guru talk

[billiken_roy]

this was sent to me this week from an internet friend. nice writeup about kevin lisch in the contents. i debated about editing it and only including the lisch stuff, but then thought it might be a good read for the total fan as there is a lot of good information about players in general.

"Illinois Hoops Oasis

Aug./Sept. 2004 Mark Conyer, Editor

5248 Buford St. 217-638-4908(cell)

Springfield, IL 62703 217-585-5312(home)

[email protected] www.hoopsoasis.com

This month¡¦s edition of Illinois Hoops Oasis contains my Summer All-State teams for both Illinois and Missouri. Next is a ranking of the top 100 prospects in Illinois for the Class of 2005, and then the top 50 prospects in Missouri in the same class. I conclude this month¡¦s report with a listing of upcoming events. For those of you who may be new to this report, my newsletter is in it¡¦s 4th year of existence, and is the most thorough source of information you will find on high school and junior college basketball in Illinois and Missouri. I hope you enjoy the reading. Please note that my next report will be out in late October.

A few words about the Illinois Hoops Oasis Summer All-State teams:

1.) This is the 3rd annual team for players from Illinois, but the first year for selections from Missouri.

2.) This is always a very difficult list to put together. I am aware that many good players have been left off this list, but there are only so many spots available. I take this list seriously. My selections are based upon my own personal evaluations, media/scouting service reports from other events I was not able to cover, and feedback from college and AAU coaches.

3.) Members of the Class of 2004, even if they played on the AAU circuit, are not eligible for recognition.

4.) My definition of ¡§Summer¡¨ for these purposes includes the period from late March, after the official end of the high school season, through the end of July.

5.) Keep in mind this award recognizes performance during the summer, not potential. This should not be confused with my ranking of the state¡¦s top prospects. You can find my list of top prospects in the Class of 2005 for both Illinois and Missouri later in this report.

6.) Certificates of recognition are sent to all players who earn 1st, 2nd, or 3rd team notice.

2004 ILLINOIS PLAYER OF THE SUMMER- JULIAN WRIGHT

ILLINOIS SUMMER ALL-STATE 1ST TEAM 2004

Maurice Acker 5¡¦5 Sr. PG Country Club Hills Hillcrest/Meanstreets

Bobby Frasor 6¡¦3 Sr. PG/SG Chicago Brother Rice/Illinois Wolves

Jerel McNeal 6¡¦2 Sr. SG Country Club Hills Hillcrest/Meanstreets

Nate Minnoy 6¡¦3 Sr. SF Chicago Hales Franciscan/Illinois Fire

Julian Wright 6¡¦8 Sr. SF Homewood-Flossmoor/Illinois Warriors

A repeat 1st team selection, Julian Wright went into the Spring as the consensus #1 prospect in the senior class in Illinois, and his play did nothing to detract from that view. Wright has the ability, like many great players, to have an impact on a game even if he does not score much. Capable of playing multiple positions on the floor, Wright¡¦s combination of ball handling, passing, rebounding, defense, and finishing were the key ingredients in the success of the Illinois Warriors this summer. He was one of the top players in both the Spiece Run ¡¥n¡¦ Slam Tournament in Fort Wayne, IN in April and at the adidas May Classic in Bloomington, IN. Wright averaged 16 ppg, 8 rpg, and 2 apg in leading the Warriors to the title of the Nike Peach Jam tournament in July. Despite being bothered by an ankle injury, he was rated one of the top players at the Nike All-American Camp in Indianapolis. His all-around play also led the Warriors to the championship over a tough field at the Kansas City Prep Invitational at the end of July. Although the choice was difficult, in the end Julian Wright gets the deserving nod as the 2004 Illinois Player of the Summer.

While many people questioned Maurice Acker going into the Spring due to his small stature, his play with his high school team and with the Meanstreets AAU program had to erase most, if not all, of the doubters. The highlight of Acker¡¦s play this year came in June, when he was MVP of the Mac Irvin Summer Jam while leading Meanstreets to the title, then followed that performance by taking MVP of the Rambler Shootout at Loyola University, in which he led Hillcrest to the championship. Utilizing his quickness to get shots for his teammates on offense, and to harass opposing ball handlers on defense, Acker also played well in July, as Meanstreets won the Mullen¡¦s High-Profile Tournament in Kansas City, and reached the semifinals of the AAU Nationals in Florida.

Bobby Frasor and his Illinois Wolves teammates picked right up where they left off last summer, with the team and Frasor personally enjoying another very strong year. A 2nd team selection last year, Frasor played particularly well this Spring, including an MVP performance at the Wolves Reebok Roundball Classic in Chicago, and an all-tournament performance at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions in North Carolina. He was a member of the North team at the USA Youth Development Festival in Colorado, though he did not play particularly well there. He did play very well at the Reebok ABCD Camp in New Jersey, ranking among the top point guards in attendance. Frasor also was strong at other events in July, leading the Wolves to the co-championship of the Heartland Hoops Festival in Indianapolis, to the quarterfinals of the Reebok Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas while earning an all-tournament berth, and to the quarterfinals of the AAU Nationals in Orlando. A heady player who can handle, pass, and shoot with the best of them, Frasor¡¦s strong play in the Spring helped earn him a scholarship offer from North Carolina, which he accepted.

The other half of Hillcrest¡¦s backcourt combo, which many feel is the best in the state, Jerel McNeal improved from an honorable mention selection on last year¡¦s IHO All-State team to a 1st team selection this year. He was the best player on a Meanstreets team that played well in every single tournament they were in, from April through July. McNeal was an all-tournament pick at the Howard Pulley Invitational in Minneapolis in April, at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions in May, and was also one of the top performers at the adidas Superstars camp in Georgia. A super athlete who plays hard on both ends of the floor, McNeal became a consistent mid-range shooter this summer, and is a great get for the Marquette program.

