Arch Elite Challenge: Friday & Saturday Notebook
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On Friday and Saturday PHI took in some action from the Midwest Premier Hoops Arch Elite Challenge. There was some quality talent in the event. Check out what we saw here in Arch Elite Challenge: Friday & Saturday Notebook! …
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Continue ReadingOn Friday and Saturday PHI took in some action from the Midwest Premier Hoops Arch Elite Challenge. There was some quality talent in the event. Check out what we saw here in Arch Elite Challenge: Friday & Saturday Notebook!
Illinois Bears Solid 2023 Group Impresses
Some of the top prospects from the 618 in the rising junior class were on display Friday night as the Illinois Bears 16U squad routed their opponent. Early on it was the Cole Peppenhorst Cole Peppenhorst 6'4" | PF Breese Mater Dei | 2023 State IL show. The Breese Mater Dei 6’5” four man had a nice baseline take then was dominant as a rim runner. Very fluid running the floor getting dunks in transition. Knocked in a top of the key three and had a put back netting 17 points. The guards took it from there. Trenton Wesclin point guard Grant Fridley Grant Fridley 6'1" | PG Wesclin | 2023 State IL has such a high basketball IQ and feel for the game. Silky smooth getting in the paint on drives where he loves the float game. Went coast to coast a few times in the open floor and hit a three. Projects as a D2 floor general as he finished with 18 points on Friday. His running mate Highland point guard Cade Altadonna Cade Altadonna 6'0" | PG Highland | 2023 State IL is a lefty with strength. He is a catch and shoot threat from three and finishes well through contact at the rim. The Highland guard had 14 points. Couple of utility wings contributed to the win as Mcgrady Noyes Mcgrady Noyes 6'4" | SF Triad | 2023 State IL (Triad) and Kade Lustenberger Kade Lustenberger 6'5" | SF Carterville | 2023 State IL (Carterville) each had their moments. Noyes crashed the offensive glass while Lustenberger drained a three and was smooth taking it to the cup. Inside Hamilton County 6’8” center Wyatt Hamson held things down. Big bodied five is a solid area rebounder that snatched up everything around him. On the offensive end scored on a couple spin moves off deep initial post position.
Hoopstars-Willis 2023 Squad Play Up…….No Problem in Opener!
There were no open spots in the 16U pool so the Hoopstars Willis 2023 group decided to play up in the 17U division and won decisively on Friday night against Triple Threat. Rockford Guilford 6’4” shooting guard Mekhi Doby was the show. The 6’4” shooting guard was silky smooth getting whatever he wanted. Was money from distance draining a handful of threes off the bounce and catch. Shoots it with confidence. Shields the ball at the rim when he drives. Normal U-High small forward Mason Funk is a sniper from deep. He has positional size at 6’5” with a feathery shot. Quick release and hit off the catch along with pulling up behind a ball screen. Has some handles as well getting in the lane for scoop shots. Uses length defensively swatting a couple of shots including a nice recover. Champaign Centennial big man Gurmane Springfield Gurmane Springfield 6'5" | PF Champaign Centennial | 2023 IL is a wide bodied 6’5” post that rebounds well in his area and creates contact inside. Likes to play physical! Normal West sharp shooter Logan Sluder hit a couple from deep with his lanky build at 5’10”.
Illinois Bears 17U open with Narrow Win
Lot of talent on the floor for this 9:30 AM game between the Illinois Bears 17U and Illinois Hoopstars Willis 16U squad. Early on it looked like the Bears were going to run away with it. Top 20 2022 6’4” Mascoutah point guard Justin King Justin King 6'4" | PG Mascoutah | 2022 State IL had an emphatic dunk early on along with sever slick dishes. Cobden 6’10” five man Elliot Lowndes Elliot Lowndes 6'10" | C Cobden | 2022 State IL was a force inside rebounding and swatting shots. Good area rebounder that is quick passing it to cutters and has mobility in the pick and roll. Effective shot blocker. You have to like the grit that Breese Central shooting guard Brady Moore Brady Moore 6'4" | SG Breese Central | 2022 State IL brings to the table. Crafty guard makes plays in the lane and is a decent spot up option. A couple of key glue guys in this one for the Bears were Saxton Hoepker Saxton Hoepker 6'6" | PF Nashville | 2022 State IL (Nashville) and Jack Seibert (Mascoutah). Hoepker is a four man that finishes in pick/roll game, crashes offensive glass, and has a nice spin move on the block. Seibert is a swiss army knife doing a little bit of everything. In the end when the Hoopstars tied it up they went back to their star in King who delivered with a monster take off the bounce for a bucket and sealed it at the line with two free throws. The Bears won 68-64. For the Hoopstars Willis squad Rockford Guilford 6’4” shooting guard Mekhi Doby had another nice outing. Was at his best getting in the lane for runners and drawing contact. Brady Starkey and Mason Funk each hit some key threes. Michael Womer Michael Womer 6'2" | SG Peoria Richwoods | 2022 State IL brought toughness on the wing on both ends of the floor.
