More on the Richwoods Shootout

Here's just a little more on the teams I didn't mention yesterday --

Glenwood was without their best player --

Washington as usual had a lot of scorers -- kids that know how to get open and get shots down...they scored easily against their opponents, but are a young team with only two seniors. Alec Peters at 6-5 will be one of their best offensive threats.

Lincoln looks a lot like they did last year with a lot of hustle and lack of size, but they are missing one huge factor. Last year they had great outside scoring potential -- this year they do not. They will struggle against most team with anyone over 6-2.

Manual is loaded with quick, athletic kids who never let anyone get a good shot. Even against a similarly athletic Rock Island team - Manual dominated. Manual's Jacobby Roddy is 6-5 but can play bigger because of his quickness and athleticism. Manual didn't shoot real well from outside against RI but they got all the loose balls and scored well. Landis Farmer is listed at 5-11 but I am suspect of that. He is a very good guard and strong for his size and good defensively. Jeff White definitely has D-I ability but again I see his size as a reason bigger schools will hesitate. He is listed in the program at 6-1 but appeared to me an inch shorter than other kids listed at 6-0. Junior Justin Williams is very good and has a decent jump shot but it kinda knuckleballs. One other big guy, 6-5 Kashmiere Hughes was active around the hoop and got to the line often with his ability to get offensive rebounds.

Metamora gave Notre Dame fits and almost pulled a win had it not been for a buzzer beater by Nick Reynolds. Metamora's got a couple 6-4, 6-5 kids that did OK in the paint but they will have trouble guarding quicker teams.

Notre Dame's best scorer in the game I saw was 6-2 junior Nick Reynolds, the younger brother of Nate Reynolds who was a key part of the Peoria Christian 2004 Final Four team (Link).
His buzzer beater shot kept the Metamora game from going into OT...
Nick plays with the Peoria Irish as do a whole lot of the kids who were playing on the teams at the Shootout.
Obviously Notre Dame has a totally different look with Tyler Les, Max Bielfeldt, Brett Lane, Drew Blumenshine, David Milinari, and head coach Eddie Mathews all gone.
A 5-11 guard Shea Feehan also shot well from outside, but they don't have much size this year.

Peoria Christian should definitely be better than their way-sub-.500 season last year.
They have a couple 6-4 & 6-5 kids but they hang outside and are the team's best 3-pt shooters (Eric Decker & Jared Seipp). So with little size inside they will need to be hitting shots from outside in every game. Because of the limitations on coaching contact days in the summer - PCS was coached in the Shootout by Micah Lavender, the best player on that 2004 PCS Final Four team and the 2004 PJ Star POY. - LINK - LINK

Rock Island has a very athletic 6-5 forward Marquel Beasley but little experience and scoring beyond that -- but I only saw them in action against Manual - so it might not be a fair measure.

West Aurora has a 6-2 kid named Kenny Battle. I will give you one guess whose son this is... LINK
They also have a 6-4 forward Juwan Starks getting some midmajor interest.


OK -- back to Nate Taphorn...he did indeed come back later Saturday and shoot lots better. He has decent ball handling skills that were developed in junior high when he was actually pretty short and was playing guard. He is definitely a D-I talent and if he grows to 6-7 or 6-8 he would be a high major along the lines of Billy Cole or Kyle Korver - but his body looks like it'll stay slender for a while...

If anyone has any other specific questions -- PM me...