Parham Perspective: Weekend Recap

Steve Parham March 30, 2021 @ 03:00 PM

There was a lot of basketball happening this weekend for Chicago area players in the surrounding states. I checked out a pair or travel team starting their seasons and another team celebrating the class of 2021. Here is my weekend recap! The AAU season is officially underway. Two of Illinois top Independent programs that will be playing on the Prep Hoops Circuit made the trip to Wisconsin Dells to participate in The Rock Classic. Illinois Hoopstars and Team Y&R took some loaded teams to Wisconsin to get some early test on spring competition. The Hoopstars had three 17U teams with some really good talent. Hoopstars Gill was outstanding. Here we examine their top players from the weekend.   [player_tooltip player_id="920943" first="James" last="Dent"] (2021) Springfield Southeast Dent is an uncommitted senior still looking to showcase his outside shooting for recruiters. Dent led his team in scoring for most of the event. In bracket play Dent made 9 three pointers in his Sunday afternoon matchup against Wisconsin Rap as he would finish that game with 30 points and a spot in the platinum semifinals. [player_tooltip player_id="996062" first="Zach" last="Cleveland"] (2022) Normal Community The uber athletic forward had a really productive weekend. Zach is 6’7” four man that isn’t afraid to challenge you at the rim, he battles hard on the boards, and keeps plays alive on the offensive end with quick second jumps for put backs . Zach hovered around double doubles all weekend. Cleveland is one player I think will blow up this season on the Prep Hoops Circuit.   Team Y&R had a successful weekend by winning the 17U platinum bracket. After suffering a loss in pool play to Martin Brothers (IA) Y&R made a special run in bracket play winning three straight hard fought games. In the wins two players were key in their victories. [player_tooltip player_id="1106926" first="Justin" last="Mullins"] (2022) Oak Park River Forest hs Mullins was one of the most consistent players for Team Y&R this past weekend. He is very long and active wing who did a lot of harm when in transition. Justin was able to score most of his points on fast breaks using his length to cover from sideline to sideline which caused turnovers. Mullins is able to get steals and push the ball comfortably and turn them into points by using athleticism around the rim. He had a few dunks over the weekend. In the half court he doesn’t settle for outside shots much but will make 15 foot and out shots. Mullins looks to continue his strong play on the PH Circuit this spring. [player_tooltip player_id="1106946" first="Will" last="Grudzinski"] (2022) Barrington Grudzinski is a bigger wing at 6’6 who plays with a continuous motor. Will is versatile at the wing he can shoot the ball with range and mix it up around the rim pulling down rebounds with the bigger forwards. With Y&R he is a great counterpart to [player_tooltip player_id="863601" first="Gabe" last="Madej"] who can make shots and extended defenses as well. Grudzinski’s biggest moment this weekend was a game winning three pointer in the semifinals against the Illinois Hoopstars that he made as time was expiring.   All-Star Weekend High School Style Team M.O.R.E. founder Lyvonte Eskridge decided to host a celebration and one last chance for friends and families to watch seniors of the 2021 class play basketball in Hammond, Indiana. The All-Star event took place over 3 days with middle school boys and girls games, a three point shootout and dunk contest on Saturday. It finished with high school girls and boys separate games finishing off the weekend. PHI was in attendance for the boys game that featured many of the top Chicagoland area players.   MVP [player_tooltip player_id="814694" first="TY" last="Johnson"] (Loyola commit) DePaul prep Johnson came out on Fire as if he had something to prove still. TY made a couple of threes pointers that barely touched the rim. On D he hawked down some of his high school teammates who played opposite of him. Johnson sealed the game with free throws to get his team the win and earn the MVP trophy Return Home The game also featured two returning players. Jaylin Gibson (Evanston) and Jalen Houston (Hyde Park) both players came back to play in front of their basketball family. Gibson has a strong upper body with tight handles made several eye popping scoring plays. Houston was a terror on defense swiping the ball and turning them into layups. He also continued to show much improvement on his shooting touch. A great finish to a career for both players.   I will post an article later in the week featuring the best of the Unsigned Seniors from the Team M.O.R.E Against Cancer All-Star Game.