7 Prospects We Need to See Early in Season
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Prep Hoops Illinois sees more high school basketball than anyone with our staff. There are still players that slip through the cracks however. Nobody is perfect and can see everyone. This is a look at some of the prospects that…
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Continue ReadingPrep Hoops Illinois sees more high school basketball than anyone with our staff. There are still players that slip through the cracks however. Nobody is perfect and can see everyone.
This is a look at some of the prospects that we need to evaluate the most early in the high school basketball season because we have not seen them in person, had a chance to evaluate them on the circuit/camp setting, or maybe the game we saw them they didn’t have their best outing.
Hank Alvey Hank Alvey 6'9" | C Illini Bluffs | 2024 State IL (Illini Bluffs – 2024)
Alvey is a prospect that has signed with Lehigh that to be quite frank we have not seen play. The 6’9” post plays at a small school in Illini Bluffs and was not seen by anyone that doesn’t attend a certain circuit as that is only events their grassroots team plays in. From the highlights we have seen he moves well for his size, has long arms, and a good frame. Rebounds in his area and is an adept finisher around the cup with some skill potential as a face up five.
Wandy Munoz Wandy Munoz 5'10" | PG Wheaton Academy | 2024 State IL (Wheaton Academy – 2024)
Got a tip this fall that this could be a potential sleeper point guard in the 2024 class late in the process. From his hudl film from last year it is obvious that this lead guard can go in the open floor. His speed and transition scoring are his strength along with his quickness in tight spaces. Scrappy defender that impacts at the point of attack.
Dietrich Richardson Dietrich Richardson 6'6" | PG Peoria Manual | 2025 State #177 Nation IL (Peoria Manual – 2025)
Richardson made a huge leap over the summer since we last saw him in their regional loss to Richwoods where he scored six points. We noted at that time he was “a long and wiry wing that showed some slashing pop” in that game, but there wasn’t anything that screamed high-major. He has landed a Vanderbilt offer this fall and our central Illinois scout Tyler McAllister recently saw him at an open gym saying, “At 6’6, Richardson has the physical tools to give him a very high ceiling as a lead guard. He has a smooth all around game with good vision and poise as a ball handler.” He will be very highly ranked in our next update after we see him in the first half of the season I have a feeling.
Leshawn Stowers Leshawn Stowers 6'4" | SF Peoria | 2025 State IL (Peoria – 2025)
Stowers is another central Illinois 2025 we are looking to get a better look at in the season. We saw a small sample of what he could do for Peoria last year and he just missed the cut in our rankings. In the eval against PND he provided a spark as we said, “Keep an eye on Leshawn Stowers Leshawn Stowers 6'4" | SF Peoria | 2025 State IL . The 2025 small forward has a good frame and rebounds well. Good activity level and hit the key three late to tie it as part of his 8 points.” With Brown now at Simeon look for his role to expand.
Cooper Hoffman Cooper Hoffman 6'1" | PG Pecatonica | 2025 State IL (Pecatonica – 2025)
This was another good tip we got on a prospect to check out early in the season. The junior point guard is a tough as nails guard that can score in the lane on cuts and putting it on the deck. Also has good form on his shot especially off the catch. Competitiveness jumps off the hudl film from his junior year. Can’t wait to see him!
Alex Stell Alex Stell 6'9" | C Waterloo | 2025 State IL (Waterloo – 2025)
Stell is a five man that caught our attention at a Pure Sweat Camp one year ago, but we didn’t see him at all during the summer on the circuit. He is a wide bodied center that is a good shot blocker, moves his feet well in the paint, has touch around the basket, can stretch to three on occasion, and is a good area rebounder. Really want to see how his frame has come along and if he has improved athletically.
Jadin Schilb Jadin Schilb 6'5" | SG Champaign Centennial | 2026 State IL (Champaign Centennial – 2026)
This is a prospect that a couple of our scouts have seen and will definitely be in our next update. Recently Tyler McAllister said of Schilb he is, “A knockdown shooter both off the catch and dribble, Schilb can fill up the stat sheet in a hurry. He has a great feel and a high floor as a prospect with his shooting ability.” Plays with the Fire and was not with them in the in person event I saw them in July. After an early season eval he should make a splash debut in the rankings.