Another honorable mention pick from a year ago, Nate Minnoy played well throughout the spring and summer for the Illinois Fire, showing the ability to just get it done without having a classic basketball physique. Super-strong, Minnoy uses his 6¡¦3, 240 lb. frame, and his competitiveness, to control the paint against bigger opponents. Minnoy led his high school team to the championship game of the Illinois satellite team camp at Moody Bible Institute. He performed well at the Reebok ABCD camp in New Jersey, averaging 16 ppg. He was an all-tourney pick at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions in May and at the adidas Super 64 tournament in Las Vegas in July. Minnoy¡¦s performance convinced many high-major college coaches, who showed Minnoy much more attention in July than they did when the summer started.

ILLINOIS SUMMER ALL-STATE 2ND TEAM 2004

Kevin Lisch 6¡¦0 Sr. PG/SG Belleville Althoff/Midwest Storm

Bryan Mullins 6¡¦0 Sr. PG Downers Grove South/Illinois Wolves

Phillip ¡§Mickey¡¨ Perry 6¡¦2 Sr. SG Maywood Proviso East/Illinois Warriors

DeAndre Thomas 6¡¦6 Sr. PF Chicago Westinghouse/Illinois Fire

Willie Walker 5¡¦11 Jr. PG Bolingbrook/Illinois Wolves 16¡¦s

Kevin Lisch entered the AAU circuit for the first time this year, and showed that his gaudy statistics with his high school team have not been a fluke. Playing with a team that struggled with wins and losses in some high-quality tournaments, Lisch himself did not struggle, and was one of the top individual performers in every tournament in which he played. Lisch was one of the top rising seniors at Mac Irvin¡¦s Summer Jam in Chicago in June, which was a talent-laden tournament. Lisch also played well at the Nike All-American Camp, though he had to go home early with an elbow injury that ended up with him in the hospital. Lisch recovered from that setback to again have an outstanding tournament at the Kansas City Prep Invitational at the end of July. An outstanding scorer who also plays aggressively on the defensive end, Lisch impressed observers this summer by showing he can play the point guard position.

The floor leader of the Illinois Wolves program, Bryan Mullins enjoyed another strong spring and summer. He helped the Wolves to the title of their own tournament in Chicago in May. He was an all-tourney pick at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions in North Carolina. He played well in the Reebok Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, making the all-tournament team there. Mullins is a true point guard whose virtual inability to be pressed is a major reason why the teams he plays on have been so successful over the years. He has also become a more reliable shooter. Mullins¡¦ play this summer also helped his recruiting stock go up in the minds of college coaches.

Phillip ¡§Mickey¡¨ Perry is another player who saw his recruiting stock explode with his play during the spring and summer. He started off by playing well at the Speice Run ¡¥n¡¦ Slam Tournament in Indiana in April. He was almost unstoppable in the Riverside-Brookfield tournament in June, earning MVP honors as his high school team won the championship. He averaged 9 ppg in the Illinois Warriors title run in the Nike Peach Jam. He was brilliant in the Kansas City Prep Invitational in July, using his combination of dead-eye outside shooting and quick drives to the basket to help the Warriors to the tournament championship there.

The best post player in a weak in-state group in the Class of 2005, DeAndre Thomas made his inside presence known throughout the summer. He was an inside force as the Fire took the title of the prestigious Spiece Run ¡¥n¡¦ Slam Classic in April. A member of the North team at the USA Youth Development Festival in Colorado, Thomas was a solid contributor with averages of 8 ppg and 4 rpg on 51% shooting. He was one of the top post players at Mac Irvin¡¦s Summer Jam in Chicago, and at the Reebok ABCD Camp in New Jersey. A big man who is blessed with good hands and good feet, Thomas was very difficult for opposing big men to handle on the defensive end.

After a quiet high school season in which people seemingly forgot about him, Will Walker came back with a strong summer, and showed people that he will give Jon Scheyer a run for the top prospect in Illinois for the Class of 2006. Walker was the star of the Illinois Wolves 16 year old team that had a very good summer, including a 2nd place showing at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions in May, in which he made the all-tournament team. He also led the Wolves to the co-championship of the Heartland Hoops Festival in Indianapolis in July, and the championship of the Classic bracket in the AAU 17-under Nationals in Florida. A gifted scorer with excellent quickness and the ability to change speeds, Walker demonstrated his playmaking abilities at the Reebok ABCD Camp in New Jersey, where he was one of the top underclassmen.

ILLINOIS SUMMER ALL-STATE 3RD TEAM 2004

Dodie Dunson 6¡¦2 Sr. PG Bloomington/Team Illinois

Tony Freeman, Jr. 5¡¦11 Sr. PG Westchester St. Joseph¡¦s/Illinois Fire

Jeremy ¡§Buck¡¨ Pargo 6¡¦1 Sr. PG Chicago Robeson/Illinois Fire

Derrick Rose 6¡¦3 So. SG Chicago Simeon/Chicago Ferrari 15¡¦s

Jon Scheyer 6¡¦5 Jr. SG Northbrook Glenbrook North/Illinois Warriors

Dodie Dunson proved he is one of the top lead guards in the state with his play this summer. He played well at the Wolves Reebok Roundball Classic in Chicago in May, and was an all-tournament selection at the St. Louis Eagles Invitational the very next weekend while playing with a short-handed Team Illinois squad. He led Bloomington to the championship game of the Peoria Richwoods Summer Shootout in June. He was outstanding in the Mullen¡¦s High-Profile Tournament in Kansas City in July. Dunson uses his deceptive strength to get to the basket and finish, is a solid long-range shooter, and is an excellent playmaker in the transition game.

