Spiece Run 'n Slam standouts
The Spiece Run ‘n Slam delivered again in bringing some of the best talent to Fort Wayne this past weekend as several of the top shoe-sponsored and non-sponsored squads hit the floor. While the division-one college coaches weren’t able to get out, there was still a competitive edge in the building all weekend long. Some of the more lauded recruits made statements during their three day stay in Indiana and a few others showed major value as we take a look at the major standouts from the weekend that was.
Detroit, MI
JAMAL CAIN, SF, THE FAMILY, 2017: Michigan jumped into the picture for Jamal Cain a few weeks back and one can expect for many more to do the same in the coming weeks. Cain brings great length and an improving set of ball skills to the floor. While he still needs to develop his handles further on the breakdown and also become more consistent on the perimeter jumper attempt, the raw upside and talents out of the Michigan native is quite impressive. His motor never turns off and his instincts on the offensive glass are nothing to sweep under the rug. With his best days ahead of him, the 6-foot-7 forward is an impressive prospect at the time being and can be an even better ballplayer down the road.
Radcliff, KY
TONY JACKSON, SF, LOUISVILLE MAGIC, 2017: Jackson was a beast all weekend long as he brings an alpha-dog mentality to the hardwood and a college ready body that he unleashes onto others en route to the basket. The catalyst to his squad in advancing all the way to the 17-under championship contest, Jackson finished at the basket with powerful, two-handed dunks, threw in a few games of a handful of perimeter conversions from off the catch, and showed off major versatility and the willingness to be a defensive stopper from the shooting guard spot down into the power forward position. While Jackson really doesn’t have much of a carved out position, he is a ballplayer that produces, competes, and brings loads of toughness to the floor that should make many more schools jump on board with him in the nearby future.
Grand Rapids, MI
XAVIER TILLMAN, C, SPIECE INDY HEAT, 2017: A well-known name early on, Tillman has his game and recruitment headed back in the right direction. After finishing off the second live period last weekend with 30 points and the W, the Michigan native was back at it again in Fort Wayne. A major cog down low and a true 5-man who eats up balls off the glass, dominates his area, and can score over either shoulder in the lane, Tillman was pretty much unstoppable whenever he received the entry in the low-post. The Spiece center is a hard playing big man who shows off great hands, deceptive athleticism off of two feet, and a hungry playing style. There aren’t many around like the junior big man and because of it, the attention placed onto him from the college side will only increase as the summer approaches.
Versailles, OH
JUSTN AHRENS, SG, KING JAMES SHOOTING STARS, 2018: The younger brother of Kyle Ahrens, a freshman guard on the Michigan State men’s basketball team, the 6-foot-5 sophomore was excellent in all of his games in Fort Wayne. The lefty started things off with a bang by hitting on a handful of catch and shoot jumpers from deep on Friday evening and continued his productive play all of the way up until his last outing on Sunday. He is very crafty with the ball on the breakdown and can even play make some below the arc. However, Ahrens will be recruited primarily for his shooting stroke, a jumper that he can hit with a hand in his face and with added distance between himself and the basket. Stony Brook jumped on board over the weekend in becoming the first to offer Ahrens where one should expect many more to toss their hat into the mix for the sophomore out of the Buckeye State.
Stevens Point, WI
JOEY HAUSER, F, IOWA BARNSTORMERS, 2018: While his brother is a top-100 recruit within the 2016 class as he is headed to Marquette in the fall, Joey Hauser is quite the college prospect himself. The 6-foot-7 forward is a major matchup issue in the half-court setting. Whether it is in taking the smaller defender into the post and converting on either handed hooks, taking the bigger defender out to the perimeter and blowing by him on baseline score, or in nailing the 3-point catch and shoot look, there aren’t many more skilled guys around like the Wisconsin native. Things are heating up for the Barnstormers star and rightfully so and in helping his 16-under bunch win the entire tournament over the weekend, look for Hauser to see his name skyrocket up the rankings when it comes time to update things.
Kaukauna, WI
JORDAN MCCABE, PG, WISCONSIN PLAYGROUND WARRIORS, 2018: Maybe the best handles in all of high school basketball, McCabe did it again this weekend. He is nearly impossible to contain from off the breakdown and his passing skills are as good as it gets for just being a sophomore at the time being. While he can sometimes play around with the rock and there is a lot of sizzle to his game, the Kaukauna star still seems to produce and on a consistent basis. He has really developed his perimeter jumper as he can pull up off of a dime and hit the outside jumper with consistency. While he isn’t the tallest of prospects, McCabe is blessed with tons of moxie and toughness and after receiving his first Big 10 offer several days back from Minnesota, expect for things to heat up moving ahead for the 5-foot-10 guard for the Playground Warriors 16-under team.
La Porte, IN
TYGER CAMPBELL, PG, SPIECE INDY HEAT, 2019: Making the transition over to the Spiece 17-under bunch for the weekend, the Nashville native fit like a glove. Playing all of the way up, Campbell is the definition of a gamer. He controls the floor each time out and does a great job of finding the best shot for his team within the half-court setting. While he still needs to get better in hitting the catch and shoot jumper, it seemed that whenever Campbell was in the game, his team would go on a run. He isn’t the biggest of guys that you’re going to find but it is mind-boggling that the floor general is just a freshman at this time and also how mature and polished he is with the ball in his hands. You can throw Campbell onto any team and that squad will usually be favored to win, just as the host bunch brought home the championship on Sunday afternoon.
Gahanna, OH
JORDAN MITCHELL, SF, KING JAMES SHOOTING STARS, 2019: Get used to hearing about Jordan Mitchell. The 6-foot-7 forward out of central Ohio was impressive all weekend long. His upside and basketball ceiling is pristine and is nowhere in sight of tapping out. Mitchell is already pretty skilled as a play maker type and throw in the fact that he is 6-foot-7, sports long arms and a solid motor, and can absolutely flourish within the open floor, and there is already a lot to like with the King James star. Mitchell hit on a number of pull-up jumpers throughout the course of the weekend but is at his best whenever he is aggressive and gets to the basket with his right hand. A solid athlete with ideal length for his spot on the floor and an Ohio State offer already in his back pocket, Mitchell has the chance to be one of the best prospects nationally within the 2019 class.
