#HardWorkSZNKickoff: Scotty B's Friday Notebook

The Midwest portion of the PrepHoops Circuit is officially underway with the first night of the #HardWorkSZNKickoff on Friday in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Let's dive into what we saw in Scotty B's Notebook! Team RWA 17U Wins 69-44 in PrepHoops Circuit Opener over Iowa Mavs Team RWA began their quest for a PrepHoops Circuit crown on Friday night with an impressive win over Iowa Mavs. They were pushed in the first half by Home School 2020 guard Davis Walker. This is a prospect we have been very intrigued by throughout the process. He has always been a plus shooter, but showed more to his game on Friday. More athletic and slimmer than when we last saw him. He got downhill with quickness and fluidity. Powerful around the hoop finishing through contact. Pushes in the open floor. Played on the ball throughout the game making sound decisions with the rock. Big time shooter knocking down several jumpers. He had 15 points. Marian Catholic 2020 wing Elijah Jones elevated his stock. Long and lanky wing that got in the passing lanes creating turnovers. Continuing defensive stopper mentality from high school season. Finished around the hoop for 10 points. Aaron Tims, Tremear Fraley, and Karl Jones controlled the paint. Jones started off early. The Morgan Park unsigned 2019 center is a long and athletic five man that displayed his skills. Swatted shots on the interior and got on the glass for a few scores including a monster tip dunk. Fraley hails from Bogan and the 2020 power forward is a rim runner in transition that can also rebound in his area and play physical in the post. Tims is the highest ranked of the trio with his plus athleticism and quick twitched nature around the hoop. The Hinsdale South combo forward was active in the second half scoring in the paint along with connecting on a three. Beau Frericks (Cary-Grove) used his toughness inside on runners, put backs, and creating pressure on opposing guards. Lisle small forward Connor Webb had a sweet finish above the rim where his head was by the block! Skilled wing that is a plus athlete with size. For the Iowa Mavs Grant Rickertsen was a plus shooter from beyond the arc. The lefty knocked down a handful of threes in the first half. Their other guard Blake Bartz flashed a skilled game including hitting a crisp pull up three. Matthew Schubert has legit size at 6'8” with an efficient offensive game on the block. Struggled some with the shot blockers on RWA, but did flash footwork and a soft touch.   Hoops Intensity Training 15U Survives Opener Against Inspired Athletes 59-54 This was our very first look at the HIT 15U crew. The player that jumped off the floor to us was Hope Academy 6'0” point guard Reggie Whitaker. He is a slick ball handler that got where he wanted to make things happen for his team. Worked well in the pick and roll as well as just winning straight off the bounce. Finished with athleticism at the rim on a regular basis. His backcourt mate Trey Keizer of Timothy Christian also made some plays. He was a kid that got to the foul line at a high rate throughout the game and proved to be a capable three point shooter. They were joined in the backcourt by shooting guard Dylan Crowe of Glenbard East who got loose in transition. Couple projectable wings to track are Donald Davis (Glenbard North) and Logan Bryant (Hinsdale South). Both flashed potential along with projectability. Inside Nick Teune has great size at 6'8”. The center is still very raw, but you can't teach his height so he is a name to track as he got on the glass late for a couple scores. For Inspired Athletes the story of this game was Jalen May. The 6'4” power forward has a big body, but is mobile for his size. Understands at a young age how to use his body to create position down low got get his shot off. Also proved to be a valuable weapon facing up knocking down a couple threes along with a baseline J. The Dakota squad also got some key production from 6'5” small forward Brady Gratton.   Illinois T-Wolves Continue Growth as 16U Group Last year one of my favorite teams to watch was the Illinois T-Wolves 15U squad. They are back and better than ever as a 16U team this summer on the PrepHoops Circuit. They blew out the Iowa Mavs 73-33 in the finale on Friday night. What you have to like about this team is their defense and how well they share the basketball. They have a few pesky guards that pressure the rock and a bunch of two and three men with length that can switch all over the floor creating turnovers with their length. The Illinois T-Wolves also do an exceptional job of sharing the basketball. I think they would rather get the assist than bucket. That starts with their point guard Joliet West floor general Terrance Moncrief. This lefty is a pass first guard that gets everyone involved. Finds his spots to score with scoop shots or layups in transition. The best pure prospect on the team is top 15 2021 Jaiden Lee from Joliet West. The 6'4” shooting guard who reminds us so much of a young Dajuan Gordon at the same stage. He has a long and lanky frame with plus athleticism. Did most of his damage in this game crashing the offensive glass for put backs and getting out in transition. Good shooter although we didn't see him hit one in this contest. Ashawn Burbridge is another Joliet West product to watch. Seeing a theme? The 6'5” forward is a kid that last summer did all of his damage inside as a post. Most of his points came inside again, but he showed growth in his ball handling and being more fluid with it. Slashed to the rim several times for scores taking his man off the bounce with more confidence. Good rebounder and has a knack for making tough layups. Wings Cameron Mallory (Lincoln Way East) and Andrew Johnson (Joliet West) are projectable 6'5” small forwards with plus athleticism. They can defend all over the perimeter and are snipers from three. Classic three and D wings. Couple of new players emerged in Oswego East point guard Antonio Hughes who is a tough point guard brought a spark to the team. Also came away liking the tenacity that Nazareth 6'6” power forward Daine Hanson played with. Physical rebounder that finished with force inside.   Other Notes We caught a little bit of the Wisconsin Crusaders 16U game on Friday night. Came away impressed with Beaver Dam (WI) 2021 point guard Nate Abel. The 6'0” lead guard displayed a great feel for the game. Got his teammates involved with his high IQ passing. Sound shooting stroke. Player to watch in the 2021 class in Wisconsin. The Crusaders won 56-36.