Buckeye Prep Report

Ahmed Named Player of the Week

2012-01-27T21:18:00.000-05:00

Esa Ahmed-6'6 Fr. C Shaker Heights

Freshman standout Esa Ahmed, a 6'6, 200 lb. center from Shaker Heights, was recently named Cleveland.com "Player of the Week" for the week of January 27, 2012. According to the article, Ahmed led his Shaker Heights squad to a 61-58 overtime win over Warren Harding. In the game, the freshman finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Ahmed's success comes as no surprise to us, as Buckeye Prep has watched him dominate the competition at AAU events and at our elite showcases for several years. From our advantage point, Ahmed has long since established himself as a top 5 player in the state in his class! Congrats to Esa and his family for this outstanding accomplishment!

Huskies Remain Unbeaten

2012-01-27T18:02:00.000-05:00

In front of a ruckus and standing room only crowd last night, the 11-0 Valerie Huskies faced off against a 11-0 Stivers Tigers for first place in the Dayton Public School League; the #1 seed in the league tournament, as well as Dayton area bragging rights. Although billed as one of the biggest junior high school games of the year, the final score did not follow the script. Not only were the 2 teams undefeated, but the game featured several of Dayton’s top 8th graders. Stivers is led by arguably the top PG in the state (although Riggens, Simpson and Rogers might argue the point) in Rodrick Caldwell, while Valerie featured Joey Williams Jr, DJ Hoskins and Josh Smith, all of whom are listed among Buckeye Prep’s top 8th graders.

After the tip, the Huskies drew first blood when DJ Hoskins drilled a deep trey on the opening possession of the game. Stivers countered with a fast break layup on an assist by Caldwell. Valerie would then go on an 8-0 run before Stivers would answer. By the end of the 1st quarter, the Huskies were ahead 17-5. It was clear very early in the contest that Valerie was the more talented team, while Stivers was heavily dependent on Caldwell. Unfortunately for Stivers, Caldwell was more content on being a distributor than a scorer early, was injured at about the 1:57 mark chasing down a loose ball, and was forced to the bench for the remainder of the quarter. While Caldwell was out, Isiah Willams (6'3 S/PF) took control of the reins and did his best to weather the storm.

Isiah Williams-6'4 SF/PF- Showed Potential

Caldwell returned for the start of the second quarter, as Stivers scored on the first 2 possessions to cut the lead to 17-9. Valerie would get back on track with a Joey Williams Jr. bucket. Although he did not score his first points until 2:58 left in the second quarter, Caldwell caught fire and scored on 3 straight possessions including a layup, 3-pointer and a second layup to bring his team to within 6 points (23-17). Each team would score one more time before entering the locker room with the score 25-19, Valerie.

As he did the opening possession of the game, DJ Hoskins knocked down a trey to start the second half (27-19). Caldwell answered with a breakaway layup to cut the lead to 4 points. It was about that point in the game when the Huskies’ pressure defense really started resulting to turnovers and easy transition buckets, while their bigs (Williams and Smith) began controlling the boards. Valerie would start the 4th quarter up 41-28, and they never really looked back from there. The Huskies would go on to claim a stunning 57-37 victory. At the end of the day, Valerie was simply more talented and enjoyed more depth than Stivers. Though Caldwell did his best to keep his team in the game, rarely does a one man team beat a total team effort.

DJ Hoskins Paced Valerie With 17 Pts

Valerie was paced by DJ Hoskins who dropped a game-high 17 points. Right behind Hoskins in scoring was Joey Williams Jr. who added 14, Josh Smith who finished with 12 points, and Christian Montaque who added 6 points. For Stivers, Rodrick Caldwell led the Tigers with a team-high 16 points, followed by Chaz George who added 8 points, Isaiah Williams who contributed 7 markers and Sharief English finished with 4 points.

When asked about his team’s play last night, Stivers head coach Anthony Jackson was disappointed in his team’s work around the basket. “We did not rebound well, that was the bottom line. We did not box out,” stated Jackson. In addition to rebounding, Jackson felt the facility placed his team at a disadvantage. “That was our lowest scoring game. We should have had the venue another place; that gym is just too small,” added Jackson.

Rodrick Caldwell Finished With 16 Pts

Although Caldwell was held to well under his average in scoring, Jackson was still impressed with his star player’s performance. “Rodrick played very well considering he sprained his ankle last week [against Rosa Parks 3 games ago]. [Also], “We run a very open flex offense. With them [Valerie] doubling him [Caldwell] up, and in that [small] gym it’s tough. The gym was too compact for the kind of offense I have,” continued Smith. About the pre-game hype surrounding the game, “Too much hype put into it. I just kept hearing about Valerie; too much overkill,” Jackson offered.

Valerie’s head coach, Jeff Smith was pleased with his team’s efforts. “My boys came out pretty prepared, and because of the hype before the game, they were very excited,” said Smith. I thought they [his team] performed well as a team; they executed as well as I could have expected,” continued the coach. According to Smith, the difference in the game was defense. “Keeping the ball out of Cladwell’s hand as much as possible. DJ Hoskins played great defense on him and kept him going left to right,” continued Smith.

Like his counterpart, Smith was concerned about the pre-game hype surrounding the game. “They kind of over hyped it [game]. The team [Stivers] only has 3 kids that can make a difference. [I] never seen a one kid team beat 5. One guy producing; when he is not on they struggle. I did not see how they were 11-0. Every team they played they were beating by 20 [points], but they let them back in and the team would end up losing by only about 6-10 points,” offered Smith. “The hype was not justified. It happened just like I expected,” Smith stated.

With the league championship game slated for Stivers' gym, there is a good chance these two teams could face each other again in the championship game. Buckeye Prep intends to keep an eye out for this game! Good luck to both teams as the finish up league play. Game Pictures.

Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase (March 4, 2012)

2012-01-25T11:00:00.002-05:00

The 2012 Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase is only a few short weeks away and is already starting to fill up. As a reminder, the showcase is scheduled for Sunday March 4, 2011 from 8:00am to 6:30pm, at a site to be determined. As is the case with all Buckeye Prep showcases, the cost is $85 per player, and each team will play 3 games, including an all-star game for the top players. Currently, there will be 4 grade divisions (subject to change) including: 6/7th, 8th, 9th and 10/11th grades.

This year’s event should be more competitive than ever as there will be many more national level players from across the country in attendance. As always, there will be a great deal of exposure opportunities, as many of the area’s top scouting services will be on hand to evaluate and write about the players. In addition, the top players at the event will receive awards, and will qualify to attend one of the many national level camps.

Although invitations have already been emailed out, there is still room for deserving players if they act quickly. To receive an invitation to this event, you must email Rob Taylor at Taylorobe@aol.com. Since the last showcase sold out (over 300 players), and we had to turn people away, it’s important you register right away. Check out the links below to see what went down at the fall showcase. Get off the sidelines and join the action!

Current Commitment List
Fall Showcase Results
ESPN Report
Triple Double Prospects Report
Cincy Prep Hoops Report
Highlight Video #1

Highlight Video #2
Highlight Video #3
Highlight Video #4
Showcase Pictures
Standout Pictures

Finally, as a reminder, I'm also gearing up for my 8th Annual Buckeye Prep Invitational Tournament, currently scheduled for April 6-8, 2012. If you plan to attend the event, please email me with the name and grade of your team(s), and I will send you a registration form. Last year we had over 85 very competitive teams from across the country! See the links below for some of last's post-event reports, and to download a copy of the registration form.

