Havoc in the Heartland: Scotty B's Sunday Notebook

Havoc in the Heartland concluded on Sunday with another excellent day of hoops in Indianapolis. We were at Fishers High School all day to take in the run to the championship games! See what went down in Havoc in the Heartland: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook!   RWA 17U Opens Day with Win We caught RWA’s loaded 17U squad to start the day against Wear Out The Net. They picked up a win 60-48. Once again Cary Grove 2020 point guard Beau Frericks stepped up in a major way. The lead guard did a lot of damage without any of his usual threes. Very effective in transition along with mid-range jumpers. He scored 18 points. Home School combo guard Davis Walker was a force defensively getting after it on that end along with strong takes to the cup. Marian Catholic wing Elijah Jones played his best game we saw of the weekend. Rangy wing rebounded at a high level and scored 10 points. Continue to be interested in the progress of Home School 2020 post Niles Arrington who posted 7 points along with a ton of rebounds. Well-built big man rebounds very well especially on the offensive end.   Minnesota Select Cave Impresses Defeating Young & Reckless 17U A trio of prospects were very impressive for Minnesota Select 17U in their 86-67 victory to start the day on Sunday. Let’s start with Ryan Thissen who has excellent size on the wing at 6’6”. The kid can flat out score it! Plus shooter from beyond the arc knocking down a flurry from deep. Also mixed in some moves off the bounce on baseline drives and runners. He netted 23 points in the win. Also liked what 6’4” Parker Nielsen brought to the table. Sound perimeter shooter who understands the game as a passer as well. He scored 17 points. David Ijadimboia is an angular lefty two guard that excels shooting the rock from three and mid-range. 12 points in the game. For Young & Reckless Walter Payton wing Jabari Chiphe played one of his better games of the spring. Bouncy forward that was active on the offensive glass and getting to the foul line. He had 15 points. Dakoda Joachim out of Joliet Central did a nice job of creating for his teammates while scoring with layups and floaters for 9 points. Dan Florey (St. Ignatius) connected on a couple threes along with a put back for 10 points. Cuie’s Saivion Williams used his big time athleticism to contribute 11 points.   Wisconsin United Narrowly Defeats HIT in 17U Quarters One of the better games we saw all day was a matchup between Hoops Intensity Training and Wisconsin United. It was close throughout, but Wisconsin United recorded the close win 60-58 to advance to the semis. Javeon Toliver was outstanding for Wisconsin United. The long and rangy combo guard is a slick passer, but it was his scoring that led his team to the victory. Plus pull up jump shooter knocking down threes and pull ups all game long for 23 points. Tyree England also was a major force in the backcourt with his strength and shifty handles. His ball handling sets up his jumper well as he scored 14 points. Their presence inside was Mason Johnson. The broad shouldered four man rebounds well and plays physical in the paint scoring 8 points. On the Hoops Intensity side of things Waubonsie Valley wing Marcus Skeete was a huge factor! He continued his strong spring with another excellent outing. The biggest area of growth has been his jump shot which is on point from mid-range and can stretch it to three on occasion. Did a great job creating his own shot over and over again for 22 points. DePaul Prep’s Lance Mosley had his most consistent weekend we have seen him this spring In this game he was active on the defensive end of the floor, hit open threes, and scored in the open floor for 15 points. Oswego East power forward Sam Schultz had a few nice moves handling it from the mid-post in using his go to spin move along with getting on the offensive boards as he chipped in 15 points. One of the better power forwards on the board in the Illinois 2020 class.   Young & Reckless Jeremy 16U Advances With Win over Indiana Soldiers It was an excellent showing all weekend for this Y&R 16U group reaching the championship game. We caught their quarterfinal 77-68 win over the Indiana Soldiers. Once again it was Bolingbrook combo guard Isaiah Stafford who lit up the nets with his shooting from all over the floor for 21 points. He has such a feathery jumper! Kai Evans used his power in the open floor getting to the cup with strength. Also a good game from Eisenhower power forward Taijon Barry. The big man was dominant on the glass for second chance points and had an explosive take from the mid-post area. In the first half for the Indiana Soliders Quentz Columbus was dynamic scoring on explosive takes to the rim finishing with euro steps and slicing the defense up. Scored almost all of his 17 points in the first half.   Indiana Game Takes Care of Sharks Basketball in 16U Game In a 55-34 win Indiana Game Chemma looked very good in the victory. Logan Van Essen was outstanding for the Indiana squad. Creative scoring guard that was adept at scoop shots in the lane finishing with 17 points. Jeremiah Lovett had 12 points and their combo guard Dane Hamilton also chipped in 7 points while setting others up. It was a tough game for the Sharks Basketball squad who really impressed us a couple weeks back. Still came away liking what St. Patrick point guard Caleb Corro who is an excellent facilitator and has a sound mid-range game.   