Battle at the Lakes: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook
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The final day from Minnesota’s Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes was another great day of hoops. We recap all the games we caught in Battle at the Lakes: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook! Illinois Hoopstars Rhymes Shows Out in…
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Continue ReadingThe final day from Minnesota’s Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes was another great day of hoops. We recap all the games we caught in Battle at the Lakes: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook!
Illinois Hoopstars Rhymes Shows Out in Sunday 8:00 AM Win
Hoopstars Rhymes 17U got their sleep and were ready to go in the opener on Sunday as they scored a 67-37 win over IE Blaze Select. It was a team effort as almost everyone contributed to the victory. Solorio point guard Donovan Jones Donovan Jones 6'0" | PG Solorio | 2022 IL is a compact guard that ran the show and knocked down threes in the first half. Versatile wings Jeremiah Jones Jeremiah Jones 6'4" | SG Marian Catholic | 2022 State IL and AJ Redd AJ Redd 6'3" | SG St. Ignatius | 2022 State IL did their things as well. Marian Catholic 2022 standout Jones is a two way wing that can defend multiple spots, hit open shots, and is a factor in transition. Redd is a St. Ignatius two guard with a slender frame that lived in the lane all night off the bounce and getting to the line. They have two ultimate chess pieces on this squad that are tough to contain. Normal Community power forward Zach Cleveland Zach Cleveland 6'8" | PF Normal West | 2022 State IL is a skilled four that gets on the glass, good passer, and is an active defender. Same can be said about the ultimate swiss army knife in the Illinois 2022 class in Homewood Flossmoor’s Christian Meeks Christian Meeks 6'6" | SF Homewood Flossmoor | 2022 State IL . Combo forward hit a pair of threes to go along with his relentless motor running the floor, rebounding, and defending at a high level. Inside they have a pair of massive dudes in KJ Debrick KJ Debrick 6'7" | C Springfield Lanphier | 2021 State IL and Martell Webb Martell Webb 6'7" | C Tinley Park | 2022 State IL . Debrick is going to be a coveted mid-major prospect when the summer is over due to his size, power, and skill. Anchors down low on both ends and when he gets deep post position it is over. Quick moves with touch. Even hit a three. Plus area rebounder that is quick off the floor. Westinghouse standout Martell Webb Martell Webb 6'7" | C Tinley Park | 2022 State IL is another offensive tackle looking post that gobbles up rebounds, has a hook shot, and seals on the block. For IE Blaze Select the star was 2023 power forward Jaqualon Roberts. The Bloomington North (IN) 6’7” power forward is a springy athlete that rebounds at a super high rate both in and out of his area. Snatches them with two hands in traffic. Quick second jump when he misses his initial shot. Explosive finisher in the paint with decisive moves and passes well for a big man. Mid-majors should definitely be on him! Koston McReynolds out of Evansville Rietz (IN) is a versatile wing to track. Good size and a clean shooting stroke. Solid all around skill set that could help him work his way into a D2 offer or high D3/NAIA position.
New Names for Illinois Hoopstars Ohanson 15U Squad
We caught a glimpse of Illinois Hoopstars Ohanson 15U on Sunday. Several prospects to monitor in the 2024 class. Noah Cleveland is a skilled 6’6” four that had fluid post moves and a sweeping layup. Nick Feather from Normal is a strong bodied 6’7” five man that anchors down low. On the perimeter Braylon Roman Braylon Roman 6'3" | SG Normal Community | 2024 State IL made an impression as the Normal West 6’2” combo guard is a crisp passer and can hit a three on occasion. Niko Newsome from Bloomington has excellent size already at 6’5” with a projectable frame. What stood out with him when we saw them was his defense on the perimeter.
Y&R/KL Power 5 Defeats Breakaway 17U in Illinois Clash
Sometimes games don’t live up to the billing. This one between two of the most talented Illinois squads at the event was a low scoring defensive contest in the first half. Neither team consistently made shots. Y&R/KL Power 5 pulled away in the second half behind a strong performance from Larkin point guard Damari Wheeler-Thomas Damari Wheeler-Thomas 6'0" | PG Larkin | 2022 State IL . He is one of the better lead guards in the class of 2022 that doesn’t get talked about enough. Range on his shot, scrappy defender, and is a solid passer at the point. Finished with 14 points. Tavari Johnson Tavari Johnson 6'0" | PG Lyons Township | 2022 State #171 Nation IL did a nice job getting others involved with his passing and facilitating the offense. Overall the story was the defense for Y&R/KL Power 5 against the elite snipers from Breakaway who just couldn’t buy a shot in the Sunday morning contest as Y&R/KL Power 5 won 49-29 to go 4-0 on the weekend in dominant fashion.
