CEC: National Prospect Evaluations

This past weekend PrepHoopsIllinois was in the house for coverage of the Chicago Elite Classic.  We have given you our 5 Best Game stories, Standouts from each day, and now it is time for the massive scouting report of 65+ players.  In our last look at the event we give our evaluations of the top national prospects at the event.   PG Khalil Robinson (Gray Collegiate – 2019) We came away very impressed with this point guard from South Carolina.  The junior lead guard has such great feel for the game.  Quick lead guard that got in the lane consistently.  He is a creative passer once he gets in the paint finding teammates for easy scoring opportunities.  Lots of dump off passes for assists.  Did force a few for turnovers.  As a scorer he is a solid mid-range shooter and likes using a runner.  He had 14 point and 7 assists.  Should be on the mid-major radar.   SF Juwan Gary (Gray Collegiate – 2019) Gray Collegiate 6’6” small forward Juwan Gary presents a projectable frame and game to play on the wing at the next level.  Big time athlete in the transition game and playing in the open floor where he can finish with the best of them.  Finishes well around the hoop and in the paint.  Inconsistent perimeter shooter, but does have a shot that is clean so he could improve.  Snatches rebounds out of the air.  Gary went for 23 points (10-14 FG) and 5 boards.  High-major prospect.   PG Tommy Brunner (Gray Collegiate – 2019) Brunner is a 6’2” junior point guard that is quick and shifty with the ball in his hands that has the body control and acrobatics to finish around the cup.  Also is a plus perimeter sharp shooter drilling 3-6 from beyond the arc.  Brunner had 16 points (6-10 FG).   C Michael Marsh (Gray Collegiate – 2018) Marsh is a big bodied post at 6’9” with the ability to eat up space on the interior.  We came away very impressed with how well he moved for his size.  Marsh has nimble footwork and seals well on the interior.  Even had an up and under.  Good free throw stroke.  Defensively he is a tough post defender that can block an occasional shot.  He had 12 points (5-6 FG) and 8 rebounds.  Worth tracking at the mid-major level.   PG Mario McKinney (Vashon – 2019) McKinney might have had the best performance of the day!  The scoring point guard out of St. Louis had a monster performance against Whitney Young.  The Dolphins had no answer for the speed, quickness, and explosiveness that McKinney brought to the table.  Shifty guard that can break opponents down off the bounce and has blow by speed off the dribble.  He lived in the lane all night!  Consistently made tough acrobatic shots at the rim using his tremendous body control on a variety of finishes.  Finished so well at the rim and also got to the foul line at a high rate.  He is actually a solid three point shooter, but didn’t even take one in the game.  McKinney had a couple powerful dunks in transition.  He finished with 33 points (12-18 FG) leading his team to a win.  No doubt high-major point guard.   SF Cam’Ron Fletcher (Vashon – 2020) Fletcher is prospect that we were super impressed with in the spring and summer for Ramey-Jets United.  We came away liking what this sophomore brings to the table even more!  Size on the wing at 6’6” with a projectable frame to add strength.  Early on he forced a couple threes, but as it went along he started attacking the cup and got out in the open floor where he finished.  A bit of a volume scorer, but he can really put the ball in the hoop.  Usually shoots it better than he did against Whitney Young.  Also rebounds well for his position!  Fletcher had 18 points and 13 rebounds.  High-major prospect.   SG Kobe Clark (Vashon – 2020) Clark is a sophomore prospect with size at 6’5” and long term projectability to play on the perimeter.  Brings upside as a defender with his defensive versatility and ability to switch.  Had a steal and block each in the game.  Offensively he is best scoring in the paint on put backs and slashes.  Jump shot is pretty streak at this stage.  Struggled with some turnovers.  Like the long term potential here and is one we will track as a D1 target.  He had 6 points and 5 rebounds.   SF Cyrus Alexander (Vashon - 2019) Alexander is a long and thin small forward at 6’5”.  Like what he does in transition as a wing finisher and is efficient with the shots he takes going 6-6 from the field.  Alexander is also a threat on the defensive end of the floor.  Low-major and D2 programs should start to monitor him.  He had 14 points in their win over Whitney Young.   SF Jericole Hellems (Chaminade – 2018) Hellems is the show for Chaminade this year!  They have some solid complimentary pieces and young players that could emerge down the line, but the NC State commit will have to carry them this year.  At 6’7” he has size and length on the perimeter.  Forced some tough jump shots especially early.  He takes great angles with the ball when slashing.  Likes to use a step back and fade away from the mid-range shooting it.  Volume scorer that is also a solid rebounder.  He had 22 points (9-20 FG) and 7 boards.   SF Malik Hall (Sunrise Christian – 2019) Hall is originally from Metea Valley so this was kind of a homecoming game for him.  The 6’6” small forward is a smooth wing that looks the part.  Handles it in the open floor and has a good looking shot mechanically.  We would have liked to seen him be more aggressive throughout their contest as he was a bit passive offensively.  He had a strong take in the half court and capped the game off with a dunk.  Not much else in this one.  He finished with 6 points (3-7 FG) and 3 rebounds.  The top 100 recruit nationally is getting looked at by high-major programs.   C N’Faly Dante (Sunrise Christian – 2020) Long term Dante was probably the best prospect in the entire event.  The 6’11” center has great strength and a tremendous frame for a young post.  Snatches rebounds on the interior with his strong hands.  Right now he is mostly a defensive presence with his rebounding and ability to protect the rim which he does at a high level blocking and altering shots.  Offensively he is a work in progress, but definitely flashes with a short jumper, right handed hook shot, and a poster dunk.  Dante had 9 points (3-5 FG).  Elite high-major target.   C Isaiah Stewart (La Lumiere – 2019) Stewart continues to see his stock rise as he had a strong fall at USA Basketball and other camps.  The 6’9” center has a chiseled frame especially in his upper body.  So strong and plays with a lot of physicality around the hoop.  Beast rebounder especially on the offensive end where he grabbed six of them.  Gets put backs mauling opponents on the boards.  Rebounds so well in traffic with his strong hands.  Made a couple nice passes out of the post.  Defends well in the paint.  Skilled moves are a work in progress.  He had 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks.  High-major player.   SG Charles Smith (La Lumiere – 2019) This was my first chance to see Smith play and the 6’5” two guard shows in spurts why he is considered a high-major prospect.  Very athletic wing with quick twitched muscles.  He has a clean looking jumper with height off the floor and rotation on his shot.  Was effective pulling up behind screens and drilling mid-range shots.  Rangy two guard had 12 points.   PG Tyger Campbell (La Lumiere – 2018) Campbell is a flashy point guard that struggled despite scoring 18 points at the CEC.  He shot 4-18 from the field and forced some bad shots.  Not a consistent shooter from the perimeter at this stage although he can hit a pull up on occasion.  Shifty off the bounce and is best getting in the lane making plays for others.   SF Emanuel Miller (La Lumiere – 2019) Miller also opened our eyes.  The Canadian product is an uber bouncy wing at 6’7” that plays with a lot of energy and a high activity level.  He has a knack for always being around the basketball.  Elite second jump to the offensive glass for put backs and slammed down a big alley-oop.  Hit a three from the top of the key, but is definitely a guy that does most of his damage inside off his athleticism at this stage.  He went for 9 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals.