Highland Shootout: Illinois 2019 Evals
PrepHoops was at the Highland Shootout all day on Saturday. This event has become one of the premier events in the Midwest every high school season. Here we look our Illinois 2019 Evaluations from the event! PF EJ Liddell…
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Continue ReadingPrepHoops was at the Highland Shootout all day on Saturday. This event has become one of the premier events in the Midwest every high school season. Here we look our Illinois 2019 Evaluations from the event!
PF EJ Liddell (Belleville West – 2019)
Liddell was the considerable favorite for Mr. Basketball coming into this contest. IT IS OVER! Liddell will repeat as Illinois Mr. Basketball and had a defining performance against the best team in St. Louis on Saturday night. He had a stretch in the second half that was absolutely incredible! Swatting shots, high pointing rebounds, scoring off the bounce, and the play of the day was when he threw the ball off the backboard to himself for a monster slam. The development in Liddell’s face up game over the last year has taken his game to new heights. He wins consistently off the dribble from the high-post. Connected on a sick step back jumper out of the post. Got to the foul line where he was money. Defensively Liddell snatched rebounds with two hands all night and was a BEAST blocking shots! So explosive off the floor. He had 26 points (8-11 FG) (10-12 FT), 12 rebounds, and 7 blocks. Ohio State is getting an impact player on day 1.
PF Keith Randolph (Belleville West – 2019)
You can never under estimate the importance of Randolph for this team. The Illini football commit is a big bodied post that mauls on the interior. Outstanding rebounder boxing out and going after rebounds aggressively. He is physical around the hoop finishing through contact. Randolph had a nice right handed hook shot too. He went for 15 points (5-7 FG) and 9 rebounds.
F Will Shumpert (Belleville West – 2019)
Tough and physical 6’6” combo forward who is drawing interest from small colleges after a strong start to the season. He is a really strong kid that plays with a lot of physicality. He had a poster dunk in their game against Vashon that brought the house down. Also did an excellent job of getting to the foul line where he went 6-6. Shumpert had 10 points and 4 rebounds.
PG Lawrence Brazil (Belleville West – 2019)
Brazil has elevated his game so much over the last year and will see a huge jump in the updated new 2019 rankings. The senior has become a rock steady lead guard who gets others involved. He did have a few turnovers as well. Brazil as a scorer was very efficient with his lethal pull up game from mid-range and also extended it to three where he was 2-2 from deep. Extremely aggressive defensively and got after the opposing guards. He had 14 points (5-6 FG), 5 assists, 6 turnovers, and 4 steals.
SF Jaylin Mosby (Belleville West – 2019)
Mosby is a utility role player who stepped up big in this game. Mosby didn’t shoot it well from three, but inside the arc he was a major contributor finishing well in the paint. Mosby had 11 points.
PF Chris Payton (Bloomington – 2019)
Payton wanted to show out in his matchup with fellow standout forward Terrence Hargrove along with playing in front of many Southern Illinois Salukis fans which is where he will be headed next fall. The senior 6’7” four man is an elite level athlete who plays above the rim. That was evident early and often with alley-oops and explosive jams. He rebounded at a high rate snatching them at their high points in traffic along with scrapping on the offensive boards. The skill level continues to evolve for Payton. He showed sound footwork in the post and several takes on the baseline. Major rim protector on the defensive end. Runs the floor so well. Payton had 24 points (10-17 FG), 11 rebounds, and 6 blocks.
SG Caleb Donaldson (Bloomington – 2019)
Donaldson stands at about 6’4” with long arms and versatility on both ends of the floor. Slick ball handler and converts well in transition. Gets downhill with the ball in his hands. Efficient with his shots scoring in the lane as he went for 16 points while also contributing 3 dimes and getting 2 steals. Donaldson needs to continue to improve as a perimeter shooter.
PG Nate Duckworth (Bloomington – 2019)
Duckworth is a gritty leader at the point guard spot. His biggest value comes setting up his teammates with quality dishes. Duckworth did just that against East St. Louis recording a 9/1 assist/turnover ratio. Pushes in the open floor and sees the floor. Duckworth hit one three, but it wasn’t a huge scoring game for him. He had 7 points, 9 dimes, and 3 steals.
