Midwest Collision: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook
The PrepHoops Midwest Collision concluded in Minnesota on Sunday afternoon. Which Illinois prospects made noise with their play? Here is a look into just that in our Midwest Collision: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook! Mikey Brown Continues Strong Summmer Bloom…
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Continue ReadingThe PrepHoops Midwest Collision concluded in Minnesota on Sunday afternoon. Which Illinois prospects made noise with their play? Here is a look into just that in our Midwest Collision: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook!
Mikey Brown Continues Strong Summmer
Bloom 2022 point guard Mikey Brown has made a name for himself and elevated his stock as a rising junior this summer playing for The Work Foundation. The 5’10” guard is a bowling ball with his strength and compact build. He finishes through contact at the rim taking a bump and getting to the charity stripe. Sound pull up shooter who stops on a dime and elevates with sound form from mid-range and three. His passing really impressed us in the first half. Works well in the pick/roll game and threw several one handed live dribbles across the court with accuracy. Quality defender as well that gets into his man.
Archangels are Fun 16U Team
I have really enjoyed watching the Archangels 16U team over the last several weeks. Every game different players step up. Sherrard 5’10” guard Eli Hofmann continues to light up the nets from beyond the arc. Drilled multiple threes in this game and showed some grit putting it on the deck. In the backcourt he was helped out by Jeremiah Babers and Alexandere Egipciaco. Both are 6’1” point guards from Galesburg. Babers is an athletic guard that loves to get in the lane and out in transition with his rangy frame. Egipciaco is a strong bodied guard that powers his way through the defense. Really like where 6’6” Galesburg power forward Koen Derry is taking his game. Athletic four man that is quick in the post and can take his opponent off the bounce including a smooth baseline take for a jam. Also had an impressive block. Canton 6’5” power forward Turner Plumer is a skilled four that is crafty around the hoop. Rebounds and throws strong outlets. Macomb 6’4” post Haden Case flashed in this game as well with a turnaround jumper and crashing the offensive glass.
Illinois Jaguars 17U Impress in Morning Win
The Illinois Jaguars started play on Sunday morning with a win over MN Lightning. Lane Tech 2021 power forward Aaron McQueen did what he usually does with his consistent production. He was excellent on the offensive glass for second chance points. The strong 6’6” four man can also really shoot it in the 15-18 foot range as he drilled an array of shots from there. As far as big men go in this game the true story was the emergence of Whitney Young 2022 6’8” center Marcus Overstreet. The lefty has long arms and a pretty mobile game. He is a bit raw, but a lot of tools to work with. Runs the floor with ease. Rebounds very well in his area. Shot blocking presence. Had a sweet shot fake that he converted for a bucket. In the backcourt Brother Rice 2021 point guard Brandon Bryant was a slick ball handler that went coast to coast and finished with acrobatics at the rim. In the first half we liked what DePaul Prep 2021 point guard Cameron Lewis brought to the table with how he pushed the tempo in the open floor always having his head up to make a play.
Small Backcourt Comes Up Big for Chicago Impact 16U
The Chicago Impact 16U squad is mostly all guards with the majority of them being under six feet tall. Two of their point guards made an “impact” in the time we saw them on Sunday. Willowbrook 2022 5’5” point guard Damahrion Murrell runs the show. The tiny guard plays with great speed and quickness to his game. Shifty ball handler that changes gears. Good pull up game from mid-range and three. Proviso East 2022 5’7” point guard Dakari Presley is another quality guard. Makes a lot of his plays in the open floor turning defense into offense fast! Two fun guards to watch going forward.
Tyler Van Eekeren Tyler Van Eekeren 6'5" | SF Benet | 2021 State IL Strong Play Rolls on for HIT 17U
Benet 2021 small forward Tyler Van Eekeren Tyler Van Eekeren 6'5" | SF Benet | 2021 State IL had another strong outing on Sunday. We caught the second half of HIT 17U’s early afternoon game and he was very impactful on both ends. Put backs, nice passes on the move, several strong straight line drives, and on the defensive end contested shots. He had 11 points. Roanoke Benson 2021 center Luke Braman Luke Braman 6'8" | C Roanoke-Benson | 2021 FL had some moments as well. Strong five man that got second chance points, garnered deep post position on a couple scores, and was a rim protecting presence. Braman went for 18 points in the win.