Karlo Colak Karlo Colak 6'5" | SG New Trier | 2022 State IL Shines in Hoops4Health 17U Win
A lot of buzz this weekend about Hoops4Health 17U shooting guard Karlo Colak Karlo Colak 6'5" | SG New Trier | 2022 State IL . We got a good look at the 6’5” wing on Sunday afternoon and was he impressive indeed. Excellent positional size with a skilled game. Knocked in an array of threes off the catch, baseline jumpers, and had spinning layups. Also displayed a good passing feel for an off guard. He is a 2022 prospect on the rise. Westinghouse unsigned senior point guard Dwayne Walton is a good rebounder and defender that has some burst off the bounce. Worthy of small colleges and JUCO’s getting involved late. DePaul Prep 2022 point guard Julian Green Julian Green 6'1" | PG DePaul College Prep | 2022 State IL is a lefty with speed in the open floor. A pair of 2023s on this team have the highest ceilings. Providence St. Mel 6’6” four man Sherod Dent Jr. Sherod Dent Jr. 6'6" | PF Chicago Curie | 2023 State IL is a face up four with a strong upper body. Streaky spot up shooter that can hit threes on occasion and runs the floor well. New Trier five man 6’10” Tyler Van Gorp Tyler Van Gorp 6'10" | C New Trier | 2023 State IL is a long and thin five that alters shots inside and had a nifty reverse finish.
Breakaway 16U Shares Ball and Shoots at High Clip
We liked what we saw out of Breakaway’s 16U group on Sunday afternoon against Wisconsin Playground Club. Guard oriented team that makes the extra pass and has five shooters on the floor at all times. Stagg 6’0” lefty point guard Arius Alijosius Arius Alijosius 6'2" | SG Amos Alonzo Stagg | 2023 State IL was phenomenal from deep knocking in an array of threes with a quick lefty stroke. Went for 22 points including six triples. Lyons 2023 6’5” twin Graham Scott brings size and a plus shot on the perimeter. Hit several triples along with a couple of scores in the paint. Also a crafty defender. He had a game high 23 points. Jacob Bozeman Jacob Bozeman 6'5" | PF Downers Grove North | 2023 State IL from Downers Grove North is another rangy shooter. Hinsdale Central 6’4” wing Chris Collignon is a good rebounder, tough, and hit a huge shot in the second half. He had 10 points. Their guards did a nice job of driving and kicking. Those three were Sam Millstone (Palatine), and Max Niesman (Oswego). Fun group we look forward to watching going forward!
2022 Forward Duo Lead Archangels
Archangels was one of our favorite groups to watch last summer as they made a name for themselves as a program. They are back this year with some familiar faces and new names. We profile one of each here. In their win over HeatElite it was a pair of forwards that made the largest impact. Galesburg 6’7” face up four Koen Derry Koen Derry 6'7" | PF Galesburg | 2022 State IL might mess around and work his way into D2 territory if he keeps playing like he did on Sunday. Good size, athleticism, and skill. Runs the floor in transition, tough finishes at the hoop, and showed he could put it on the deck slashing. A new name that put his name on our radar was Farmington 6’5” small forward Corbin Rutledge Corbin Rutledge 6'5" | SF Farmington | 2022 State IL . Projectable wing that brings athleticism off the bounce and rebounded well. Can post up smaller wing defenders. One to continue to track going forward.
More Notes
OPRF 2022 shooting guard Justin Mullins Justin Mullins 6'4" | SF Oak Park-River Forest | 2022 State IL dropped 41 points to go along with grabbing 10 boards in Y&R/KL Power 5’s win over the Tulsa Hawks. Landed a pair of D1 offers over the last week and his stock continues to rise.
Quad City High School Prep 17U dropped a 74-71 game against Next Level Basketball Academy. They got 21 points from Monroe City (MO) wing Deion White along with 22 points out of United Townships Makhi Johnson.
Tulsa Hawks 17U star Parker Friedrichsen just gets buckets! The 2023 6’4” shooting guard went for 35 points on Sunday. Up to 7 D1 offers and counting. Originally from Belleville in Illinois.
One of the best unsigned seniors nationally Zion Benton forward Amar Augillard Amar Augillard 6'5" | SF Zion Benton | 2021 State IL had another monster outing with 28 points for Young & Reckless. No doubt mid-major prospect!
Another breakout game for St. Ignatius 2024 G Reggie Ray Jr as he went 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 steals against West Central United in DTM Elite Chicago 15U win. Made quite a name for himself this weekend.