2011 Tourney Results:

ESPN Story
6th Grade
7th grade
8th Grade
9th Grade
10th Grade
11th grade
The Bigs

Tournament Registration Form

Buckeye Prep Remains Undefeated in League Play

2012-01-23T18:05:00.000-05:00

Troy Taylor Jr-5'6 SG Westerville Blendon

With their convincing 51-13 victory over the Pickerington Thunder on Sunday night, Coach Ed Lyshe’s 6th grade Buckeye Prep squad is now 3-0 in the Game Time Baller’z Competitive League which is held at the USA Sports Academy on Sunday evenings. In their win last night, although the Thunder drew first blood, Buckeye Prep employed stifling pressure to spark a 21-2 run, and a 23-5 first half score Although the Thunder again scored on the opening possession of the second half, Buckeye Prep was simply too tough for the Pickerington squad, and rallied to finish the game with a lopsided 51-13 victory.

Chase Rankin-5'3 PG Gahanna East

Prep was led in scoring by Troy Taylor Jr, (5'6 SG Westerville Blendon) who rode a hot shooting night to a game-high 15 points. It was my first look at Taylor, and I was quite impressed with his skill set and composure. The kid has a text book looking shot. Right behind Taylor in scoring was Chase Rankin (5'7 PG Gahanna East) and Julius Brown (5'3 PG Westerville Walnut Springs), both of who finished 11 points. Although Lyshe’s team is more focused on the spring and summer AAU season, participation in the league allows the team an opportunity to work on various offenses, defenses and team chemistry. Buckeye Prep will begin the AAU season in late March, and look forward to a very competitive schedule.

Stars Look to Tourney for Payback

2012-01-19T20:33:00.004-05:00

Derrick Daniels-6'6 8th Grader St Mary Queen of Peace

Sitting at a more than respectable 13-3 overall, and an 8-1 league record, Coach Byron Priest and his 8th grade Mary Queen of Peace Stars are looking for not only a Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) championship, but a rematch with their arch rivals, St Charles (8-1) , in the CYO post season tournament which starts on February 4th. “We split with them this season, but they beat us last Sunday in an ugly, low scoring game,” said Priest. Although the Stars have already locked down a number one seed, as well as a first round bye in the tournament, the team’s focus appears to be centered on a rematch with St. Charles. “We expect to play St. Charles. We are rooting for them to get to the championship game,” added Priest.

The rivalry between the two programs goes back a number of years, with each program taking turns winning the regular season and tournament championship. Last year, the then 8th grade team, finished undefeated on their way to the league title. That team was led by Amos “AJ” Harris, now one of the top freshmen in the state, as well as the starting PG for Dayton Dunbar this year. However, the current team, as 7th graders last season, lost to St Charles in the championship. “It’s the first CYO game I have lost in the 2 years I have been coach here,” continued Priest.

So far this season, the Stars have relied on heavy defensive pressure and easy transition points to get to 13 wins. “We run a man-2-man and a 2-1-2 press to turn teams over. After that we get easy transition points. If you let us run, there is no one who can stop us,” offered Priest. In order to find competition, the Stars have played an aggressive non-conference schedule. “We go out of conference to get games. You only get 10 games in the CYO, and we need to test ourselves in high profile games,” Priest added. Other the St. Charles, the only other teams to beat the Stars were Valerie and South Dayton.

The Stars are led by Terrance Landers (6’1 WF) and Derrick Daniels 6’6 C), who are averaging 19 and 17 points per game, respectively. In addition, Daryl McClusky (5’6 PG) is averaging 7 assists per game. The other starters include Thomas Ellison (6’0 PF) and Cameron Greer (5’6 SG). Daniels is very familiar to Buckeye Prep based on his play at various AAU events, as well as his all-star caliber performance at the fall Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase. In fact, Daniels is ranked among Buckeye Prep’s Top 30 players statewide, and McClusky and Landers are listed among our Top 150 players in Ohio.

The Star reserves include Lamar Lawrence (6’2 PF), Mike Ivy (5’10 WF), Chris Spearman Jr. (5’7 SG), Remy Hudson (5’10 SF), Cory Hastings (5’9 SF), DeBraoun Robinson (5’7 PG), Chris Pooler (6’3 C), Dalashawn Elder (5’7 SG), Deontay Lee (5’8 SF) and Gequan Cochran (5’8 PF). Coach Priest is assisted by Chris Spearman Sr. and Kevin Long. Buckeye Prep would like to wish Coach Priest and his team much success in their upcoming tournament.

Rodrick Caldwell-5'7 PG Stivers MS

While we are on the subject of Dayton-area basketball, it should be noted that Valerie Middle School has an undefeated season cooking as well, and has been beating teams by 25-30 points. Valerie is led by Joey Williams (6'2 WF) and DJ Hoskins (5'11 PG). The other undefeated and dominant team in the area is a Rodrick Caldwell- led Stivers. Caldwell is listed among Buckeye Prep's Top 10 players. From what I hear, the showdown between Stivers and Valerie on January 26th is going to be a monster game! Good luck to all of the featured teams.

Eagles Hope for Tourney Rematch

2012-01-18T11:14:00.002-05:00

Milford Eagles 7th Grade Team

The Milford Eagles’ 7th grade team was humming along at 8-0 until they ran into an undefeated King Jr. High last week in FAVC conference play. Despite possessing a 1 point lead late in the contest, the Knights went on a 16-4 run, before eventually claiming a 10 point victory over a now 8-1 Eagles.

With the loss, the Kings are the clear favorite to claim the regular season crown. “With their schedule, they [Knights] won’t lose a game the rest of the season,” said Eagles’ Head Coach Jim Campbell. Despite their loss to the Knights, Campbell expects his team to finish no worse than top 3 in the league, and he is confident his squad can win the league tournament. “Our goal is to win the league tournament at the end of the year,” added Campbell. Although undersized, the Eagles rely on team speed, solid defense and hot shooting to compete against bigger teams.

Craig McGee-5'5 PG Milford Eagles

The team is led by a pair of captains in Craig McGee Jr. (5’5 PG) and Wes Ried (5’10 WF). We are familiar with McGee, as his outstanding play at the Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase in September earned him a spot on the all-star team. The other starters on the team include: Matt Kirk (5’7 WF), Isaiah Giordullo (5’7 WF), and Max Brewer (5’9 WF). The Eagles’ reserves include Ryan Hickey (5’7 WF), Nick Glasgow (5’4 SG), Nathan Arnold (5’5 SG), Keith Carter (5’6 WF), Jason Mayleben (5’8 WF), Tyler Smith (5’6 WF) and Jack Hannah (5’3 PG).

New Birth Claims MLK Title

2012-01-17T11:30:00.002-05:00

New Birth Warriors-MLK Holiday Tournament Champions

My have things changed in one year. About this time last season, I watched an over matched New Birth Warriors team get hammered by an extremely talented Dayton Airman squad in the 5th grade division of the 2011 Dayton Airmen MLK Holiday Tournament in Dayton. However, this year the roles were reversed, as Scott Bradley’s Warrior squad completely out classed an inferior Airman team in the same tournament. No disrespect to the Airmen, as they have some nice pieces, they play hard and can beat most teams; the problem is, the Warriors aren’t most teams. Last year, although Bradley's team was talented, they were young, consequently, they took their lumps. Fast forward to this year; the Warriors are seasoned and deep, consequently, they are giving out lumps!

