Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook
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Sunday closed out the Chi-Town Tip Off. It was another outstanding day of basketball. We recap what we saw in Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook featuring 40+ prospects from Illinois! In-State Battle Between Meanstreets and Illinois Hoopstars…
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Continue ReadingSunday closed out the Chi-Town Tip Off. It was another outstanding day of basketball. We recap what we saw in Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook featuring 40+ prospects from Illinois!
In-State Battle Between Meanstreets and Illinois Hoopstars 17U is Intense
The most intense game of the day came between Meanstreets and Illinois Hoopstars 17U. Tons of in-state talent that showed out on the big stage. Meanstreets won a tight one 75-67. It was the Kam Craft show again! The Buffalo Grove shooting guard went for 22 points including an array of triples, sweeping layups, and runners. Glenbard South power forward Nick Martinelli was super productive as he scored 18 points in a variety of ways from put backs, to transition points, to floaters. The Meanstreets five star post duo of Jalen Washington and AJ Casey continue to mesh. Whitney Young star Casey is so rangy and athletic at the four spot. He uses his quickness inside for scores and snatched rebounds. Washington spaced the floor with his shooting hitting an array of mid-range jumpers along with stretching to three and mixing in hook shots. Best I have seen him since Elite 100 several years ago. For the Illinois Hoopstars Illini commit AJ Storr put another solid performance together. Got downhill scoring in the paint with force. Such a tough cover with his broad shoulders when he gets going to the rim. When his team needed a bucket he got it. Loyola commit TY Johnson created off the bounce scoring with acrobatic layups and hit a deep three. Going to be a great starting piece for new head coach Drew Valentine. KJ Debrick is a player that will ignite a program in 2022. The Lanphier reclass will go prep in Texas. With his improved body and the impact he makes in the paint on both ends he will be a coveted prospect moving forward.
Small College Prospects in Abundance in The Work Foundation vs South Cook Jaguars
This was a fun contest between a couple of teams stacked with small college talent in the 2022 classes that are productive players now and will be in the future. Jabar Wheatley had a nice summer last year and the Corliss guard did it again posting 20 points by getting to the paint and line. Perspectives Calumet point guard Jabari Sanders is smaller at 5’9” but can really shoot it as he let it fly from distance with consistency for 15 points. For the Jaguars they got a trio of major contributions from their perimeter players. Whitney Young bouncy wing Matt Somerville had 18 points. His high school teammate AJ Williams drained threes at a nice clip for 18 points also. Byron Hobbs out of Lindbloom dropped 16 points.
Hoops 4 Health Has 2022 Small College Back Court and 2023 Star Power Up Front
Hoops 4 Health scored a 41-30 win over Young Men on a Mission. They were paced by Tyler Van Gorp inside. The 2023 New Trier 6’10” five man is rail thin, but has an excellent skill set. Stretches the floor with his shooting, seems more fluid around the hoop finishing, and is a rim protector. He had 11 points. Sherod Dent is an intriguing 2023 prospect with his frame and skill level. Lefty combo forward from Providence St. Mel can spot up for threes and was impactful on the defensive end. St. Joseph 2022 Bryant Handley is a smooth athlete that can score as he netted 10 points along with some nifty passing. Karlo Colak of New Trier made very skilled plays including a length of the court outlet on the money off a steal. Also scored 10 points.
Breakaway Out Shoots Team Rose in Exciting 17U Match Up
This was one of the best games we saw all weekend. Shooters gonna shoot and man can Breakaway SHOOT! Timothy Christian 2022 6’7” small forward Ben VanderWal Ben VanderWal 6'5" | SF Timothy Christian | 2022 State #201 Nation IL is a no doubt low-major player with mid-major potential. He was lights out from beyond the arc draining three triples along with aggressive straight line takes, fadeaways, and got in passing lanes on the defensive end for 19 points. Hinsdale South 2022 6’6” small forward Bobby Durkin matched him shot for shot hitting four from distance for 20 points. Plus shooter that every time he lets it go you think it is going in. Also has improved handles and overall feel. Also liked the versatility that they have up front with a pair of small college gems in York’s Nick Hesch (10 points) who can step out along with Hinsdale South’s Garrett Bolte (6 points) that brings toughness and rebounding. Springfield Lanphier shooting guard Tye Banks had it going. The put together two guard is a versatile scorer that got buckets in a variety of ways for 20 points. Also liked what Hyde Park 2022 point guard Davontae Hall did with his pull up game, burst to the rim, and passing including a ridiculous baseline wrap around.
