Show Me Showdown: Scotty B's Friday Notebook

The Prep Hoops Show Me Showdown kicked off Friday night in Chesterfield with three rounds of exciting games.  PHI was there to take it all in.  Here is what I saw in Show Me Showdown: Scotty B's Friday Notebook!   [program_tooltip program_id='2075283' first='Arsenal' last='Hoops'] Too Much for [program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'] in 17U Win to Open Night   First up was a border battle between [program_tooltip program_id='2075283' first='Arsenal' last='Hoops'] and the [program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'] at the 17U level.  It was within striking distance for a while, but Arsenal pulled away to win 70-50.  The prospect that caught our attention early and often was power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1872264' first='Oliver' last='Puljic'].  He is a big man from Summit (MO) that has a bright future.  Good size and bounce around the hoop.  Hook shots with both hands and ran the floor with ease as he had 18 points.  Vianney (MO) combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='2090504' first='Ben' last='Karsten'] is a big time shot maker from three who also showed flashes as a passer dropping 9 points.  Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='1598820' first='Abraham' last='Nayou'] (Maplewood) and [player_tooltip player_id='2311275' first='Tobi' last='Akinyede'] (Westminster) were guards that attacked the rim and were active on both ends.  Couple wings caught our attention as Marquette (MO) forward Alex Komorech threw down a nasty dunk and played with a ton of energy en route to 18 points.  MICDS (MO) wing [player_tooltip player_id='2348242' first='Tyler' last='Ray'] has a bright future as a strong bodied wing that can really lockdown as a defender on the perimeter.  Solid rebounder and capable shooter.   For the [program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'] it was a strong game from Nashville shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1552415' first='Maddox' last='Ritzel'].  Strong bodied wing that is efficient scoring in the paint and the skies opened up from deep as the game went on draining a trio from beyond the arc pouring in 21 points on the night.  Murphysboro 6'4” small forward [player_tooltip player_id='2831779' first='Myles' last='Guthman'] put his name on our radar with his size, skill, and activity level.  Couple jumpers, finished in the paint, and made some plays defensively.  Unsigned senior guard Cayden Young of Harrisburg is a prospect small colleges should be on.  Good size two guard that has a fluid handle  being able to get to the rack along with a clean looking shot.  He had 12 points.   Gateway Basketball 15U 2029 Post Wins Game with Bucket to Close Contest   This was a fun contest that came down to the wire.  With the game tied Gateway Basketball 15U went to their big fella 2029 Rockbridge (MO) post [player_tooltip player_id='2731305' first='Beckett' last='Bruns'] to get the game winning bucket scoring a 73-71 victory against the [program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'].  Let's start right there with Bruns.  He is a wide bodied five man that is light on his feet.  Excellent footwork on the block, touch, and carves out space.  Super bright future for this incoming freshman big man.  Finished this contest with 10 points.  Francis Howell (MO) 2028 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2503734' first='Alex' last='Wise'] was very impressive with his ability to score and dish.  Good size and knocked down jumpers from all over the floor.  He gets in the lane for scores or finds his teammates.  Excellent feel!  Went for 16 points in the win.  Trio of guards to watch on this squad in [player_tooltip player_id='2569193' first='Braiden' last='Alford'] (CBC), [player_tooltip player_id='2569211' first='Tucker' last='Reutzel'] (Fredericktown), and [player_tooltip player_id='2617718' first='Coleman' last='Watson'] (Lafayette) each impressed.  Alford and Reutzel with their shot making while Watson has a ton of projectability to go with slick handles, passing, and defense.  The player that brings it all together for them is Trico wing [player_tooltip player_id='2766519' first='Ryder' last='Wettig'] who defends, rebounds, and is a connective passer.   The [program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'] got a monster close to the game from Pinckneyville big man [player_tooltip player_id='2383971' first='Tyler' last='McConnell'].  The 2027 big man is about to fly up the board in our next rankings update into the top 30 overall.  Big time athlete that can deck it, rim run, finish out of the dunker spot, snatch rebounds, and protects the rim.  He made play after play down the stretch to bring his team back scoring 24 points.  Meridian combo guard Latrus Johnson is a scoring guard that loves to take it right at the defense off the bounce.  Scored in paint on soft touch finishes and layups.  Dropped 18 points in the loss.  [player_tooltip player_id='2383925' first='Dariontez' last='Monroe'] from Sparta is a PHI favorite with his speed, handles, creative finishing, and defense.  Also knocked in a pair of threes in this game for 12 points.  Centralia point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2125643' first='Jaxson' last='Hancock'] is a high IQ guard that runs his team at the point along with hitting a few jumpers and floaters.  The Orphans standout had 11 points.   [program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'] 15U Epic Comeback to Top Southern Illinois Raptors on Hayes Bank In at Buzzer   We followed one close contest with another.  The Southern Illinois Raptors 15U were super impressive in this game as they led almost the entire game.  The [program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'] slowly worked their way back into the game from double digits to a couple possessions.  [player_tooltip player_id='2832355' first='DJ' last='Hayes'] of Sparta hit a three to tie it, the Bears got a stop, he came down in a frantic rush and threw up a prayer three banking it in to win 65-62.  What we like about him is his ability to push in the open floor with his speed and has some passing flair.  He had 13 points in the victory.  Down the stretch Herrin 6'3” small forward JJ Gwaitney made a trio of big time shots from three.  Struggled early, but you could see the clean mechanics.  He got them to go down the stretch finishing with 11 points.  Shooters with size are always intriguing.  Carterville guard duo of [player_tooltip player_id='2832359' first='Harper' last='Lustenberger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2832797' first='Max' last='Lustenberger'] had nice outings.  Harper is the taller one at about 6'2” as he did his damage inside along with solid passing as he had 11 points.  Max poured in an array of threes and mid-range shots netting 14 points.   Wyatt Schrage of Breese Central was the best player on the floor for large portions of this game. At about 6'5” this power forward definitely put his name on our radar. Skilled low post player that keeps ball high on post moves. Got on the offensive glass, scored off out of bounds plays, and stretched it hitting a three. Went for 17 points. Loved the energy that [player_tooltip player_id='2874753' first='Bradey' last='Diehl'] brought as the Christ Our Rock forward swatted multiple shots like a volleyball. Utility wing that plays with a ton of energy and is quick to the glass. Collinsville point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2845146' first='Damon' last='Dyer'] is a small guard that pushed the pace in the first half getting to the rim. He had 10 points. [player_tooltip player_id='2848554' first='Parker' last='Baalman'] (Calhoun) and Ryder Burgmeier (Breese Central) are two others to keep tabs on. Burgmeier was very effective pushing the tempo in the first half for 11 points.

The Prep Hoops Show Me Showdown kicked off Friday night in Chesterfield with three rounds of exciting games. PHI was there to take it all in. Here is what I saw in Show Me Showdown: Scotty B's Friday Notebook!