Ramey Midwest Shootout: Illinois Evaluations
PrepHoopsIllinois was at the Ramey Midwest Showdown Shootout on Saturday. Here we breakdown the evaluations of Illinois prospects from the event!
PF EJ Liddell (Belleville West – 2019)
Liddell is the top senior prospect in Illinois and the prohibited favorite to repeat as Mr. Basketball this season. The 6’7” four man started off a bit slow, but then got it rolling as the game went along. He was most effective shooting the ball making a pair of turnaround jumpers from the post and a mid-range jumper. This is the area of his game that has improved so much over the last year. He is now a plus shooter from inside the arc and an adequate one from deep although he didn’t hit one from three in this game. Monster tip dunk and a windmill to close out the night. He rebounded well in traffic with his quick jump off the floor. Also swatted shots per usual. We came away very impressed with his passing out of the post. This might be the most underrated part of his game. His stat line was 23 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 5 dimes.
PG Lawrence Brazil (Belleville West – 2019)
Brazil is a steady point guard that always had an answer every time CBC got close. The senior lead guard is a sound mid-range shooter that consistently connected from that area of the floor. Pushes in the open floor and has toughness. Runs the show for Maroons. He had 17 points.
SF Will Shumpert (Belleville West – 2019)
Shumpert set the tone early for Belleville West. He played lock down defense early frustrating his opponents star while also contributing on the offensive end. Strong and broad shouldered forward who can attack downhill with force. Finished well in the paint. Also hit a three on a dribble handoff. Shumpert went for 13 points.
SG Tommie Williams (Belleville West – 2021)
The next two seasons this will be Williams’ team. The 6’3” sophomore two guard is a plus shooter off the catch as he drilled a pair in this game. He plays his role within the flow of the offense. Good athlete that is only going to continue to get better. Williams had 6 points.
SF Terrence Hargrove (East St. Louis – 2019)
Hargrove is an athletic small forward that will be headed to St. Louis University next year. The 6’6” small forward wasn’t quite as dominant as he was a few weeks back when we saw him in Springfield, but he didn’t need to be as his team blew out their opponent right from the jump. Hargrove had a few spectacular dunks including one off a steal where he went behind his back and flushed it home. Several other explosive takes off the bounce that he finished with force. Also connected on a runner and a mid-range jumper flashing to the middle. Hargrove finished the game with 14 points.
PF Richard Robinson (East St. Louis – 2019)
Robinson has been outstanding since his transfer over from Cahokia. The 6’7” four man is a strong post that is physical down low. He got on the glass for a dip in and had a huge transition dunk. Protects the rim with his shot blocking. The value he brings to the table is his ability to space the floor hitting a wing three and another mid-range jumper. Robinson had 9 points.
PG Elijah Rice (East St. Louis – 2019)
Rice is another Cahokia transfer and this 6’3” point guard is just what the Flyers need. He is an athletic guard that has a feel for the game. Tough kid that pushes it in the open floor and gets his team into good situations. Can score it too, but in this game was limited to just 5 points on a pair of jumpers.
PG Jashawn Anderson (East St. Louis – 2019)
Anderson is a smaller point guard that pushes in the open floor. Speed is the name of his game as was shown on one coast to coast drive. He had 4 points.
PG Cornellious LeFlore (East St. Louis – 2019)
LeFlore is a bench/role player for this squad that provided some momentum shots for his team including two triples on his way to 9 points.
PF Armond Williams (East St. Louis – 2020)
Williams is very intriguing long term at 6’8”. Long and lanky post that is rail thin. Once he adds on strength he will be an even better player. Opened this game with a dunk running the floor hard. He banked in a three from a corner angle. Shot blocking presence and has a chance to be a good rebounder. Scored 6 points.
SG Lashawn Johnson (East St. Louis – 2020)
Johnson is another junior that has upside on this team. At 6’4” Johnson has size for position, good length, and plus athleticism. Gets in passing lanes defensively. Right now he is best out in transition where he had a nice finish. Quality rebounder. Seemed to short arm some of his shots. 5 points for Johnson. One we will be closely tracking over the next year.
SG Jackson Creel (Mt. Vernon – 2020)
Creel is a 6’1” shooting guard that can really let it fly from deep. The junior has stepped up in his role on this squad early in the season. He is definitely the floor spacer for the Rams and he did that very effectively against Monroe City connecting on four triples off the catch and on dribble handoffs. He had 15 points.
SG Amir Spann (Mt. Vernon – 2020)
Spann is a 6’2” shooting guard that is one of the better junior prospects in Southern Illinois. Power wing that has tremendous strength and athleticism. Played both on and off the ball in this game. It was a bit of a quiet game for the junior standout. He did have a couple strong drives finishing through defenders in the paint like usual. The question mark in his game remains a consistent jump shot. With the game on the line he went to it draining a 15 foot pull up for the win in overtime. Spann recorded 8 points and 5 boards.
SG Lukas Cooper (Mt. Vernon – 2019)
Cooper is a two guard that has a crafty game. The 6’1” senior scored on a runner off a shot fake along with a layup on a curl. You can move Cooper without the ball to get open. Catch and shoot threat. Clean looking stroke. He had 11 points.
PF Weston Brockhouse (Mt. Vernon – 2019)
Brockhouse is the underrated standout for this team. At 6’7” he brings a high activity level on the interior. The Mt. Vernon post is a multi-skilled big that can pass, score, and board. He got on the offensive glass for several put backs and finished around the cup. Quality area rebounder and is a decent shot blocker. Went for 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
SF Donovan Clay (Alton – 2019)
Clay is a 6’6” small forward that was very impressive. The state’s #37 overall prospect has been known throughout his career as a three and D guy. Floor spacer that can defend multiple positions. Definitely showed that again hitting a pair of triples and doing a nice job on the defensive end including a pair of blocks. What stood out the most to me was his ability to get to the rim. He came out super aggressive showing off his tightened handles. Was slippery through the lane getting to the rim for multiple and-1 conversions. Crashed the glass hard including a monster tip dunk. Clay went for 20 points and 8 boards. One of the best JUCO candidates in southern Illinois.
SG Malik Smith (Alton – 2019)
Smith is a 6’4” two guard that is a plus athlete with excellent size on the perimeter. He had a wrap on his right hand that limited him some in this game. Missed several threes early. Had a nice straight line take for an and-1 and in the second half hit a pair of threes. Smith had 10 points.
PG Moory Woods (Alton – 2020)
Woods stands at 6’0” and this lefty is a quick point guard that is effective in the drive and kick game. Scrappy guard that contributes on defense. He had 8 points.
PG Ky’Lun Rivers (Alton – 2020)
Rivers is a 6’1” point guard that is a decent athlete. He can shoot it off the catch from beyond the arc. Rivers contributed 10 points.