Brad Beal Elite Scores Win over D1 Minnesota 17U in Clash of Shoe Company Powers
Two of the best programs in the country met when Nike’s Brad Beal Elite took on Adidas’ D1 Minnesota. This one was all BBE from the jump as they cruised to a 72-51 victory. Nick Smith lived up to his national ranking as the Arkansas shooting guard did just about whatever he wanted in a 19 point performance. Float game was going along with deep threes. Creative scorer off the bounce and was really impressed with his passing from his off guard spot. Tavion Banks from Minnesota Prep went off against the team from his state. Strong and super athletic wing that excels playing above the rim in transition with thunderous slams for 14 points. Cardinal Ritter 6’8” five man Robert Lewis brought rebounding and shot blocking along with explosive finishing. On the D1 Minnesota side skilled 2022 shooting guard Camden Heide displayed a fundamentally sound scoring game going for 15 points. Big man Elvis Nnaji threw down some monster dunks as a the 6’8” post had 8 points.
Indy Premier 15U Shows Out
What a show Indy Premier 15U put on with four blowout wins including a 65-38 victory in the finale. St. Rita point guard Jaedin Reyna is a spectacular lead guard that is the leading contender for the top floor general in the class early on. He has the ball on a string scoring and making others better. Went for 24 points. Also came away very impressed with Isaiah Green. The Hillcrest 6’0” bowling ball guard is an electric athlete that shines in transition and has passing flair. He had 10 points. Cole Cosme is only 5’2” but the Brother Rice lead guard can really shoot it hitting four from deep for 12 points.
Sleeper Prospects Emerge
Connor Brown Connor Brown 6'4" | SF Cerro Gordo | 2022 IL (All-In Athletics Phenom 17U)
Really liked what we saw out of Brown early on Sunday. Projectable 6’4” forward from Cerro Gordo that scored inside and out with quick moves in paint and hit a three.
Caiden Lecce (DF Elite 17U)
Lecce drained three after three right in front of me during warm ups and then continued his hot play into the game. The lefty point guard from Wisconsin was a shifty driver that made tough layups, was excellent passing it, and is a plus shooter.
Fazion Farr (Midwest Tar Heels Select 17U)
Farr led his team to a victory. He netted 16 points along with dishing out some on the money dimes from his point guard spot.
Mike Erbeck (Illinois Stars Johnson 17U)
Erbeck is a sharp shooter that went for 24 points including five from distance. The home school product out of Newark is one to track at the small college level.
Sion Holman (YGE 16U)
Holman wasn’t super productive, but there is a lot to like long term with the 6’5” power forward from Proviso West. Really like his length and how he can impact the game on the defensive end along with the overall fluidity he plays with.
Bryce Shoto Bryce Shoto 5'6" | PG Plainfield Central | 2023 State IL (YGE 16U)
This diminutive point guard is always fun to watch with his shifty ball handling, spectacular passing, and surprising defenders with deep threes!
Ryan Jack (Man Up 16U)
This 2023 prospect from Glenbrook South is a tough as nails wing that brings a high skill level and basketball IQ. Scored on back cuts and off ball movement. Always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.
Donovan Brown Donovan Brown 6'2" | PG Plainfield Central | 2022 State IL (Illinois T-Wolves 17U)
Consistent weekend for this Illinois T-Wolves combo guard who posted high point totals on the regular all weekend.
Kamran Banks Kamran Banks 6'2" | SG Springfield Southeast | 2022 State IL (All-In Athletics Phenom Black 17U)
Banks has been very productive the last two high school seasons at Springfield Southeast and that continued Sunday as he went for 22 points.
Josh Lawson Josh Lawson 6'2" | SG Marian Catholic | 2022 State IL (Next Level 24 17U)
Really liked this 6’3” guard during the season and that continued with his play at Chi-Town Tip Off as the Marian Catholic wing dropped 13 points on Sunday.
Cooper Stacey Cooper Stacey 6'5" | SF Warren Township | 2022 State IL (B&B Elite 17U)
Stacey opened eyes on Sunday with a nice outing as the 6’5” forward netted 15 points.
Eliseo Gonzalez (Illinois Outwork 17U)
The 6’0” guard from Morton put on a show recording 34 points on Sunday for his squad.
Bo Hubbard Bo Hubbard 6'0" | SG Glenbrook South | 2021 IL (Full Package 17U)
Another unsigned senior that helped himself. The Glenbrook South standout hit a handful of threes showing a smooth stroke from deep.