Kentucky targets at NY2LA Spring Warmup

Mequon WI: I was at the NY2LA Spring Warmup last weekend and watched a couple of Kentucky targets start the travel season off:

JAMEYN BRAKEFIELD(PHENOM U 17U)-  Class of 2020 6'9" wing that plays at Huntington Prep(WV) was dominant all weekend leading his team to the 17U Platinum Title. His jump shot from three was working, he was getting to the basket and finishing with authority. He did not show a mid range game, and his shot is a little funky coming off the side of his body, but he was knocking it down. His ball handling off the dribble was solid and his passing was on point. This lefty has Kentucky high on his list, but Louisville is trying to jump in hard. He was a reclassification candidate, but recently announced he was staying in Class of 2020. This will be an interesting recruitment to follow in the Spring and Summer.


CAM'RON FLETCHER(BRAD BEAL ELITE 17U)- Class of 2020 6'5" wing that plays at Vashon(MO) was impressive all weekend. His team did not win the title( that went to Phenom U), but his scoring at all three levels was excellent. He's an explosive finisher off the bounce, has a nice floater, and was hitting the three pointer at a consistent rate. He was getting after it on the defensive end and had some monster blocked shots. He did do some sharing of the basketball, but this kid is a finisher extraordinarie. He will be the leader and tone setter for this team all Spring and Summer. Missouri has been the leader in this recruitment, but Kentucky is ramping up it's recruitment of him. John Calipari has said he wants a campus visit from him per 24/7 Sports.


JALEN JOHNSON(PHENOM U 17U)- Class of 2020 6'8" wing from Nicolet(WI) sat out the weekend resting an ankle and getting his body ready for the Nike EYBL Circuit. Kentucky, Duke, Kansas and others are in hot pursuit of this position less monster talent.

PATRICK BALDWIN JR(PHENOM U 17U)- Class of 2021 6'9" wing from Sussex-Hamilton(WI) was at Team USA Training Camp in Minneapolis. Duke has offered and he's the son of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Head Coach Patrick Baldwin Sr who is very much in the mix. I think Ja Morant of Murray State has shown the way of going to a Mid Major and becoming a NBA Lottery pick.


ADAM MILLER(MAC IRVIN FIRE 17U) and MAX CHRISTIE(ILLINOIS WOLVES 17U)- Miller a 6'4" Class of 2020 wing from Morgan Park(IL) and Christie 6'6" Class of 2021 wing from Rolling Meadows(IL) both were at Team USA Training Camp in Minneapolis. Both could end up Kentucky targets in the future and are Top 30 in their respective classes.

IHSA Supersectional and Sectional Matchups this week

1) 2 time defending state champ Orr(Chicago) vs Leo(Chicago) Joliet Central Supersectional.
2) Farragut(Chicago) vs DeLaSalle(Chicago) North Lawndale Charter Class 3A Sectional Semifinal.
3) DePaul College Prep(Chicago) vs Carmel(Mundelein) Grayslake Central Class 3A Sectional Semifinal.
4) Southeast(Springfield) vs Centennial(Champaign) Springfield Southeast Class 3A Sectional Semifinal.
5) Bogan(Chicago) vs St Laurence(Burbank) St Laurence Class 3A Sectional Semifinal.
6) North Lawndale Charter(Chicago) vs Westinghouse College Prep(Chicago) North Lawndale Charter Class 3A Sectional Semifinal.
7) Evanston Township vs Glenbrook South(Glenview) Class 4A Niles North Sectional Semifinal.
8) Bloom(Chicago Heights) vs Homewood Flossmoor Eisenhower(Blue Island) Class 4A Sectional Semifinal.
9) West(Belleville) vs Alton Edwardsville Class 4A Sectional Semifinal.
10) Marian Catholic(Chicago Heights) vs Simeon Eisenhower(Blue Island) Class 4A Sectional Semifinal.
11) Waukegan vs Fremd(Palatine) Waukegan Class 4A Sectional Semifinal.

