IndyBall is always a great kick-off to the spring travel season in Indiana. This article breaks down 24 prospects that played in the 15 and under age group at the IndyBall Shootout.
Eric Gordon All-Stars – Coach Ryan Owens
Josh Brewer – 6-3 – SG – Ben Davis HS (IN) – 2017 – Mid Major Plus
Mostly still potential, but Brewer showed a very strong outside shot on Sunday. He knocked down a handful of 3s with good form. There are some minor adjustments to make with his jumper because it is basically a set shot right now since he doesn't elevate much. He is a good athlete though. He has very good length. Brewer's ceiling is high; his production is trying to catch up with his potential right now.
Erick Shepherd – 6-5 – F – Mt. Vernon (Fortville, IN) – 2017 – Low to Mid Major
Shepherd is a highly productive player. He put up very good numbers as a freshman on varsity for Mt. Vernon this season. He's likely about done growing at 6-4/6-5. Shepherd is a force in the post right now as he is big and strong for his age. He's starting to transition to the perimeter. Shepherd likely has a +3 or more wingspan.
Jaren Jackson Jr. - 6-7 – F – Park Tudor (Indianapolis, IN) – 2017 – High Major
Jackson played sparingly on the Park Tudor 2A state championship this season as a freshman. He looks like at least 6-6 if not 6-7. He was 6-5 in the fall. There is a good chance that he ends up in the 6-10 range. He is all arms and legs right now. Jackson has a good release on his jump shot, but he needs to work on his footwork. He does finish well around the basket, but he is thin right now and can pushed away from the lane easily. The upside is there, but it will likely be awhile before he starts to reach it.
Michael Ertle – 5-11 – PG – Mt. Vernon (Fortville, IN) – 2017 – Low to Mid Major
Tough, smart, good ball-handler, decent quickness and can knock down the open shot. He is definitely a distributer first and looks to score second. He doesn't have that burst off the dribble that high major point guards have. Unless he adds a few more inches, low to mid major is likely for Ertle.
Kobe Webster – 5-10 – PG – Park Tudor (Indianapolis, IN) – 2017 – Low to Mid Major
Very good middle school player that hasn't quite made that next step in his game mainly due to size and strength, I believe. He's a good outside shooter, but not high level right now. Decent quickness, but he doesn't get to the lane that consistently against bigger/stronger opponents.
Lance Hopkins – 6-3 – G/F – Rockville HS (IN) – 2017
Didn't get a great look at Hopkins. He does look like a better athlete than I remember being in my limited viewing of him last year. We will get a chance to take a closer look at him in the upcoming months.
Indiana Elite-G3 Rising Stars 2018 – Coach Mike Saunders
Kevin Easley – 6-6 – PF – Lawrence North – 2018
A nationally ranked 8th grader. I saw Easley last fall at an open gym at Lawrence North and he fit in very well. Easley is much bigger and stronger than kids in his class. He's not a very explosive athlete right now, but he has added at least an inch since the fall and maybe 2. I'm not sure if he will keep growing or not, he is well built already though. I wouldn't say that he is definitely a high major prospect at this stage though.
KJ Coleman – 6-0 – G – Pike – 2018
Lefty that caught my eye with his one on one defense. He got after it defensively causing many turnovers. His shot looked decent, but needs some adjustments going forward. Good instincts on both ends of the floor. He finished well in transition. He'll likely be going to Pike next year.
Antwan Cushingberry – 5-7 – PG – 2018
Along with Easley and Coleman, Cushingberry has received national attention in the middle school ranks. Size works against Cushingberry as he is only 5-6 or 5-7, but he is still very productive at this level. He will need to grow to be effective going forward. Lawrence North is a possible landing spot for high school.
Deavion Washington – 6-1 – SG – 2018
Good athlete that could still be growing. He looked like he had perimeter skills to go along with his athleticism. A closer look is needed, but it looks like Washington has a chance to be very good.
