Southern Illinois Spring Skills Day: Player Evaluations

PrepHoopsIllinois was in the house on Tuesday night for the Southern Illinois Spring Skills Day. This annually sets the tone for many of the top prospects in the 618 heading into the travel team season. Here are our evaluations of the prospects we saw on Tuesday night!   Class of 2020 SG Caleb Zurliene (Breese Mater Dei) Zurliene is one of the top southern Illinois prospects in the 2020 class. At 6’4” with long arms he has a lot of projectability. Will definitely need to add more strength on as time goes on to play at the D1 level, but he without a question has that ability. Such a skilled player being able to shoot the ball with ease. Gets a lot of height off the ground on his silky smooth pull up jump shot. The athleticism continues to improve every time we see him. Athletic pop off the bounce getting to the rack. Finished above the rim with authority. Has made strides defensively with his length and anticipation. Also blocked some shots on the perimeter.   SG Blake McKay (Woodlawn) McKay is a scoring machine in southern Illinois. The combo guard presents good strength and a smooth release on his jump shot. Sound perimeter shooter stretching it out to well beyond the three point arc. Also got in the lane for a tough scoop shot.   G Luke Ervie (Freeburg) Ervie is a tough combo guard that plays both on and off the ball. He is more of a scorer first however. Like how he aggressively takes it at the hoop often finishing with runners. Solid mid-range shooter as a stop and pop guy. He rebounds well in traffic.   SF Jackson Connor (Marion) Connor is a player we haven’t seen in a while because he was out the early part of the season. He is coming back from an injury now, but the 6’5” small forward still flashed his ability. Stronger especially in his upper body than the last time we saw him. Tough rebounder around the hoop. Can hit a jumper and plays well in the open floor.   SG Austin Garbe (Carterville) Garbe is a fun player to watch. The 6’2” shooting guard is a crisp ball handler that has quickness to get to the rim and a clean shooting stroke which he displayed over and over.   SG Carson Parker (Nasville) Parker is one of the premier two guards in the class and a top southern Illinois prospect. Scores it with so much ease! Mid-range jumpers were on point all day long! He is so good at just pulling up and elevating over defenders for scores. Size and strength to play at the low-major level for sure. Also is an athletic player getting to the rim on reverse layups along with being more active on the defensive end of the floor.   PG Tristen Hercules (Nashville) Hercules is a player that flew under the radar on last years loaded Nashville squad, but he brings toughness, basketball IQ, and skill to the table. Sets others up and is a good ball handler.     Class of 2021 PF Joe Melton (NCOE) Melton continues to intrigue at 6’6”. The sophomore has size, length, and a frame to add strength. He showed well in the drill work knocking down mid-range jumpers at a nice clip. In the game setting it was his footwork in the paint and ability to finish down low that stood out. Receives the ball well opening up wide to get the ball and also showed a hook shot. High-pointed rebounds in traffic. His stock continues to go up!   PG Jordan Hardiek (Teutopolis) Hardiek played a reserve role on a loaded T-Town squad this past season. The next two years expect him to take a major jump forward for the Wooden Shoes. Sound perimeter shooter that drilled shots from all-around the floor. Like his toughness and grit. High IQ player.   SG Drew Thompson (Effingham) Thompson had one of the best performances of the day. Like Hardiek he will see his role expand for Effingham the next two years. Crisp ball handler who used that to help him get where he wanted on the floor. Was money with his jumper all night from both mid-range and three.   SG Eli Brown (Paducah Tilgman, KY) Brown was the top out of state prospect at the event. This Kentucky shooting guard can really put it in the hoop! He knocks down shots from three and plays with a lot of energy.   SG Landon Zurliene (Fairfield) Zurliene is another wing with his stock on the rise heading into the spring. The Fairfield 6’3” off guard has size for position and an outstanding jump shot. Knocked them down with regularity off the bounce. Scores in the lane with spinning layups and has some passing feel.   F Noah Franklin (Cobden) Franklin was one of the new names to emerge at the event. The 6’5” forward is best working from 18 feet and in scoring downhill. Can handle it off the dribble with crafty moves and ball handling. Range stretches out to three on his shot with a sweet lefty stroke. Plus passer that can really dish it from the forward spot. If athleticism improves he could be a three or might develop into a face up four.   SG Billy Braid (Herrin) This Herrin wing was a great shooter connecting on threes from all-around the arc. Decent athlete that showed it off the dribble as well on a reverse layup and spin move in transition.   SF Eli Downen (Carterville) Downen is a jumbo wing that has excellent size for position. Plus shooting stroke. Potential to definitely develop into a quality prospect.       Class of 2022 G Justin King (Mascoutah) This long and lanky 6’0” point guard from Mascoutah opened our eyes in the first session. Slick ball handler that scored in the lane on runners and euro steps. Got on the glass for a put back. Bit of a shot put release on jump shot.   F Hayden Robinson (Nashville) Robinson has size at 6’4” with solid strength. Decent finisher around the hoop and plays hard.   SF Jack Seibert (Mascoutah) Siebert was very impressive in the second session of the night just like his high school teammate was in the first. At 6’3” this wing was aggressive attacking the hoop. Scored well in the lane. Area rebounder and passes well for a wing.   SG Brady Moore (Breese Central) This Breese Central 6’1” shooting guard has nice strength and finishes well inside. Could be the next scoring wing at Breese Central.   PG Calvion Clemons (Murphysboro) Clemons is small at only about 5’6”, but this kid can go! Slick ball handler who made plays at the rim over and over through bigger defenders. He got to the rim consistently converting difficult layups. Hit a pull up three in the games.     Class of 2023 SG Cole Peppenhorst (Breese) Long and lanky 8th grader with projectability. Runs the floor very well at 6’2” beating his defender down the floor on multiple occasions. Hit a corner three. Bit of a hitch on release.   PG Seth Winkeler (Breese) At 5’8” this tiny point guard proved to be quick getting to the hoop off the dribble. F Dalton Markus (Breese Mater Dei) Strong forward at 6’2” who rebounds well in traffic and has face up ability to score. Mobile kid that handles well.   SG Cade Altadonna (Highland) This lefty shooting guard was a solid perimeter shooting threat throughout the night. Scoring potential at a young age.