I attended the XposureRuns event for some 2022 and 2023 players last night. Here are some of the standout players from the runs.
2023s
Rich Barron (6-4 SG, St. Ignatius)
Barron was overpowering defenders all night. You wouldn’t expect a player of his size to have that much shake off the dribble, but the 6-foot-4 wing regularly handled pressure and created shots off the bounce. His jump shot progressed nicely as the night went on, showing the ability to hit deep threes. Barron had a couple of rim-rocking dunks in transition as well. He remains as a prospect to watch going forward.
Noah Campbell (5-8 PG, Willowbrook)
Don’t let his size fool you. Campbell plays with terrific pace and tempo as a lead guard. With his change of speed and ball-handling prowess, Campbell worked his way to the basket against size. He is a traditional point guard who showed he can knock down open shots on the perimeter or act as a playmaker in space.
Leirre Collier (6-2 SG, Marist)
Collier had an MVP performance last night, coming out hot from the jump. He was aggressive and relentless looking for his shot from all three levels. He connected on a number of deep threes and was a regular presence finishing at the rim. Collier has good size at the guard position, playing through a lot of contact throughout the night. He was a star on Friday.
Raeshom Harris (6-3 PG, Bloom)
Scoring came naturally for Harris as it normally does for the Bloom guard. He was living in transition and as a slasher in the half court. But it was the defensive intensity that stood out for Harris in this event. He was focused, active, and committed to creating havoc. Harris easily had the most steals and deflections. His shot-making shined throughout, giving glimpses of his two-way potential.
Mykel Lindsey (6-4 PF, Curie)
Lindsey imposed his will on every game with his energy. An active forward, Lindsey’s motor runs high on both ends. He protected the rim, blocking and altering a lot of shots in his area. No one could keep him off of the offensive glass, getting off the ground in a hurry. As his ball-handling develops, Lindsey will be very tough to keep out of the paint.
Bakari Nelson (6-3 SG, Brother Rice)
Nelson was in attack mode getting into the paint. Even when he was playing in congested areas, he used his strength to complete some tough plays. His bounce going to get offensive rebounds stood out. Nelson also has a decent jump shot that he is comfortable taking out to the three point line. With his powerful frame, Nelson will be able to make a lot of plays putting his head down.
Luke Newhall (6-3 SF, Walter Payton)
Newhall was very effective on both ends. He ran the floor hard, finished in traffic, and defended with toughness. There is a level of grit that Newhall plays with that elevates his game to another level. He showed the skill to attack closeouts and convert with his touch and strength. Newhall is a solid all-around wing with the athleticism to play multiple positions.
Tyler Smith (5-10 PG, Leo)
The point guard from Leo handled the ball with nice rhythm. He seemed under control and balanced all night. A lot of his damage came off of dribble penetration, but he hit some stop-and-pop jumpers and had a very smooth stepback three.
Xavier Sulaiman (6-2 SG, Marist)
Sulaiman was his typical high-flying self. He had a show-stopping put back dunk and a number of tough, acrobatic finishes. His slashing ability was on full display, making the most of driving lanes. His jumper warmed up, going back and forth with Collier for much of the night. We also saw good anticipation defensively that led to easy transition scores. With his 40-inch vertical and shooting range, Sulaiman will be a terror as his dribbling creativity continues to improve.
2022s
John Anthony (6-5 SF, Bolingbrook)
Anthony is a bundle of potential. He had some of the easiest dunks of the night, getting above the rim effortlessly. He showed off a projectable outside shot, hitting a spot up three from behind the arc. There were countless possessions where Anthony used his length to glide to the basket. As the game slows down for him, he has the tools to be a special player.
Ty Butler (5-10 SG, Downers Grove South)
Butler was solid throughout the games last night. He shot the ball very well from three, especially off the catch. When operating off the dribble, Butler was composed and patient. His pull-up looked solid from the mid-range and he penetrated effectively to create scoring opportunities.
Adidas Davis (6-4 PG, Buffalo Grove)
Playing mostly in transition, Davis used his length to score on the break. He was smooth with the ball, pushing the ball up the floor with his long strides. Davis displayed solid footwork getting to his pull-up and creating space on a stepback. He didn’t shoot it a lot from the outside, but he showed flashes as a tall, lanky guard.
Sebastian Drag (6-3 SF, Marist)
Despite a slow start offensively, Drag found other ways to be impactful. He was one of the best rebounders at the event, keeping balls alive and finishing defensive possessions. Drag delivered a number of pinpoint outlet passes that led to open layups off those rebounds. He has a very fluid jump shot and connected on some last night. But his versatility stood out while shots weren’t falling.
Joshua Ellison (6-1 PG, Marist)
Ellison did a lot of his work at the rim and as a floor spacer. When he is given time, Ellison has a repeatable outside shot that has range. His build allows him to use his broad shoulders to fend off defenders on penetration. By the later games, Ellison was starting to get in a scoring rhythm.
Jiovanny Garcia (5-10 PG, West Leyden)
Garcia didn’t waste any time putting on a show. He hit a barrage of threes to start his first game and remained aggressive. Garcia was breaking down defenders with his creative handle and quickness. He hit a few stepbacks that had everyone in the gym impressed. The scrappiness and confidence that he plays with will translate at any level. Defensively, he was harassing ball-handlers all game. It was one of the best performances of the day.
Jaylen Montgomery (5-8 PG, Downers Grove South)
Montgomery played like a pit bull looking to score at any notice. When left open, he connected on spot up threes and showed really good lift on his pull-ups. While driving left, Montgomery absorbed body contact and finished strong. He is a well-built guard that proved to play above his size.
Den Juette (6-3 PG, Fenwick)
Juette was the most impressive player on the floor last night. His explosiveness and efficiency were off the charts. He hit a bunch of threes at a high rate, showing his smooth lefty form on a number of occasions. For a point guard, his strength and size created problems for everyone who tried to check him. Plus, he has vision, length defensively, and he plays with a chip. There is good reason to believe that Juette will be one of the big breakout players in the area.
DaJour Stephens (5-11 PG, Niles North)
A physically strong guard, Stephens was getting downhill time and time again. There were a number of contested, double-clutch finishes that showed off his body control. His shot was streaky, but he did hit back-to-back threes at one point. Stephens possesses a mature frame and attacking style of play.