An honorable mention selection a year ago, Tony Freeman, Jr. moves up to a 3rd team selection this year. Another scoring point guard, Freeman can burn defenses with his long-range shooting or his super-quick bursts to the hole. Freeman was one of the key cogs on the Illinois Fire. It was his last-second 3 pointer that got the Fire the championship at the Spiece Run ¡¥n¡¦ Slam Classic in April. He earned an invitation to the NBA Players Association Camp in Virginia in June. He also led his high school team to a surprising championship of the Illinois Satellite Team Camp at Moody Bible Institute in June.

Freeman¡¦s AAU teammate, Jeremy ¡§Buck¡¨ Pargo, was also an honorable mention selection a year ago. A very gifted athlete who can get to the basket or bomb from long-range, Pargo did not have an outstanding Spring, though reports were positive on his play from the NBA Players Association Camp in Virginia in June. He picked his game up in once July rolled around, thoug. He was rated one of the top guards at the Reebok ABCD Camp in July, and was co-MVP of the camp all-star game. He was an all-tournament pick at the adidas Super 64 tournament in Las Vegas while playing with the Fire.

Derrick Rose is the first rising sophomore in the three years that IHO has been handing out these awards to be recognized as either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd team, or as an honorable mention selection. The Simeon guard who did not play varsity as a freshman is definitely deserving. He burst onto the scene at the Spiece Run ¡¥n¡¦ Slam Classic in April, showing an outstanding all-around game of athleticism, shooting, ball handling, and defense. He continued his strong play at the Windy City Classic in May and at Mac Irvin¡¦s Summer Jam in June, where he was MVP of the 16-under division while playing with Ferrari. Rose was dominant while helping Ferarri to a runner-up finish at the AAU 15-under Nationals in Tennessee in July.

After enjoying a magnificent high school season, Jon Scheyer had a solid spring and summer with the Illinois Warriors AAU program again. Since he is not a great athlete, Scheyer sometimes does not stand out on a court full of dominant athletes, but his floor game is always a key figure in his team¡¦s winning efforts. He averaged 14 ppg in helping the Warriors to the title at the Nike Peach Jam. He played well at the Nike All-American Camp, displaying a good outside touch and playmaking abilities. He showed how much better he makes his high school teammates with his play at the Illinois Satellite Team Camp at Moody Bible Institute in June.

ILLINOIS SUMMER ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION 2004

Sharron Collins 5¡¦11 Jr. PG Chicago Crane/Illinois Fire 16¡¦s- Strong and explosive, Collins played well during several summer events.

Brandon Ewing 6¡¦2 Sr. PG Chicago Julian/Meanstreets- Another mainstay in Meanstreets¡¦ success, Ewing is an elite on-ball defender and a solid playmaker.

Emmanuel Gaiter 6¡¦4 Sr. SF Waukegan/Rising Stars- Gaiter¡¦s stock exploded this summer due to his athleticism and ability to create his own shot.

Marcus Green 6¡¦4 Sr. SF Franklin Park Leyden/Full Package- The athletic Green¡¦s stock also shot up this Spring, though his performances leveled off during July.

Nayal ¡§Mack¡¨ Koshwal 6¡¦8 So. PF/C Chicago Julian/Illinois Warriors- A breath of fresh air in a bad year for post players in the senior class, Koshwal has a great body and played very competitively against older competition.

Dustin Maguire 6¡¦4 Jr. SF/SG Bethalto Civic Memorial/Gateway 16¡¦s- MVP of the Spiece Memorial Day Classic and good at the Reebok ABCD Camp, Maguire is a pure shooter with a strong body.

Sead Odzic 6¡¦3 Sr. SG Skokie Niles West/Illinois Wolves- a 3rd team selection a year ago, Odzic struggled in the Spring, but found his outside touch in July.

Jamar Smith 6¡¦2 Sr. SG Peoria Richwoods/Illinois Warriors- An excellent shooter who can get his own shot, Smith was the class of the field at the Richwoods Summer Shootout in June.

Jarvis Walker 6¡¦4 Sr. SF Olympia Fields Rich Central/Illinois Bobcats- Walker may have the best combination of inside-outside skills in the state, putting them on display as ¡§the man¡¨ for the Bobcats this summer.

Marquis Young 6¡¦8 Sr. PF Chicago Austin/Illinois Fire- Young¡¦s size and play on the blocks this summer elevated his stock, resulting in a high-major scholarship to Ole Miss.

2004 MISSOURI PLAYER OF THE SUMMER- TYLER HANSBROUGH

MISSOURI SUMMER ALL-STATE 1ST TEAM 2004

Rahmon Fletcher 5¡¦9 So. PG Kansas City Paseo/Rocktown 15¡¦s

Justin Fuehrmeyer 6¡¦0 Sr. PG St. Charles Francis Howell Central/Gateway

Tyler Hansbrough 6¡¦8 Sr. PF Poplar Bluff/St. Louis Eagles

Jared Leonard 6¡¦4 Jr. SF St. Louis DeSmet/St. Louis Eagles 16¡¦s

Marcus Walker 5¡¦11 Sr. PG Kansas City O¡¦Hara/KC Keys

Clearly the most dominant player in Missouri this summer, Tyler Hansbrough played well enough that at least one national recruiting service ranks him the top player in the nation. An aggressive inside player that attacks the basket with ferocity and makes a living at the free throw line, Hansbrough was the top, or one of the top, post players in every event in which he played. He was an all-tournament selection at the St. Louis Eagles Invitational in May. He averaged 21 ppg at the Nike Memorial Day Classic in New Orleans. He performed well in marquee head-to-head matchups at the Nike All-American Camp in July, and was one of the leading scorers(23 per) and rebounders(7 per) at the Nike Peach Jam in Georgia. He finished the summer with another outstanding individual performance at the Kansas City Prep Invitational, as the Eagles had one of their best showings as a team of the summer. Hansbrough did all this while speculation and pressure about his college decision ran rampant throughout the spring and summer, making his strong showings all the more impressive.

