Rock N Ball Week 5: Scotty B’s Standouts

Prep Hoops Illinois took in week 5 action at the Rock N Ball Winter League in Hammond, Indiana on Friday.  Here are the prospects that stood out most to me in Rock N Ball Week 5: Scotty B’s Standouts!

Jakobi Heady Jakobi Heady 6'8" | SF Hillcrest | 2021 State IL (Hillcrest – 2021)

Heady is a lengthy combo forward that is the top uncommitted wing in the state.  He showed a versatile game on Friday despite not hitting any perimeter shots.  Fadeway out of the post worked well for him.  He handled it in transition getting to the rim.  Threw down several big dunks off lobs.  His athleticism and mobility around the hoop allow him to maneuver the ball around defenders.  Crashed the glass for second chance points.  He was an active defender both inside and out.  Low-major and mid-majors need to invest some time here as he is the #14 overall prospect in the class.

John Poulakidas John Poulakidas 6'6" | SF Nequa Valley | 2021 State #155 Nation IL (Neuqua Valley – 2021)

The Yale commit is one of the elite shot makers in the state right now.  He has been for years and keeps improving each and every time we see him perform.  Poulakidas is a lefty that is a sniper from beyond the arc knocking down shots at a high rate from beyond the arc.  Lighting quick release that he lets fly equally well off the catch or creating on his own.  Liked what he did flashing to the middle of the defense where he got open looks in the paint for short jumpers.

Ahamad Bynum Ahamad Bynum 6'2" | SG Simeon | 2021 State #94 Nation IL (Simeon – 2021)

Bynum played a ton of games on Friday for multiple teams.  As the night went on he kept getting better.  He was on fire in his third game where he opened the contest with a blitz of perimeter shots.  At times he is streaky from deep, but when he is on he can carry a team and that is exactly what he did on this night.  The wings are his spot to let it fly!  DePaul is getting a good one.

Donaven Younger Donaven Younger 6'8" | C Bolingbrook | 2023 State IL (Bolingbrook – 2023)

Younger is among the highest ranked sophomores in the state.  It has always been about upside with him and we have been waiting for it to click.  Started to see glimpses of that.  The athletic four man ran the floor consistently well throughout the game we saw for easy buckets in transition.  Flashes footwork on the block and has a chance to be an excellent shot blocker.

Robbie Avila Robbie Avila 6'9" | PF Oak Forest | 2022 State #225 Nation IL (Oak Forest – 2022)

Avila is a skilled face up four that can handle it and really pass.  The Oak Forest star is a high level distributor that sees the floor finding his teammates with ease.  Very good offensive rebounder with the way he has a feel for where it is coming off the glass for second chance points.  Nifty moves around the hoop.  Whenever the ball touches his hands good things happen.

Kendall Brasfield Kendall Brasfield 6'1" | PG Curie | 2021 State IL (Curie – 2021)

Another solid effort for Brasfield.  The Curie guard is a scorer that was aggressive getting to the foul line which opened up some avenues for him as a shooter as the game went along.

Jeremy Harrington (Curie – 2023)

Harrington shined as a thick bodied forward that can defend in the post and disrupt things on that end.  Has potential as an offensive rebounder.

Dylan Ingram Dylan Ingram 6'6" | PF Simeon | 2021 State IL (Simeon – 2021)

Ingram is a player that continues to make strides.  Big bodied combo forward has improved his jump shot.  Drilled a baseline jumper along with a pick/pop three.  Also converted a pick/roll dish.  Should find a nice home at the small college level.

Jaylen Drane Jaylen Drane 6'2" | PG Simeon | 2022 State IL (Simeon – 2022)

Drane brings a ton of athleticism to the lead guard spot.  He won off the dribble with his burst getting in the paint where he often found teammates for scores inside.  Also used his acrobatics to convert a couple of his own.  Pushes well turning steals into points for himself or others.

Tevin Smith Tevin Smith 6'4" | SF Danville | 2021 State IL (Danville – 2021)

Smith was as good as I have seen him over the last year on Friday night.  He looked 100% healthy and was firing on all cylinders.  The senior wing used his strength and athleticism to get downhill for buckets on straight line takes.  He also utilized his quickness in the paint for multiple scores.  Jumper started to fall as the night went along hitting one from mid-range and three in their second game.  I was extremely impressed with his passing feel for a wing.  That is an area we had not seen previously.

Nathanael Hoskins Nathanael Hoskins 6'2" | PG Danville | 2021 State IL (Danville – 2021)

Smith’s high school running mate did what he always does.  Used his strong frame and crafty handles to get in the paint where he displayed his crafty floater game as well as dished the rock to his teammates for buckets.

KJ Debrick KJ Debrick 6'7" | C Springfield Lanphier | 2021 State IL (Springfield Lanphier – 2021)

Debrick was in an interesting position playing against the Hoopstars team he was with all summer.  The Springfield Lanphier five man is a big bodied center that seems to have trimmed up some since we last saw him at the end of the summer.  He is an intimidating presence in the paint defensively as a shot blocker and overall brick wall.  Volume rebounder in his area that is particularly effective getting second chance points on the offensive glass.  He actually banked in a pair of threes, but that is not his game and he tends to drift out there when he does hit them.

Khailieo Terry Khailieo Terry 6'4" | PF Champaign Centennial | 2021 State IL (Champaign Centennial – 2021)

Terry has really evolved over the last year.  He has gotten thicker but maintained a lot of the athleticism he was always known for.  Elite motor player that out works everyone on the floor for rebounds, runs the floor, and catches lobs.  Going to be a fantastic JUCO big man as he fits that style to perfection.

Ty Johnson Ty Johnson 6'3" | PG Depaul Prep | 2021 State #198 Nation IL (DePaul Prep – 2021)

Johnson’s Hoopstars team struggled in their game, but he was determined to get them back in it during the second half.  The Loyola signee put his head down and got to the rim consistently.  Smooth ball handling guard that was extremely aggressive making an array of trips to the foul line.  Also, the jumper began to fall including several super deep ones.  He is going to be a nice player for the Ramblers.

Jaehshon Thomas Jaehshon Thomas 6'1" | PG Whitney Young | 2021 State IL (Whitney Young – 2021)

Thomas is a strong and stocky point guard that would have greatly benefitted from a high school season so D1 colleges could have seen his progress in person.  He is a no doubt low-major plus prospect.  Excellent mid-range jump shooter that knocked them in all night along with stretching it to three on occasion.  Has the physical frame to finish at the rim as well.

Dalen Davis Dalen Davis 6'0" | PG Whitney Young | 2023 State #167 Nation IL (Whitney Young – 2023)

Davis shined in the second half for Black Magic 21.  The lead guard did a nice job of using his quickness off the bounce along with strength to get in the paint where he consistently stopped and popped for mid-range jumpers or floaters.