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Chicago Elite Classic: Bossi's Takeaways

Mario McKinney
Mario McKinney

CHICAGO -- Four-star teammates Mario McKinney and Cam'Ron Fletcher brought some serious St. Louis style up I-55 for the Chicago Elite Classic. National basketball analyst Eric Bossi discusses them and his other takeaways from the weekend event where Chicago's best hosted teams from all over the Midwest and beyond.

MCKINNEY AND FLETCHER WILL ATTRACT COACHES TO ST. LOUIS

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In St. Louis, Vashon High School has a storied basketball history. Their in search of their third straight Missouri State Championship and if they win, four-star junior guard Mario McKinney and four-star sophomore wing Cam'Ron Fletcher will have a lot to do with it.

Already and established top 75 player in the country, McKinney is an extreme athlete who plays with all kinds of energy and a very in your face style. He's not backing down from anybody and he was pretty electric while scoring 33 points and grabbing seven rebounds in Vashon's win over Chicago (Ill.) Whitney Young. Coaches who want a tough dude that can play multiple backcourt spots and will compete will love his demeanor and he's already got offers from the likes of Missouri, Iowa, Auburn, Kansas State, Saint Louis and others.

While McKinney is relatively well known, it was Fletcher that really caught my eye. He's a long and rangy sophomore who I was intrigued by during the spring and summer but I didn't get a long look at. After a full viewing I think he could be one of the next players out of St. Louis to touch off a national level recruiting. He's a smooth 6-foot-5 athlete and is armed with a pretty jump shot and is one that is going to be considered heavily for national rankings when we update 2020. Missouri State, Kansas State and SLU are his first three offers and he mentioned interest from Missouri, Iowa and Purdue. Before it's all said and done, he looks like one of those kids who could rack up double digit high major offers.

MILLER HAS NEXT IN CHICAGO

Things have been somewhat down in Illinois and Chicago when it comes to big time talent, combo guard Adam Miller of Morgan Park looks like he could be next.

Miller is actually from Peoria and just moved up to Chicago but he's making his presence felt. During the summer I was intrigued by his size, ability to play on or off the ball and his overall feel. Watching him in a high school setting I was more struck by his dangerous jump shooting and how totally unfazed he was by playing on a big stage.

As I look at Chicago prospects in the classes of 2019 and 2020, Miller currently looks like the one with the most potential to set off a big time recruitment and at this time he's the only Chicago based prospect to rank in the national top 50 of either class. He pretty much already has with early offers from Illinois, Kansas, UIC, Bradley, Wake Forest, Memphis and Oklahoma State.

TOTALLY SOLD ON HORTON-TUCKER AS A DIFFERENCE MAKER AT IOWA STATE

I feel like a big part of evaluating a player is seeing how he responds to playing poorly. I wouldn't say that Iowa State bound senior Talen Horton-Tucker played bad during Chicago (Ill.) Simeon's win over St. Louis (Mo.) Chaminade, but he definitely had to scuffle and play his way through a tough shooting night and some first game of the year kinks.

Here's what is encouraging to me, though, Horton-Tucker still scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and he still made key plays on both ends of the floor on a night where he had to fight through 8-21 (3-11 3PT) shooting.

Before he's done in Ames, I think Horton-Tucker has a chance to develop into a program leader and perhaps an All-Big 12 type player. Also important to consider is that he didn't turn 17 until just a little bit over a week ago meaning that he should be in the class of 2019 by age.

MORE CHICAGO ELITE CLASSIC TAKEAWAYS

.... Not really sure how he does it at this point, but Illinois bound five-star point guard Ayo Dosunmu continues to find ways to get to the rim when everybody in the building knows what's coming. He's so slick with changes of speed and adept at using his size and strength that he can always find an angle. He was good for 24 points, six rebounds and four assists in his Morgan Park squad's win.

.... He didn't put up huge numbers, but 2020 five-star big man N'Faly Dante of Bel Aire (Kans.) Sunrise Christian was a huge difference maker in their win over La Porte (Ind.) La Lumiere. Dante altered shots, dished out punishment and did a great job of holding things down. His potential is through the roof. However, on a team filled with Rivals ranked players it was reserve point guard Carlos Paez who came up biggest. Pressed into starting duty with Loyola-Chicago signee Isaiah Budjoso out, Paez took care of the ball, made clutch free throws and provided an emotional lift for a team that came out lacking energy early.

.... In their loss, La Lumiere juniors Emanuel Miller and Charles Smith were the two who stood out to me. Currently an unranked three-star, Miller is a tough and athletic combo forward who will push for national rankings in 2019. Smith is athletic, has a good looking jumper and after a slow start hit some shots late. I'd love to see what he could do if he was aggressive and looked to force the action a little more and used his athleticism to really hound people defensively.

.... Headed to NC State, four-star forward Jericole Hellems played the way he did during July when his stock totally took off. In Raleigh I think he plays as a combo forward who can stretch the floor some and I was impressed by the work he's done adding strength without costing himself any flexibility or athleticism. He was very steady in scoring 22 points and grabbing seven rebounds in Chaminade's loss to Simeon in the nightcap.

.... If Whitney Young guard Javon Freeman were still available, I'm pretty sure somebody in the Big East and perhaps even the Big Ten would be trying to lock him up. A big time athlete who competes and keeps improving his skill, Freeman signed with Valparaiso and he should be huge for them. I'll be mildly surprised if he doesn't end up making an All-Missouri Valley squad before he's done at Valpo.

.... Among the schools I spotted scouting the Chicago Elite Classic for plaeyers were DePaul, Illinois, Iowa State, Loyola Chicago, Maryland, Northern Illinois, Texas A&M and Valpo.

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