#HardWorkSZN Classic: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook
In this article:
The #HardWorkSZN Classic concluded in Omaha, Nebraska on Sunday. Take a look at what we saw from the Illinois prospects in #HardWorkSZN Classic: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook! Archangels 16U Falls in Sunday 8 AM Game I have really enjoyed…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe #HardWorkSZN Classic concluded in Omaha, Nebraska on Sunday. Take a look at what we saw from the Illinois prospects in #HardWorkSZN Classic: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook!
Archangels 16U Falls in Sunday 8 AM Game
I have really enjoyed watching this Archangels group over the last several weeks. They play as a team and are well balanced. In this game they just struggled to hit shots from the perimeter which hurt them. Sherrard 2022 guard Eli Hoffman didn’t let the fact his jumper wasn’t going down bother him as he took it to the hoop aggressively in the first half for multiple scores along with and-1s. Galesburg 6’6” combo forward Koen Day is growing on us. He brings versatility to both ends of the floor with good size. Plays inside and outside. Good rebounder in traffic and finishes well around the basket. Anchangels fell 57-49.
Team RWA Scores Win Despite Monster Outing from Isaiah Stafford Isaiah Stafford 6'1" | PG Crispus Attucks | 2021 IN
For Team RWA Joliet West 2023 point guard Jeremy Fears Jeremy Fears 6'1" | PG La Lumiere | 2023 GA displayed why he is among the most heavily recruited players in the state regardless of class. High IQ guard with an advanced feel for the game. Made some spectacular passes, won off the dribble, and can drill pull ups. He has the “it” factor you can’t teach! Barrington 2021 wing Damian Zivak Damian Zivak 6'6" | SG Barrington | 2021 State IL drilled some key threes along the way in the victory. Good sized wing at 6’6” that can shoot it and brings toughness to the table. Former Bogan standout Kennedy Brown Kennedy Brown 6'8" | PF Bogan | 2020 State IL who will be reclassifying to 2021 and going to prep school at Springfield Commonwealth Academy (MA) continues to be an intriguing upside post. Athletic four man that plays above the rim and has tremendous mobility in the paint. Nice game for sneaky Homewood Flossmoor 6’3” shooting guard Tai Walters Tai Walters 5'11" | PG Homewood Flossmoor | 2021 State IL . Smooth lefty with length should be on small schools radars. Walters can shoot it from beyond the arc off the catch.
In a game with a lot of ranked Illinois prospects in 2021 it was Bolingbrook combo guard Isaiah Stafford that was the best player on the floor. One of the smoothest guards in the state. Drills jumper after jumper from both mid-range and three. Does a nice job of probing the defense for openings and getting to the foul line. Mid-majors need to get on him! Lincoln Way Central shooting guard Nick Tingley Nick Tingley 6'4" | SG Lincoln Way Central | 2021 State IL was also very good early for the Illinois Hoopstars Nelson squad. The 6’4” shooting guard had several crafty layups/floaters before letting it fly from three.
Grant Newell Grant Newell 6'7" | PF Whitney Young | 2021 State IL and Kimahri Wilson Kimahri Wilson 6'2" | PG North Chicago | 2021 State IL Show Out for Beyond Ball College Prospects
Whitney Young 2021 power forward Grant Newell has always had potential, but the production has never been there. This weekend he is bringing it. In a blowout win he showcased many of the things that he tends to flash, but not do consistently. Right hand hook, left hand hook, finish in transition, mid-range jumper, coast to coast take, and a corner three. He had it all working! Also was active on the glass. If he plays like this the rest of the summer his recruitment will really pick up. Carmel 2021 point guard Kimahri Wilson Kimahri Wilson 6'2" | PG North Chicago | 2021 State IL was equally as good. The explosive lead guard was excellent dishing the rock with his flair for passing. He made excellent decisions throwing dishes on the money time after time. Pushed in transition off his defense. Big time speed in the open floor!
Illinois Hoopstars National 16U Wins Close Game vs The Work Foundation
This was a fun game between a pair of Illinois squads. The Hoopstars came out with the win 52-46. It was their inside game once again that carried the way as Westinghouse center Martell Webb Martell Webb 6'7" | C Tinley Park | 2022 State IL and Homewood Flossmoor power forward Christian Meeks played bully ball all game long. Webb might be the events biggest stock riser. Nimble footwork, touch, and power in the paint. Meeks was relentless scoring through and around opponents. Also had a nice take off the bounce from the wing. Can take it on his own off the defensive glass and down the floor. Brother Rice 2022 small forward Nick Harrell Nick Harrell 6'6" | SF Brother Rice | 2022 State IL had a quality outing as well mixing in a three and some open court scoring.
