Previewing the Class of 2012, part 2

Sorry blog followers, and judging by the lack of activity, no one cares, but the guru took the day off to watch game 6 of the ‘Hawks vs Canucks game. Needless to say, I think the day off was well worth it. But let’s continue the fun. Despite featuring some of the top talent in Illinois for the class or 2012 in part 1 of the preview does not mean those are the top three guys in this class; there is plenty of depth in this class, all be it mediocre talent as it has been document that a maximum of 3 players from Illinois would crack the top 150 of the class of 2012 list as it stands today, but hopefully more will follow. And away we go….

SG Aaric Armstead (6-3, 175 lbs, offers from Fairfield and Valparaiso)- Don’t let the lack of flashy offers deture you from thinking this is a good shooting guard. Having watched Armstead, I can say that he has a high motor and is a great leaper- not like dunk contest leaper, but the guy has some ups. On a couple of occasions, Armstead got to the rim and finished with some dunks against De La Salle in a game earlier this season. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me because I kept hearing the name Armstead and different players for Hales Franciscan making plays. It took me until the 2^nd half for me to realize that there are two Armsteads- older brother SG #23 Aaron Armstead (6-3, 180, signed with Wisconsin-Green Bay) playing alongside younger brother #24 Aaric Armstead.  Although the older Armstead had some good flashes and showed a bit more poise, but I’m sure I confused the two again, the younger Armstead looked like the more exciting player. Aaric ran the floor really well and got out in transition nicely to set up other players or to be the recipient of scoring chances by the hoop. I must have caught one of Aaric’s better performances of the season because the hype was not that great for the junior this season. Aaric lead his team in points and at some points of the game, he was knocking down almost any shot. He proved he could be the team leader as a junior and help carry a team even though Hales eventually lost. Despite the ability to finish alley-oops and flashy dunks, Armstead’s athleticism will not jump out at you. At times, he can disappear from a game and rely on other teammates. Though proving he can handle the ball and facilitate it, Aaric was a bit selfish at time at would take some bad shot despite some of them going in. Aaric is going to need a huge senior season in one of the top high schools in Chicago for bigger schools to eventually offer him a scholarship. Bradley, Northern Iowa, Loyola (IL), and Wisconsin-Green Bay have looked at the younger Armstead. I don’t see Aaric ever cracking a top 150 list, but he can play his way to a decent low to mid-major scholarship and contribute immediately. He needs to get a bit stronger and solidify a consistant jump shot before more people take notice, but right now, this is a fine prospect to keep an eye on.

PF Jermaine Morgan (6-8, 210 lbs, no offers)- Simply put, Morgan needs to bulk up to be more dominant. The thing about Morgan is you can’t watch a highlight of him without getting 3 or 4 shot blocks. Jermaine has a great nose for the ball and is the best shot blocker on his Whitney Young high school team; which says a lot considering the high major prospects on Whitney Young’s roster. Morgan has long arms and can make up for being beat on a play or having someone quicker getting around him. He is what I like to call a violent blocker because the shots he does block fly way out of bounds or gets spiked to the ground like a volleyball. For the class of 2012 in Illinois, I feel confident saying he is one of if not the best shot blocker. Unfortunately, that’s where the complements end. His offensive game is extremely raw and he is not athletic enough to jump over people or quick enough to beat bigger and stronger players off the dribble. Despite being able to shoot the midrange shot, Jermaine does not do it consistently enough to be a major threat. I would best compare him a bit to someone I previewed in part 1 of the class of 2012 and that player is Steve Taylor. The size is similar but the difference is Morgan is not nearly as good as a shooter as Taylor and does not finish around the rim as well. Morgan’s biggest impact is on the defensive end but his greatest improvement will have to come on the offensive end. He does not have what scouts call a “go-to” move in the post. If Morgan could add about 10 pounds of muscle and maintain some quickness, he’d develop into a more serious prospect. Right now, the only university that has given Morgan a serious look, despite no scholarship is UIC. Morgan will probably max out to a low to mid 3 star recruit but it is fun to watch him swat basketballs away like flies at a picnic.

PG Aaron Simpson (5-11, 170 lbs, no offers)- It’s a shame that Simpson isn’t 4 or 5 inches taller or he could be a top 10 shooting guard in this class. His outside shot is that good. In some games, including a matchup against one of the better teams in Chicago, Whitney Young, Simpson was torching the nets with his three point shooting. Rather in transition, feet set, or not feet set, Simpson has deep range that you would love to see in a shooting guard. The problem is, Simpson is not a shooting guard and he is not 4 or 5 inches taller. The only way he’d play for a high major program is if he could develop more into a point guard. Simpson can pass the ball well, however, he plays off the ball and another player for North Chicago brings up the ball for the team. Simpson can get to the rim but I have yet to see him dunk and he doesn’t have the hang time that would make your jaw drop quite like other guards in this country.  With his headband and Mohawk, Simpson looks like he’s wearing the helmet that Shredder wore in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Despite the funky style, Simpson is a pure shooter. The main reason more universities haven’t jumped at Simpson is his lack of dominant point guard skills and IQ. For someone his size, he has to run the floor and set up other taller players despite his outstanding shooting. Simpson is one of the more cocky players in Illinois and with his shooting it’s hard to blame him. He plays with an edge that drives him to take over games. You like to see this in your player, but you also like to see your point guard lead your team by doing more than shooting. Because of his outstanding outside game, some consider Simpson to be a top 150 prospect. He keeps defenders honest by driving to the hoop but his game is at its best when he’s on the perimeter. Despite no offers, bigger programs like Marquette, DePaul, and Purdue have showed some interest. Simpson may have too big of an ego to dominate at a lower level program so he’s probably hoping for one of these major programs to drop a scholarship in his mailbox. Expect Simpson to have a big scoring season, but hopefully he develops more into a facilitator and floor general to match his supreme outside shooting. If he can accomplish this, Simpson could crack the top 100 in some scout’s eyes and possibly earn one of those high major scholarships he hoping and looking for.

NEXT POST- PREVIEWING THE ILLINOIS CLASS OF 2012 PART 3