Rahmon Fletcher was the top performer on a Rocktown 15 year old team that played well all spring and summer, and usually did it playing up an age group. A very quick lefty who gets to the basket seemingly at will, Fletcher¡¦s quick hands make him a tough defender who piles up several steals per game. Fletcher was an all-tournament selection as Rocktown roared through the 15-under field at the adidas All-American Shootout in St. Louis in April. He made all-tournament in the 16-under division when Rocktown came back to St. Louis in May for the St. Louis Eagles Invitational. Fletcher continued his strong play in July at the Mullen¡¦s High-Profile Tournament in Kansas City, and at the Last Chance Summer Showcase at the end of the month, as he led Rocktown to the championship of the open division there.

Although not well known going into the spring, Justin Fuehrmeyer established himself as one of the top true point guards in the Midwest with his play. An excellent transition player who always seems to see an open teammate, Fuehrmeyer is also a threat to hurt defenses with his perimeter shooting. Fuehrmeyer led a very solid Howell Central club to championships at the SIU Edwardsville and Saint Louis U. team camps in June. He may have been Gateway¡¦s most consistent player, helping them win the championship of the adidas All-American Shootout in April, to a runner-up finish at the Mullen¡¦s High-Profile Tournament in July, and solid performances at the adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas and the Best of Summer Tournament in California at the end of July.

Making a splash on the national scene for the first time this summer, rising junior Jared Leonard indicated he will be one of the nation¡¦s best wing prospects in the Class of 2006. Long and athletic, Leonard is a good ball handler and passer, and is a difference-maker on the defensive end of the floor. He was an all-tournament selection while leading the Eagles to the 16-under championship of the adidas All-American Shootout in April, and followed that performance with an MVP award while leading the Eagles to another title in their own invitational in May. Leonard played very well at the Nike Hoop Jamboree in St. Louis in June, which earned him an invitation to the Nike All-American Camp in July.

The only player in the state who could offer any argument to Tyler Hansbrough about being the state¡¦s top senior is O¡¦Hara PG Marcus Walker. Walker had an outstanding summer, beginning as the class of the field at The Scouting Network Showcase in Fulton, MO in late March. Blessed with blinding speed, Walker is able to get into the paint continuously to either score or find others. Playing with the Keys in July, Walker was one of the top guards at the Mullen¡¦s High-Profile Tournament and at the Kansas City Prep Invitational.

MISSOURI SUMMER ALL-STATE 2ND TEAM 2004

Dane Brumagin 6¡¦4 Sr. SG Warrenton Christian/Gateway

Johnny Hill 6¡¦3 Sr. SF St. Louis Vashon/Gameface

Kyle Kirk 6¡¦4 Jr. SF Springfield Kickapoo/St. Louis Eagles 16¡¦s

Shane Laurie 6¡¦2 Sr. PG/SG Springfield Kickapoo/Springfield Heat

Matt Lawrence 6¡¦6 Sr. SF Wildwood Lafayette/Gateway

Widely unknown heading into the Spring, super shooter Dane Brumagin had a good summer, although, strangely, he still seemed to be somewhat unknown to the college coaches, who showed only lukewarm interest toward him. Not only is he a shooter with deep range, Brumagin is also a good athlete with a nice feel for the game. He had a breakout performance at The Scouting Network Showcase in Fulton, MO in late March. Though he was hampered by an ankle injury later in the Spring, he came back strong in July. Brumagin was one of the top scorers at the adidas Superstars Camp in Georgia, and then played well at the Mullen¡¦s High-Profile Tournament in suburban Kansas City. He may turn out to be a real steal for Missouri-Kansas City, who received a commitment from Brumagin in August.

Another in a long line of talent to come through Vashon High School, Johnny Hill was the top player in the Gameface program this summer. An athletic wing player who can be a threat from the perimeter, Hill is a high-riser who attacks the glass and plays hard. Although he didn¡¦t garner a lot of ink, Hill was one of the top players at Mac Irvin¡¦s Summer Jam in Chicago in June. Hill also played well for Gameface in the Mullen¡¦s High-Profile Tournament in Kansas City in July.

Another of the members of a nice St. Louis Eagles 16-under group, Kyle Kirk also enjoyed a solid summer. An aggressive player who goes full speed at all times, Kirk gets things done with his athleticism and his will to win. He was an all-tournament selection on the Eagles¡¦ title team at their invitational in May. Kirk participated in the elite Nike Hoop Jamboree in St. Louis in June. He picked his game up even more in July, playing well at the Hoosier Shootout in Indianapolis, where the Eagles reached the semifinals.

Kirk¡¦s high school teammate, Shane Laurie, also earns a 2nd team berth. Playing for the Springfield Heat, Laurie showed a very solid all-around game with no glaring weaknesses. Laurie can shoot, handle, and pass, and he knows how to play the game. He helped the Heat show well at both the Mullen¡¦s High-Profile Tournament and the Kansas City Prep Invitational in July. His strong play resulted in a scholarship offer from hometown school Southwest Missouri State, an offer he accepted in mid-July.

One of the state¡¦s top all-around players, Matt Lawrence enjoyed a good summer for the Gateway program. He was an all-tournament selection, and possibly the event¡¦s most outstanding player, in leading Gateway to the title of the adidas All-American Shootout in St. Louis in April. He was rated as one of the top wing forwards at the adidas Superstars Camp in Georgia in July. He was a key cog in Gateway¡¦s excellent tournament performances in July, including a runner-up finish at the Mullen¡¦s High-Profile Tournament, and solid showings at the adidas Super 64 and Best of Summer tournaments.