California Raptors Advance to 15U Title Over Young & Reckless The Raptors came all the way from California to play against quality competition in Indy. Mason Dorsey jumped off the floor as the 6’3” wing is a slick driver that got in the lane at will throughout their victory. Rangy forward contributed 12 points. Jaden Hirasawa shot it well from deep drilling three triples. Young & Reckless had a balanced attack with no true go to player. St. Ignatius point guard Miles Casey ran the show and was crafty scoring inside. I came away very intrigued with Lance Rodgers of Simeon. Long and angular forward with broad shoulders. Projectable kid that has upside. OPRF’s Eric Locke gets to the foul line at a high rate. Two guard Eian Pugh got on the glass and was fouled often.   HIT 16U Shines in Their Last Game of Event In the consolation bracket Hoops Intensity Training’s 16U group looked great in a 67-56 win over a quality Indiana Game squad. This team is built around three high level forwards. Naperville North combo forward Grant Johnson had the best game we have seen out of him in his young career. The 6’6” forward was drilling feathery jumpers all over the floor. Smooth release on his shot both pulling up and off the catch. Hit quite a few threes spotting up. Rebounded well and played tough around the hoop while scoring 20 points. Oswego East 2021 small forward Odin Lium continues to emerge in his class. The 6’5” small forward is a plus athlete with an excellent skill set. Showed off his diverse game scoring from all three levels for 13 points. Benet’s Tyler Van Eekeren is a tough and versatile small forward who drives off the bounce, can hit an occasional three, rebounds well, and brings a lot of intensity to the table. 13 points on the night. Tommy Craven ran the show at the point getting those three above the ball in positions to succeed while also scoring himself in the lane on runners and scoop shots for 13 points.   Keon Alexander Has Next at Bolingbrook? There were a lot of Bolingbrook breakout players over the weekend. One to watch for down the line is 2023 6’5” forward Keon Alexander. While watching the HIT game above we kept noticing Alexander on the court next to it. Bouncy and mobile four man that has a long and lanky frame where he should continue to grow. Very mobile around the hoop and fluid with his moves. Was told he averaged around 20 points a game for the event on the Hoopers 14U squad.   Team Flyght Wins 16U Title Against Young & Reckless In the championship of the 16U bracket Team Flyght out of Ohio defeated Young & Reckless 87-76. In my first look at the Ohio group I liked several prospects on this team. In this game it all started with their small scoring point guard Carter Mims who dropped 28 points leading his team to the title. Quick twitched guard that got to the rack over and over again. Nate Johnson is a wing to watch going forward with his strength and go to scorers mentality off the bounce getting downhill with explosion. He had 10 points. Allen Lattimore proved he could put it in the hoop as well especially in the first half with threes for 10 points. Also really like AJ Brown inside. Tough to move post that anchors down low for hook shots, seals, and bully ball. Even stepped out to hit a three. Went for 15 points in the championship victory. Young & Reckless was once again led by Bolingbrook’s Isaiah Stafford who ripped off another huge game scoring in a variety of ways for 25 points. Capped off the most impressive weekend by any Illinois prospect. His high school backcourt mate Kyonte Thomas was aggressive getting to the rim with his strength and athleticism. Also drilled a couple stop and pop jumpers en route to 19 points. Kai Evans brought his power and athleticism one more time on the weekend as the Montini wing had 13 points. Undersized four man Trayton Trice was physical inside on the boards in the first half recording 6 points.   Peoria Area Elite Caps Weekend with 17U Title over MBA What a run for Peoria Area Elite in Indy! They finished it off with a 56-49 17U championship game victory over MBA. The Peoria Manual trio stepped up again in a major way. Rolondo “Pee Wee” Brown just wins! He did it again in the championship game getting his team started by knocking down a pair of threes from the corner. He also got to the free throw line at a high rate throughout the contest recording 14 points. Myriece Byrd dished the rock to his scorers while also chipping in 5 points. Big first half for Manual 2021 shooting guard Emaryon Byrd who is a smooth scorer that also competes on the glass. He had 10 points all in the first half. Limestone 6’3” wing Nathan Thornton came up huge in the title game with his ability to shoot it from three and knocking down other jumpers for 20 points. Jeremiah Pittman was the top prospect for MBA. The lengthy combo forward showed he could stretch the floor with his shooting along with rebounding at a nice clip. Went for 13 points. David Boyd is a scoring two guard that slashes with force and loves to shoot threes from the top of the key finishing with 12 points.