Most Under Recruited Prospects in Illinois

Scott Burgess July 24, 2019 @ 06:00 AM

What prospects in the state of Illinois do we feel are being criminally under recruited at this point? College coaches need to take a look at this list of players because you can find a ton of value on this list with guys who aren’t being recruited at the level they should be.   Class of 2020 SF Jayden Johnson (Batavia) If you read this site and follow my twitter you know I am a proponent of this one. The Batavia wing is one of the best pure shooters in the state. Every time we see him whether it is with his high school team, Fundamental U, or in camps he produces! Lights out shooter that moves without the ball and is not a guy that needs the ball in his hands long to do damage. Currently he has one D2 offer. HE IS THE #12 PROSPECT IN THE STATE!!! Last time I checked the game of basketball was a shooting game now.   SF Will Wolfe (Oswego East) Wolfe is a tough and gritty wing with solid athleticism on the wing. Crisp ball handler that works well shooting it from mid-range and stretches it out to three as well. Can put it on the deck. Wolfe has been the most productive 2020 member of the Illinois Wolves during his career yet he only holds one offer from Presbyterian.   PF Sam Schultz (Oswego East) Schultz was actually in our buzz article for recently landing a pair of D2 offers from Maryville and Sioux Falls, but we strongly believe he can play at the D1 level. He has positional size at 6’8” being able to score on the block with fundamentally sound moves and handle it from the mid-post in.   PF Ryan Isaacson (Hinsdale Central) Issacson is another prospect who has landed a trio of D2 offers from Lewis, Merrimack, and St. Cloud State. He fits the prototype new age power forward with his ability to stretch the floor with his shooting. Should be getting more consideration at the low-major level.   PF Aaron Tims (Hinsdale South) Tims is a bouncy four man that gets to the hoop quickly with his second jump. For whatever reason colleges haven’t taken notice of this high energy four man who makes an impact on the glass, rim protecting, and runs the floor.   PG Beau Frericks (Cary Grove) Frericks is one of the better shooters in the state. The point guard consistently knocks down pull up jumpers and threes. He holds three offers at the D2 level from in-state programs McKendree, Lewis, and Quincy. These three jumped in on the undervalued shooter. Some of the low-major in-state schools should do the same!   SG Caleb Zurliene (Breese Mater Dei) Zurliene is one of the best 2020 prospects from southern Illinois. He has positional size and length for the two guard spot. Plus athlete that plays above the rim, defends multiple positions, and is a three level scorer. He has no D1 or D2 offers and is a top 30 player in the state. Low-major programs in the Midwest are really missing the boat on this one.   SG Marcus Skeete (Waubonsie Valley) Skeete has improved so much over the last six months. Slimmed down his body and improved his perimeter game tremendously with his ability to score from all over the floor with a greatly enhanced jump shot. The productive and versatile wing needs to be garnering more D2 interest.   PG Luke Scheffers (St. Charles North) Scheffers is a high IQ point guard that runs the show on a talented Fundamental U team. The rising senior is an excellent distributor that works well in the pick and roll. Knocks down shots with regularity from mid-range off the bounce. Currently Lewis is the only school to step up with an offer.   SG Jayson Kent (Oak Forest) Kent burst on our radar with his play for the Mac Irvin Fire at Run N Slam. Lights out perimeter shooter with a rangy build. He landed an offer from Columbia recently. We are surprised he hasn’t attracted more interest from D2 and low-majors.   SG Pee Wee Brown (Manual) Brown has been on a tear ever since the state playoffs started. He is a slick scoring guard who led his team to the state final four in 3A and has followed that up with a strong showing with Peoria Area Elite this spring. Not a ton of recruiting buzz with the wing.   SF Saiveon Williams (Curie) Williams moved to Illinois from South Carolina for his senior year. He has impressed us with his size for position, athleticism, and rebounding. Right now he has no offers from even a D2 program. That is really surprising considering how well he played during the high school live periods.     Class of 2021 PG Anthony Sayles (Niles Notre Dame) Sayles is the clear top point guard in the 2021 class in the state of Illinois. Athletic floor general that gets others involved while also scoring at a high rate. He has three offers from Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Southern Illinois, and Loyola. He didn’t land a single offer after either the high school live period or July evaluation period which is surprising especially because of how well he played at Ridgewood. He has high-major upside and is a no brainer at the mid-major level.   PF Grant Newell (Whitney Young) Newell is a skilled face up four man that can stretch the floor with his shooting, score off the bounce, and is an active rebounder. Once he adds strength he will be a problem. Newell got an offer from DePaul over a year ago, but more mid-majors need to jump in the mix.   SG James Dent (Springfield Southeast) Dent emerged late in the high school season with the way he shot the basketball for one of the state’s best high school teams. This spring with both Capitol City and All-In Athletics he has proven to be among the best shot makers in the state.