Minnesota Heat Edges Out Illinois Stars in 17U Thriller
One of the best games of the event for sure! Minnesota Heat is anchored by a dynamic inside duo of Michigan commit 6’8” power forward Will Tschetter and uncommitted 2021 6’9” center Andrew Morgan. Tschetter was outstanding in the pick and pop drilling three after three. Once he had that established he went to work down low where he was consistently getting fouled or scoring and-1s. Great combination of strength and mobility. Andrew Morgan only holds one high-major offer from Iowa, but he certainly looked the part. Broad shouldered five finished in the pick/roll game. Played physical around the hoop and can stretch it out a little as well. They picked up the 57-55 win.
We talked quite a bit about the high profile wings for the Illinois Stars yesterday. How about a breakout performance from Rockford Jefferson 2021 small forward Brenden Moss? The long and angular 6’4” small forward is a three and D guy. Proved to be a sound shooter off the catch from beyond the arc. Also mixed in a couple slippery drives. Defensively he gets after with his length and rebounded well for a wing. Also have to give credit to his high school teammate Antonio Leavy. The Rockford Jefferson 6’6” post started off well against the Heat front line with a couple of scores and competed on the glass. Wide bodied post had a nice weekend in Minnesota.
Illinois Jaguars 16U Versatile Trio Shine in Win over HIT
Always great to have in-state matchups where Illinois prospects go head to head. We had that Sunday afternoon with Illinois Jaguars taking on HIT at the 16U level. The Jaguars picked up the win 64-50. Three prospects really stood out for them. Let’s start with the two way effort of OPRF 2022 power forward Eric Locke. He has always been known as a plus defender and he showcased that frustrating HIT’s top offensive weapon. Used his length and lateral quickness effectively. On offense he got buckets off his high energy and getting to the foul line. Fenwick 2022 small forward Gabe Madej is a tough and well-built three man that can really shoot the basketball from deep. Drilled a trio of them in this game. Also brought grit on the glass and flashing to the post for a score. Whitney Young 2022 6’6” small forward Jordan Streeter continues to emerge. Bouncy wing finished a pick/roll, had a sweet spin move in the lane, and made a three. Explosive taking it off the bounce.
For HIT it was Batavia 2022 power forward Ethan Ivan Ethan Ivan 6'7" | PF Batavia | 2022 State IL who displayed his versatility. Face up four man was the most effective we have seen him putting it on the deck. Scored on an array of takes from the high-post and baseline. Mid-range jumper fell as well. Solid rebounder. It was a difficult shooting night from deep for Oswego East 2022 wing Patrick Robinson. He still managed to be productive scoring inside on drives and getting to the line.
HIT 17U Select Full of Small College Prospects
We caught the first half of HIT Select 17U final game on Sunday. Lots of quality small college prospects featured in this one. Downers Grove South 6’7” power forward Mike Rheintgen is a thick left handed power forward that can space the floor a little hitting a corner jumper and scored on an out of bounds play. Wide bodied five man Fenton 6’4” center Gerrell Wilson moves well for his size and rebounds. Would be a stud offensive tackle on gridiron. His high school teammate at Fenton Sherby Brown is an athletic 6’0” guard that is slick with it in space. IC Catholic 5’10” 2021 point guard Tyler Wildermuth can shoot it off the catch and is a pesky defender. Got loose a couple times in transition. The best player on the floor for HIT was Mt. Carmel 6’4” shooting guard Jadyn Benson Jadyn Benson 6'4" | SG Mt. Carmel | 2021 State IL . Played for both the Elite and Select teams on Sunday and shined with either squad. Smooth ball handler with a lethal pull up jumper from three along with stopping and popping in the mid-range. Monster weekend for Benson elevating his stock into potential D2 territory with his size, ability to play on and off the ball, along with his high level shooting.
Jakobi Heady Jakobi Heady 6'8" | SF Hillcrest | 2021 State IL and Jesus Perez Jesus Perez 5'10" | PG Morton | 2021 State IL Duel in Finale
Our last game was God’s Gift vs Illinois Outwork. God’s Gift features Hillcrest 2021 6’6” small forward Jakobi Heady. He is one of the more intriguing combo forwards on the board with his combination of elite athleticism and perimeter skill. He drilled an array of threes from deep. A lot of arc on his shot and a slow release. Also got to the rim with his long strides. Completed a lob from a teammate off the backboard. Defensively he was a beast as well swatting shots and getting steals. D1 programs at low-major and mid-major levels need to be monitoring him.
For Illinois Outwork it was Morton point guard Jesus Perez coming up with another big outing. The small lead guard is so shifty with the rock in his hands. Has it on a string. Gets in the lane at will where he finishes with floaters, scoop shots, and euro steps. Also has a sound pull up game stopping on a dime. Going to be a stellar small college lead guard at the next level! North Lawndale 2021 wing Dae’Quan Davis deserves a mention as he had another good outing. Power wing with athleticism that creates off the bounce and is a solid three point shooter.