MISSOURI SUMMER ALL-STATE 3RD TEAM 2004

Scotty Chestnutt 6¡¦7 Sr. PF Cape Girardeau Central/Midwest Storm

Ashton Farmer 6¡¦4 Sr. PF Charleston/St. Louis Eagles

Ben Hansbrough 6¡¦2 Jr. PG/SG Poplar Bluff/St. Louis Eagles 16¡¦s

Drew Martin 6¡¦7 Sr. PF St. Louis Oakville/St. Louis H.I.T.S.

Isaac Miles 6¡¦2 Jr. SG Kansas City(KS) Bishop Miege/KC Keys

At times this summer, Scotty Chestnutt appeared dominant, using his power and low-post moves to control the paint area. Chestnutt demonstrated powerful finishing ability and shot-blocking prowess, plus surprisingly good passing skills. Chestnutt played against good competition at the Mac Irvin Summer Jam in Chicago in June, and at the Mullen¡¦s High-Profile Tournament in July.

Explosive Ashton Farmer continued to show his ability to score in the paint and rebound, despite playing against bigger foes. Farmer is strong and a good leaper, which he uses to finish well or block shots. Farmer had a good July. He was one of the Eagles¡¦ top players at the Nike Peach Jam in Georgia, and played well at the end of July at the Kansas City Prep Invitational, also.

Though he lives in the shadow of his big brother Tyler on the basketball floor, Ben Hansbrough also had a good summer while playing with the Eagles¡¦ 16-under team. Capable of playing both guard positions, Hansbrough plays hard, is a good defender, and can pass, handle, and shoot. He was an integral part of Eagles¡¦ championship teams at the adidas All-American Shootout in April, and at the Eagles invitational tournament in May. He participated in the Nike Hoop Jamboree in June in St. Louis. He helped the Eagles to the semifinals at the Hoosier Shootout in Indianapolis in July. He played up with the Eagles¡¦s 17-under team at the Nike Peach Jam in Georgia, to give the older team more guard help.

After a strong high school season, Drew Martin established himself as one of the top post players in the state with his play this summer. Martin runs the floor well, is a solid rebounder, and has a good touch around the basket. Martin began the spring by playing well at the adidas All-American Shootout in April. He was the H.I.T.S. top player throughout the summer, enjoying several nice games at the Hoosier Shootout in Indianapolis and at the Mullen¡¦s High-Profile Tournament in Kansas City in July.

Though coming off an ankle injury, Missouri resident Isaac Miles showed he could be one of the nation¡¦s better guards in the Class of 2006 with his play in July. A very good athlete with a well-developed body, Miles will have his choice to play football or basketball. Along with his athleticism, Miles is a great passer who is also a threat from the perimeter. He played with the KC Keys in both the 16- and 17-under divisions at the Mullen¡¦s High-Profile Tournament in July, and also played well with the 17-under team at the Kansas City Prep Invitational at the end of the month.

MISSOURI SUMMER ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION 2004

Matt Akins 6¡¦8 Sr. PF Jennings/Gateway- Somewhat up-and-down during the course of the Spring, Akins picked up his game in July, as did his recruiting, earning him a scholarship to Nebraska.

Matt Brennan 6¡¦7 Sr. PF Lee¡¦s Summit North/Rockhill Bluedevils- One of the better post players in the Kansas City area, Brennan impressed college coaches with his scoring and rebounding in July.

Kenny Daniels 6¡¦3 Sr. SF St. Louis Vashon/Gameface- Another athletic wing from Vashon, Daniels showed he could get to the basket and finish against good competition.

Lorenzo Dean 6¡¦3 Sr. SF Kansas City Northeast/KC Premiere- Built like a strong safety, Dean¡¦s competitiveness and athleticism led the KC Premiere program.

George Goode 6¡¦6 So. SF/PF Raytown South/Rocktown 15¡¦s- Possibly the best college prospect off the talented Rocktown 15 group, Goode showed a developing all-around game this summer.

Alex Moosman 5¡¦10 Jr. PG Washington St. Francis Borgia/Gateway 16¡¦s- A coach¡¦s dream, Moosman was the most consistent player on a solid Gateway 16 year old squad.

Shane Nicholson 6¡¦0 Sr. PG Ash Grove/Springfield Heat- Nicholson teamed with Shane Laurie in an unheralded, yet very good, Heat backcourt combination.

David Nurse 6¡¦3 Sr. SG Kearney/KC Keys- A pure shooter, Nurse¡¦s outside game was a nice complement to Marcus Walker¡¦s penetrating ability for the Keys this summer.

Leon Powell 6¡¦7 So. PF St. Louis Vashon/Gateway 16¡¦s- Powell caught the eye of many college coaches with his athleticism and finishing ability during the July open period.

Landon Shipley 6¡¦1 Sr. SG/PG Wildwood Lafayette/St. Louis Eagles- A deadly long-range shooter, Shipley showed some emerging point guard skills this summer.

Notes on Top Prospects Rankings:

1.) I will not rank a player that I have not personally evaluated. All players here have been evaluated by myself at least once in the past 12 months.

2.) I have included prep school players who are residents of Illinois or Missouri on this list.

3.) HM= High-major prospect; MM= Mid-major prospect; LM= Low-major prospect.

4.) In contrast to the Summer All-State teams, these rankings are based on future potential, not necessarily current on-court performance.

5.) Since Illinois is roughly twice as large as Missouri in population, I have ranked the top 100 prospects from Illinois, and the top 50 from Missouri.

6.) This is just one person¡¦s opinion, but it is the opinion of one person who sees a lot of basketball.

