Peach Jam: Scotty B’s Wednesday Notebook
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PrepHoopsIllinois covered the first day of the Nike Peach Jam on Wednesday. This is the premier event of the summer with the best players in the country. Many of them showed out on the first day! Here we breakdown prospects…
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Continue ReadingPrepHoopsIllinois covered the first day of the Nike Peach Jam on Wednesday. This is the premier event of the summer with the best players in the country. Many of them showed out on the first day! Here we breakdown prospects from Illinois and out of state we saw. Prospects featured range from 2020 to 2023. Check out Peach Jam: Scotty B’s Wednesday Notebook!
Illinois
Meanstreets 17U Falls to MoKan in Pool Play Opener
It was a tough opening showing for Meanstreets 17U in their first game on Wednesday night. The guard oriented attack couldn’t get shots to fall from the perimeter and had no answer inside for N’Faly Dante. They trailed 41-21 at the half. Meanstreets made some moves in the third quarter, but could never get close enough falling 80-62. Whitney Young point guard DJ Steward had a rough night shooting it from the field. Other than hitting one three pointer off the catch to open the third quarter he couldn’t find the touch. Got a couple put backs on his way to 9 points. Marian Catholic point guard Ahron Ulis was solid. He hit a pair of threes including a tough step back. Also got in the lane for a few runners for 12 points. Geneseo wing Isaiah Rivera’s bright spot was an explosive baseline take for an and-1 followed shortly by catching a lob. Went for 6 points. Whitney Young post Sangolay Njie was crafty around the hoop using shot fakes against Dante to get a couple scores. Seemed more comfortable handling the ball too. Finished with 7 points.
Mac Irvin Fire 17U Comes All The Way Back, But Goes Down to Nightrydas
It looked like was going to be a bad loss for the Mac Irvin Fire early on as they struggled shooting it from the field early on in their first game of Peach Jam against a loaded Florida squad. They hit their stride in the third quarter and actually ended up taking a lead in the fourth quarter. You thought when Adam Miller hit a big three to take the lead they were going to pull off the full comeback. It wasn’t enough though as Nightrydas pulled away late to win 100-90. The story of the night was the Morgan Park trio. State’s top senior prospect Adam Miller struggled shooting it from deep only going 3-14 from three, but still managed 27 points. The athletic combo guard put his head down and got to the hoop with athletic finishes. His 2020 backcourt mate Marcus Watson was much more efficient on this night recording a line of 25 points (11-17 FG), 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. He plays with so much speed end to end and is always in attack mode with a superb first step. Top 3 2021 Brandon Weston was also an aggressive scorer. The Morgan Park two guard is a plus athlete that has such elite level athleticism. He had 20 points (7-10 FG) on the evening.
Top 10 Illinois Duo Fitting In Nicely for MoKan 16U
MoKan got the win on the first night against Pro Skills and were aided by a pair of talented Illinois small forwards. Fenwick 2021 Bryce Hopkins has been with them all spring and after a good showing during the high school live periods has a lot of momentum heading into this week at Peach Jam. He began the game with a big jam. Not noted for his athleticism rather skill it was fun to see. As the game went on Hopkins used his physicality and handles to get in the lane and to the basket for scores. Best move of the night was probably a baseline take. Neuqua Valley 2021 small forward John Poulakidas is new to this group, but has a ton of helium after a huge spring with Young & Reckless and his high school team. High level lefty scorer that can fill it up with his jumper. Did just that fitting in nicely with his new team. Closed out the win with a back to back pull up mid-range jumper and corner three. That was his official arrival moment in the EYBL.
Meanstreets 16U Loses to Close Night
The last game of the evening we saw was Meanstreets 16U group against Team Final. A couple of out of state prospects shined early for Meanstreets as Wisconsin’s David Joplin used his physical tools to get out in the open floor and to the rim. Kentucky’s Trey James is big boy inside at 6’10” with country strength. He fought tooth and nail with Jalen Duren early on for position and held his own on the defensive end in the first half. From an Illinois perspective the most effective player was Whitney Young power forward Grant Newell. New age face up four drilled an array of threes and mid-range jumpers. Feathery touch on his shot. Used length defensively creating turnovers. Best play of the night was when he went coast to coast behind his back for a spectacular finish. Thornton 6’4” point guard Brandon Hall has positional versatility on the defensive end and showed off his athleticism converting a few times in the paint. Late in the game Danville 2021 point guard Nathanael Hoskins got loose for a few buckets. Most of them were spinning layups in the lane through traffic. Niles Notre Dame top 15 small forward Troy D’Amico displayed his skill game in the second half with a straight line drive, three from the wing, and got on the glass for a put back. Meanstreets lost 67-59.
