Salem Invitational: Thursday Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Salem Invitational Tournament continued quarterfinal play on Thursday night with a pair of games in East St. Louis vs Carbondale along with Mt. Vernon vs Charleston.&nbsp; Prep Hoops Illinois took in both games.&nbsp; We tell you what happened and dive into the 15+ prospects that made an impact in <strong>Salem Invitational: Thursday Notebook</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>East St. Louis Continues SIT Dominance</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The East St. Louis Flyers have been in the Salem Invitational Tournament now for 5 years.&nbsp; They are 13-0 in the event with four championships to date and started off their quest for a 5^th with an 82-51 victory against Carbondale on Thursday night.&nbsp; These were the prospects that caught our attention in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1750704' first='Davis' last='Bynum'] (East St. Louis – 2024 – Cal State Fullerton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bynum was the most physically impressive prospect on the floor.&nbsp; The long and athletic combo forward rebounded at a super high level in this game on both ends including multiple put backs on the offensive end.&nbsp; He pushes it off the glass in the open floor where he attacks with big time athleticism throwing down a couple dunks and euro steps.&nbsp; He really stood out defensively with his switchability from bigs to guards blocking shots inside as well as getting his hands on jumpers.&nbsp; Finished with 14 points.&nbsp; Cal State Fullerton commit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1978581' first='Taylor' last='Powell'] (East St. Louis – 2024 – Northern Illinois Football)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Powell has already committed to NIU for football, but he is a ranked hooper as well.&nbsp; Broad shouldered forward that plays with power going downhill while mixing in several mid-range jumpers.&nbsp; Attacks with force in transition and was an impactful defender while racking up 14 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1373452' first='Robert' last='McCline'] (East St. Louis – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCline has been lights out with his shot making in this tournament over the years and that is what he showcased again as he buried four of them from distance.&nbsp; The lefty is a flamethrower off the catch spotting up from distance with a quick and consistent shot.&nbsp; Good athlete with a rangy frame that can get out in transition, mix it up on the glass, and the two guard is a solid defender.&nbsp; Went for 16 points.&nbsp; Small colleges and JUCOs get in on McCline!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Derrion Enlow (East St. Louis – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Enlow is having a strong senior season as a secondary scorer for this team.&nbsp; The lefty two guard knocked in a three, got on the offensive glass, and scored in transition for 9 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Montreal Stacker (East St. Louis – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stacker is a 6'0” junior shooting guard that is a spark for this Flyers team.&nbsp; He hit a pair of threes along with getting to the line for 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1619364' first='Decarl' last='Payne'] (Carbondale – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Payne is a volume scoring two guard with a strong frame.&nbsp; Takes a lot of tough shots, but will also make some contested jumpers.&nbsp; Drained a pair of threes, drove with power off the bounce, and got to the foul line racking up 16 points.&nbsp; Payne is a prospect that small colleges and JUCOs should be on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Henry Harsy (Carbondale – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harsy is an undersized post that has the looks of a football prospect at the next level.&nbsp; We liked what he did with his feel around the glass finishing dump offs and hitting the offensive glass scoring 6 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaxson Marlow-Evans (Carbondale – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marlow-Evans is a slick handling lead guard that wins off the bounce for acrobatic finishes, euro steps, or gets to the charity stripe.&nbsp; Mixed in a mid-range jumper along with a three for 9 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323611' first='Jerrance' last='Howard'] (Carbondale – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bright future for this young guard.&nbsp; The son of SIU-Carbondale assistant coach by the same name is a 2027 floor general that can score and set others up.&nbsp; Early on he hit a nice floater.&nbsp; Drained a pair of threes, but airballed a couple as well.&nbsp; Like his next play mentality as nothing seems to bother him.&nbsp; He showed touch from the mid-range on his shot. Pushes in the open floor with speed and made solid decisions as a passer.&nbsp; Couple steals as well.&nbsp;&nbsp; One to watch from the 618!&nbsp; He dropped 12 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Mt. Vernon Escapes in 4^th While 2026 Rams Wing Emerges</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the last quarterfinal of the SIT we saw Mt. Vernon and Charleston clash.&nbsp; Mt. Vernon looked in control for the first three quarters of the game.&nbsp; The Rams played stall ball a little, Charleston turned up the heat making shots, and it got really close, but Mt. Vernon won it 43-41 despite only getting three free throws in the final quarter.&nbsp; These were the prospects that made an impression on us.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1761128' first='Navontae' last='Nesbit'] (Mt. Vernon – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nesbit is a dynamic 6'0” scoring lead guard that is a bowling ball with the rock in his hands.  Once he gets going downhill he isn't going to be stopped.  Great speed in the open floor and often gets steals taking them the other way.  Like his tenacity on the defensive end.  The jumper was really good in this one hitting three from distance off the catch along with a crisp baseline 2.  Solid court vision as a passer.  Shines as a running back on the gridiron as well, but would be a high end small college or JUCO prospect if he decides to go the hoops route.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cale Maurer (Mt. Vernon – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maurer was the story of this game for me.&nbsp; The 6'5” small forward has long arms and a strong frame.&nbsp; He finished out of the dunker spot early, spinning turnaround jumper, and slashed in transition.&nbsp; Showed a lot of grit.&nbsp; Then he let the long ball fly hitting a pair of threes with great mechanics and elevation.&nbsp; Liked what he brought defensively as well moving his feet and being a tough versatile defender.&nbsp; The sophomore scored 16 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2455403' first='David' last='Barnes'] (Mt. Vernon – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barnes is about 6'3” and right now the freshman plays purely out of the post.&nbsp; Lefty is crafty around the rim drawing fouls where he scored all of his 5 points on the night.&nbsp; Solid rebounder.&nbsp; Long term development will be determined by how much he grows and/or what perimeter skills can be shown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Adam Rudibaugh (Charleston – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rudibaugh got Charleston back in this one late.&nbsp; The 6'2” senior is a plus mid-range jump shooter pouring in an array of them in the comeback attempt.&nbsp; Also hit a three off movement and got a layup on a back cut.&nbsp; Savvy guard that could find a home at the small college level as he netted 14 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Andrew Kuykendall (Charleston – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kuykendall is a tough 5'8” lead guard that can shoot it off the catch.&nbsp; Liked what he showed on a pair of threes and had one for the win just rim out.&nbsp; He had 6 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2407868' first='Tyler' last='Oakley'] (Charleston – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oakley is a strong bodied 6'3” small forward that connected on a pair from distance in this game.&nbsp; Brings a physicality on the wing.&nbsp; One to track as he had 8 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->