ILLINOIS TOP 100 PROSPECTS- CLASS OF 2005

1.) Julian Wright 6¡¦8, 190 SF Homewood-Flossmoor(IL)- IL Warriors. Darius Miles-type with a better touch. Plays with energy. Excellent athlete who can finish impressively, but not always consistently. Handles well in open floor. Excellent passer. Uses both hands around hole. Has jump hook. Likes to use left(off) hand. Crashes glass on both ends. Shoots turnaround and facing J¡¦s out to 15¡¦. Long arms, erases shots. Pokes ball away from defenders. Works hard on D. 10 ppg, 7 rpg, 4 apg on Class AA runners-up. Has exercise-induced asthma. IL, AZ, DePaul. HM+.

2.) Tommie Liddell 6¡¦5, 175 SG/PG Hargrave(VA) Military- Team Detroit. ¡¦04 grad of East St. Louis(IL) HS. Athletic and skilled, but plays with great patience. Makes teammates better, doesn¡¦t force the action. Lefty uses long, loping strides to beat defense, usually to his right hand. Would rather pass than score himself. Can finish above the rim, very good in transition. Good rebounder. Length makes him effective on defense. Line-drive perimeter stroke needs consistency. 16 ppg, 9 rpg on Class AA supersectional team. Committed to Saint Louis. HM+.

3.) Justin Dentmon 5¡¦11, 175 PG Winchendon(MA) Prep- IL Warriors. ¡¦04 grad of Carbondale(IL) HS. 6¡¦3 wingspan. Scoring point who has quick release and accuracy from behind the arc. Good mid-range shooter off dribble. Puts ball on floor to either hand, using both strength and quickness. Good crossover and jump stop moves. Uses either hand around hole. Gets the ball to teammates to transition. Decent playmaker in halfcourt. 22 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg, 49% FG, 48% 3FG, 79% FT on Class AA 4th place team. Originally committed to Illinois St, but didn¡¦t qualify. IL, WA, CT, SIU. High-major prospect.

4.) Bobby Frasor 6¡¦3, 180 SG/PG Chicago(IL) Brother Rice- IL Wolves. Nice frame. Good skills, knows how to play. Excellent stroke from perimeter. Comes off screen to bury 3 point shot. Can pull up in transition for trey. Puts ball on floor and sinks mid-range jumper. Handles and passes well. Will drive to either hand. Good rebounder. 13 ppg, 6 rpg, 7 apg. Son of a coach. Committed to N. Carolina. High-major prospect.

5.) Kevin Lisch 6¡¦0, 180 SG/PG Belleville(IL) Althoff- Midwest Storm. Scorer. Very good mid-range shooter. Range to 25¡¦. Gets to hoop in transition, driving to strong(left) hand. Solid handle, can make dish to others at basket or kick out to open shooter. Has improved playmaking ability. Drives to either hand in halfcourt. Aggressive, hard-working defender. Always around the ball. 24 ppg, 6 rpg, 2 apg, 2 spg. Committed to Saint Louis. High-major prospect.

6.) Jeremy ¡§Buck¡¨ Pargo 6¡¦1, 175 PG Chicago(IL) Robeson- IL Fire. Very talented, but game is more style than substance. Needs to become more team-oriented. Drives with explosiveness to either hand. Uses killer crossover move to freeze defense. Shoots floater over defense. Very good shooter off dribble from mid-range and 3 point range. Excellent leaper, converts lob dunk. Able to find others, but needs to cut down on TO¡¦s. Can improve defensively. 4th team Chicago Public League as soph, 3rd team as Jr. Had a good July. Brother Jannero plays for Bulls. DePaul, Gonzaga, UNLV, UIC offers. IL, UT, Big East, SEC schools interested. High-major.

7.) Jamar Smith 6¡¦2, 165 SG Peoria(IL) Richwoods- IL Warriors. Smooth shooter with quick release. Can shoot off dribble from mid- and 3 point range, rises easily over defender. Also can hit jumper off catch. Range to 25¡¦. Can drive to either hand. Scores in lane with floater. Solid finisher. Handles confidently. Can find others in transition. Uses length to be solid defender. Challenges jump shooter. Led Mid-State 6 in scoring. Committed to Illinois. High-major.

8.) Jerel McNeal 6¡¦2, 175 SF/SG Country Club Hills(IL) Hillcrest- Mean Streets. Athletic, jumps out of gym. Active. Glides to hoop off dribble. Drives to either hand. Finishes well in halfcourt or transition. Scores with floater in lane. Will drive and dish to others. Can hit mid-range jumper off catch or dribble, has improved stroke from deep. Gets into passing lanes. Creates steals. 21 ppg, 4 apg. Committed to Marquette. High-major prospect.

9.) DeAndre Thomas 6¡¦6, 260 PF Chicago(IL) Westinghouse- IL Fire. Can run floor despite size. Aggressive inside. Finishes with strong 1 hand dunk. Controls defensive boards. Makes strong drive to hole after facing up on baseline. Has good hands and feet. Good moves with back to basket, like reverse pivot. Starting to show ability to hit face-up jumper. Needs to watch weight. 2nd team All-CPL. Purdue, IL, MS, Seton Hall, UTEP, IA, MN. HM.

10.) Phillip ¡§Mickey¡¨ Perry 6¡¦2, 170 SG Maywood(IL) Proviso East- IL Warriors. Talented scorer. Good shooter with range to 22¡¦. Can hit trey and mid-mid-range shot off catch or dribble. Will put ball on floor and drive quickly to basket to either hand. Uses either hand to finish. Good passer, able to drive and dish. Will struggle with handle vs. pressure. Good rebounding guard. 2 year starter in good program. Committed to Wisconsin. Over NE and DePaul. High-major.

11.) Angel Santiago 6¡¦0, 175 PG Chicago(IL) Von Steuben- IL Fire. Outstanding athlete. Jumps out of gym, has quick burst in open floor. Nice perimeter stroke with 3 point range. Can shoot off the dribble from mid-range or distance. Finishes well in transition. Can use either hand around hoop. Very good handle. Good passer, could be more unselfish. Decisions and leadership can be questionable. 16 ppg, 6 apg, 51% FG, 47% 3FG, 88% FT. 4th team all-Public League as soph, 3rd team as Jr. High-major.

