The Spartan Basketball Six Pack on Recruiting: The Tom Izzo Basketball Camp Shootout Recap!

Steve Schwanda started All Eyes on U Hoops towards the end of 2010 after having years of basketball experience from middle school to college. Steve has coached at the middle school, high school and AAU levels as well as worked in college athletic departments. All Eyes on U Hoops is an NCAA certified recruiting service that covers Michigan and the mid-west that has Division 1, Division 2, Division 3 and Junior Colleges from all across the country that subscribe to the service. Steve also started and runs the All Eyes on U Hoops website that features game recaps, articles on commitments and more. You can follow anything Steve has done at www.alleyesonuhoops.com and follow him on twitter @alleyesonuhoops.

SPARTAN SIX PACK:

The Tom Izzo Basketball Camp Shootout always brings many of the top teams in the state of Michigan as well as the mid-west to East Lansing on the Campus of Michigan State. This year 82 teams made up the event and there were tons of talented players who played well during the camp. Players that have been mentioned before, like Brian Bowen, Xavier Tillman, Cassius Winston and Seth Dugan all played well during the weekend but I wanted to focus on 6 guys who haven’t been mentioned yet in previous months that played well.

One player who has been playing very well lately and has emerged as a top 3 player in Michigan’s 2017 class is Detroit Cass Tech 6’7 Donnie Tillman. Tillman has really been improving over the last few months and just picked up his first Division 1 offer from Cleveland State. He is very active on both ends and is a good athlete. Continues to work on his mid-range jump shot and improving his range. He is someone to keep an eye on.

Another player who has been improving a lot over the last few months is 2016 Justin Turner from Detroit Renaissance. The point guard is more of a scoring guard but he can run the team and get his teammates involved as well. He is long and athletic and can score inside and out. Detroit offered him after their team camp last week. He plays AA U with the Michigan Mustangs.

One local product who played well was Lansing Catholic’s 6’7 2016 Tony Poljan. Tony is very skilled for his size and can step out and shoot it from three while also doing a good job of posting and scoring inside. Has a decent build for a young post player and does a good job of rebounding and defending. He doesn’t appear to be in Michigan State’s plans anytime soon, but if they ever want to see him, they don’t have to go far.

Another player from a school that will be familiar to MSU fans, Muskegon, is Joeviar Kennedy. The 2015 6’5 wing has had a good spring and summer playing with MSU commit and high school teammate Deyonta Davis with Spiece Indy Heat on the EYBL tour. Joeviar is a great athlete who has really improved his jump shot. With Davis away at elite camp Kennedy was able to do more for the Big Reds over the weekend and did a good job. He even handled the ball a little. With a strong July he will continue to get more attention from colleges.

Two out of state prospects now, first, a 2016 PG from Lima Sr high school in Lima, OH Xavier Simpson. Xavier is one of the best point guards in the nation and has shown it at the highest level playing the point for the King James Shooting Stars whose U16 team plays up in the U17 age group at most tournaments. Xavier and Lima Sr faced off against Cassius Winston and UD Jesuit on Saturday in a marquee game between two of the better PG in the country in 2016. Xavier had the edge, with great defense and did a good job of sharing the ball while also scoring when he had to. Xavier and Toledo have already offered and they will not be the last.

One young guy I liked and wanted to keep an eye on is Eli Blackledge from North Canton Hoover high school. The 6’5 2018 standout is long and skilled and once he gets stronger he is going to be very good. He handles it a little, can step out and shoot it from the outside and also battled in the post with bigger, stronger and older players. I was impressed considering he has not stepped foot in to a high school as a student yet.