Paul "PJ" Jones

Right from the tip yesterday in the 6th grade championship game, the Warriors’ up-tempo play, defensive pressure and precision passing resulted in a quick 7-0 lead. By the end of the first quarter, and behind the hot shooting Paul “PJ” Jones (3 treys), New Birth enjoyed a sizable 23-9 lead. It’s important to note that due to the slippery conditions of the court, the Airmen’s top player, Antown Johnson, went down with what initially appeared to be a serious leg injury. In addition, New Birth’s Jordan Mitchell suffered a leg injury as well, and was forced to the bench for the remainder of the first quarter.

Antwon Johnson-23 pts in Championship

In a pure Willis Reed fashion, Johnson was the first player to return to action, and would do his best to keep his team in contention. However, despite his heroic 23 point effort ( the kid had a monster game shooting and in the paint), and the fact that Dayton was able to cut the lead to within 10 points (32-22) by halftime, the Airmen could not withstand New Birth’s constant pressure and resulting easy buckets. In fact, you could see the Airmen players hit the proverbial wall midway through the third quarter, as the Warriors cruised to an impressive 72-41 victory.

Jorden Mitchell-5'9 5th Grader

Although Antown Johnson was almost a one man show (Deshawn Parker did some good things at the point), New Birth’s production was more balanced, as three players finished with double digit scoring. Although the Warriors’ squad is loaded with talented, the player with the most upside potential is clearly Jordan Mitchell, a 5’9 swing man from Columbus who has great size and a nice skill set. Since I last saw him play, Mitchell has refined his shot to the point that he can consistently knock down the 3 ball. With his size and length, Mitchell can play multiple positions, both inside and on the perimeter. In addition, Mitchell moves well without the ball and his vision and passing skills are excellent. In conclusion, I know he is only a 5th grader, but it is already quite evident that this kid has the kind of “special” qualities that high major coaches will covet.

Seth Goodson-5'6 SG Gahanna

As I mentioned, New Birth has number of quality players including Paul “PJ” Jones, arguably the team’s best shooter. Jones finished with 4 treys and 16 points in the championship game. I also had my first good look at Seth Goodson, a 5’6 SG from Gahanna, and I liked what I saw! Goodson is a sturdy and rugged guard who excels at slashing to the cup and finishing. Goodson finished with a team-high 19 points. Tony Stiab and the Gahanna Lincoln Golden Lions could be getting a good one in a few years! I have to mention the man at the point, Ty Wiley, a 4’9 floor general from Columbus (7 points), and Jeremiah Frances, a 5th grader from Columbus, both of whom are starters and big contributors to the team. Congratulations to Coach Bradley and his players and fans for their impressive display of fundamental and team-oriented basketball this past weekend. It was a joy to watch!!

Dayton Airmen- 5th Grade Champions

Congratulations are also extended to Coach Moore and his 5th grade Dayton Airmen squad for their hard-fought 38-37 victory over the Dayton Swish in the 5th grade championship game. Although the Airmen never trailed in the game, it was close all the way until the clock showed zeros. Standouts in that game included the MVP, Kendall Moore, a lighting quick point guard who finished with 11 points, Brain Johnson, Dakarai Maybry, Robert Oliver, Kadar Gardner, Samuel Anderson, Martell Smith and Byron Lanier.

Kendall Moore-Dynamic 5th Grade PG

T-Birds Still Undefeated

2012-01-11T16:40:00.000-05:00

Xavier Simpson-5'9 PG Lima Central Catholic

Lima Central Catholic’s 8th grade squad is well on their way to back-to-back undefeated seasons. So for this season, the T-Birds are a perfect 9-0, and are poised to repeat the success they enjoyed last season, when as 7th graders, they finished with an unblemished mark and as Northwest Conference champions. So far this season, no middle school team has come within 20 points of the T-Birds. In fact, in an away game against a highly respected Dayton Chaminade Julienne team, Lima Central Catholic got out of town with a convincing 20+ point win.

Because of the T-Birds’ dominance last season, the school will opt out of the conference tournament this year, and will now set their post season sights on winning a tournament sponsored by Bath Middle School. From what I understand, the Bath sponsored tournament is supposed to be much more competitive.

According to one source close to the program, the T-Birds’ success is largely due to their outstanding guard play, and the fact that they have multiple players who can shoot the rock. Not only can they score the ball, mostly from driving and dishing; defensive pressure has been a key, as has the fact that several of the players have high basketball IQs, derived from many years on the AAU circuit.

The starters for the Knights include: Xavier Simpson (5’9 PG), Josh Dixon (5’6 SG), Ethan O’Conner (5’10 SF), Nick Taffinger (5’11 PF) and Ryan Rhodes (6’3 C). In addition to the starters, Tre Cobbs (5’9 SG) and Dantez Walton (5’11 SF) are both productive off the bench.

The team is powered by Xavier Simpson, a crafty and skilled PG who is listed as one of Buckeye Prep’s Top 30 players. So far this season, Simpson is averaging around 17 points and 10 assists per game. Through his play on the AAU circuit, as well as his standout performances at out our Buckeye Prep Elite Showcases, Simpson has established himself as one of the top 2 or 3 floor generals in the state.If Simpson continues on his current track of development, D-I basketball is definitely in his future. Tre Cobbs is also considered a top 30 caliber player and has excelled at our elite showcases as well, as has Dantez Walton.

Molock Suffers another Injury

2012-01-06T12:53:00.002-05:00

Kyle Molock-Senior Guard Dublin Coffman

I have always said; the game of basketball can be brutal. Unfortunately for Dublin Coffman’s Kyle Molock, the injury bug has struck again. On Tuesday, early in the 4th quarter at Hilliard Davidson, as the senior guard and St. Joe’s pledge “was defending, he made a spin move and heard a pop,” said Kyle’s father, Karl. “He [Kyle] knew right away [it was a second ACL injury],” added the elder Molock. As most people know, Molock missed his junior high school basketball season as a result of an ACL injury in his left leg. This time the injury was to the right knee.

According to Molock’s father, the recent injury “is nowhere near as serious as Kyle’s last injury. Last time, Kyle tore every ligament; he totally ripped up his knee. This time, it’s just a simple ACL tear, and Kyle should be fully recovered in 4-6 months,” added Molock. Molock is expected to make a full recovery and be back on the court by June; “even stronger than ever,” his father added. Molock is reportedly in good spirits. “I could not be prouder of him [Kyle] and how he is handling it [injury]. He is in great sprits and is already focused on college,” offered Karl Molock.

For those of you who are wondering, St. Joe’s Head Coach, Phil Martelli, has already contacted the Molock family and reassured them that Kyle still fits into their plans. “We talked to Coach Martelli and he is very positive about Kyle long term. He is still planning to [come to Columbus and] see Kyle this season,” added Molock’s father. Buckeye Prep would like to wish Kyle a full and swift recovery!

Link to St. Joe's Message Board and well wishes for Kyle

Warriors Cruise to another Tournament Championship

2011-12-31T17:33:00.001-05:00

New Birth Warriors-Tournament Champions

This past week, the New Birth Warriors dominated the competition at the Southern Ohio Prep Shootout held at the Kingdom Sports Center in Franklin, Ohio. With their lopsided wins during the event, New Birth ran their season-long unbeaten streak to 15-0. On their trek to the title, the Warriors defeated Mason Elite (46-26), Middletown Middies (68-30), Cincinnati Buckeyes (44-21) and Mason Elite in the championship game (47-17).