12.) Tony Freeman, Jr. 5¡¦11, 155 PG/SG Westchester(IL) St. Joseph¡¦s- IL Fire. Scoring combo who can light it up. Quick feet. Has quick burst to either hand off dribble. Good finisher. Able to finish with contact. Can hit mid-range or long-range jumper. Handles well. Needs to improve ability to make plays for others. Dad Tony played at Indiana. 18 ppg this year. DePaul, OK, IL, Wake Forest, BC. HM.

13.) Jeremiah Bryant 6¡¦7, 215 SF Chicago(IL) Harlan-IL Fire. Potential defensive superstar. Good frame, long. Gets in low defensive stance on perimeter. Can block shots. Active rebounder. Not a bad stroke, just needs work to develop consistency. All-conference as soph. Transfer from Chicago Fenger. Ineligible last year due to transfer. Louisville, Purdue, UNLV, AZ interest. High-major.

14.) Nate Minnoy 6¡¦3, 230 SF Chicago(IL) Hales Franciscan- IL Fire. Overpowering physically. Able to get in lane and finish with contact. Uses jump stop move in transition to get in paint. Also has spin move. Jumps well, flushes with 2 hands. Uses left hand very well around hoop. Scores in lane with short J¡¦s and floater, or with back to hoop. Can hit J out to 3 point range, but slow release. Very good rebounder. Can find open man. Struggles with individual D on perimeter. 19 ppg, 12 rpg, 1st team Class A All-state. Top player on Class A state champs as soph. Purdue, Seton Hall, MO, IA St., MS, UIC, Toledo, Butler, Bowling Green, Baylor, IL St., Southern IL, Valpo. HM ¡V.

15.) Jarvis Walker 6¡¦4, 185 SF Olympia Fields(IL) Rich Central- IL Fire. Inside-outside game. Can score or make plays for others. Good passer, doesn¡¦t always look for own shot. Fills lane and finishes in transition. Quick spin move from block to baseline. Nice stroke out to 3 point range. Improving consistency of J spotting up and off dribble. Uses both hands well around basket. Drives to right hand. Draws fouls. Solid rebounder. Transferred from Midlothian Bremen after soph. year. Brother of Antoine Walker. Seton Hall, FL St., Louisville, KY. High-major ¡V.

16.) Brandon Ewing 6¡¦2, 170 PG Chicago(IL) Julian- Mean Streets. Very confident. Shoots jumper and puts ball on floor with no fear. Able to get into lane and create shots for others. Sees floor in transition. Uses left hand well around basket. Can shoot from 3 point range off dribble. Also pulls up from mid-range off dribble. Can pass with either hand. Excellent defender. Uses length to apply pressure and play passing lanes well. 3rd team Chicago Public League as soph, 4th team this year. Recruiting has slipped. High-major ¡V prospect.

17.) Dodie Dunson 6¡¦2, 175 PG Bloomington(IL)- Team IL. Scoring point. Able to drive to either hand, good crossover. Can finish explosively, deceptively strong. Will dish to others in lane, or shoot floater over defense. Good passer in transition. Handles well with either hand, but likes to go left. Range to 23¡¦. Can knock down trey off catch or dribble. Will post up against smaller guards. Rebounds well. Can pick opponents. Needs to improve playmaking in halfcourt. All-tourney at St. Louis Eagles Invite. Committed to IL St. High-major ¡V.

18.) Bryan Mullins 6¡¦0, 175 PG Downers Grove(IL) South- IL Wolves. Unflappable against pressure. Finds open teammates, with limited turnovers. Sees floor in transition, runs half-court offense very well. Good speed. Lefty likes to shoot off dribble. Will pull up in lane for short J. Also shows 3 point range off dribble. Drives to left hand. Can use either hand to finish. Dad Mike is AAU coach. 13 ppg, 4 rpg, 7 apg, 4.6 spg. UMass, Tulane, NIU, SIU, IL St., Ball St., Bowling Green offers. Stanford interest. Mid-major +.

19.) Marquis Young 6¡¦8, 260 C/PF Chicago(IL) Austin- IL Fire. Good inside presence. Solid shot blocker and rebounder. Heavy, but can finish with 2 hand dunk. Able to score a little with back to basket. Faces up from 10¡¦. Attended Tilden HS as frosh. Committed to MS. MM +.

20.) Marcus Green 6¡¦4, 175 SF Franklin Park(IL) Leyden- Full Package. Good body, excellent leaper. Still has rough edges, but stock really went up this Spring. Runs floor well. Good rebounder. Can drive to right hand. Has 3 point range, but jumper still developing. Committed to Purdue. MM +."

[3star_recruit]

This one-man show got a number of heights and weights wrong but his evaluations have got a lot of substance to them. Makes the stuff Hoopmasters puts out look pretty shallow. Really impressed with his knowledge of Missouri kids, though I wouldn't call Johnny Hill a high-flier.

Thanks, Roy!

[aj_arete]

They mentioned being impressed with his transition to point guard. Will that be his eventual position at SLU or will he be an off-guard?

[billiken_roy]

no one has told me this, but imo my three headed monster of guards and wings would be polk, lisch and liddell all performing all three positions at all times. get the ball and go and fill a spot.

btw, jalensdad, we havent heard from you for awhile. just wondering how school is going for tommie and if he is trying to bring back a couple of the highly ranked forwards from hargrove with him! :-)

[StLouBlue]

I agree that I think it will be all 3 doing a little of everything. I see it kind of like Dee Brown, Daren Williams & Luther Head at Illinois, all three can pass, shoot & handle the ball.

