The Tune Up Illinois: Friday Standout Players

From up and coming 15U'ers to recruiting-worthy players from the Class of 2027, the Prep Hoops Tune Up Tournament hosted plenty of eye-popping talent. Here is Part 1 of players who sparked fireworks on the court, heading into the holiday weekend.    A prototypical court general, there's no one whose passing and vision stood out more than [player_tooltip player_id='2822689' first='Nate' last='Munson']. Time and again in Flight Athletic's 10 point win over Illinois Hoop Stars, Munson thundered down the court and made laser passes for easy lay-ups. With shifty, constantly moving eyes, Munson knew exactly what was going on on the court at all times and communicated confidently with his teammates, directing who the ball should go to and shouting “Let it go!” for multiple second-chance plays. His ability to find the open player is special and his passing is elite. Munson also showed aggressiveness as a defender - opposing players could go right at him and Munson never flinched. His hands were everywhere, deflecting the ball especially in the paint. If anything, I would have liked to see Munson get his own shot more often rather than always looking for his teammates. If he can improve his shot creation skills, Munson can become even more of a match-up threat.     Making the trip south from Wisconsin, Temperly didn't disappoint in Friday's games for Compete. Temperly's energy and drive immediately stood out when watching him. He gives 100% on every possession, but he's not only a hustle player. Temperly also has sharpshooting ability and a reliable stroke from both inside and beyond the arc. Temperly was clearly a leader on the Compete squad, pointing out who teammates should guard when they came into the game, taking responsibility when he directed a play and it didn't work, and cheering for his teammates despite being the best player on the floor for long stretches of play. Temperly also displayed good help defense, trapping opposing players in the corner on several plays. With a nose for the basketball, high basketball IQ, and leadership potential, Temperly is a player to watch.     Harris was clearly the best player on the floor for the [program_tooltip program_id='2829950' first='Illinois' last='Game Time'] team in his game against [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package']. He showcased natural shot creation ability, getting to the rim through contact, knocking down jump shots, and using no-look passes to keep the defense off balance. His ability to consistently generate his own shot while also attacking the basket was too much for opposing teams to handle. As Harris continues to develop, improving his free-throw consistency and ensuring that he doesn't go on streaks where he's the only one on his team with the ball in his hands will be important. He also needs to bulk up and fill out his frame, but if he can get bigger and stronger and pair that with his shot creation talents, Harris could become one of the more dynamic guards in Illinois.     Nikita Lasista's size was noticeable in All In's match up against Royalty Hoops. It wasn't just his height and frame that stood out, but his natural positioning around the basket. Lasista was rarely out of place and made it easy for his teammates to lob it to him in the paint, where he was close to automatic as a shooter. While Lasitsa is already a hyper-dependable interior presence on both ends of the floor, one area I would love to see him grow is elevating his decision-making as a passer. If he can avoid making forced passes in traffic, Lasista will develop into an even more well-rounded, effective player.     Though he just finished his freshman year, there's lots to get excited about with Jacoby Tornincasa. Tornincasa displays court vision beyond his years and isn't afraid to take the ball directly to the hoop. In his game against the Illinois Hoopstars club team, Tornincasa showcased a balanced game with impressive instincts on both offense and defense. There were multiple times when he used his body, wing-span, and quick lateral movement to block opposing players from driving to the basket. A growing two-way player, Tornincasa will be fun to watch in the years to come.

From up and coming 15U'ers to recruiting-worthy players from the Class of 2027, the Prep Hoops Tune Up Tournament hosted plenty of eye-popping talent. Here is Part 1 of players who sparked fireworks on the court, heading into the holiday weekend.