F Griffin Moore (Bloomington – 2019)
This thick bodied senior forward will be headed to Illinois next season to play football. He got Bloomington off to a hot start in their game by connecting on a trio of threes to open. Quality spot up shooter. Good defensive rebounder. Great role player for this team. He had 13 points (5-5 FG), 6 rebounds, and 2 steals.
SF Terrence Hargrove (East St. Louis – 2019)
Hargrove is a St. Louis University commit who did everything he could to keep the Flyers in the game against Bloomington. He is one of the best prospects in the state and displayed many of the reasons why in this game. First is the skill set continues to come along. He connected on 2-3 from beyond the arc and is shooting the ball with the most confidence of his career. When his feet are set he is a capable shooter. Flashed to the mid-range for a jumper as well. Scored in the post on a right handed hook shot. Also had his explosive finishes in the open floor. Defensively he is so quick off the ground swatting shots. Plus rebounder on both ends. He had 17 points (7-17 FG), 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
PF Richard Robinson (East St. Louis – 2019)
Robinson is a four man that is very intriguing for the next level. The Cahokia transfer has a strong build which helps him anchor down low along with rebound on the defensive end. Couple strong finishes about the rim and stepped out to drain a three. Robinson had 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
PG Elijah Rice (East St. Louis – 2019)
There wasn’t a “wow” moment from Rice in this game, but when you look back at the box score he contributed across the board. Rice was active defensively and pushed in the open floor. Also connected from deep on a three point attempt. He had 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
PG Cornellious LeFlore (East St. Louis – 2019)
LeFlore continues to be a spark plug off the bench for the Flyers. He did it again in this game coming off the bench with his high activity level for 15 points (5-12 FG) and 7 rebounds which were all on the offensive end.
PG Bryce Bultman (Nashville – 2019)
Bultman is a jumbo point guard who is headed to McKendree next year. The highly ranked Illinois prospect went head to head with his good friend Landon Wolfe and he put on a show. His jumper was on point hitting a corner three and a baseline jumper off a dribble handoff. An underrated part of Bultman’s game is his athleticism. He won off the dribble with his long strides getting to the rim for several athletic finishes at the cup. He went for 21 points (7-10 FG) and 5 boards. Impact player at the D2 level.
PG Kelton Harre (Nashville – 2019)
Harre is a 5’10” point guard who is a pesky on ball defender moving well laterally. He also did a nice job getting to the line where he went 6-6. Harre had 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 dimes.
SF Landon Wolfe (Effingham – 2019)
Wolfe is a prospect that we have been talking about as a no doubt D2 player for a long time. There were several D2s in the house to check out Wolfe. What you have to like about the Effingham wing is the toughness he brings to the table. Struggled shooting from three in this game which is an area he is usually effective, but he adapted by working in the mid-range along with playing physical in the paint on scores at the rim. Got on the glass for put backs and had a sweet high/low conversion. Wolfe’s stat line was 20 points (7-13 FG) and 5 boards.
C Cole Marxman (Effingham – 2019)
Marxman is a 6’8” post that is built like a tree. He has country strength. Proved to be a quality rim protector inside with 3 blocks.
SF Terrance Fisher (Normal West – 2019)
Fisher is a rangy wing with some athletic upside. He connected on a pair of threes. Plays high and had some turnovers. Went for 6 points.
PG Shea Cupples (Normal West – 2019)
Cupples is a 6’1” point guard who looks to pass before scoring. He is a slick passer in the lane with decent length. He was effective in the drive and kick. Plays really hard and overall has a good feel for the game. Struggled shooting it from the field missing all of his three point attempts. Finished with 6 points (1-8 FG), 8 dimes, and 3 steals.
SF Sam LaPorta (Highland – 2019)
LaPorta is a football commit for Iowa, but this senior can play on the hardwood too. Plus athlete with strength on the wing. Slashers that finishes with physicality at the rim. He had a big tip dunk. Came away impressed with how well he passed the ball. LaPorta stuffed the stat sheet for 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists.
C Stephen Torre (Highland – 2019)
Torre has great size at 6’8” with long arms. Frame to continue to add strength on. Sealed off his man in the high/low and converted a dump off. His lack of functional strength really hurt him here as he was only 2-9 from the field for 9 points and 3 boards. Upside, but isn’t there yet.