[SIUSalukis]

Lisch is getting his due in this report. He has been very underrated nationally. Obviously this gentleman has not seen Josh Tabb, because leaving him out of the top 20 in the state is just silly.

[3star_recruit]

Looks like he was basing his ranking largely on summer performance. He says that the ranking is a projection of "potential" but I don't think it's a coincidence that these players also had very good summers. Wasn't Tabb hurt most of the summer?

[billiken_roy]

i cant wait for the althoff carbondale games this winter. we shall see.

[SIUSalukis]

3-star, yeah that does make sense. Tabb was hurt most of the summer.

If Tabb and Ray Nelson are both cleared to play, I don't think Althoff will be able to run w/ them.

[billiken_roy]

althoff is rated #2 in the state right now behind franciscan hales. you forget that althoff returns 6-8, 6-7, 6-5 upfront and lisch. plus the 6-5 kid is jeremy felton, who imo is one of the best sophomores in the state. there are lots of speculation about the other guard spot. two very nice players from the jv team casey kress and chris sonnenberg will undoubtedly fight for the job, however, there are people wondering if kevin's younger brother, daniel, who is a freshman might make a run for the spot. imo though, while daniel is a nice player, his grade school running mate, patrick young is bigger and better, at least last year he was. plus there is the sensational freshman running back, jason ford, who is averaging well over 100 yds per game on the undefeated football team, who supposedly is quite the basketball player as well. who knows. the point is, no lack of talent for the crusaders. there is a reason they are being invited all over the country in shootout games and such.

althoff as well has hired former red bud head coach, curt berger, who is as much of a defensive genius as there can be at the high school level as the assistant head coach. and i think head coach greg lieb is a very good offensive coach. nice coaching staff for a high school team.

personally, if not for tabb and nelson coming in, i would say that the rest of the south seven would be in grave danger. however i admit that tabb and nelson will be a formidable duo to contend with.

the althoff game i want to see even more is the december 4th game vs franciscan hales in that kentucky shootout. lisch vs nate minnoy. however, poor scheduling by our billikens has hawaii in town that same day and i doubt i can make it to kentucky in time after our billiken win vs hawaii.

[Major Majerus]

Let me consult my crystal ball and get back to you.

[tseugnekillib]

the hoopsoasis guru site is reporting that 6-0 PG Justin Dentmon (Carbondale) committed to Coach Romar and Washington over Illinois and others. I sure Romar first saw Dentmon at the annual Belleville East tournament when Justin was a sophmore. Also, has Jennings' 6-8 project Matt Akins committing to Nebraska. My suggestion, schedule Nebraska and not Washington!

[Nate Latsch]

Matt Akins did commit to Nebraska.

Lafayette guard Landon Shipley committed to Austin Peay over the weekend. There will be a small story about Shipley in Thursday's Post-Dispatch.

- Nate

[p diddy]

tabb and nelson make a strong carbondale team even stronger. it will be interesting to see what happens. they should be the favorites in the south seven. as for kevin, i would not worry to much about how he does against those two. i was at the game when he put 37 points on dentmon AND maurice gibbs in that sectional game at salem when he was a sophomore and they upset c-dale. I couldn't believe it. i know roy was at that game.

btw, c-dale should have a clear path to peoria as the Class AA southern rep. civic memorial has a nice trio of players, but they don't have anyone who can contend with manual cass. cahokia, o'fallon. should be good, but i'm not sure good enough to beat the revamped terriers.

any other thoughts.

bad boyz for life

[SLURadioBoy]

Nate, just wondering if you (or anyone at the Post) will be doing a feature on Lisch when the high school basketball season gets underway? Shouldn't he be the favorite to win Post Player of the Year?

"Praises we sing, to you our alma mater,

Praise to the white and blue.

Our hymn shall ring, in tribute strong to you,

We hail Saint Louis U."

Official Billikens.com sponsor of Andrew Latimer

[billiken_roy]

p diddy, i dont remember carbondale having much in the way of size back for this year. i give them tabb and nelson at the guard spots, they will be the second and third best players maybe in the conference.

[billiken_roy]

romar and company are tearing it up recruitingwise. i see they are in on just about anyone who is a player to be recognized with out west. i am happy for lorenzo. he is a fine man that deserves success.

[SIUSalukis]

SIU just got a verbal from 6'1 PG Bryan Mullins, of suburban Chicago. He is basically a Lisch clone, except he is not close to the shooter that Kevin is. I really liked Kevin and I knew we didn't really have a chance w/ him, but I think Mullins will be a solid PG in the Valley.

[3star_recruit]

I haven't seen Mullins but what, in your opinion, makes him a Lisch clone? I was under the impression Mullins was a crafty pass-first point guard. That doesn't describe Lisch at all.

[SIUSalukis]

I guess I would take back the clone term, but have a lot of similarities. They both are very good defenders, good ballhandlers, and are both left handed. I would say that Lisch does tend to look to score more than Mullins, but they are both floor leaders on the court.

[3star_recruit]

Then is Mullins a Polk clone too? Or a Liddell clone? Just messin' with ya.

[SIUSalukis]

Don't pick on me!!!!!! :-)

[billiken_roy]

what lisch can do that is a rarity in basketball these days is get his own shot pretty much whenever he wants. i became convinced kevin was big time when he played livingston to a draw for the second year in a row at the collinsville xmas tourney. as you know, shaun livingston was the number 3 draft pick in the nba this past season. for kevin to equal him on both ends of the floor even giving away 5 inches and 3 years of experience is quite the accomplishment imo.

[Quality Is Job 1]

I haven't seen Lisch play, so would you please compare him to someone I've seen? Is he somewhat like Erwin Claggett, since he can get his own shot?

[Nate Latsch]

THicks,

How have you not seen Kevin Lisch play yet?

Roy has been talking about this kid for years.

- Nate