The fact that New Birth faced off against Mason Elite in the championship game was a bit of surprise, after Mason upset a stacked Middletown team which featured big EJ Williams, a 6’5 center from Middletown, and a couple of players from a talented Dayton Airmen team. Standout performers for the Warriors included PJ Jones, Jordan Mitchell (5^th grade), Seth Goodson, Ty Wiley, Jeremiah Francis III (5^th grade) and Garret Tipton.

Head Coach Scott Bradley credits his team’s success to talent and depth. “We go 10 deep,” said Bradley. As most central Ohio fans know, Bradley has been blessed with a lot of talent and a lot of great teams over the years, and he ranks his current squad as one of his best. “Right now, this team ranks in the 3 [teams he has coached],” added Bradley. The Warriors will return to league play on Wednesday, and will compete in the Dayton Airmen MLK tourney in February. Congratulations to Coach Scott Bradley, his players and fans for bring the title back to central Ohio.

Wilson Seeks another Championship

2011-12-21T12:41:00.000-05:00

A'Shon Riggins-5'11 SG Wilson Jr. High

According to head coach Jimi Sizemore, his Wilson Jr. High 8th grade Knights squad has a good chance at repeating as Greater Miami Conference Champs (GMC) this season. Although another undefeated season will be tough (finished 17-0 last season), Sizemore hopes his team’s defense, speed and team-oriented play will prevail over tough league rivals such as Lakota Plains and Lakota Hopewell. With all but one starter returning from last season, the Knights are off to a 4-0 start so far this season. “We have a very good chance of repeating, but [going] undefeated; everybody is out to get us,” said Sizemore. With respect to the GMC tournament, “We will be tough to beat,” added Sizemore.

Although the Knights are enjoying balanced scoring (in 4 games there have been 3 different leading scores), the team leader is A’Shon Riggens, a 5’10 combo guard who is listed among Buckeye Prep’s Top 30 players. According to Sizemore, “A’Shon could average 20 plus points per game if he was not so unselfish.” Riggins is certainly no stranger to Buckeye Prep, as we have seen him play at a high level an both AAU events and at our elite showcases. With his play, Riggins has continued to make his case for the top spot in his class. The other starters on that Knights' team include: Ryan Robinson (5’8 PG), Landon Stephens (5’11 SG), Brooks Robinson 5’10 PF) and Isiah Murph (6’1 PF). Good luck to the Knights and their fans as they pursue their second consecutive championship.

Gibbs Suffers Season Ending Injury

2011-12-20T18:53:00.002-05:00

Jack Gibbs-Junior Guard

Less than one minute into the game with Dublin Scioto on Friday night, junior guard Jack Gibbs went up for a layup, twisted his body awkwardly, and was later diagnosed with an ACL tear. According to Jack Gibbs Sr., Jack junior could be sidelined for up to 9 months recovering from the injury. A MRI yesterday confirmed the injury, and a surgery could be scheduled within a week. As previously reported by Buckeye Prep, Gibbs was being heavily recruited my several MAC schools. Our prayers and well wishes go out to Gibbs and his family for a quick and complete recovery!!

7th Grade Knights Dominate Early

2011-12-14T13:44:00.007-05:00

7th Grade King Jr. High Knights

With a front line featuring players 6’3, 6’2 and 6’2, it’s perfectly understandable why King Jr. High’s 7th grade squad has dominated its competition so far this season. The suburban Cincinnati school is already 4-0, with four, 40+ point victories, including a 69-8 drubbing of Wilmington yesterday. Coach Kenny Anderson’s team has wins over Bishop Fenwick, North College Hill, Springboro and Wilmington. The Knights’ size, superior guard play and unselfish approach has them off to a fantastic start to the 2011/2012 basketball season.

Tyler Knecht-6'2 WF King Mills Jr. High

Up front for the Knights are 6’3 Jaden Sayles, 6’2 Tyler Knecht and 6’2 Matt Sichterman. In the backcourt is Tyler Mitchell, a dynamic guard with excellent vision and creative passing and Foster Martin. Buckeye Prep is very familiar with Mitchell and Knecht, as they both participated in the Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase in September, where their stellar play garnered them all-star game nods, MVP honors, and solidified their place among the top thirty 7th graders in the state (updated rankings coming soon). Sayles has also been identified as one of the state’s top 7th graders. The rest of the Knights’ roster includes: Gabe Stacy (4'1 G), Kyle Philpot (5'6 G), Marguire Stinson (5'6 G), Avery Roe (5'6 F), and Dan Sichteman (6'1 G/F). Congratulations to coach Anderson and the Knights for their early success.

Tyler Mitchell 5'4 PG King Mills Jr. High

Highlight Videos:

vs Bishop Fenwick
vs North College Hill
vs Springboro
vs Wilmington

Warriors Off to a Fast Start

2011-12-07T12:57:00.000-05:00

New Birth Warriors-Tournament Champions

With his most talented team in the last couple of years, Scott Bradley has his 6th grade New Birth Warriors squad off to a fast start, as evidenced by the team’s convincing wins at the Thanksgiving Pre Season Tournament at the Kingdom Sports Center last week.

On their run to the tournament championship, the Warriors defeated the Centerville Hustle (71-29), Cincinnati Royals (59-39), Lebanon Warriors (45-7) and Centerville Hustle (50-13). The regular starters (so far) on that team include: Ty Wiley (Columbus), Jordon Mitchell (Blacklick), Seth Goodson (Gahanna), Garrett Tipton (Teas Valley), Randy “Trey” Overson (Gahanna) and Jeremiah Francis III (Berwick). Congratulations to Coach Bradley and his team.

Ohio's Top Multi-Sport Athletes

2011-12-02T13:48:00.005-05:00

Nigel Hayes-6'7 Junior Toledo Whitmer

As most of you have heard by now, a couple of weeks ago Cincinnati’s Taft’s Aldolphus Washington chose football at Ohio State, over solid D-I basketball offers. Although Washington was a beast on the hardwood, he was even more imposing on the football field. A look at some of Ohio’s top ballers clearly reflects a number of players who possess the skills and/or size to compete in multiple sports at the college level.

Below is Prep Spotlight’s John Stovall’s list of the top 12 players in the Buckeye State that currently play multiple sports, and who have the ability to play those sports at the next level. To make his list, players must meet the following prerequisites: 1) Player must be a "star" in both sports; 2) They should also have D1 interest in both sports; and 3) the list is based on level of college interest in each sport combined.

