Class of 2019 Top Wings
Who are the best of the best when it comes to the shooting guards and small forwards in the state’s 2019 class? We have the answers right here!
Terrence Hargrove (East St. Louis)
Overall Rank: #3
Travel Team: Illinois Hooperville Warriors
The top 5 2019 prospect had a breakout sophomore campaign at East St. Louis and continued that into the spring. He uses his athleticism to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Defensively he is a beast! Dominates inside when they play zone and in man he locked down on the perimeter and contested every jump shot his man took. Hargrove swats jumpers along with more in the paint. Has the chance to be a big time defender if he wants to consistently lock in on that end. Offensively he is a high flying dunker. Extremely bouncy athlete that is a monster offensive rebounder. Also flashes a sweet right handed jump hook. Perimeter skill set is still evolving including flashing a jumper. Could definitely improve consistency there. Handles have gotten much better in the last six months as he looks more comfortable attacking off the bounce. High-major prospect.
Perry Cowan (DePaul Prep)
Overall Rank: #4
Travel Team: Illinois Wolves
Cowan is one of the top wings in the class with his size and ability to score at all three levels. Can post up smaller defenders. Plus shooter that has a feathery mid-range game and can stretch it out to three on occasion as well. Handles and passing have made strides. Once Cowan gets more of a dominant personality on the court he could be a big time player. Getting high-major looks.
Bryant Brown (Waukegan)
Overall Rank: #5
Travel Team: Illinois Wolves
Brown is extremely intriguing at 6’5” with his length, athleticism, and emerging skill. Solid defensive player with his length and toughness. Contests shots and has the defensive versatility to guard on both the perimeter and inside. Brown showed us he could shoot it a little too which we haven’t seen much out of the uber athlete. Drilled some threes off the catch. Potential high-major prospect.
Myles Baker (Whitney Young)
Overall Rank: #10
Travel Team: Chicago Select
Baker is one of the top wing prospects in his class. He has size and a smooth scoring game. Baker can score effectively at all three levels. Athleticism and quickness off the bounce allow him to get to the rack and is a factor in transition. Potential to be a very good jump shooter. Plus right now from mid-range with the chance to extend range in the future. Baker is running with Chicago Select 16U this spring and was on a state championship team for Whitney Young as a sophomore.
Martin Macenis (Stagg)
Overall Rank: #12
Travel Team: ET21 Buckeyes
Macenis has a European type game on the wing. Smooth handles with long strides. Likes to use euro step in the lane to finish. Very skilled wing that works well around screens as a passer, driver, and jump shooter. One of his more impressive plays we saw out of him this spring was a shot fake, allowing his man to fly by, and then finished with a one dribble pull up. Ability to knock down threes off the catch with a bit of a long release. Lots of arc on shot. Defensively he is an underrated player. Moves well laterally and his length allows him to get deflections. Had a few impressive blocks recovering. Macenis is a low-major prospect with mid-major upside.
LJ Johnson (Morgan Park)
Overall Rank: #14
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Johnson is an uber strong and freak athlete at the wing position. He is at his best in the open floor where he can use his speed, athleticism, and superior strength to dominate opponents. Slasher that knows how to get to the basket. Flashes potential on the jumper. Gets after it on the defensive end of the floor where he has the chance to be a big time wing defender long term.
Jeremiah Hernandez (St. Viator)
Overall Rank: #17
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Hernandez is a 6’4” athletic and rangy small forward. One of the more intriguing upside wing prospects in the 2019 class. He has a smoothness to his game on the perimeter. Looks effortless handling it and slashing off the bounce. Likes to play above the rim finishing with big dunks. Playmaker as a finisher getting out in transition and has vision to find guys as a passer.
Christopher Burnell (Rockford East)
Overall Rank: #18
Travel Team: Illinois Stars
Burnell has a nice combination of strength and athleticism. Plays both on and off the ball, but is more of a natural scorer at this stage in his development. Burnell is a “bucket getter” that makes it look easy at times. Attacks downhill where he can either finish through contact or dish off to open shooters on the perimeter.
Deng Reng (Wheaton North)
Overall Rank: #20
Travel Team: ET21 Buckeyes
Reng stands at 6’6” out of Wheaton North. The forward has a lot of intriguing qualities in his game. The first is his size, length, and athleticism for the wing position. Definitely will need to add strength going forward, but the 2019 prospect has time for that. At times he struggles finishing at the rim through contact because of his lack of strength. On the plus side he can handle it for a wing being able to put it on the deck a few times slashing from the wing. Flashes a feathery jump shot that he can stretch out to three on occasion. Quality free throw shooter. Defensively has the ability to defend multiple positions and moves well laterally. Areas to work on are strength and consistent aggressiveness. He is going to be a scholarship player. Development over next two years will determine if that is D1 or D2.