Possbile IHSA Playoff Matchups

Possible Top Matchups in IHSA State Playoffs:
1) Orr(Chicago) vs Leo(Chicago). Class 2A Joliet Central Supersectional.
2) Providence St Mel(Chicago) vs Fenger(Chicago). Collins(Chicago) Class A Sectional Semifinal.
3) Bogan(Chicago) vs St Laurence(Burbank). St Laurence Class 3A Sectional Semifinal.
4) Bogan(Chicago) vs Morgan Park(Chicago). St Laurence Class 3A Sectional Final if Bogan gets by St Laurence.
5) Southeast(Springfield) vs East St Louis. Bank of Springfield Class 3A Supersectional.
6) St Viator vs Morgan Park(Chicago). Class 3A State Semfinal.
7) Morgan Park(Chicago) vs Southeast(Springfield) Class 3A Final, this would be a rematch of last years title game.
8) Evanston vs Niles North(Skokie). Niles North Class 4A Sectional Semifinal.
9) Evanston vs New Trier(Winnetka). Niles North Class 4A Sectional Final.
10) Simeon(Chicago) vs Brother Rice(Chicago). Class 4A Brother Rice Regional Final.
11) Marian Catholic(Chicago Heights) vs Simeon(Chicago). Class 4A Eisenhower(Blue Island) Sectional Semifinal.
12) Marian Catholic(Chicago Heights) vs Bloom(Chicago Heights). Class 4A Eisenhower(Blue Island) Sectional Final. This would be the toughest ticket in the Chicago Area.
13) Curie(Chicago) vs Whitney Young(Chicago). Class 4A Sectional Final.
14) Curie(Chicago) vs Bloom(Chicago Heights). Class 4A Supersectional Northwestern University(Evanston). This would be a rematch of the Pontiac Christmas Tournament Title Game.
15) Evanston vs Waukegan. Class 4A Sears Centre(Hoffman Estates). This would be a matchup of old conference rivals.
16 West(Belleville) vs Collinsville. Class 4A East Moline United Sub Sectional Final.
17 West(Belleville) vs Curie(Chicago). Class 4A State Semifnal. This would be a heavyweight matchup of Defending State Champ vs a team that has not lost a game vs Illinois opponents this season.

Evaluation of Kentucky recruit Ashton Hagans

Class of 2019 Ashton Hagans(who is probably going to reclassify to 2018) from Covington,GA is a 6'4" point guard who is the reigning Georgia Player Of The Year. I watched him play online with his Game Elite Gold team on the Adidas Gauntlet Series. I watched his game last night and his first game today. Here's my evaluation: Great passer but turnover prone, can get into the lane anytime he wants either with or without a pick, three point shot is solid though he does not shoot a lot of them. He is strong in attacking the basket and plays intense defense. He can hit his free throws and will dunk on you. He caught a body today and almost caught another one with a loud miss of a dunk. My opinion I love that he is coming to Kentucky, he is very intense without overdoing it, also does not complain to the officials even when he thinks he was hosed on a call. He just sometimes has to let the game come to him and needs to work a bit on his mid range shooting. He also has that clutch gene showed it today with two big three point makes with one being a four point play. He is fun to watch though sometimes he's out of control with some of the passes he makes. He'll unnerve some Kentucky fans with the risky passes he tries but for the most part he gets it there and the player converts it to a basket. Here's some highlights of Hagans in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DXKKv5OCdU. God Bless and Peace to the Creatures. Hope to see Ashton Hagans in a Kentucky uniform next season.

Colin Kaepernick is the Greatest Patriot In My Lifetime.