Alolphus Washington-6'4 Sr. OSU Commit

Top 12 Multi-Sport Athletes:

1. Nigel Hayes 6'7 Jr. Toledo Whitmer - Basketball/Football
2. Adolphus Washington 6'4 Sr. Cincinnati Taft - Football/Basketball - committed to Ohio State football
3. Zach Garber 6'8 Jr. Vanlue - Basketball/Football
4. Reggie McAdams 6'6 Sr. Elida - Basketball/Football - signed with Akron basketball
5. Deshone Kizer 6'5 So. Toledo Central Catholic - Football/Basketball/Baseball
6. Jae'Sean Tate 6'4 So. Pickerington Central - Basketball/Football
7. Jordan Lauf 6'4 Jr. Napolean - Basketball/Soccer
8. Pharoah Brown 6'6 Sr. Lynhurst Brush - Football/Basketball
9. Matt Bingaya 6'4 Sr. Delaware Hayes - Basketball/Football - signed with Morehead State basketball
10. Taylor Decker 6'8 Sr. Vandalia Butler - Football/Basketball - committed to Notre Dame football
11. Leroy Alexander 6'0 Sr. Toledo Whitmer - Football/Basketball
12. Dwayne Stanford 6'5 Sr. Cincinnati Taft - Football/Basketball - committed to Oregon football

Stoval's 12 Breakout Players

2011-12-01T01:50:00.000-05:00

Rasheed Brooks 6'4 WF'G Logged in a Big Fall

Prep Spotlight’s John Stoval has put together a list of his “12 breakout players for this year.” Below is his list:

1) Rasheed Brooks 6'4 Sr. WF/WG - Lexington: After a great fall Brooks could have a huge winter for Lexington. He is a long, athletic and skilled wing that is hard to handle on the high school level. He has already gained a lot of momentum from college coaches.

2) Crishawn Clark 6'2 Jr. WG - Huber Heights Wayne: With graduation having taken the majority of the scoring from last year's Wayne team, Look for Clark to take on a much bigger role this year. Clark is long, athletic and improving all the time.

3) Devantah Williams 6'3 Sr. WG - Canton McKinley: Williams is another long and athletic wing with a penchant for scoring. He had a decent year last year but has improved and could explode in 2012.

4) Carter Smith 5'9 Sr. PG - Upper Arlington: Solid PG that has had a secondary role at UA so far. He should be option 1 this year. Summer and Fall performance says he is ready for the role.

5) Devonte Isom 6'4 Sr. WF - Cleveland East Tech: A lefty wing that is athletic and has solid skills. A good scorer that should be able to destroy the Cleveland City League.

6) Allen Harper 6'4 Sr. WF - Cleveland Central Catholic: With Anton Grady gone someone must step up. Harper has the talent to be good. If he is more assertive college coaches will come a calling too.

7) Roy Alexander 6'2 Sr. WG - Columbus Walnut Ridge: The pieces have come together for Alexander. A strong and athletic guard that can score inside and outside.

8) Mike Davis 5'11 Sr. WG - Garfield Heights : Mike has always been good but he now has the opportunity to turn Garfield Heights into his team this year. He is explosive.

9) Austin Gardner 5'11 Jr. PG - Toledo St. John: Smooth PG has really improved. He will be a key for St. John this year. I think he is ready for the big time.

10) Marquiez Lawrence 6'7 Jr. PF - Columbus Walnut Ridge: Long and athletic post played behind Elijah Macon last year. Has a chance to show his talent this year.

11) Aaron Jackson 6'4 Jr. WF - Gahanna Lincoln: Even though he is the tallest player on his team, Jackson is best on the perimeter 17 feet and in. The offense should go through him this season.

12) Eric Tivis 6'3 Jr. WF/WG - Cincinnati Princeton: After moving to St. Louis for a year Tivis returns and Princeton needs him. He is an athletic wing that can score.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T10:52:00.001-05:00

Buckeye Prep would like to wish everybody a very happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy spending time with family and friends, as life is truly short!!

Central Ohio High School Scrimmage-Misc. Notes

2011-11-22T14:49:00.004-05:00

Jalen Robinson, Jordan Potts & Devon Scott

Billed as the 6th Annual Making the Right Call Boys Basketball Scrimmage, the one day event was held at the USA Sports Academy in Columbus, featured 18 teams from central, northern and southern Ohio, and afforded the teams in attendance the opportunity for some great pre-season work. Each team played anywhere from 4 to 9 abbreviated games consisting of 12-minute halves with a running clock. The following teams participated in the event: Thurgood Marshall, Westerville Central, Northland, Columbus Africentric, Eastmoor, Groveport, Bishop Hartley, Toledo Central Catholic, Toledo Rogers, Gahanna, Walnut Ridge, Columbus East, Trotwood Madison, Dayton Meadowdale, Dublin Scioto, Chillicothe, Indian Lake, New Albany and Pickerington Central.

Although I was there for only a short period of time, one thing I noticed was the fact the Northland is good. I know that comes as no surprise to anybody who even remotely follows high school basketball in this state, but seeing the size in the front court and the quality of their guard play just makes me wonder who can beat these guys. Boasting 3 division one players in Jordan Potts (UNC Greensboro), Jalen Robinson (Dayton) and Devon Scott (Dayton), the Vikings are the class of the state in Division I. If that wasn’t enough, Northland brings in first year head coach in Sean Taylor, formally from Columbus Eastmoor Academy, who always seemed to have done more with less. That will no longer be a problem for Taylor, who has always been considered one of the better coaches in central Ohio, as he now has his hands on the wheel of a high octane machine. Look for the Northland program to make big strides this year, and to reach new heights as a program under Taylor's leadership.

Grant Harris, Isaiah Brooks, Adam McCall & Dymeier Finch

I was also really impressed with Columbus Walnut Ridge. Although the Scotts possess good front line size with Malik Dime & Alasane Kah, the pressure their guards bring could be the key to their success, and is going to cause a lot of problems for central Ohio teams. With Grant Harris, Adam McCall, Dymiere Finch and Isaiah Brooks, Walnut Ridge has a lot of depth in the backcourt, and Coach Jason Bates has the flexibility to call in reinforcements to keep up the constant pressure. Throw in 6’3 Roy Alexander on the wing and it is easy to see why Ridge has a chance at a deep run in March.

I saw some good things with Thurgood Marshall. The small but scrappy bunch did better than anybody on Saturday at standing up to the neighborhood (Northland). 6’3 Joe Thomasson is the engine on that team and will be counted on to generate the bulk of Marshall’s offense.

Although Coach Sean Taylor left for richer soil at Northland, the cupboard is far from empty at Eastmoor Academy. Eastmoor has solid guard play with John Draper and Doug Richey, and is blessed with a lot of young talent in Xavier-Holston Sims, Elijah Barbour and Jalon Lewis. With experience, Eastmoor should remain relevant for the next couple of years.

I watched Gahanna play a few games and it was evident that they lack size in the post. In addition, with several new faces in the starting lineup, solid guard play will be important for the Golden Lions if they plan to contend for a league title this season. Junior Aaron Jackson’s play and leadership should dictate the level of success Coach Tony Stiab and his team achieves this season. There was a lot of good basketball on Saturday and I'm already hyped for the season to tip off.

Pictures

Africentric Middle School Boys Basketball Preview Recap

2011-11-20T11:07:00.004-05:00

Seth Towns-6'4 C Columbus was Fantastic!

I spent Friday night checking out the action at the Africentric Early College Middle School Preview. In terms of the format, the 6^th year event featured 12 middle school teams who each played 2, six minute quarters. Unlike the suburban middle schools, Columbus City League middle schools combine 7^th and 8^th graders, so a majority of the players were 8th graders.

One of the top teams at the event was Ecole Kenwood, and the clear top player was Seth Towns, a 6’4 center from Columbus. I have seen Towns play on several occasions, and in fact, he is listed as one of Buckeye Prep’s top 10 players, but his play on Friday night was eye opening. Towns impacted the game in every category. He scored the ball at all three levels, he rebound, he blocked a ton of shots, he pushed the ball in transition, found open teammates with the pass, and established himself as one of the top players in the state and a potential division athlete. Although Towns is thin, he is long, athletic and agile. If Towns continues to develop he could be special.

