Scouting South Suburbs: Tuesday Stars

Tuesday night PHI focused on the Chicago South Suburbs. A lot of those teams were making their debut and we took in three games in Hillcrest vs TF North, Bolingbrook vs Lincoln Way East, and Homewood Flossmoor vs Lockport. We dive into the best performances from the night in Scouting South Suburbs: Tuesday Stars! [player_tooltip player_id="821763" first="Jakobi" last="Heady"] (Hillcrest – 2021) Hillcrest had a performance that was up and down throughout, but one of the consistent presences was Heady. The #16 prospect in the PHI 2021 rankings is headed to Moraine Valley CC next year. Lengthy wing that utilized his athleticism in this contest getting on the offensive glass and to the foul line. The junior lived at the line throughout the night. Athleticism plays above the rim in transition and he hit a three. Played with a good amount of energy. He had 17 points and 7 rebounds.   [player_tooltip player_id="921005" first="Bucky" last="Irving"] (Hillcrest – 2021) Irving is a football recruit that is headed to Minnesota next season as a running back. The strong and stocky point guard on the hardwood brings it on both sides of the ball as was shown getting a steal on the very first play of the contest. It was his intensity and quick hands on that end that caught our attention along with his knock down perimeter shooting draining an array of threes en route to 25 points. Quick release with not a lot of elevation on the shot.   [player_tooltip player_id="925195" first="Khaje" last="Branch"] (TF North – 2022) This 6’7” junior big man came off the bench for TF North, but might be their most intriguing college prospect. He is a big bodied post that needs to slim down some, but he has good touch around the hoop as shown on a left handed hook shot. Has a chance to be a solid rebounder in his area.   Kai Evans (Bolingbrook – 2021) Evans is a powerfully built two guard that initially had decided to move out west for his senior year. At that point it looked like we would not have high school basketball. He came back before knowing if there would be a season and now is rewarded with one and so are the Raiders. Evans is a strong bodied 6’3” shooting guard that brings the physicality. He was aggressive from the jump taking it right at the basket. Reverse layups, straight line takes, and-1s. Once the defense collapsed on him he started to dish it off inside. Major factor in transition and really boards for a guard. He had 22 points. Will be back in the top 30 in our final rankings update now he is back. Low-majors should invest some time here.   [player_tooltip player_id="939048" first="Keon" last="Alexander"] (Bolingbrook – 2023) Alexander is the less hyped of the Bolingbrook sophomore posts, but with his energy he was impactful in this game. Finished dump off passes in traffic and was a force on the offensive glass for second chance points. Disrupts things on the defensive end as well. He had 9 points.   [player_tooltip player_id="920978" first="Kyonte" last="Thomas"] (Bolingbrook – 2021) Trinity International commit is an impact get at that level. He is smaller at only 5’11”, but has a ton of Patrick Beverly to his game on the defensive end how he disrupts things. Gets steals and deflections. Offensively he did a nice job setting others up with quick dimes in the paint. Did hit a three and had a couple tough takes for 13 points. Stat sheet stuffer that is a low maintenance impact guy on both ends.   [player_tooltip player_id="939035" first="Donaven" last="Younger"] (Bolingbrook – 2023) Younger has all the projectability in the world with his size at 6’9”. The motor needs to run higher more consistently for him to max out his ability. He definitely flashes though. Layup on an out of bounds cut, quick move for a runner, convert a dump off pass, and a sweet and-1 late. One bucket in each quarter. Runs the floor with ease and has potential defensively switching and swatted a shot on the perimeter. Went for 9 points.   [player_tooltip player_id="1049067" first="Jack" last="Vegter"] (Lincoln Way East – 2022) Vegter lit it up almost bringing his team back for the win. The 6’3” two guard is a skilled sharp shooter that has a great release off the catch. Hit it from three and also mixed in some scores inside the arc on pull ups and a sweeping layup on the move. Plays hard and can really shoot it. He had 18 points.   Myles Olagbegi (Lincoln Way East – 2021) Olagbegi is a hard nosed two guard that will be a nice fit at the small college level. Rebounds very well from his wing spot and has a tendency to get to the foul line at a nice clip. Went for 10 points.   [player_tooltip player_id="1048310" first="George" last="Bellevue"] (Lincoln Way East – 2023) Really like the upside of this 6’5” power forward. It starts with his energy that he brings on the glass. Super bouncy kid that has major springs in his legs. Crashed the glass high pointing boards in traffic over and over again. Efficient with his touches inside and brings mobility on both ends. Best basketball is still ahead of him! Will be interesting to see if he grows and how his perimeter game evolves because we have seen flashes of it previously. Went for 9 points.   [player_tooltip player_id="995986" first="Tai" last="Walters"] (Homewood Flossmoor – 2021) Walters was fantastic in their game against Lockport. The Governors State commit has been known as a defender that knocks down shot. Check and check. He locked down Lockport’s breakout senior holding him to two points in the game. Walters isn’t a freak athlete, but he understands positioning and has great length. Can’t say enough about what he did defensively. On the other end he knocked down three triples from beyond the arc. He almost is moving forward on his jump shot, but they go in. In the paint he had a couple runners that he likes to utilize his off hand to shoot. Impressed as a passer as well. Drive and kick ability and pushed ahead in transition. He had 17 points.   Daniel Reed (Homewood Flossmoor – 2021) Reed is a transfer from Marist that boosted his stock with a strong showing. The 6’0” point guard connected on three from beyond the arc. Also a pull up jumper. Utilized best as a spot up shooter. Went for 13 points.   [player_tooltip player_id="920954" first="Chad" last="Readey"] (Homewood Flossmoor – 2021) Ready is a 6’8” broad shouldered and well built post. He is a Northwestern commit as a baseball pitcher, but every time we see him he makes us think if he would just focus on hoops he could be a D1 player. Exceptionally good mobility for a player of his size and strength. Runs the floor which is where he gets some points. Has touch on a 15 foot shot. He had 9 points.   [player_tooltip player_id="771544" first="Christian" last="Meeks"] (Homewood Flossmoor – 2022) Meeks is a high energy 6’6” power forward that brings intensity every time he hits the floor. So explosive in transition running the floor and threw down a nasty jam off an offensive board. Continues to show improvements as a ball handler and free throw shooter. Defensively he is a monster being able to check a plethora of positions.   [player_tooltip player_id="1048305" first="Wesley" last="Rubin"] (Homewood Flossmoor – 2023) Rubin is a 6’7” power forward that shined on both ends. Explosive around the hoop with pop off the floor. Runs the court with ease. He can handle it too as he took a steal and went coast to coast. The four man made two great passes to his brother for assists. Shot blocking presence on the defensive end and alters others. He had 7 points.   [player_tooltip player_id="1048306" first="Miles" last="Rubin"] (Homewood Flossmoor – 2023) Miles is the lefty twin who is listed at 6’8”. Grabbed a defensive rebound, sprinted the length of the floor, and was rewarded with a layup. Finishes well on dump off passes in the paint often coming from his brother. The skilled sophomore even stepped out to hit a three. Went for 11 points.   Anthony Munson (Lockport – 2022) Munson was the primary scoring option for Lockport on this night. The 5’10” 2022 point guard did most of his damage from three drilling four from distance. Also flashed as a passer including a full court outlet dime that was right on the money. He had 14 points.   Evangelos Vassilakis (Lockport – 2021) Small college prospect worth tracking here. The point guard threaded the needle on a bounce pass in the half court to a cutter on the baseline. As a scorer he was most effective putting it on the deck for gritty scores in the paint.