Open gyms: St Laurence (Burbank)!!!!
Big Tim's Express made it over to Wintrust Complex for my second in a series of visits to Open Gyms. Check out possible preseason #1 team and a lot of talent in the gym and they were missing one starter (junior Noah Corro). Here we go:
MARKESE PEOPLES, 6'3" Class of 2027 point guard is a Central Michigan commit and big Tim's #1 player in the class. Showed a lot of leadership in this setting. Team won every game in open gym. Big Time scorer, and did some of that here, showing a three point stroke making a couple from long distance. The Peep Show was mostly dissecting the defense with crisp passes leading to layup and open threes. He was doing this in transition and half court. Getting deflections on defense stealing the ball and passing ahead on the break. The Peep Show will be making life miserable for opponents all winter.
AJ ENYIA, 6'8" Class of 2027 forward transferred in from IMG Academy (FL) showed he can get the rebound and take it coast to coast and score. He did it with Euro steps as wells as finishing with a couple of dunks. Hit a three in transition off the catch. Attacked the rim on straight line drives from the three point line and finished at the rim. Had some rebound put backs and a tip dunk.
JEREMIAH TONEY, 6'3" Class of 2028 wing is explosive attacker to the rim in transition or attacking from the three point line in halfcourt. Had the dunk of the day with a nasty lefty dunk (WATCH YOUR HEAD) over Kelechi Enyia. Lefty showed an imrpoved three point shot hitting a couple off the catch. Made some nice passes in transition. Versatile defender who guarded all positions on the court. King of Bounce. Has some division one offers.
KELECHI ENYIA, 6'3" Class of 2028 combo guard may have been a victim of Jeremiah Toney (see above), but his explosiveness off the bounce is close to being back. He will posterize some poor victims this year. Showed ball handling getting to the rim and scoring as well as hitting mid range and three point shots. Created for teammates off penetration making nice passes to perimeter shooters. Defended Peoples and didn't really do a bad job. Versatility guarding all perimeter positions. Transferred in from Providence Catholic (New Lenox), but sat out the year with knee injury.
LOGAN BROWN, 6'6'" Class of 2028 wing is a long armed defender who gets hands on a lot of balls playng in pssing lanes. Lefty is known as a good long range shooter, and hit plenty of threes mostly off the catch. Imrpoved at attacking the rim and finishing in transition or halfcourt. Crashed the defensive glass, and had a tip dunk hitting the offensive glass. Made some nice passes off penetration.
EVAN LEMONS, 6'5" Class of 2029 combo guard was deadly from three point range. Hit a bunch of them off the catch. Is deadly when he has his feet set and has good shot preparation before catching the ball. Runs in transtion to his spots and hits them all over the court. King of Bounce who tried to decapitate a defender on attacking drive to the cup from perimeter for dunk attempt. Quick hands got some steals getting out in transition.
LAWENCE BURNETT, 6'2" Class of 2029 point guard is versatile enough to run a team getting to his spots off the dribble and creating for himself and others. Very good mid range shooter that makes it hard for defenses because of his vision as a passer. Defends well on and off the ball. Pushes it out in transition finshing at the rim with either hands.
BENNETT MEIER, 6'4" Class of 2030 combo guard had some trouble with physicality in this open gym. Good at making moves to get his own shot off whether in mid range, or attacking the rim. Made some catch and shoot threes showing he belonged. Long arms getting deflections for steals, good defender for just starting high school. Futures bet for the Vikings.
CONCLUSION:
Vikings have just about all the pieces to be a possible preseason #1 team, and will have a tough non conference schedule as well as the gauntlet that will be the Chicago Catholic League Blue. This team has some big time offensive firepower even without Corro being at the workout. Lost senior wing Reggie Stevens Jr to Victory Rock Prep (FL), but still have big time firepower and deep at the guards and wings. AJ Enyia will have to do some rim protecting to deter teams from attacking the lane. Defense and defensive rebounding will be key to this team going far in the playoffs. Free throw shooting is key for every team as they have the athletes to draw fouls and get to the free throw line alot. New 35 second shot clock should not bother this team as they have multiple players that can get their own shot (Peoples, Toney, Corro). Ace in the hole is the best player in the state (Peoples), who can't be stopped one on one. He has many weapons to help him score (Toney, Enyia cousins, Corro). Seniors as well as experienced youth (Toney, Corro, Kelechi Enyia). Good bet to get to Champaign in Class 4A even dealing with the rugged Chicago Catholic League Blue.
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