STARS ARE COMING OUT THIS SUMMER
RECENT PREP SHOOTOUTS HAVE DRAWN FOCUS TOWARD THESE FIVE ILLINOIS PROSPECTS IN PARTICULAR
Athree-day basketball extravaganza wrapped up last weekend as Riverside-Brookfield and Normal West hosted summer shootouts for a combined 130-plus teams and dozens of Division I prospects. While there were certainly some dud performances from a few established names, we’re going to stay positive: Several players opened eyes and raised their stock considerably.
Here are five seniors who impressed college coaches or the City⁄Suburban Hoops Report — or both:
Darrion Baker, Hillcrest
The big man, ranked among the top 25 prospects in the Class of 2023 heading into the weekend, was the biggest breakout player of the shootouts and is quickly climbing toward top-10 status. College coaches are taking notice, with Akron, Missouri State, Northern Illinois and UIC already making Baker offers after his performance at Riverside-Brookfield.
Baker averaged just 11 points a game last season but was one of the more improved players in the class, playing with more confidence and assertiveness. As a result, he’s now showing more consistent production.
Mobile with a solid frame and length — he’s now 6-9 — he’s the prototype new-wave big man who offers a variety of skills and can play anywhere along the front line as he gets more comfortable playing at his size. He can handle the ball, can step out and make a three with sound shooting mechanics and is now making an impact on defense as well with his size and reach.
Look for recruiters’ interest in Baker to explode over the coming month.
Drew Scharnowski, Burlington Central
Forecast to be a breakout player for the last few months, the promising but underthe-radar big man has had his fair share of hype already. But the Riverside-Brookfield shootout was his coming-out party.
William & Mary, Bradley, St. Thomas, Furman, Illinois State, Southern Indiana, Missouri State, UIC and Cal-Poly all have made him offers. Wisconsin invited him to its elite camp at the end of the month. And several other mid-major schools — and a few high majors — will be watching him closely this weekend at Ridgewood.
With his versatile shooting and ball-handling ability, the 6-8½ Scharnowski, a rising senior, continues to show he’s one of the more diverse big men in the state.
Jordan Pickett, Belleville East
The R-B shootout was a welcomed oppor
tunity to see players from southern Illinois, including Pickett, a City/Suburban Hoops Report top-20 prospect from the St. Louis suburbs who had no offers coming in. After the shootout, Radford and SIU Edwardsville extended offers to the 6-2 guard, who averaged 19.7 points per game as a junior and knocked down 69 three-pointers.
Pickett brings a great build and body to the backcourt. He also showed he can get to the hole and sink shots with a ready-made jumper from the three-point line.
Niko Abusara, Benet
The wiry, 6-4 Abusara is arguably the most improved player in the Class of 2023. He turned heads with a terrific performance at R-B that showcased a sneaky athleticism, allowing him to fly off screens, turn the corner and attack the basket.
His midrange pull-up jumper is becoming a threat, and if he can develop a consistent three-point jumper, he’ll be a bona fide mid-major prospect. Until then, low-major Division I programs should be taking notice.
Abusura got an offer from Radford this week.
Quentin Jones, Marian Catholic
Although his play hasn’t resulted in offers and a ton of interest just yet, the 6-4 wing continues to improve and impress. While a
few bigger names in the class have floundered or plateaued, Jones has big-time defensive potential to go with his attacking style and should be garnering more attention. He’s a scholarship player at some level and should be intriguing to Division I programs.