James May 5'9 SG Sherwood MS

Towns was not the only player who logged in a solid performance on Friday. Some of the other standouts included: Antwon Vaughn (Champion), Korey Burks (Hilltonia), James May (Sherwood), Osaretin Onaiwue (Sherwood), Azenda Johnson (Sherwood), Dexter Kolawski (Arts Impact), Clevon Beard (Woodward Park), Naquon Haynes (Woodpark), LeRieus Agnew (Westerville Genoa), Ryan Kennedy (Westerville Genoa), Nathan Moore (Berwick), Jalen Spencer (7^th grade-Mifflin), Kyree Bell (Africentric) and Keauntay Monie (Africentric).

Preview Team Results:

Champion MS-17 Buckeye MS-14

Echole Kenwood MS-15 Hilltonia MS-10

Sherwood MS-27 Arts Impact MS-22

Westerville Genoa MS-24 Woodward Park MS-13

Mifflin MS-25 Berwick MS-20

Africentric MS-19 Groveport Community School-4

Top10 Players
Pictures

Taylor Gets Another 1000

2011-11-09T10:19:00.006-05:00

2008 Gahanna Lincoln graduate Robbie Taylor has once again reached a personal basketball milestone. As he did his senior year with the Golden Lions to move up to 3rd on the school’s all-time leading scorers lists, the Mount Vernon senior guard recently scored his 1000th career point. Last night in Richmond, Indiana, against the 21st ranked Indiana University East, Taylor drained a 3-pointer with less than 1 minute left in the contest, and celebrated his 21st birthday with a 21 point outburst and his 1000th career point.

So far this season Taylor is off to a fast start and is averaging a little over 21 points per game. Just this past weekend Taylor was named Tournament MVP of the A+ Auto Brokers Invitational Tournament. In May of this year, Taylor will graduate from the NAIA Division II school with a business finance degree and plans to reside locally. Below is a link to a story about last night’s contest.

Article

Scott Chooses the Flyers

2011-11-09T09:57:00.002-05:00

Devon Scott-6'8 C Northland

Earlier this morning, Northland's Devon Scott committed to Archie Miller and the Dayton Flyers. The 6'8 center will join Northland teammate Jalon Robinson in the Flyers' front court next. In an earlier story on Scott's decision we mentioned the fact that Scott was heavily considering Ohio University and Dayton. Congratulations to the UD coaching staff and the Scott family!

Central Ohio 6th Graders Excell

2011-11-07T12:04:00.002-05:00

Chase Rankin-5-1 PG Gahanna MS East

On Sunday, I had a chance to check out some of central Ohio’s top 6th graders at the tryout for the 6th grade Buckeye Prep travel team. During the skill sessions and scrimmages, several players caught my eye; so much so, when I release by state-wide top 6th grade list in a few months, these kids are likely to be listed.

Chase Rankin, a 5’1 PG at Gahanna Middle School East, displayed a skill level and basketball IQ beyond his years. Rankin already has decent size for his age, a tight handle, a nice looking shot, and is a willing and able passer. Rankin players hard and he already just seems to understand how the point guard position should be played. Coach Tony Stiab and the Gahanna Lincoln Lions could have another elite floor general heading their way.

Julius Brown-4'10 PG Walnut Springs MS

Julius Brown, Rankin’s likely back court team, only stands 4’10, but this crafty little guard already has a lot of tools in the box. Brown already has the ball on a string and can go to one of several dribble moves to beat his defender. Not only can he get to the cup, Brown’s excellent vision allows him to find open teammates. That’s not all; Brown, who attends Walnut Springs Middle School, can also hit the jumper if left unguarded.

Kristian Pechac-5'4 SF Woodward Park MS

I also plan to keep an eye on Kristian Pechac, a 5’4 SF from Woodward Park Middle School. Although it is far too early to suggest that Pechac will one day earn a “paycheck” playing hoops, it is already safe to say that the kid has talent. Pechac is blessed with good size for his age, is athletic, and already understands how to attack the bucket. Look for Pechac to add some toughness and scoring in the paint for Coach Ed Lyshe’s 6th grade Buckeye Prep squad. I also saw some good things in Remington Martin (5’3 SF New Albany) and Malik Lyshe (4’7 PG Westerville).

Remington Martin-5'3 SF New Albany MS

I know it’s still very early to be talking about kids who will not graduate from high school until 2018; however, Buckeye Prep has been covering middle school aged kids since we started about 10 years ago. So, look for Buckeye Prep at a lot of tournaments this winter, spring and summer as we continue spotlighting Ohio’s top young ballers.

Pictures

Cleveland Center Drawing Attention

2011-11-06T08:40:00.002-05:00

Mark Williams-6'8 C Cleveland Benedictine

Mark Williams, a 6’8 center from Cleveland Benedictine, has seen his recruitment take off over the past several months. We caught up with Williams at the recent City Series event and asked him several questions about his recrutiment. Williams, ranked as the second best center in the state by Prep Spotlight’s John Stovall, reports offers from Indiana, Ohio, Kent State, Robert Morris, George Mason, Central Florida and Akron. He is also receiving interest from West Virginia, Michigan State, Minnesota, Indiana State, Central Michigan, Virginia Tech, Xavier and Cincinnati. Williams has not yet established a list of favorites, indicating “the process is just so overwhelming. The whole school thing [recruiting] is confusing right now,” said Williams.

So far, Williams has taken unofficial visits to Cincinnati, West Virginia, Indiana and Kent State. He also indicated that he has no plans for additional visits anytime soon. Though only a junior, and with no plans to commit until August of 2012, Williams has already starting zeroing in on what he’s looking for in a college. “I would prefer to stay close to home,” said Williams when asked if distance would play a factor in his decision. Williams is also looking for “a family atmosphere. “I want to be around people I trust,” added Williams.

This past summer was a challenge for Williams as he suffered a stress fracture in his shin and was sidelined for over 2 months. Despite the injury, Williams was still able to play ball, as he ran with TNBA Elite, King James and All-Ohio at the AAU Nationals. Although injured, Williams thought his experience last summer was good, stating, “I grew mentally. The injury was good because it made me love the game even more. It [injury] gave me much needed rest,” said Williams.

Despite a tough loss in the district semi-finals last season, Williams is looking forward to the upcoming high school season, and feels his team has a chance to do some big things this year. “State bound,” Williams proclaimed when asked how well his Benedictine can do this season. “I’m very confident. We have team chemistry and everybody returning. We did not have team chemistry last year,” said Williams. Look for Williams to have a big season this year.

King Makes the Call

2011-11-05T17:06:00.003-04:00

Khalid King-6'3 Guard Brookhaven

Central Ohio basketball can now celebrate another Division I basketball player, as Khalid King, a 6'3 guard from Columbus Brookhaven, has decided to play his college ball at North Carolina A&T. According to his father Jamison, King made his decision yesterday after a telephone call and offer from the head coach Jerry Eaves. King had been receiving interest from Richmond, Florida A&M, Eastern Michigan and St. Francis PA. North Carolina A&T is a member of the MEAC conference. King was impressed with the school after an unofficial visit to the campus on the school's homecoming weekend in mid October. Congrats to the North Carolina A&T coaching staff and the King family.

