Five Takeaways From The World Hoops Scouting Showcase
With players gearing up to get back on the AAU circuit next weekend, the World Hoops Showcase in Kenosha allowed for a plethora of talented players from the southeast corner of the state to compete and get better. From scholarship…
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Continue ReadingWith players gearing up to get back on the AAU circuit next weekend, the World Hoops Showcase in Kenosha allowed for a plethora of talented players from the southeast corner of the state to compete and get better. From scholarship level talent to players just looking to make a name for themselves, this platform featured a nice mix of competition. Prep Hoops Wisconsin was in attendance, and we’re giving you five key takeaways from the event!
Racine St. Catherine’s Has More Than A Great Backcourt- St. Catherine’s will enter the season as one of the favorites to win state at the D3 level, and while they’re perhaps most known for highly ranked guards Tyrese Hunter and Kamari McGee, their frountcourt duo proved dominant at the World Hoops Showcase. Jermaine Tomlin (2020) has flown under the radar for most of his career, but appears to be emerging as a versatile 6’5-6’6 forward that can play on the block or wing. He possesses a nice handle which allows him to push the ball in transition, or beat his man off the dribble to get to the rim. He threw down a few dunks while also showing some range beyond the arc. With Jermaine as more of a finesse player, Elijah Lambert (2020) is a 6’4 bruiser alongside him. Elijah has the look of a linebacker, and used that to absorb contact in the post, and stood his ground against taller competition. On the offensive end he is agile attacking the basket, while also having the strength to finish through contact with ease. He looked explosive when attacking the hoop and got up to finish above the rim with authority on a few occasions. If these two continue their play into the high school season, look for St. Cats to make a deep playoff run.
The Emergence Of Nick Fugiasco- Racine Case figures to be a threat in Division 1 with some talented 2021 and 2022 pieces, but Nick Fugiasco (2020) appears to have improved greatly in the off-season, and will look to provide some senior leadership for the young Eagles squad. Though he struggled from beyond the arc as a junior, Nick is known as a shooting threat, and has a 6’4 frame that translates to the next level at the shooting guard spot. At the showcase, Nick looked greatly improved driving to the hoop and finishing through traffic. His shot showed consistency which helped keep the defense stretched, and could open up a lot of space for his teammates during the high school season. During the drill session Nick looked like an improved athlete, and was throwing down dunks consistently. After averaging 5.9 points and 4.5 rebounds last year, Nick looks ready to take on a bigger role as a senior.
Kenosha Bradford Most Improved In SEC?- After going just 7-16 (4-10 conference) last year, Kenosha Bradford looks ready to fight for a top-half finish in the always talented Southeast Conference. Bradford returns a handful of talented players, including a trio who stood out at the World Hoops Showcase. Maxwell Glass (2020) returns as the man in the middle, and he showed off his versatile skillset at the showcase. A strong 6’4 forward, Max has great ball handling, crafty footwork in the paint, and a smooth stroke from outside. He returns after averaging 15.3 ppg as a junior. Looking to emerge as juniors are 2021 guards Tre Gordon (6’1) and Trey Jenkins (6’4). Gordon looked smooth as ever attacking the rim, and has added some athleticism as evident by a nice transition dunk. He looked solid when I saw him at the Wisconsin Badger’s Advanced Camp, and continued that performance into the showcase. Jenkins was a pleasant surprise, as he went crazy from beyond the arc, knocking down 3’s at a very high percentage. He was used sparingly at the varsity level last season, and looks ready to make a big impact as a junior. Both look like guards that should start garnering some college attention, and will be ready to give Bradford a boost during the winter months.
The Prep School Duo Looked Dominant- Jaeden Zackery was a top-10 2019 player in the state last season, and Patrick Suemnick was an intriguing senior with some D2 offers. Both have since re-classed to 2020, with Zackery attending Scotland Campus Prep and Suemnick moving on to Don Bosco Prep. Jaeden was one of the most dominant players on both sides of the ball throughout the event. He proved to be a one-man fast break, many times beating 2 or 3 defenders in transition before finishing at the rim or dropping a dime. His pull-up jumper was nearly unstoppable in the half-court, and he looked even stronger and more athletic on both ends of the floor. Suemnick proved to be an athletic freak of nature, who could develop into a force with some added ball skills. Around the rim there wasn’t much defenders could do to stop Patrick, as his explosive finishing ability around the rim is too powerful for other high schoolers to handle. He gets up the floor with pace as a strong bodied big man, and was a strong rebounder on both ends.
The Best Offense Is A Good Defense- One of the top guards in Wisconsin’s 2021 class, JaKobe Thompson proved this saying to be true as he turned steals into transition buckets all day long. The 6’1 junior-to-be looked ultra quick jumping passing lanes time after time to create some easy buckets for himself. JaKobe also found success sitting down on defense and locking up his man, poking the ball free at times with quick hands. We know JaKobe can take games over on offense with his step back threes and crafty layup package around the rim, but his defense appears to have taken a step forward, and that could spell problems for opposing teams in the future. Already nearing 1,000 career points after just two seasons, JaKobe came into the showcase as arguably the top college prospect, and he showed everyone in the gym that the hype around his game is for real.