Hard Work Live: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook

It was a full day of games on Saturday at Hard Work Live in Madison, Wisconsin. We dive into it here with Hard Work Live: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook!   Illinois Notes Beau Frericks and Connor Webb Bright Spots for RWA 17U It was a tough 9 AM game for Team RWA as they lost 66-37 to South Dakota Attack. There were a couple bright spots however. Let’s start with Cary Grove point guard Beau Frericks. This 2020 lead guard is one of the top shooters in the state. He did it again consistently knocking down threes, pull ups, and even put the ball on the deck for a tough and-1. Lisle small forward Connor Webb is a long and angular wing with projectability. He played with a motor even when they were down big. Webb was particularly effective slashing to the hole.   ET21 Buckeyes 17U has Small College Gems The Buckeyes have traditionally been a program that D2, D3, and NAIA programs can count on for talent. That is the case again this year. Their top prospect is Richards small forward Paul Zilinskas. He is a 6’5” wing that can really put it in the hoop. In our two evals of him on Saturday he more than proved he can score in a variety of ways. Alec Millender (St. Rita) and Michael Osborne (Proviso East) are the motors that run this team. They push the tempo, get others involved, and along with Billy Durkin (Hinsdale South) were major factors forcing turnovers on the defensive end. Couple upside prospects to track long term are Kayman Hopkins (Fremd) and Markus Becton (St. Joseph).   Full Package 17U Duo Put Themselves on Map A pair of 2020 prospects from the Chicago land area made a name with their play for Full Package. Chijioke Nwosu (Von Steuben) is an explosive athlete that finished well at the rim. Really good slasher. Also used his athleticism defensively blocking shots and defending. Luke Rekasius (Lemont) has solid size for the power forward spot at 6’6”. High points rebounds in traffic and can even put it on the deck a little from mid-range. Daniel Gilbreath Continues Strong Weekend for All-In Athletics 17U This Plainfield East 6’3” wing did it again! He doesn’t show much in the way of a jump shot, but man can this kid attack the rim. He is an angular guard that is slippery through defenders trying to stop him. Over and over again he got downhill for scores!   Hoops4Health 17U Backcourt Shoot Lights Out Despite the close loss to Wisconsin Academy there was a pair of standouts. A couple of unknowns broke out in the form of Brandon Malone (St. Joseph) and Jack Vasilopoulos (Northside College Prep). Malone is a scoring combo at 6’2” that made us take notice with the way he knocked down pull up jumpers. Hit an array of threes and deep twos. Vasilopoulos was also a sniper from deep drilling five triples in the game we saw with a quick and concise release!   Unsigned Senior Group Illinois Vipers Steal the Show Led by Leondre Townsen The top Illinois team of the day was the Illinois Vipers 17U as they blew out their opponent Illinois Attack. The Illinois Vipers are mostly made up of unsigned 2019s that should be on colleges radars. Well one certainly got the attention of many and that was Corliss wing Leondre Townsen. The 6’5” shooting guard has a long and athletic frame. Recently reopened his recruitment and did he ever make an impression scoring 38 points including 22 points in the first half. He opened the game with a quartet of huge dunks. Then went to work in the half court with an array of smooth takes and deep threes. Tyriel Nelson (Providence St. Mel) was the leading scorer on the 1A state champs. It’s crazy that he is still on the board as a small college should have locked him up by now. Smooth scorer that loves the pull up three. Damari Nixon (Curie) had a few nice moments defensively, hit a three, and got out in transition. Center Joseph Doyle (Corliss) is a big body inside that finishes well around the hoop. Breion Hill (Marian Catholic) is an elite defender at the small college level that can defend two guards through fours.   Illinois Attack Backcourt Keeps Fighting Until the End Despite the tough loss Illinois Attack’s backcourt of Keon Killins (Plainfield East) and Demetrius King Jr (Lisle) each showed their competitive spirit to play hard no matter the score. Killins is a point guard that has range on his shot and doesn’t back down from anyone. Same thing with King as he drilled an array of threes.   Intriguing Long Term Prospects for ET21 Buckeyes 16U We will focus on 16U on Sunday, but got a chance to catch ET21 Buckeyes younger group twice. The aspect of this team which stands out the most is their positional size across the board. Michael Rheintgen (Downers Grove South) stands at 6’6” and this face up four man has versatility scoring on the block, rebounding, and taking his man off the bounce. James Ogrodnik (Lincoln Way Central) is a 6’7” face up four that stretches the floor with his shooting and rebounds well. Jacob Folkerts (Glenbard South) has broad shoulders and long arms at 6’5”. He is a quality athlete that rebounds well. Also like the upside of Glenbard North 6’4” shooting guard Jerry Abushanab with his rangy frame and upside defensively. Also knocked in a three.     Out of State Notes South Dakota Attack Puts on a Clinic The South Dakota Attack 17U group was impressive in Iowa last weekend and even better in their huge win over a talented Team RWA squad. Matthew Mors is a 2021 stud that is a no doubt high-major prospect. Toughness and skill are the name of his game. Can hit threes, take you in the post, and as their opponents later in the day found out put you on a poster if you are caught in the wrong spot at the wrong time! Such an impressive prospect. Akoi Akoi is another forward with D1 potential as he is a rangy kid that can slash and play great D. Kobe Busch moves well without the ball and has potential as a shooter. Alex Vankalsbeek is a physical power forward that finishes well on dump off passes with his soft hands and efficiency in the paint.   Andrew Morgan Name to Remember in 2021 Caught this top 5 prospect in the Minnesota 2021 class later in the day. At probably about 6’9” he has a good frame with strength. The power forward has skill on the block with fundamentally sound moves and is a high volume rebounder. Flashed the athleticism with a big dunk to end the half.   Ahmad Ingram Has Heart over Height Ingram is a tiny point guard for Wisconsin Surge that showed it doesn’t matter how tall you are you can still get buckets! This 5’8” guard gets to the rim with quickness and makes acrobatic shots on a regular basis. Fun player to watch!   Minnesota Rise 17U Inside Duo and Shooting Impress For Minnesota Rise 17U their post tandem of Jordan Merseth and Wyatt Olson were beasts in the paint. Thicker bodied kids that know how to use their bodies to score in the paint. Fundamentally sound big men who rebound well in their area and can put the ball in the hoop when given the opportunity. They were surrounded by a strong group of shooters which knocked down shots for Rise.   More Out of State Gems on Saturday We wanted to make quick mention of a few other national standouts on the day. Charles Katona (Minnesota Fury 17U) is a wing that brought toughness, trash talking, slashing, and defense to the table. Josh Rogers (Minnesota Fury 17U) stood out at 6’3” with an explosive second jump to the rim and ability to score in transition. Keaton Ferris (Wisconsin Crusaders 17U) shot the ball well hitting threes and pull ups. Payton Sandfort and Immanuel Austin (Kingdom Hoops 17U) were a nice duo from Iowa. Sandfort has size at 6’7” along with the ability to shoot it from deep. Austin is a point guard that lived in the lane and at the rim. Malcolm Reed (Wisconsin Academy 17U) is an unsigned senior that can score in bunches and do an “Air Guitar” ala Lance Stephenson while at it! Jacob Jennisen (Minnesota Matrix 17U) is a long and thin post that displayed skill potential on the block.