast’s run through the tournament. The long and lanky four man changes the game defensively with his length and anticipation. Definitely has major bounce and showed that off blocking shots. Flashes skill on occasion, but most of his points came on put backs.
C Herb McMath (Illinois Irish Gus 17U)
McMath is a wide bodied five man from Springfield Lanphier. He is a space eater on the interior. Soft hands and touch around the hoop. Sound footwork and can even hit a 10 foot jumper.
PG Payton Sheen (Illinois Irish Gus 17U)
Sheen is a tough and gritty point guard that has a high basketball IQ. He gets to the line at a nice rate.
G Jackson Cook (Illinois Irish Gus 17U)
This St. Joseph’s Ogden combo guard hit some threes off the catch and snuck in on the offensive glass for put backs every now and then.
SG Joseph Gustafson (Illinois Irish Gus 17U)
This shooting guard makes regular trips to the free throw line. Handles well in the open floor.
PG Samuel Parker (Illinois Irish Gus 17U)
Parker is a 6’2” point guard from Litchfield High School. He was impressive with the way he shot the ball from deep. Compact build.
PF Evan Pogge (Illinois Irish Klein 17U)
Pogge is a physically built 6’6” post from Normal Community that plays bigger than his height. Brings mobility and powerful rebounding in traffic to the table as a prospect.
SF Nathan Torres (Illinois Irish Klein 17U)
This Normal U-High 6’4” small forward has broad shoulders and raw strength. Gets to the charity stripe using his knack for drawing contact in the paint. Just an average athlete, but he is a kid that knows how to play the game.
SG Trevor Casmere (Breakaway 17U)
This Benet 6’3” shooting guard hit a few threes off the catch in the game we saw. At his size and with his shooting ability that makes him intriguing as a small college kid.
SG Ocean Johnson (Breakaway 17U)
Johnson who is from East Leyden stands at 6’2” with plus athleticism. Very bouncy and quick around the hoop. Was a bit raw skill wise.
SF Andrew Veon (Breakaway 17U)
Veon is a 6’5” forward from Riverside Brookfield that has quality size on the perimeter. Couple nice drives including one on the baseline. High/low finish along with a tip in.
PG Zach Vaia (Breakaway Basketball 17U)
Vaia did just about everything for his Breakaway team in their blowout victory. The Riverside Brookfield guard lacks ideal height, but he makes up for it with his toughness and scrappy nature. Crisp ball handler and precise passer found his shooters in perfect spots to make their shots. Also drilled some of his own.
SG Connor Ilyari (Breakaway Basketball 17U)
This Downers Grove North 6’3” wing is a lefty shooter that flat out was on fire for portions of their contest on Friday night. Connected on pick/pop threes along with triples off the catch from movement.
PF Nate Ferguson (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Ferguson is one of the top post prospects in the 2019 class. Very skilled four man that has the athletic pop to combine with it. Only got to catch one of his games where he wasn’t dominant by any means, but you can definitely see the tools that make him intriguing. Explosive two handed slam, connected on a three, smooth left handed drive from the perimeter, a sweet pick/roll pass, and had an explosive swat in transition.
PG Demari Grant (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Grant is a scoring point guard from Oswego East that has continued his momentum over from the spring to July. Quick and shifty point guard that is wired to score. Speed end to end with the basketball in his hands. He loves to get in the lane were he floats the ball over opponents or maneuvers around them for difficult layups. Did hit a corner three as well. Speed is the name of the game for Grant!
SF Trevon Jones (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Jones opened our eyes with his play back at the holiday tournaments with Richards where he played more on the perimeter as a three. Lockdown uses the 6’2” thick bodied forward as an undersized post that does the dirty work. He is a junk yard dog that is physical on the offensive glass and finishes through contact going to the line regularly on and-1s.