Chicagoland Summer Showcase: Saturday Afternoon's Stock Risers

Prep Hoops Illinois was in Rockford, IL for Saturday afternoon's session checking out the always competitive Chicagoland Summer Showcase. Teams from across the Midwest and college coaches from big to small were in attendance taking in the day's festivities. It is the NCAA's second live period for next level coaches to evaluate. I had an opportunity to watch 4 games with teams playing from Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana. Let's go ahead a break down some of these athletes' performances who showcased diverse skill sets for their respective teams.    Watched team's second game of day on Saturday. Put up team high 20. Lengthy frame with poised handles. Was most impressed with his defensive stability although offensively he was in rhythm as well. Anticipated passes getting tips in the 3/4ths quarter court and created turnovers which made for break buckets. Walked into a couple 3's off the dribble smoothly. Knows how to shoot off the bounce from mid range. Vision is there for the 1 or 2 man role at the next level.     Plays with a toughness and determination. Watched team's first game of the day against another solid team. Had game high 23. Possessed a disciplined demeanor on and off the ball. Made a back door cut to finish and another slash in the paint to retrieve and score. Remained confident in traffic against more size and length. Went off the dribble into the thick of the defense and converted. Overall, liked his will to gut out some tough plays.     A unique combo guard showcasing a diverse set of offensive moves. Shot it well with range off secondary break option. Can get by the on ball defender with quick first step. Possesses solid bounce off the dribble as well. Went 2 hard dribble baseline drive once for dunk attempt. Takes advantage of his spots and guarded consistently. Helped team gut out a victory against tough opponent with 13.     Crafty combo guard that started to feel it in rhythm of 2nd half scoring 12 of game high 19. Smooth and poised handles against 0 gap pressure. Changes speeds to keep on ball defender off balance while making good offensive decisions and reads. Worked accordingly off ball screens while knocking it down from 3 point land and mid range. Defensively stayed in tact on the ball using his length on smaller guards. Overall has a well balanced game on both ends.     Nifty ball handler that possesses toughness against pressure. Created for himself and others. Allowed opportunities to open up for teammates. Made a reverse lay in on the break over size, another sky finger roll finish, and a spot up 3 cutting hard to top of key. Dished off a couple smooth passes in the lane to his big and pushed the ball quickly in transition for multiple assists. Has solid court vision finding gaps and finished with team high 11.     Team's primary ball handler but will put the ball in the hole consistently in a big way. Forces defense to initiate contact when driving to get to the stripe. Finished with a couple and 1's and multiple 3's. Scored it efficiently at a high clip. Liked his demeanor to get down hill in the 1/2 court setting and forcing defense to collapse. Plays up tempo alongside another solid guard to get offense into flow. Lead all scorer's with 26 and a win to finish the day.

Prep Hoops Illinois was in Rockford, IL for Saturday afternoon's session checking out the always competitive Chicagoland Summer Showcase. Teams from across the Midwest and college coaches from big to small were in attendance taking in the day's festivities. It is the NCAA's second live period for next level coaches to evaluate. I had an opportunity to watch 4 games with teams playing from Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana. Let's go ahead a break down some of these athletes' performances who showcased diverse skill sets for their respective teams.