Wooden Shoes Shootout: Standout Performers

Saturday PrepHoopsIllinois attended the 7th Annual Wooden Shoes Shootout. It was a fun day of hoops with a nice mix of teams from different classes across southern and central Illinois. Here are the Standout Performers! We will have a full breakdown of all of the prospects in this event over the next few days.   SG Jadyn Princko (Mattoon – 2019) Princko put himself on our radar a couple years ago hitting some big shots as a youngster at the Salem Invitational Tournament. He has grown height wise as he is now up to 6’0” with a solid build. Princko was lights out shooting it knocking down threes both off the catch and pulling up. Crisp ball handler that had a couple slippery drives as well converting tough layups or making runners over bigger defenders. He had 23 points.   PG Antwan Glasper (Madison – 2019) Glasper did everything that he could do to get his team back in the game against Mattoon. The senior 5’9” guard is a smaller scoring combo guard with a thick build. He is a tough kid that knocked down an array of threes en route to 21 points.   SG Connor Heaton (Central A&M – 2020) Heaton was one of the breakout performers of the day for us. The 6’5” shooting guard has excellent size for position and the ability to play multiple spots as he played both on and off the ball. With his size and strength he can play the three as well. The junior has some athletic pop off the bounce as he took it to the hoop over and over when the game got close in the fourth quarter. Tight handles along with excellent body control finishing with either hand. Definitely a capable shooter especially off the catch. He had 28 points.   SF Tevin Smith (Danville – 2021) Smith continues to impress each time we see him this season. The top 10 sophomore played like it against Effingham St. Anthony. The 6’4” sophomore is an elite level athlete that uses it in a variety of ways. He was impressive high pointing rebounds in traffic. Quick to the glass for put backs. He is at his best in transition as a wing finisher. The skill set in the half court continues to come along. He had a three along with a one dribble pull up in rhythm. Couple big slams including an alley-oop to close out his night. His handles have tightened up which is great to combine with his explosive first step. Much improved as a defender. Went for 27 points.   G Sean Houpt (Danville – 2019) Houpt is one of the better unsigned combo guards in the state. The lefty can play both on and off the ball. In this game he was most effective off the ball as a spot up shooter. Houpt rained down an array of triples. Pushed in transition and had a couple slick takes to the rim. Solid rebounder from his guard spot and was an excellent on ball perimeter defender. He had 18 points.   C Jaccob Dust (Effingham St. Anthony – 2020) Dust is a 6’6” center who we first noticed with the Illinois Bears last spring. He has since grown a little vertically and slimmed down. Still a big bodied post he is at his best using bully ball inside where he mauled on the offensive glass for multiple put backs. Showed decent footwork after garnering deep post position. Right handed hook and a 12 foot shot were effective. Quality area rebounder. 18 points and 7 boards.   PG Parker Wolfe (Effingham – 2021) Wolfe is one of the best sophomores in southern Illinois. He isn’t the biggest point guard, but man can this kid get buckets! Plus shooter especially off the catch. He nailed seven from beyond the arc in their game Saturday night. Quick and consistent mechanics. Always has his head up looking to find teammates ahead of him on outlet passes in transition. Finished with 34 points on the night.   PG Cayman Hayes (North Vigo Terre Haute, IN – 2019) This smaller point guard looked like he was about to go off as he dropped 14 points in the first quarter nailing threes, mid-range pull ups, and getting loose in transition. Creative scorer that is constantly moving! Effingham focused their D on him the last three quarters, but he still managed 23 points for the game.   G Dawson Smith (Teutopolis – 2019) It wasn’t a spectacular night for this 6’4” combo guard, but there is so much to like here. Excellent size for position being able to see over the defense. He is an outstanding facilitator in the half court finding teammates. Feel for hitting cutters, shooters, or his big man. Can invert the offense posting up in the high/low as well. Strength off the bounce. He had 11 points.   SG Pryce Punkay (Champaign Central – 2020) Coach Finke told us that Punkay had been on a roll. He continued that against T-Town as the 6’2” shooting guard proved to be an excellent perimeter sniper as he knocked down six from beyond the arc mostly off the catch. Moves very well to get open and relocates if he doesn’t get the space he needs. Good length and strength. Punkay had 19 points in a win.