Sonny Parker Youth Foundation

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Sonny Parker Fall League - "Don't Sleep"

by Aggrey Sam - SLAMONLINE.COM - October 28, 2009

Following the showcase (Fall Midwest Exposure Showcase), I headed back to “Obamatown” to get my fantasy draft done, before heading out to Simeon Career Academy (Derrick Rose’s alma mater) for championship Sunday of the Sonny Parker Fall Basketball League. Sonny, a Chicago legend for both his playing days and his efforts to help the Chi’s youth, has some of the city’s better talent playing in his tune-up for the regular season. Things started off with the frosh-soph (JV) championship (there were some nice prospects, but if you’re a regular here, you know my stance on young players who haven’t done the varsity thing yet) before the main event. The varsity chip, between the “Lakers” and “Cavaliers” featured some prospects I was already familiar with, a few I’d heard of but hadn’t seen and of course, some sleepers. By the way, “Team Illinois” beat “Team DePaul” in the frosh-soph game, while the Lakers topped the Cavs in the varsity contest; both were close, hotly-contested games. Here are some of the players who did their thing at Simeon on Sunday:

–Steven Dandridge (Cavs), 6-7 senior post, Thornridge (IL): Dandridge, a physical big man, is still somewhat raw offensively, but is a presence in the paint, a solid rebounder, force on D and displayed the ability to finish strong above the rim with his athleticism.

–Adonis Filer (Cavs), 6-2 junior wing, Mount Carmel (IL): A well-regarded football prospect (his older brother Steven was a high school standout and currently plays for Notre Dame), Filer’s gridiron background is surely a factor in his fearless approach, as he slashed to the bucket and finished with ease, using his quickness, strength and athleticism.

–Fabyon Harris (Cavs), 5-9 senior point guard, Hyde Park (IL): Harris, a talented floor general and recent Northern Colorado commit who stands out every time I see him play, was his typical high-energy and playmaking self, distributing the rock, putting on a show with his masterful ballhandling, scoring over the trees in the lane, making plays on D and hitting deep jumpers.

–Malcolm Hill-Bey (Cavaliers), 5-10 sophomore point guard, Mount Carmel (IL): Another kid I’ve seen a few times previously, Hill-Bey is obviously talented and while he forced the action at times and took a few questionable shots, his tremendous quickness, excellent handle and superb court vision made him a threat to get into the lane and either score or a drop dimes to his teammates whenever he had the ball in his hands.

–Josh Humphrey (Lakers), 6-4 senior wing, Crete-Monee (IL): Humphrey, an athletic and versatile scorer, proved capable of beating his man off the dribble and finishing at the rim or hitting the outside J, as well as helping out on the boards, playing solid D and creating for others with his handle.

–Ray Lester (Lakers), 6-6 senior post, Crete-Monee (IL): A tough competitor with nice footwork in the post, good rebounding ability and a powerful frame, Lester is also a solid athlete, as evidenced by his his and-1 dunk to seal the win for his squad.

–Kendrick Nunn (Team Illinois), 6-1 freshman guard, Simeon (IL): Nunn played in the frosh-soph game, but I’ll make an exception for him, as the lefty’s high-flying athleticism, explosive quickness, nice outside stroke, tricky handle, and ability to make plays on both ends made it obvious that he could have played with the big boys, although for his loaded high school program, he’ll likely start out on the frosh-soph squad.

–Chris Oliviera (Lakers), 6-8 senior post, Seton (IL): A skilled big man who I first noticed in the summer, Oliviera showed off his solid footwork, rebounding ability, touch around the basket and solid athleticism.

–Montero Rice (Lakers), 6-1 junior combo guard, Thornton Fractional North (IL): Rice, a scorer who went on a run of about four straight buckets, showed not just a knack for scoring, but versatility, solid D, a high basketball IQ and enough knowledge of the game that his seemingly being in the right place at the right time was more than a coincidence.

–Aqui Shareef (Cavs), 6-5 junior wing, Hyde Park (IL): A quintessential example of a sleeper, Shareef, who hadn’t heard of or seen in brief time in the City of Wind, impressed me with his athleticism, physical game, slashing ability, mid-range stroke, solid handle, tough D, work on the glass, versatility and nice upside.

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