Summer Jam: Evals Pt 3
PrepHoopsIllinois covered NY2LA Sports Summer Jam all five days last week at Homestead High School in Mequon, Wisconsin. Here we dive into our scouting reports from the events in 2019 Evaluations: Part 3!
PF Nate Ferguson (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Ferguson is one of the top prospects in the state checking in at #6 in the latest 2019 rankings. The Lemont post has size, versatility, skill, and athleticism. Face up four man that can beat a defense in so many ways. He did it in a variety of ways on Friday. Baseline spin, put backs, mid-range jumpers, threes, running the floor, and consistently rebounded well in traffic. Big time prospect that is being slept on by a lot of mid-major schools.
PG Demari Grant (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Grant who will be transferring to Oswego East for this upcoming season is a scoring point guard that can really shoot the basketball. Loves to hit pull up threes getting a lot of elevation on his jumper each time. Also not afraid to take it right at his defender for scores in the paint. Always in attack mode and plays really hard!
F Cody Mitchell (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
This St. Charles East 2019 combo forward has nice height and length. Combo forward skills as he displayed solid athleticism along with the ability to shoot it from beyond the arc.
F Trevon Jones (Chicago Lockdown 17U)
Jones is a productive player that might not have the highest ceiling as a prospect. He is a thick forward that is undersized, but brings a lot of toughness to the table with the way he cleans up on the glass for second chance scores.
PG Will King (All-In Athletics Braverman 17U)
King is a player that we have featured multiple times over the last couple weeks. Another solid showing with AIA group during the second live period. 6’4” combo guard that has an advanced feel for the game being able to pass it well in the half court. In the lane he loves the floater game. Also a capable shooter from beyond the arc. Very crafty playmaking guard.
PG Semaj Henderson (Illinois Heat 17U)
Henderson had a lot of talk about his play the first two days and we can confirm that the Downers Grove North 2019 point guard is playing some of the best hoops of his career. Henderson is a guard that loves to get downhill where he finishes well at the rim or gets to the charity stripe. Good initial first step. Solid jump shooter that is picking his spots better on when to take those shots.
PG Tyrese Shines (Illinois Heat 17U)
Shines is a big guard that can play both on or off the ball. Has a knack for scoring with his mid-range game and has improved as a spot up shooter. Did a nice job as well of getting to the line. Like his potential defensively with his long arms.
SF Evan Taylor (Illinois Heat 17U)
We are big fans of this small forward from Glenbard West High School as he is a top 10 prospect in the state. Point forward with size and a high basketball IQ. Unfortunately in the game we saw him play he really struggled and couldn’t ever get into a rhythm. Only scored five points.
SF Johnny Roeser (Illinois Heat 17U)
The Carmel small forward played a reserve role for the Heat, but we liked what he did as a role player. Had a nose for the basketball and when the ball touched his hands he made plays.
F Anthony Roberts (Made Men 17U)
Roberts is a prospect that has intrigued us with his play over the last two weeks. The combo forward is a bit of a tweener, but in today’s game that isn’t always a bad thing. Good strength and frame along with plus athleticism. Handles the ball well slashing to the hoop with a burst along with being able to finish through traffic. Jump shot is a bit streaky, but definitely much improved from the spring.
PF Charlie Hoehne (Made Men 17U)
Hoehne is a face up four man with some athleticism. Runs the floor well and has toughness to his game. Was solid not spectacular in the games that we saw.
SF Donovan Clay (Ramey-Jets United 17U)
This Alton wing is a three and D type small forward, but he showed he is more than just a shooter offensively on Saturday. Although he did hit a couple jumpers including a silky one dribble shot it was actually his scoring off the bounce that was most effective. Finished well at the rim or got to the foul line quite a bit. Burst with the rock in his hands and converts in transition as a wing finisher. Rebounded very well. He recorded an enormous one handed tip slam. Also displayed his defensive prowess blocking some shots and frustrating opponents.
SG Malik Smith (Ramey-Jets United 17U)
Smith is a shooting guard from Alton who is coming off a good junior campaign. Didn’t make much of an impact when we saw him at Next Level Invitational. Was better in the times we saw him at Summer Jam. Smith scored on multiple strong takes to the hoop off the bounce. Also converted a couple quick dump off passes in the paint. Has a little pop to his game.
C Evan Pogge (Illinois Irish Klein 17U)
This Normal Community 6’6” post has good strength around the hoop. Finishes well on dump off passes and garners deep post position in the paint. Quality area rebounder. He was tough defensively blocking multiple shots in the game we saw.
SG Latik Murphy (Illinois Mustangs 17U)
This Morton shooting guard played well with his high school team during June and was outstanding on Sunday. He is a powerful guard that was aggressive taking it to the hoop off the bounce. Particularly effective working on the baseline for drives and hitting jumpers. Strong bodied wing that is powerful finishing in the lane. Hit a deep three, but was streaky shooting it.
SF Tujautae Williams (Chicago Demons 17U)
Williams brought a big crowd of college coaches to check him out. The 6’6” wing from Orr was a role player last year for the Spartans, but his upside was obvious. Length, athleticism, and potential skill. He started off very slow in the first half of the game we saw, but in the second half came out more aggressive with a few acrobatic scores at the cup showing burst off the bounce. Made a couple nice passes. Jump shot consistency is going to be a question he will have to answer for college coaches.
SG Adam Benrahmani (Chicago Demon 17U)
This 6’3” two guard from Mather displayed a nice floater game. The broad shouldered wing also connected on one three.
SG Tavis Stampley (Chicago Demons 17U)
Thought this wing showed potential in the spring when we saw him and flashed again. Couple powerful slashes to the rim and hit a three from the wing.
SF Daniel Belzer (Mercury Elite Kozan 17U)
Belzer is a 6’4” small forward that has a high arcing shot. Decent ball handler that did most of his damage off the bounce and in transition.
PG Benjamin Johlie (Mercury Elite Kozan 17U)
This Geneva 6’0” point guard displayed a natural feel for the game at the point guard position getting others involved and hit a scoop shot.
SG Justin Eagins (Mercury Elite Thomas 17U)
Eagins is a big time shooter from Downers Grove North High School. The 6’1” two guard is a sniper from the perimeter which he showed the previous week at Next Level. We didn’t get to see a ton of him, but in the spot time we caught his games he seemed to be doing more of the same with his deep shooting off the catch.
C Aidan Shore (Mercury Elite Thomas 17U)
Like Eagins we only caught limited minutes of Shore’s team after extensively watching them the previous week. What we saw at Summer Jam was the ability to block shots with timing. There are going to be concerns about his strength, but he has proven able to block shots and rebound against quality competition.