Izzo Shootout: Day one prospect watch

The Izzo Shootout is always a must on the Mitten scouting schedule, which is why Bank Hoops double-teamed the coverage on opening night. Here are some of the intriguing prospects Steve Bell and Braeden Proctor found Friday at Michigan State’s team camp.

There aren’t many underclassman guards with the combination of Farmington’s Jaden Akins’ size and smooth scoring game.

Jaden Akins  6-4  So  Farmington: The Falcons didn’t have the manpower to stay with Williamston for the distance but early on Akins was a one-man gang, Williamston had no one to match up with his size and skill on the wing. Left-hander who covers space easily with the ball, can extend to finish, has a smooth mid-range game and makes good decisions and deliveries on the break. Good shift in his game. Some nice combo move pull ups. Smooth shot. Was comfortable hitting mid range pull up. Jump shot looks good off catch or dribble. Handles look good in iso and has the perimeter skills to play as a 1 or 2 in a high school offense. Later on kind of fell into what Williamston’s zone wanted him to do, making 1-3 3s but putting little pressure on the defense. Trending as a Big Ten recruit in the 2021 class.

James Babers  6-7  Jr  Saginaw: Saginaw yes, Sagnasty no. Looks like he could be one of the top 2020 prospects in the state. But doesn’t play hard enough or produce nearly like that. Could horse most high school forwards but settles for three-pointers.

Lorne Bowman  6-1  Jr  Orchard Lake St. Mary’s: He carried the Eaglets for long stretches as a sophomore, and continued to do so at MSU. Smooth mid-range shot. Good mechanics. No wasted motion. Floaters, pull ups, step-backs all in his bag. Hit a couple threes and finished well at the rim. Knows how to create space in iso situations. Loved using 6-9 Matt Nowicki’s screens, and found the senior big man for some rolling buckets. Didn’t find it as easy going against the length and athletes of Renaissance as he did when OLSM opened up Friday against Carman-Ainsworth. More of a combo or shooting guard who is best used as a scorer rather than a playmaker. Very long arms makes him a solid on ball defender who can pick opponents pockets on ball and jump passing lanes. Also uses that same wingspan to hold off defenders, finish while drawing fouls.cha

Pierre Brooks  6-4  So  Detroit Douglass: Hard-played, competitive games from Douglass today, looks like it could be one of the state’s most improved clubs and one to reckon with in Class B. The coach’s son did it all for Frederick Douglass — steals, rebounds, blocked shots, playmaking, advancing the ball. He’s physical for a rising soph. Crashes offensive glass hard. Rebounds pretty well for his size.  Used head and shot fakes under the hoop. Absorbs contact. Has shown some much improved athleticism, though his definition of a dunk remains debatable. Brooks is squarely on the host school’s radar, and did nothing that would incline them to turn off the signal.

Mason Docks  5-10  Fr  Williamston: Williamston has been spoiled with a run of all-state scoring point guards in Riley Lewis then Cole Kleiver. Similar accolades may await their heir apparent Docks. For now he’s setting the table for one of the state’s top frontcourts with 6-7 seniors Sean Cobb, Case Conley and Joseph Hahnenberg. He worked angles to feed Cobb burying guys on the block, and hit Conley for a corner 3 to beat the first-half buzzer, a shot that opened the floodgates for a blowout of Farmington. Shifty, quick and crafty with the ball, and able to hit the tough in-between shots that smaller guards needs in the arsenal. Docks gave up a half-foot to Farmington sophomore Jaden Akins, but still battled admirably on D. May dribble too much for spells, but this same space likely said the same thing about Lewis and Kleiver at some point, and it worked out OK for them.

Daniel Friday  6-4  Sr  Detroit U-D Jesuit: Produced big for the Cubs in the absence of Jalen Thomas. Friday gets to his spots whenever he wants, physically he can force his way there. Has good handles and quick moves to create separation as well. Very versatile set fee. Unselfish playmaker — too unselfish if anything. Team needed someone to score and he was clearly the only one who could create his own. Puts passes in spots his teammates can make plays. Great finisher around the rim. Makes the extra pass. Sees the floor well. Everything but a jumper. Even then, he’s the next Eric Williams out of Michigan, a big-framed physical guard who can come in and produce at the mid+ level.

Jovaughn Hannah  6-4  Fr  Mt. Clemens: Hannah and the Clem showed some character against Peoria, coming back to make it a competitive second half after an abomination of a first stanza which saw them score three points. For his part Hannah started to look like the AAU prospect we knew when he began going downhill and getting to the hole. That’s when he’s at his best, harnessing his aggression, spinning, slicing, contorting and finishing; not settling for three-pointers and Sprewell-lite pull-ups. He has the tools and motor to be a serious defender, but playing on top of Mt. Clemens’ zone his focus fluctuated. Hannah thrives when it’s helter-skelter, rebounding, running, blocking shots. Has some feet on him which bodes well for more height. Good looking free throw form and touch. Jovaughn has a nice fit in his coach Pete Trammell, it will be fun to watch his game grow.

Javel Lewis  6-7  Sr  Grand Ledge: When it’s clicking looks like possible GLIAC guy. But game just doesn’t seem to come naturally to him.. He passes well with his back to basket. Pretty strong backing down. Elevated well off two feet around the rim and gets up there very quickly.

Jayshawn Moore  6-4  Jr  Ferndale: He, senior guard Tariq Shepherd and soph point guard Simon Wheeler are major additions to Ferndale, following coach Juan Rickman from East English Village. Moore looked like a top 5 prospect in 2020. His on ball skills are improving. Looks more confident in lead role. He’s shown in the past he can be a really good role player, but he is now showing that he can step into a lead role and excel. Comfortable finishing with his left. Drove and kicked to shooters. Shot goes in but needs more consistency and to get it quicker. Tons of upside because of great length and intriguing frame. Could still be growing. Looks like Rickman’s next high-major guard recruit.

Chandler Turner  6-5  Sr  Detroit Renaissance: The Phoenix Midwest college tour made a cameo at the Breslin Center before heading off to Buffalo. Turner has offers from Buffalo as well as Northern Illinois, Kent State and IUPUI. It’s easy to see the intrigue with his rangy frame and guard skills. Wingspan and quick hands, he gets to balls defensively. Did the majority of the ball-handling for Renaissance against St. Mary’s, but too often was East-West, a competent but not dynamic point guard.

DeAirrus Ware  6-3  Sr  Muskegon: Recently received an offer from Davenport. Really bouncy, plays above his height defensively and on the glass. Gets to balls, keeps plays alive. Good intentions and instincts pushing the ball on the break, though not low and skilled enough to do it against point guards. Transition talent but can look raw in a half-court set.