King Showcase: Lincoln vs. Eastlake (5 Takeaways)

Nars Martinez

January 22, 2019 @ 02:16 PM

The final game of the King Showcase at the ShoWare Center was between Lincoln and Eastlake. Lincoln came into this game as the heavy favorites, but the game was actually very competitive throughout. Lincoln likes to play fast and aggressive, while Eastlake is more of a half court team. Lincoln was never able to get Eastlake too sped up, as the guards handled the pressure well. Most people left the arena by 10:00pm, but it turned out to be the most exciting boys game of the event. Eastlake was able to pull off the upset victory and celebrated as such after winning.   Jayden Simon is a mismatch problem in high school The very first player that stands out on Lincoln’s team is senior Jayden Simon. His size is imposing at 6’4, 290 pounds. The Division 1 football recruit is causing havoc on the court for opposing teams. He is deceptively agile and light on his feet, but he plays with a brute strength at the same time. He does a good job of cleaning up the rebounds and scoring inside.   Eastlake came out to play The Wolves were not intimidated in this one. They matched Lincoln’s physicality early on and jumped out to a 16-10 lead after quarter number one and it carried on through most of the game. 2021 6’6 F Matt Thompson was aggressive rebounding and played with a lot of energy. 2021 6’1 G Jackson Proctor was confident shooting the 3-ball and handled Eastlake’s pressure well.   Eastlake is only going to get better It is not too often that a varsity basketball team has zero seniors. Eastlake has none. They roster five sophomores and two freshman, while some juniors fill out the rest of the team. Eastlake came into this game only 5-12, but the experience that each player is getting will pay off in the long run. I expect this program to be much improved in the next year or two. 2021 6’3 G Jackson Edward plays really hard for Eastlake and will be a valuable piece for them in future years.   2019 W Mykel Campbell is a super athlete This should not come as a surprise, but seeing it again in person is impressive. At 6’4, 185 pounds, he can run the floor like a gazelle. He threw down a monster jam in transition and plays an aggressive style of basketball. He is a legit college football recruit, but he could play basketball at some level if he chose to do so.   Remember the name Casey Jones The 6’5 wing out of Eastlake High School has a good inside/out game. He has good length and can finish at the rim with his athleticism. He had a couple spurts during the contest where Lincoln couldn't do anything with him. He would make multiple threes in a row, then attack the basket with aggression. Casey is a Division 1 prospect. The level (low, mid, high) that he will get recruited at is dependent on his development and consistency over the next couple years.