Buckeye Prep 2012 6th Grade Team Tryouts

2011-11-02T23:01:00.001-04:00

Buckeye Prep will be holding tryouts for the 2012 6th grade boys travel basketball team from 1:00-3:00pm on Sunday November 6th at Columbus’ Mifflin HS, located at 3000 Agler Rd. For more information contact Coach Ed Lyshe at 614-746-5537 or email him at ehlyshe0373@gmail.com.

NCAA Enacts Higher Academic Standards

2011-11-02T20:49:00.001-04:00

As most of you have undoubtedly heard by now that the NCAA recently implemented changes that will have a major impact on recruiting and college athletics. I’m sure you have heard about rule changes that effect “open periods” where college coaches can evaluate prospects at various AAU type of events and at various times during the spring and summer. In fact, we posted a short article detailing some of the changes associated with scholarship values and the possibility that schools can now offer multi-year scholarships as well as stipends of up to $2000 to cover the “full cost of attendance.”

What has been less publicized are the tough new academic standards now required to get through the NCAA Clearing House and to qualify for college scholarships. These new standards are going to make it much more difficult for high school athletes to realize their dream of playing Division I college athletics. Today, I received a call from a friend of mine who coaches basketball at a D-I mid-major level program in Ohio, asking that I help get the word out to players, parents, coaches and relatives of these young athletes so they understand what’s at stake if the student fails to make the grade.

One of the biggest changes involves minimum grade point averages (GPA). Prior to the new regulations, prospective student athletes were required to have a minimum of a 2.0 GPA to qualify. That minimum GPA is now a 2.3. In addition, although there is still a sliding scale in terms of the GPA and ACT/SAT score, the student must have a minimum of a 2.3 GPA. Let’s be specific here; if your child/player gets all Cs on his/her report card, they will still fall well short of the requirement. To achieve a 2.3 GPA, students must make at least some A's and B's. If your child is bringing home D's and F's it’s going to be VERY difficult to reach a 2.3 GPA.

Making it even worse, the strategy (dropping a failed class and taking it over to achieve a higher score) once used to help repair low GPAs has now been limited due to another change that now requires students to have at least 10 of their 16 required core courses completed by the end of the student’s junior year in high school. The consequences of this change is that students will no longer be able to take a “do over” for core curses which they have previously failed, in hopes of raising the grade in that course. This is very significant for students who get off to a slow start as freshmen and sophomores, because some of the traditional approaches employed get a student qualified are being dismantled.

In addition, the NCAA has not stopped there; according to the college coach I mentioned above, his school's compliance officer just told him that in the very near future the minimum GPA will be increased to a 2.5. If you think a 2.3 is difficult for some of these kids, there are going to be a lot of young kids who struggle with the higher standard. There may be ramifications in other areas as well. Remember, many of the country's most talented basketball players often leave inner-city type programs in order to enroll in more suburban school districts or religion-based schools, where the academic standards may be higher. Faced with higher academic standards by the new school and the NCAA, many of these kids are going to be hit with a harsh reality.

Allow me to cite an example of the potential impact of the new standards. The college coach I mentioned previously looked at the kids on his current roster, and speculated that at least one quarter of his current players would not have qualified for admission or a scholarship under the new standards. That would have meant 3 or 4 of his current players would not have realized their dreams of playing division one college basketball on scholarship after graduation.

As a consequence, the 3-4 players who would not have made the grade with the changes would have created opportunities for someone else to take those scholarships, and who do think that might be? That’s right, students who took care of business in the classroom. Those players who stand to benefit from the new standards may not run as fast, jump as high or be as athletic as others, but they were just talented enough and took care of their grades, so they get the opportunity to compete at the next level. Let me be clear, a college coach may still bring a student into the program if he/she has less than a 2.3 GPA, but the kid will have to sit out the first year, and will have to pay their own way through school. With that said, the problem with that scenario is that most programs can’t afford to bring in a kid in who cannot play the first year.

Oh, it does not stop there; once a kid actually arrives on a college campus the NCAA has increased the penalties on programs that fail to maintain an acceptable Academic Progress Rate (APR). Now, if a program fails to meet the new standards, the program may face scholarship reductions or actually be unable to participate in the NCAA tournament. How do you think that will play out? I'll tell you how; college coaches will now be much more selective about who they recruit and bring into their programs. Of course coaches may still take a risk on an all-American caliber player, but for players who are borderline D-I players, they may not risk post-season play, or their jobs for that matter. “The first thing you have to do is look at transcript. We will be forced to take less talented kids; bring in guys who can make it in our program academically,” said the coach I spoke with.

I wanted to post this story as a wake up call to players, parents, coaches or anybody who might be in a position to influence these kids. If you have contact with these kids and you are not educating them on the standards, and attempting to make them understand the consequences of poor grades; you are doing the kids a grave dis-service. As an AAU coach or parent/guardian, it may require sitting a kid out of games, not letting him/her travel to tournaments, taking away a cell phone or anything that helps get their attention. The consequences for not taking these, or other steps could be dire.

To you parents, as a suggestion, how about requiring your child/player to sit down for a moment and read this article, and ask him/her to process what it means and the potential ramifications of poor academics? If they can come to this site in search of rankings, pictures or praise, they can actually take a few minutes to read something that could have a more long-term effect on their future goals. Also, ask your child/player what their current GPA is. Review the grades on the transcript and report cards. Ask the school for a copy of transcript now, and actually review it with your child/player. Coaches, request that your players bring a copy of their transcript to tryouts, practices or other events, and employ some type of awards/punishment system designed to educate and motivate the child to achieve his/her academic goals. How about making a copy of this story and take a few minutes before or after a practice to review and discuss.

Moreover, parents, the next time a coach calls your house (or cell phone) in an attempt to recruit your child to play for them, ask them how they can assist your child academically. Require the coach/recruiter to articulate how they intend to encourage good academics if your child joins their program. Clearly, exposure is a great thing and we try to provide that through this website, however, don't allow your child's poor academics to get exposed when all of your friends and family wonder why your child is not on a college roster when they have been featured in the newspaper (and on Buckeye Prep's website) for years. The NCAA is not playing around people; they have an agenda, and they are making the kind of major changes the will alter the face of college athletics!

Prior Story about Academics Posted October 26, 2010

All-Ohio City Series-Senior Division Recap

2011-11-02T01:24:00.003-04:00

Billed as the “Battle of the Cities,” the 3^rd year All-Ohio Nike City Series was just that, a battle from the opening tip on Saturday until the whistle blew on Sunday afternoon. The 2-day event featured approximately 60 kids in each of the 4 high school-aged divisions. Each division was made up of teams from Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Akron and Toledo. What has continued to make this event a success is the level of talent it attracts, and the fact that the kids compete hard to represent their respective cities. This year, the competition seemed extra fierce and drama filled as players, parents and coaches were determined to make statements. As always, the event provided opportunities for kids to begin preparing for the upcoming high school season while gaining more exposure.

Although Columbus teams did not pull off a sweep in all 4 divisions as they did last year, they came close, winning 3 out of 4 divisions, including the 10^th thru 12^th grades. In the senior division, Columbus faced off against Cincinnati in the championship game. Having just playing Cincinnati in a very contentious 12-minute challenge game (which was called off 4 munites into the game), both teams had something to prove. Although the game was close early, Columbus’ superior talent eventually wore Cincinnati down, and they went on to claim a 76-62 victory.

