In the last release from our Spring Showcase Camp, we look at the Yellow team from our second group.
Yellow Team
Cody Rader (5-11 G, Geneva – 2029)
Rader was among the better pure point guards across both groups, shining as both a leader and producer for his team. During the scrimmages, he orchestrated the offense well, getting into sets when needed and balancing his playmaking and scoring roles. Rader was best in ball screens, hitting long-range threes off of the bounce and showing the ability to decipher where defenders were rotating to before making passes to teammates. He impressed camp coaches with his maturity and approach on both ends, acting as a vocal leader and disruptor defensively while encouraging his guys throughout the day. Rader has innate court vision and feel as a passer to complement a craftiness around the rim and deep three-point prowess. But the promising intangibles were really what separated Rader at the camp.
Evan Neal (6-3 PG/SG, Waubonsie Valley – 2030)
Neal is a scoring guard who can get hot in a hurry, as he showed during the event. In live play, the long-armed freshman got to his spots off of a variety of moves before making tough pull-ups on the move. He was able to comfortably get shots off from out near the volleyball line, maintaining his mechanics and shooting at a good clip. When he was out in space, Neal showed some confidence playing through bumps on his drives before making layups or floaters inside. Expect him to be another promising guard for a Waubonsie program that has churned out several over the last few years.
Grant Vongluekiat (6-2 SG, Fenwick – 2030)
Already a big-time slasher who plays the right way as a freshman, Vongluekiat had a force to his game that is admirable. Transition was where he looked best, making quick sweeps off of the catch and outrunning other wings to get easy layups. Vongluekiat is an explosive leaper who gets up near the rim as a finisher already. His body control and use of both hands in the paint made it hard for helpside defenders to impact him. He was also terrific defensively during the scrimmages, jamming guys, jumping lanes, and guarding the ball with discipline without reaching. It’s easy to project him out as a plus defender and driver, but his spot-up shooting had some nice flashes as well on ball reversals. Vongluekiat can really go and has the two-way motor that should translate well.
Hunter Rheaume (6-5 PF, Neuqua Valley – 2028)
Rheaume was able to display a sound inside-out game while playing inside and on the perimeter at times. The 6-foot-5 forward is a smooth shooter when he has time and space, acting as a strong frontcourt spacing option for the yellow team. He was able to take open looks from three and put it on the ground to trigger DHO actions or to get downhill himself. Rheaume has a frame that should fill out well and was able to score over the top of the defense after getting position inside. He moves fairly well and has a nose for the ball off of the glass that will serve him well as he matures. Rheaume has some tools that are worth tracking.
Timmy Van Gorp (6-6 SF, Fremd – 2028)
There is a lot to like about Van Gorp’s upside with his length, perimeter skills, and defensive potential. He played all over the floor for his team during the scrimmages, pushing the break himself, making some great passes to teammates, and working off of the ball as a cutter and catch-and-shoot option at times. Van Gorp has natural movement on the wing that allowed him to effortlessly get to the rim off of stampede catches. That mobility, paired with his long arms (6-foot-7 wingspan), made for an effective combination on the defensive side of the ball. Van Gorp was one of the most switchable defenders and high-quality help side guys of the day, going up inside to challenge shots while sliding and recovering in space well. You won’t find many 6-foot-6 players with the agility, face-up game, and physical upside as Van Gorp in the area.