MidStateHoops.com :: Illinois' Underrated

Name	Pos	Class	Hgt/Wgt	High School	AAU Team
Ryne Brownfield	G	2007	6'1" / 175 lbs	Urbana	Ft. Sooy-No Limit
A scoring guard from the Champaign area. Brownfield scores it well from everywhere. He shoots the ball well from both the three and the midrange area. He is also good at putting it on the floor and getting to the basket to create for himself and others. He is strong with the ball and doesn’t back down from any challenge. Posted a 24 point effort against Thornwood in the State Farm Holiday Classic Class AA semi's. This skilled prospect will make a smaller college very happy as a four year player.
Stefon Carson	PG	2008	5'11" / 165 lbs	Decatur MacArthur	St. Louis Falcons
A vastly underrated guard with outstanding skills. Carson plays in the toughest conference south of I-55 and is performing just as well as the top rated players including Justin Bocot and Lewis Jackson. Carson is extremely quick and can flat out score. He shoots it well and gets to the basket better than most. His combination of athleticism, ball handling, and court vision makes him an even more multidimensional player. He may just be the top 2008 guard in Central Illinois not named Verdell Jones or Lewis Jackson.
Bruce Durham	PG	2007	5'10" / 155 lbs	Lockport	RBS All-Stars
A smaller guard that can go on scoring streaks. Durham is a good shooter and very good at getting to the basket. He draws contact well and is good at creating his own shot. He handles the ball well and makes very good decisions. He is the perfect compliment to 6’3” Lockport wing, Brian Bradley. Though Bradley gets most of the publicity, Bruce is the man making it happen for the Porters. Certainly a Division I prospect.
Phil Gary	PG	2007	5'8" / 165 lbs	Oak Park-River Forest	N/A
It’s not your size that makes you a competitor, it’s the size of your heart. That is exactly what Gary proved as he was an essential key to helping his team to a 70-68 OT win over Bloomington HS in the Pontiac Holiday Classic. Phil is good at getting to the basket and finishing. He has a strongly built body and is very clutch. He plays all out and is one of the more underrated point guards in the 2007 class.
Elliott Brown	G	2008	6'0" / 180 lbs	Chicago De La Salle	Illinois Fire
Brown led the Meteors to a 3-1 record at the State Farm Holiday Classic while averaging 17 points per game. At 6’0”, Elliott does it all. He shoots it very well and is very athletic. He plays strong and rebounds well for his position. Defensively, he is constantly up in your face and he wants the ball in the final seconds. He is a big time competitor with a big time game.
Lonnie Lawrence	F	2007	6'4" / 195 lbs	Bloomington	Ft. Sooy-No Limit
An athletic forward who is a rebounding machine. Lawrence is a monster on the glass. Last season he averaged a double-double and is on pace to do the same again this season. He is a great cleanup player and probably the biggest key to Bloomington High's success. With added perimeter skills, he could certainly be a Division I prospect. As of right now, he would be of great service to a smaller college.
Jeremy Leonard	PG	2008	6'1" / 160 lbs	Chicago De La Salle	Illinois Bobcats
Elliott Brown’ partner in crime. Leonard is one of the purest point guards throughout the state. He sees the floor well and is able to get the ball to open teammates. His passing skills are complimented well by his ball handling ability. Though he is best at a distributing role, he is also a capable scorer as he has a solid three-point jumpshot. Leonard can make a case as one of 2008’s top five point guards.
Michael Malat	PG	2007	6'1" / 165 lbs	O'Fallon	St. Louis Falcons
Transferred from Belleville East to O'Fallon before his senior season. Malat has played very solid basketball. He carried his team to a 13-2 record while averaging 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. This 6'1" guard can beat you off the dribble or equally as well from beyond the arch. He has a nice stroke and plays very smart. He is a solid Division I prospect.
Lavall McDade	G	2007	6'3" / 165 lbs	Carbondale	Illinois Warriors
With the addition of Red Hill transfer, Nick Evans, the spotlight shied away from McDade. However, he is still putting in his fare share of work to ensure the Terriers’ success. Simply put, Lavall is a scorer. He is a finesse type player the can put the ball in the whole from beyond the arch, the three, or by penetrating to the basket. He is long and handles the ball well and does what it takes to ensure his team the basket.
Steve Pranther	PG	2007	6'3" / 165 lbs	Niles West	N/A
A solid guard who does a lot of things well but nothing great. Though sophomore-Nik Garcia may be West's best prospect, Pranther has been their most consistent player. He is a good rebounder for his position and distributes the ball well. He is also capable of putting up points on the board as he came up big in a loss to Bloomington HS with 24 points. Pranther is athletic and very hard on both ends of the floor. He is also a good student.
Andre Quarles	G	2007	6'0" / 165 lbs	Breman	Smooth Inferno
Possibly the state’s most underrated player. Quarles has posted solid numbers all season long, averaging 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. He is a scorer but distributes the ball well at the same time. He rebounds extremely well for his position and isn’t afraid to put his team on his back. Northwestern State, Eastern Illinois, Coppin State, Idaho, Bethune Cookman, and Delaware State have all inquired about his services but this is a player who should not be overlooked by anyone!
Reo Quarles	F	2007	6'4" / 205 lbs	Belleville East	St. Louis Falcons
Quarles is undersized at 6’4” but is a monster around the basket. He is very long and strong and finishes well. He attacks the glass better than most and is very aggressive. Unlike other post players his size, Quarles possesses the athleticism and lateral quickness to defend the wing. He has improved his perimeter game and is definitely a Division I prospect. He has started varsity at Belleville East for the past two years and has done a great job each season. Did I forget to mention, the kid can get up!
Travis Rosenkranz	PG	2007	5'10" / 165 lbs	Macon Meridian	St. Louis Eagles
One of the most efficient playmakers in his class. Rosenkranz has been putting up solid numbers all season. He is an all around the board player as he is averaging over 20 points per game, and around 7 assists, 4 steals, and 4 rebounds. He is quick and has an affective pull up jumpshot. He is also good from beyond the arch. He makes very smart decisions on the floor and is solid both offensively and defensively. Travis rates as one of the state’s top ten point guards, regarding his class.
David Ruckman	PF	2007	6'8" / 205 lbs	Freeburg	Team Illinois
A versatile forward who has posted very solid numbers all season long. Ruckman is an active player who rebounds and finishes well. He is also capable of hitting the outside jumpshot. He runs the floor well and always plays hard. Currently, he is averaging 13 points and 8 rebounds per game. He has been overlooked by a lot of colleges and scouts but if he continues to play the way he is now, that won’t happen for long.
Lawrence Thomas	PG	2009	5'8" / 140 lbs	Springfield Southeast	Illinois Warriors
“LT” has been tearing it up in Springfield. The sophomore from Southeast High School has gone on big scoring runs nearly every game of the season as he is averaging around 20 points per game. Though he is small, he can shoot the ball. He is good at coming off screens for the three but isn’t afraid to take it to the basket. Thomas is equally as good at breaking his defender down and hitting the open man when his shot isn’t falling. He has had a tremendous first half of the season and a drop off is not expected.