Run N Slam: Friday Illinois Notebook
One of the best events of the spring in the Midwest is Run N Slam at the Spiece Fieldhouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana. PrepHoopsIllinois will be in the house all weekend for the event. Here we break down what we…
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Continue ReadingOne of the best events of the spring in the Midwest is Run N Slam at the Spiece Fieldhouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana. PrepHoopsIllinois will be in the house all weekend for the event. Here we break down what we saw on Friday night!
Chicago Lockdown Has Intriguing at Pieces Next Level
The event that Chicago Lockdown really made themselves a household name was Run N Slam years back when they ran through the event with a team oriented squad beating higher profile squads along the way. Funny enough many of them are graduating college now. This program is still rolling along. The top prospect on this 17U group is Hinsdale Central face up four man Ryan Isaacson. Really like what he brings to the table with his perimeter shooting as he knocked down a pair early. Flashes skill on the block with a seal. Chicago Lockdown has a pair of leaders at the point in Lyons Grant Niego and Brother Rice’s Connor Glennon. Both got their share of points in this one, but it is their ability to set others up and off the charts leadership that will get them looks at the next level. Plainfield East 6’2” shooting guard Nick Smoldt is a rangy wing that plays bigger than his height with his quickness and length. Very good defender. Showed he can knock down threes as well nailing a trio of them when we were watching. DeAndre Hagan (Brother Rice) and Christian Payton (Mount Carmel) bring versatility and length on the perimeter. Their lone 2021 prospect Luke Moustakas is intriguing with the way he can space the floor spotting up for threes. Good frame and should be the next pick and pop four to be successful for Lockdown! Chicago Lockdown defeated Camp Daryl 60-54.
Illinois Wolves 2022’s Pop Up on Radar
This was our first look at the Illinois Wolves 15U group this spring. They are anchored inside by Kyle Thomas. The St. Joseph post player is a game changing shot blocker. He is a solid athlete that uses his timing and feel for blocking shots without fouling for the most part. We had him for six blocks in their game including contesting one from three. Offensively he is a developmental prospect who flashes tools including a layup in transition and put back. Fenwick point guard Trey Pettigrew is a volume scoring point guard that has natural ability to get buckets. Struggled finishing a bit at the rim missing a few he should have made. Overall there are a lot of intriguing offensive tools here to work with. He had 13 points. Another wing that emerged was Darius Duff (Lake Forest Academy). We saw him a little during the high school season, but it was nice to see him against players his own age. Silky smooth two guard that can drill crisp pull up jumpers as he finished with 10 points. A pair of forwards to track down the line are 6’6” Peyton Lacombe (Ludington, MI) and 6’4” Matthew Vokening (Marengo). Lacombe showed skill on the interior along with being an active defender. The lanky Volkening is a plus spot up shooter with a clean looking stroke. Wolves fell in a close one to Mid Ohio Pumas 64-61.
Mac Irvin Fire 16U Survive Behind Big Three
It was a closer game than many expected as Ohio Hoopsters gave the Fire everything they wanted including a comeback to tie the game and a chance to win it. The Fire would ultimately get the ball back and UCLA commit Amari Bailey drilled the game winning three point runner to win 71-68! Bailey who plays his high school ball in California showed why he is a five star national recruit. This skilled lefty 2022 combo guard has improved his jumper over the last year from both three and mid-range. That opens up so much for him offensively including his elite passing and when he gets out in transition it is a thunderous dunk every time! Went for 25 points. Tre White from Wisconsin is another out of state prospect that shines for the Fire. This was my first time evaluating him. Uber smooth scorer that has an excellent feel for the game along with outstanding ball handling setting up his shot. Big time perimeter shooter! Scored 17 points. Simeon star Ahamad Bynum is the top in-state prospect on this team. He drilled a few threes for 12 points. A couple of guys emerged in the game. Sincere Malone is a 2022 prospect from Simeon that at 6’6” shows a mid-range game and athleticism. Another Morgan Park energy forward put his name on our radar in Anes Davenport. The bouncy forward has good strength and broad shoulders. All over the glass and rebounds well in traffic. Went for 10 points. New Trier’s Ian Burns is one to remember down the line as he is a spot up shooter with size.
Fire 17U Leave No Doubt on Opening Night
The Mac Irvin Fire’s 17U game wouldn’t be quite as close as they blew out OBC 108-63 using their full court pressure defense and superior talent to put on a show! Let’s start with the out of state superstar Michael Foster from Milwaukee. The 5-star 2021 center is about as gifted a prospect as you will find in the country and when he is engaged is unstoppable with his size, strength, passing, and overall skill. Foster threw down nasty dunks, hit threes, and handles it off the bounce. Finished with 24 points. The top prospect in the 2020 class in Illinois is Morgan Park’s Adam Miller. He got off to a hot start drilling a trio of triples to open up. Quick and crisp shooting stroke. Also mixed in dunks in transition and runners in the lane for 16 points. Most don’t know the name Brandon Weston because he set out the season after transferring to Morgan Park. The 2021 #3 prospect in Illinois is an athletic two guard that was aggressive getting to the rim throwing down dunks and getting on the glass Friday night. Went for 11 points. Marcus Watson did like he did at EYBL which is run the show and get everyone involved. Seryee Lewis is the best post prospect in the Illinois 2020 class. He had a nice and-1 on a post up. Sincere Parker came off the bench to hit a three and finish a sweet euro step. Parker who is from Rockford East has a lot of momentum after a strong junior year. Both Parker and Lewis had five points. Jayson Kent from Oak Forest proved he is a projectable shooter with a long and rangy frame going for 11 points mostly on threes.