I was in the United States Army for 8 years. I fought in the Gulf War(Operation Provide Comfort One). I received an honorable discharge from the Military. I say this because of Colin Kaepernick's protest. Most racist white folks(and some Black folks), have tried to change the narrative of his protest in a huge whisper campaign. They tried to say he was disrespecting the military and the flag. How can you disrespect a thing, a piece of cloth? Yes I swore to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign AND domestic. I pledged to defend the Flag. My service(and all other Veterans) should not be defined by a piece of cloth. We have and are fighting for freedom of Americans( and for oil interests that's another conversation). Colin Kaepernick's protest embodies what I joined the Military and fought for his right to do. I was 1 year old when Muhammad Ali made his stand against Vietnam so I don't remember it. I am sure I would be on his side with that issue. Colin Kaepernick said from the beginning his protest was about police brutality and racism against Black's in America. White folks in general do not want to talk about race. They want to sweep it under the rug but use it in every walk of life in America. Colin Kaepernick has opened up an issue white folks do not want to talk about or acknowledge. He has lost his livelihood( he knew it could happen so he was not blind), and has shown his courage ever since this happened. He is putting his money where his mouth is, he's giving to charities to help minorities and doing speaking engagements to help others in need. The biggest example I can give for my support of Kaepernick is this: I fought for those idiot alt right people in Charlottesville to march with a permit. Do I like what they are doing? Of course not but I served for them just the same. We as Americans cannot have it both ways in what US Soldiers fought for. Americans need to be better in every way and support guys like Colin Kaepernick. White people in general need to support Kaepernick because he's trying to make it better for everyone, not just Black folks, but EVERYONE. Police stop shooting unarmed black men and killing them makes America a better place to live for everyone. I say try thinking beyond yourselves and help all people. I'm challenging white folks(and some blacks), along with other races to fight for rights of ALL people not just folks that look like you. Also stop being brainwashed by a piece of cloth that has no feelings whatsoever. For you so called Christian white folks this is worshipping an idol which God frowns upon. It is not country first then God, it's the other way around. Colin Kaepernick has shown courage, strength, and a willingness to make this country better. I challenge all people that claim to not like Colin Kaepernick to do what he has done, try to make things better for everyone. He has used his sports platform to bring about change for the better. He is not perfect, I would tell him if I met him he needs to vote even if it's a write in vote. He explained the Pig Socks and the Castro shirt very well. Last thing: white folks(along with blacks) need to demand that he gets back into the NFL to play Quarterback. Money talks and protesting him being blackballed(which it is obvious by now he is), the NFL Owners would bend and sign him to an NFL contract. This is a test to see if America is indeed, Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.

Super Tuesday!!!!!! Supersectionals in Class 3A and 4A

Super Tuesday in Illinois!!!!! Supersectional Time!!!!! This is the round in Illinois that is the big game in the playoffs if you make it this far. 32 minutes(or more) from State Finals, 32 minutes(or more) from "Going Downstate" as we call it here.  Downstate is Peoria the State Semifinals. Most exciting day of the basketball year(Sectional Finals a close 2nd to me) in Illinois. Games are now in college gyms from here on in which could make a difference on who wins the games. My breakdown of some of the games will be Class 4A starting with: CHICAGO STATE- Evanston Township vs Whitney Young: Both teams have won all their playoff games by double digits. Both team have been on a tear the last two weeks. Evanston has All-Area Nojel Eastern, Chris Hamil, Elijah Williams, and Whitney Young transfer Malcolm Townsel all seniors. They also have who I call the triple sophomore monsters in Lance Jones, Jaheim Holden,and Ryan Bost all small, quick, and active guards especially on defense. Whitney Young has Lucas Williamson a senior, Xavier Castaneda, Seton Academy transfer Javon Freeman and Justin Boyd juniors. Jake Kosowalski is a three point shooter coming off the bench. Eastern is a do it all player who can play outside or inside for Evanston. Eastern and Williams will have to rule the inside for Evanston to win. Chris Hamil has been lights out from three point range the last three weeks. Townsel will have to stay within himself and not try to do too much against his former teammates. The sophomores will have to put pressure on Castaneda and keep him from dribble penetration. Evanston will also have to keep Freeman from slashing to the basket and finishing. Whitney Young has an advantage of having played at Chicago State this year in the CPS Semifinals. It is also a disadvantage because they could not hit the broad side of a barn that day, and Simeon pounded them on the glass. Evanston will have to do the same and I predict will do the same. Evanston by 7. SEARS CENTRE- Fremd(Palatine) vs Jacobs(Algonquin): These teams are a combined 60-1 this season with Fremd being undefeated. Fremd does not have a lot of size but plays very well as a unit. Kyle Sliwa hit another buzzer beater to beat Conant in the Sectional Final. I think Loyola(IL) signee Cam Krutwig will be the big difference inside to turn this game to Jacobs. Fremd loses it's first game of the year. Jacobs by 8. NORTHERN ILLINOIS-Bolingbrook vs North(Naperville): Bolingbrook has lost only one game this year and that was without big man Malik Binns. Nebraska signee Nana Akenten is their star but they go 10 deep and keep up a brisk pace on the court. Naperville North has the size inside with Mitch Lewis(6'6"), Chris Johnson(6'7"). I think Bolingbrook is too deep for North and will win this game by double digits. Bolingbrook by 12. ILLINOIS STATE- Simeon vs Edwardsville: Some say this is for the defacto State Title. I disagree I think Evanston,Whitney Young, and Bolingbrook are close to their equals. For Simeon UTEP signee Evan Gillard and junior Kezo Brown will be key on the perimeter. Talen Horton-Tucker is a 6'5" big body versatile player who will be a hard matchup for Edwardsville. Iowa football commit AJ Epenesa(6'6") averages a double/double and Mr Basketball favorite Mark Smith(6'4") point guard can do it all, run a team, shoot the three, and invert him to post up in the low post. He also has shooters on the wing Oliver Stephen and junior Jack Marinko. This team plays very well together better than the sum of it's parts. Kezo Brown will be assigned to try and slow Mark Smith down. He'll make it hard for Smith but the Chicago representative has had a hard time over the years advancing out of this Supersectional. Very close game but I have Edwardsville winning....just barely and continuing the problems the city champ has winning a state title per my article written a couple of weeks ago. http://www.clutchsportsofficial.com/is-chicago-public-league-champ-jinxed-in-state-playoffs/  EDWARDSVILLE by 2. THERE YOU HAVE IT: MY PREDICTIONS FOR TONIGHT'S GAMES. HAVE FUN I PLAN ON HAVING FUN MYSELF. GOD BLESS AND PEACE TO THE CREATURES!!!!!