National
Craziness Sends Strive For Greatness and Nightrydas 15U to OT
We kicked off our coverage on Wednesday with a 15U pool play game between Strive for Greatness and Nightrydas. It was an epic game including a controversial end to regulation when it looked like Nightrydas won and the shot was called off. SFG features LeBron James’ son Bronny James along with a pair of top 10 2022 prospects Dior Johnson and Skyy Clark. Johnson is an athletic two guard that gets to the rim and has a smooth looking shot. Most impressive play was when he swatted a shot on the perimeter then took it the other way for a finish. That was until he showed ice in his veins by drilling a three to send it to 2OT Clark is more of a point guard that is a slick ball handler. He is uber smooth getting through traffic and to the cup where he makes creative layups. Quality three point shooter pulling up and off the catch. James fouled out, but before he did the point guard showed a solid passing feel. More of a distributor at this stage for the 2023 prospect. Inside SFG had a trio of intriguing posts. Jaxon Kohler looked good at Nike Elite 100 and the skilled post brings toughness and fundamentals down low. Sandague Nganga is an upside big man with projectability hitting a hook shot, running floor, and connecting from mid-range. 2023 7-0 Jahzare Jackson is a huge body inside who rebounds well in his area and finished through contact. Nightrydas featured an athletic backcourt of their own in Jacari Henderson and Damari Henderson. Jacari is a high flyer that got to the hoop with ease and threw down some nasty dunks. New Michigan head coach Juwan Howard’s son Jett Howard is an intriguing 2022 wing with his broad shoulders slashing ability. Regularly got to the line. Gregg Glenn is a powerful combo forward who came to life in OT. Physical ball handler that can bully his way through opponents and is a streaky shooter. Elhadji Moth Sect is a long term big man to track. Bouncy shot blocking presence with legit size! Nightrydas won 86-81 in double OT.
Elite 2022’s Battle: Emoni Bates vs Barry Dunning
Two of the best 2022 wings in the country went at it in their opening pool play game on Wednesday as Bates Fundamental took on Alabama Fusion. That means the best prospect in the nation regardless of class Emoni Bates was on the floor. The 6’9” small forward is eerily similar to Kevin Durant. Such an advanced offensive skill set it is insane. Long and rangy wing with elite skill. In the first half he went to work attacking off the bounce for runners and explosive slashes to the rim. Plays above the rim in transition and got on the offensive glass. Also has extremely deep range on a pull up three point shot. Excellent free throw shooter. He is a little loose with the ball at times and forces shots, but the natural talent is undeniable! Finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds. For Alabama Fusion Barry Dunning made noise. We saw him at Nike Elite 100, but this was the best we have seen him. Jumbo wing that attacks with power, length, and athleticism. Threw down a few thunderous dunks. Finishes well on the interior. Like his upside a lot!
MoKan 17U Rolls to Easy Opening Win
What an impressive statement win by MoKan to open the Peach Jam on Wednesday night against Meanstreets recording a 80-62 win. Their elite 2020 center N’Faly Dante was absolutely unstoppable all night! The seven footer grabbed every single rebound all game long. Many of which he put back in on the offensive end. Physical finisher through contact that had smaller defenders draped all over him and it didn’t seem to bother him one bit. Caught lobs for dunks and threw down several monster jams throughout the game. He had 19 points. Chaminade (MO) 2020 shooting guard Luke Kasubke was light out! The elite sniper connected from deep on numerous occasions, but it was more his toughness and the ability to put the ball on the deck that impressed in this game. Finished with 25 points. At Elite 100 Kennedy Chandler put his name on our radar and he was excellent again. Smaller guard with a slight frame, but he is super athletic and a force on the defensive end. Consistently got steals and took them the other way for buckets. He had 13 points. Off the bench we liked the production seven footer Davion Bradford brought to the table. Huge body that is a quality area rebounder and finishes with soft hands.
Scottie Barnes Puts On Show in Nightrydas 17U Win
One of the top 2020 prospects in the nation Scottie Barnes has played on plenty of big stages on the circuit, in high school, and internationally. He stepped up for his team to lead them to a 1-0 record with a 100-90 win over the Mac Irvin Fire. I call him the ultimate 5 tool player taking the term from baseball. He does everything on the floor well. Such a versatile player who can defend every position on the floor. He is a high level passer. Elite scorer with tremendous body control around the rim. Plays with a high-IQ always thinking one play ahead of his opponent. Rebounds very well from his wing spot. Uses his length defensively to block shots and get in passing lanes. Barnes had a line of 28 points (11-14 FG), 6 rebounds, and 5 dimes. He was helped by his running mate up front Isaiah Todd. Long and lanky big man with upside got to the foul line at a high rate where he made 10-13 along with going 6-11 from the field for 22 points and 10 rebounds. In the backcourt it was point guard Kameron Woods who shot it well from three along with pushing it in the open floor. He had 20 points. Don’t sleep on Jayden Stone. This spunky two guard can shoot it from three as he had 13 points.
Jalen Duren is a MANCHILD!
We saw 2022 center Jalen Duren a couple weeks ago in St. Louis at Nike Elite 100. He wasn’t fully healthy, but still showed a lot of intriguing tools. They were all on display to begin Peach Jam for his Team Final squad! Wow what an impressive physical five man this young post is! His pure size and strength is the first aspect that stands out. He finishes so well in the paint with thunderous slams over and over again. Very powerful around the hoop. Connected on a baseline jumper and showed excellent passing feel in the post finding shooters and working in the high/low game. Defensively he was a game changer blocking everything as the game went on! One of the best big men prospects regardless of class nationally.