For The Work Foundation Bloom point guard Mikey Brown was very good. The 5’10” guard has a lethal pull up game and with his stocky build is more than able to take a bump at the cup. Jabar Wheatley from Dyett is a power wing that is a three level scorer.
KJ Debrick KJ Debrick 6'7" | C Springfield Lanphier | 2021 State IL and Hamahrie Bowers Hamahrie Bowers 6'5" | SF Hillcrest | 2021 State IL Take On Bigger Roles
We caught the first half of the Illinois Hoopstars National 17U squad. They are without quite a few of their regular guys this weekend. That presents more opportunities or others. Springfield Lanphier 2021 center KJ Debrick KJ Debrick 6'7" | C Springfield Lanphier | 2021 State IL continues to show he is worthy of low-major consideration. Great size and strength on the interior. Has always been a great shot blocker, but is rapidly improving offensively with hook shots and quick moves from 10 feet in. Hillcrest 2021 shooting guard Hamahrie Bowers Hamahrie Bowers 6'5" | SF Hillcrest | 2021 State IL is a two way wing that crashes the offensive glass from the perimeter and excels in transition.
Team RWA 17U defeats Illinois T-Wolves in Joliet Rivalry Game
This one we caught the second half of and you could tell from the time we tuned in that there was an intensity to it which makes sense. The Illinois T-Wolves are made up primarily of Joliet West rising seniors while their star 2023 Jeremy Fears runs with Team RWA. Fears was good as always pushing the tempo especially in transition. They got solid play from their wings and bigs too. Tai Walters from Homewood Flossmoor continued his strong shooting day drilling a pair off the catch in the second half. Wheeling 2021 small forward Jaden Terrell is a lefty that stopped the T-Wolves run in the second half running into a transition three. Sincere Malone brings inside and outside versatility. The Corliss senior is an active defender that can switch on the perimeter and excels as a rim runner. Prep school big man Kennedy Brown also had flashes inside for Team RWA in the second half.
The Joliet West upperclassmen really competed for the T-Wolves. Their leader at the point Terrance Moncrief is a quick guard that wins off the bounce and can hit an occasional three. On the wings Jaiden Lee had a couple pro moves putting combination takes together for scores. Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson 6'3" | SF Joliet West | 2021 State IL flashed attacking downhill. Up front undersized four man Ashawn Burbridge you know is always going to bring the intensity which he did on the glass. Liked what sleeper post 6’7” Luke Morrow brought to the table. Touch inside and can block shots on the defensive end.
Look at Fast Rising Nebraska 2022 Isaac Traudt
Over the last week Lincoln Supreme 2022 forward Isaac Traudt has picked up six high-major offers. We got a glimpse of him against the Hoopstars National 16U team. He has tremendous mobility at 6’9”. Light on his feet and very athletic around the hoop. He had multiple reverse layups making it look easy. Active hands on the defensive end with his long arms. Fits the new age face up four role to perfection in the small look we got at him.
Illinois Hoopstars Win Thriller over Team RWA in Final 17U Game
Great game to end the 17U play at the event! A pair of Illinois teams that both left everything they had on the floor. There was back and forth throughout the game with runs by both teams. The Hoopstars got an answer every time they needed it. KJ Debrick at the end of regulation tied it. Hamahrie Bowers did the same at the end of the first OT with an explosive slash. Then in sudden death double overtime they threw it in again to the big fella and Springfield Lanphier’s KJ Debrick KJ Debrick 6'7" | C Springfield Lanphier | 2021 State IL put in a jump hook for the win 57-55.
Debrick was excellent again in this game. Such a big and powerful five man that moves bodies on the interior. Sealed his man off for scores and grabbed rebounds at a high rate. Like how he opens wide and calls for the basketball. Bowers was outstanding in this one. Probably the most locked in we have seen him. He looked explosive off the bounce all game. Either scored or got to the charity stripe with consistency. Burst on his first step is impressive. St. Laurence point guard Ismail Habib had it rolling for a spurt in this game. He is a compact point guard with a lethal pull up game from mid-range and three. In the opening minutes Bloomington’s DeMarco Clayton also stepped up with a pair of threes to get them started. Team effort for the Hoopstars.
Team RWA had several big performances of their own. We were very impressed with a pair of forwards in this game who boosted their stock. Wheeling 2021 small forward Jaden Terrell is a thin and angular wing that can shoot it off the catch from three. He is particularly effective from the corners. Moves well without the ball and is quick from catch to release. Also mixed in two impressive drives including one where he hammered it home. Corliss 2021 Sincere Malone Sincere Malone 6'7" | PF CBA | 2021 State NC fits the new age forward spot with his versatile game. Good size at 6’8” with the ability to play inside and out. He drilled an array of mid-range jumpers and concluded the first half with a difficult three. Runs the floor well and is a plus athlete.