Edwardsville Regional Semis: Standout Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wednesday night Prep Hoops Illinois was in the building at Edwardsville High School to take in a pair of matchups in the regional semis.&nbsp; In the first game top seeded Quincy got everything they could handle surviving against Alton winning on a shot with 1 second left to win 48-47.&nbsp; The next contest saw host Edwardsville take on higher seed O'Fallon.&nbsp; This game really picked up in the third quarter with some back and forth action.&nbsp; O'Fallon led the majority of the game, but Edwardsville got it close late, but could never hit that key shot to tie it up as O'Fallon advanced with a 63-54 win.&nbsp; We dive into the evaluations of the top prospects from these two games in <strong>Edwardsville Regional Semis: Standout Prospects</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385308' first='Keshaun' last='Thomas'] (Quincy – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas was the star of the game for Quincy and did the work at the end finishing a slip pass from Wires to score the game winning basket.&nbsp; Strong bodied 6'6” post was a force especially early in the game using his frame to get on the boards along with finishing inside.&nbsp; Worked well in the pick/roll along with making some solid reads as a passer.&nbsp; Finished dump offs inside and had a quick baseline move for 12 points and 8 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385298' first='Bradley' last='Longcor'] (Quincy – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Longcor was solid in this one, but not spectacular.&nbsp; In the first half he was focused on setting his teammates up.&nbsp; Several really nice quick passes including multiple in the pick/roll finding Thomas.&nbsp; Toward the end of the first half he hit a three and had an and-1 to give his team the lead.&nbsp; Only bucket of the second half was a blow by layup.&nbsp; He had 8 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1750594' first='Camden' last='Brown'] (Quincy – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown is a prospect that should be garnering more attention at the D2 level.&nbsp; Big wing with good size and length.&nbsp; Smooth athlete that took it coast to coast for a score and scored off the bounce on a sweeping drive.&nbsp; Like what he brings defensively swatting shots on the perimeter and recovering to block one at the rim.&nbsp; He had 9 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545125' first='Dominique' last='Clay'] (Quincy – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clay is one of my favorite players in this junior class.&nbsp; Think he is super underrated with his size and length.&nbsp; Plus shooter that can really stroke it off the catch from three draining a trio of them in this game along with a tip in for 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1373449' first='Ralph' last='Wires'] (Quincy – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wires is a shifty ball handling guard that gets dribble penetration and can score when needed, but is definitely a pass first guard that loves to get his plethora of weapons involved.&nbsp; Had such a sweet dime on the game winner.&nbsp; Constantly is setting up his shooters and big men.&nbsp; Small college gem!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2376270' first='Semaj' last='Stampley'] (Alton – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stampley was the story of the night from a prospect standpoint.&nbsp; This was my first chance to see him play and I came away impressed with the 6'2” combo guard.&nbsp; Strong and stocky guard that has plus athleticism. Hit four threes in the game including some really big ones as the game got toward the end.&nbsp; Good stroke with elevation off the floor.&nbsp; Showed some burst in transition and slashing for scores.&nbsp; Active hands on the defensive end getting several steals as well.&nbsp; Finished with 23 points.&nbsp; Definitely a new name to track!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hassani Elliott (Alton – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elliott is a 6'1” stocky guard that scores in the paint.&nbsp; Posted up his defender once and got downhill for several others scores including one coast to coast for 10 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2375631' first='Kobe' last='Taylor'] (Alton – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor is a long and lanky 6'3” lefty wing that uses his length around the basket to score.&nbsp; Best as a slasher and playing in transition taking good angles to the hoop.&nbsp; The southpaw flashed as a shooter hitting one, but was a bit streaky finishing with 9 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trai'Sean Sims (Alton – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sims only scored 3 points, but we came away impressed with what he brought defensively.&nbsp; At 6'5” the versatile defender racked up blocks and steals while being able to guard a variety of different positions.&nbsp; Looked comfortable on the three he hit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2318169' first='Will' last='Brown'] (O'Fallon – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown is the elite glue guy for O'Fallon that does whatever is asked of him.&nbsp; In this game that was scoring.&nbsp; Strong and athletic 6'2” two guard hit a pair of threes and attacked downhill hard over and over in this one racking up 17 points.&nbsp; Would be a really good small college or JUCO player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157355' first='Jaeden' last='Rush'] (O'Fallon – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rush took a while to get it going in this one, but once he did he heated up fast.&nbsp; The wiry senior point guard is a sound shooter pulling up on his own for big shots.&nbsp; Fluid ball handler that can win off the bounce and used his go to hesi to blow past a defender.&nbsp; Finished with 14 points.&nbsp; Rush is one of the better guards still on the board in the 618.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1373443' first='Rini' last='Harris'] (O'Fallon – 2024 – McKendree)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harris didn't have his biggest game by any means as the McKendree commit only scored 7 points including a three and floater.&nbsp; What we did like was that he didn't let that impact him from stuffing the stat sheet in other areas.&nbsp; Blocked shots, was active defensively, rebounded, and was a perfect glue guy for his team in this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zach Tebbe (O'Fallon – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tebbe is a small college sharp shooter that can really let it fly.&nbsp; The 5'10” guard hit a pair of threes along with an acrobatic layup for 10 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caden Saunders (O'Fallon – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saunders got the Panthers going in the first quarter as the 6'4” lanky wing drained a pair of threes and would finish with those 6 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1201823' first='Malik' last='Allen'] (Edwardsville – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Allen is a 6'2” guard that carried Edwardsville for most of their game against O'Fallon.&nbsp; The senior guard hit a pair of threes along with getting to the cup with athleticism finishing in the lane for tough finishes inside along with several trips to the line racking up 19 points.&nbsp; Small colleges and JUCOs should be on him!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AJ Tillman (Edwardsville – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tillman is another senior guard that gave it his all in his final high school game.&nbsp; The lefty drained a pair of threes along with scoring in transition.&nbsp; Had a big and-1 in the second half as well for 12 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2815522' first='Herbert' last='Martin'] (Edwardsville – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This 2025 5'11” point guard loved to get dribble penetration and use a floater once in the paint for conversions.&nbsp; Also mixed in a mid-range jumper and a three for 13 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iose Epenesa (Edwardsville – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Epenesa is the top football recruit in the state's junior class.&nbsp; He is a solid hooper as well.&nbsp; The 6'5” junior is a physical presence on the interior that has a good passing feel, rebounds, and can score around the hoop.&nbsp; Finished with 6 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->