Class 4A Waukegan Sectional Final!!!!!!

Evanston vs Waukegan. Sectional Final. The Dog Pound. That's all that really needs to be said but I'll say more. These long time Central Suburban South rivals used to play twice a year when Waukegan was in the conference. Waukegan was in their 1st season in the North Suburban Conference this season. It was a much needed move by them for money purposes. I do miss the one time a year I used to drive up there for this game. It was always a great atmosphere no matter the records of either team. Most prefer Evanston/New Trier which is intense. I always thought this one was better though a lot in Evanston might disagree with me. The only two teams in the Division that were predominately African American dominated on both rosters. Evanston ruled this rivalry for many years. Folks said Waukegan didn't beat Evanston for like 25 years straight. Then Jereme Richmond(Evanston kid) showed up at Waukegan his sophomore year. Waukegan dominated this rivalry while he was there winning every time. When Richmond left Evanston went back to dominating the series. Waukegan leaves the conference, becomes a six seed in this years playoffs and makes a great run to the Sectional Final. I am one of the few that saw this game coming as I predicted Waukegan to be here when the playoffs started. To the game now: The stars for Evanston Seniors Nojel Eastern(All-Area, Purdue signee) is a jack of all trades player and can play all over the court. Chris Hamil is a knockdown three point shooter, Whitney Young transfer Malcolm Townsel has been a revelation late in the year. Waukegan has star seniors Carson Newsome(Wisconsin Milwaukee) signee and DeShawn Davidson who is a double figure scorer and great ball handler. I think though this game will come down to the sophomores: Lance Jones, Jaheim Holden, and Ryan Bost for Evanston, Ja'Dyn Brown, Bryant Brown and Jordan Brown for Waukegan. Evanston's sophomores provide timely offense, great defense and pressure on the ball and that something extra that most other teams do not have. The Brown's for Waukegan do a little bit of everything also offense, rebounding(Ja'Dyn Brown), blocked shots(Bryant Brown). I have thought of this and to me how these youngsters play will decide the outcome. I believe the defense of Evanston's sophomores will put their stamp on the game and turn it Evanston's way. I did not forget Elijah Williams who's rebounding could blow the game wide open. I predict a double digit win for Evanston and the Wildkits advance to the Chicago State Supersectional. See everyone tomorrow night at the Dog Pound. God Bless and Peace to the creatures.