Rush Academy 16U Impresses in Victory
In their first game at the event Rush Academy’s 16U squad had a nice outing. We came away very intrigued with the upside of Nashville 6’8” power forward Bennett Briles. Face up four shot it with ease from beyond the arc and displayed solid mobility. Trinity Catholic (MO) 6’5” wing Jordan Lumpkins gets in the lane for scores and is a good rebounder. O’Fallon 2023 6’2” point guard Devan Rush is a lead guard with size that handles it well and has a nice pull up game. They cruised to a win over the Kentucky Bears.
Hoopstars Williams 16U Score Win Behind Defense and Guard Play
Nice win to start out the event for Illinois Hoopstars Williams 16U as they got a victory over Gateway. Their defense was crucial in the win as they held Gateway down in the 49-37 victory. It was the guards that dominated this one. Mekhi Cooper Mekhi Cooper 6'0" | PG Bolingbrook | 2023 State IL from Bolingbrook in his debut with the Hoopstars made some key plays both as a distributor. DePaul Prep 2023 lead guard Maurice Thomas Maurice Thomas 6'1" | PG Depaul Prep | 2023 State IL is a dynamic scorer off the bounce with good strength.. Bryce Tillery Bryce Tillery 5'7" | PG Hillcrest | 2023 State IL from Hillcrest brings quickness and range on his shot. Went for 9 points. Grant Welch Grant Welch 6'3" | PG Moline | 2023 State IL is a 6’3” combo from Moline with a clean looking shot off the catch along with some projectability. He also had 9 points.
Brown Proves He is Among Best Guards in 2024
Peoria High 2024 point guard Dekwon Brown Dekwon Brown 6'4" | PG Simeon | 2024 #273 Nation IL first jumped on our radar back in the fall playing at a camp with all upperclassmen and more than holding his own. The 6’1” lead guard has been consistent all spring for the Illinois Hoopstars proving he is among the best of the best in the 2024 class. Plus shooter with deep range on his three point shot. He hit a handful of them in his teams win over Ball Hogg Academy. Crisp ball handler that manipulates ball screens and has a burst in the open floor. Quick hands defensively. His backcourt running mate Malachi Johnson has made a name for himself this spring as well. The 2024 Rockford Guilford shooting guard has a long and rangy frame at 6’2” with a skilled offensive game. Hit a couple threes along with using his athleticism in transition.
Hoopstars-Rhymes 17U Cruises in First Game Saturday Night
The Illinois Hoopstars-Rhymes 17U squad made their debut at the event with an impressive 62-36 victory over ZoSki Elite on Saturday night. Early on Marian Catholic 2022 shooting guard Jeremiah Jones Jeremiah Jones 6'4" | SG Marian Catholic | 2022 State IL was the star. He is a long and rangy wing that makes an impact on both ends of the floor with his ability to get in passing lanes and create turnovers. Also put it on the deck for several slashes along with getting out in the open floor. Plus passing wing as well. Low-majors and D2s should get involved here! The St. Ignatius 2022 duo both contributed in the win. Strong bodied power forward Kolby Gilles Kolby Gilles 6'7" | PF St Ignatius | 2022 State IL got on the offensive glass for put backs and hit a three. AJ Redd AJ Redd 6'3" | SG St. Ignatius | 2022 State IL continues to excel this spring with his silky-smooth open floor game weaving through the defense for scores at the cup. We have been fans of Homewood Flossmoor power forward Christian Meeks Christian Meeks 6'6" | SF Homewood Flossmoor | 2022 State IL for a while. Tough, physical, and athletic four man that at 6’6” plays with such a high-motor. Complete force on the offensive glass with his explosive second jump. Can handle it from the high-post and hit an occasional three. Runs the floor with a purpose. Low-major and D2s would be wise to get involved here! Normal Community power forward Zach Cleveland Zach Cleveland 6'8" | PF Normal West | 2022 State IL did most of his damage in the paint in this one. Quick passes inside, reverse layups, and put backs. Face up four is a D1 prospect.