Indiana Elite 2017 – Coach Brian Keeton
Isaiah Coleman – 5-11 – PG – La Lumiere School (LaPorte, IN) – 2017 – Mid Major Plus
Quick point guard that is very good when attacking the basket. When I saw Coleman Saturday, he was looking for his outside shot more than I have seen in the past. His outside shooting is below average at this point. Coleman is very good laterally on the defensive end. He has good length despite being under 6-feet. If he adds muscle and develops his outside shot, Coleman has high major potential.
Bol Reik – 7-2 – C – Mooseheart Academy (IL) – 2017 – High Major potential
A-HOPE prospect, but he has a better feel for the game than most of the A-HOPE kids. He has good hands and he was finishing over much smaller opponents easily. He looked to post up with solid technique. He doesn't jump much right now, but he doesn't need to a 7-2. He basically touches the rim when he puts his hands up. Reik has a chance to be pretty good.
Dut Mabok – 6-9 – C – Southport HS (IN) – 2017
First time seeing Dut Mabok. He is another A-HOPE kid. He's not as advanced as Reik. Mabok does have extremely wide shoulders. He rebounded well and played with a lot of energy. Skill set needs work and he needs to add weight to his frame.
De'von Cooper – 6-1– SG – Waggener (Louisville, KY) – 2017
Lots of hype about Cooper leading to the travel season. Some state that he is currently the top player in Kentucky's 2017 class. Unfortunately I only saw one full game of IE 2017 this weekend. He was not dominant when I watched him but it was a short amount of time.
Grant Pedigo – 6-5 – F – Franklin Central HS (IN) – 2017 – Low to Mid Major
Good frame and size for his age. He's not an explosive athlete, but he was moving pretty well laterally on Saturday. There is upside to Pedigo's game if he continues to grow and he develops his skill set.
Dylan Allen – 5-7 – PG – Cathedral (IN) – 2017
Allen is a very good outside shooter. He is a solid guard right now, but he is just very small. 5-foot-7 might be a stretch. If he hits a growth spurt, he could be a prospect.
Indiana Elite Phenoms 15s – Coach Omar Dillard
Wyatt Hughes – 6-5 – PF – Maconaquah (IN) – 2017 – Low Major
Strong build with the ability to shoot the ball. He seems like about the same height as he was last year. If he is done growing, Hughes would likely be a small college prospect because he has limited athleticism. He averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds a game for Maconaquah as a frosh.
Mason Hardimon – 6-0 – G – Cathedral (IN) – 2017
Saturday morning was the best that I had seen Hardimon play. It seemed like he was in much better control instead of being in a hurry with the ball. His decisions were better and he was finishing plays. It was a good sign for his improvement.
Sterling Weatherford – 6-3 – SG – Hamilton Heights (IN) – 2017
Long and a solid athlete. He is also a decent outside shooter. He's at least 6-foot-3, he might be 6-4. He doesn't have the toughness of his brother – Grant Weatherford – right now, but he is already taller despite being two years younger. Low Major seems most likely for Sterling right now.
Mateo Rivera – 6-0 – PG – North Central (IN) – 2017
The younger brother of D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera. Mateo is looking to make a name for himself. He is totally different from DSR. Mateo is lean and pretty long. He played in a couple games for North Central as a freshman. He's mainly a ball-handler and playmaker for others off the dribble right now.
Pacesetter Select
Austin Sappingfield – 6-7 – PF – West Vigo – 2017
6-foot-7 with a soft touch from the outside. He averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds a game for West Vigo as a freshman. He was only 5 of 25 from 3 in the high school season. His form looked much better than that. It looked like Sappingfield could be growing still as well.
Pocket City Basketball
Jack Nunge – 6-7 – F – Castle (IN) – 2017
Good size, thin build; Nunge showed the ability to hit shots from the outside Saturday at IndyBall. A closer look is needed, but he showed some skill and some potential.
Brandon Duncan – 6-3 – G – Evansville Harrison (IN) – 2017
Built more like brother Ernie Duncan than the twins. Brandon is a good outside shooter. Not very quick off the dribble.
Robin Duncan – 6-2 – PG – Evansville Harrison (IN) - 2018
Robin is built more like the twins with a real thin build. Robin plays the lead guard position and is able to handle pressure well. All of the Duncans are older for their grade. It looks like Robin has a chance to be really good.
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