Rasheed Brooks-Senior Division MVP

The Columbus roster included: Isiah Rogers (Westerville South), Grant Harris (Walnut Ridge), Caris Lavert (Pickerington Central), AJ Ireland (Bloom Carroll), Rasheed Brooks (Lexington), Matt Rhodes (Westerville North), Alasane Kah (Walnut Ridge), Jalon Robinson (Northland), Devin Scott (Northland) and Malik London (Chillicothe). The Cincinnati Roster included: Jamaine Freeman (Taft), Max Hassel (Clark), Malcolm Smith (Princeton), Lionel Hill (Western Hill), Paul Woodson (Aiken), Chris Connell (Woodward), Willie Moore (Aiken), Geovonie McKnight (Middletown), Mark Minch (Lakota East) and Rozzelle Nix (Withrow).

Each of the coaches chose 4 players to represent their teams as all-stars. The list of senior all-stars included: Isiah Rogers, Jalon Robinson, Devin Scott, Malik London, James Brown Jr., Tyler White, Jacob Rossi, Justin Rossi, Bobby Conley, Ron Miller, DJ Blanks, Bryson Smith, Carter Smith, Matt Kurelic, Khalid King, Terry Hopewell, Willie Moore, Geovonie McKnight, Mark Minch, Rozelle Nix, Devin Carter, Desmond Ridenour, Tyree Gaiter and Curtis Oakley.

The 6-player All-Tournament Team included: Caress Levert, Matt Rhodes, Devin Scott, Rasheed Brooks (MVP), Jamaine Freeman and Geovonie McKnight. It should be noted; the MVP and All-Tournament Team selections were based on all-star game performances, and do not necessarily reflect who the top performers were throughout the 2-day event. Therefore, I have put together my on list of players who I felt logged in outstanding performances over the course of the weekend (see link below).

Jalon Robinson-6'8 Dayton Commit

I have to mention the play of Jalon Robinson (6'8 Northland) and Isiah Rogers (5'8 PG Westerville South). Robinson put together a great weekend and did the bulk of the scoring in the paint for Team Columbus, while Isiah Rogers handled the PG spot as well as any guard in the division. Not only did Rogers score the ball, he consistently found a wide open Matt Rhodes and Caris Levert on the perimeter all weekend. Both Levert and Rhodes took turns knocking down treys, while Chillicothie's Malik London patrolled the paint defensively and threw down a handful of nasty dunks. It should be noted that Western Hills' Lionel Hill had a monster all-star game, scoring a team-high 20 points, while Brush's Curtis Oakley started Saturday's action on fire and continued his solid play through out the weekend. I had a chance to see John Hay's Devon Carter for the first time and I left impressed with his ability to knock down shots. Trotwood Madison's James Brown Jr., Massillon Washington's Bobby Conley and Withrow's Rozelle Nix all caught my eye this weekend.

Other Standouts

All-Ohio City Series-Junior Division Recap

2011-11-02T00:45:00.001-04:00

In the junior division, Columbus outlasted a scrappy Toledo squad to claim the junior division championship 82-77. The Columbus roster included: Keon Johnson (Mansfield), Randal Clarkson (Brookhaven), Jack Gibbs (Westerville North), Isaac McGlone (Bloom Carroll), Wendell Davis (Reynoldsburg), Brandon Bapst (Grove City), Kevin Marsh (Dublin Coffman), Tre Fletcher (Ironton), Aaron Jackson (Gahanna Lincoln) and Ellis Williams. The Toledo roster included: Austin Gardner (Toledo St. Johns), TJ Umar, Dan Aaronowitz (Columbus), Darryl Levert (Pickerington Central), Adrian Cook (Westerville North), Devin Price (Pickerington North) and Evan Gardner.

Junior Division All-Stars

The junior division all-star selections included: Jack Gibbs, Wendell Davis, Aaron Jackson, Ellis Williams, Zach Denny, Jaaron Simmons, Jamar Hammonds, Damarion Geter, Armand Fontes, Kyle Deckard, Miles Griffin, Caleb Kleibscheidel, Austin Gardner, Darryl Levert, Vitto Brown, Adrian Cook, Will Clifton, Corey Wise, Kevin Johnson, Devin Williams, Tony Farmer, Kash Blackwell and Maurice O’Fields. The All-Tournament Team included: Jack Gibbs, Randal Clarkson Jr., Wendell Davis, Ellis Williams, Austin Gardner and Vito Brown.

Jack Gibbs-Junior Division MVP

Although the official all-star list is outlined above, I wanted to take a few minutes to highlight a few other players who left an impression on me this past weekend. Of course Westerville North’s Jack Gibbs was his usual dominate self, and his supporting cast of Aaron Jackson, Randal Clarkson and Keon Johnson did what they were supposed to do to help bring home the gold, I was really impressed with some of the kids on the Toledo team. Although the team was pieced together at the last minute, coach Randy Gardner really got those guys to play hard and to play team basketball. I have seen Austin Gardner (6’0 PG) play numerous times since he was in elementary school, but I have to say, the kid played his butt off this past weekend. Always under extreme pressure, Gardner found away to control tempo, find open teammates and score. I always knew he could play, but he really put it all together this weekend.

Austin Gardner- 6'0 PG Toledo St. Johns

I can say the basically same thing about Westerville North’s Adrian Cook (5’9 PG). Although he plays in the shadows of Gibbs and Matt Rhodes; Cook showed he has some game as well. I was most surprised with Cook’s ability to score the ball, as he was the team’s leading scorer. Cook also did a great job of running the point and distributing the rock. I had not seen Bowling Green’s Veto Brown, but the 6’8 center stepped of defensively against some pretty good talent this weekend and more than held his own. Brown has a solid frame, is a solid defender in the post, runs the floor well and has a nice touch around the basket. Throw in Devon Price, a 6’2 guard from Pickerington North who was a great compliment to the above players and added another scoring weapon, and you can begin to see why this team made an improbable run to the championship game.

Mark Williams-6'8 C Benedictine

Toledo and Columbus were not the only teams with talent; in fact, Cleveland came to town with a trio of players who really put in work. Mark Williams (6’8 C Benedictine), Maurice O’Fields (6’5 wing) and Richard Parker (6’1 PG) all logged in impressive performances. I also like Trotwood Madison’s Jamar Hammonds, a 6’5 wing with ample length and athleticism, and Cincinnati’s Kevin Johnson and Austin Grimes.

Other Standouts

All-Ohio City Series Sophomore Division Recap

2011-11-02T00:40:00.005-04:00

In the junior division, Columbus easily got by Cincinnati for an 82-56 win. The Columbus roster included: Joey Schmitz (Bloom Carroll), Shemar Waugh (Canal Winchester), Dymier Finch (Walnut Ridge), Ronnie Williams (Brookhaven), Nate Jameson (Northland), Jon Elmore (South Charleston W.Va), Eric James (Westerville Central), Jae’son Tate (Pickerington Central), Jaylen Tucker (Northland) and Seth Anderson (Teays Valley). The Cincinnati roster included: Larry Moore (Withrow), Kiere Bennie (Colerain), Jeff Larken (LaSalle), Martin Jones (Winton Woods), David Mitchell (Hughes), Tyonte Robertson (Withrow), Latrell Tidwell (North College Hill), Adam Gigax (Moeller) and Blake Simpson (Moeller).

The sophomore division all-star selections included: Dymiere Finch, Ronnie Williams, Jae’son Tate, Jaylen Tucker, Robert Caldwell, Cameron Taylor, JeMichael Blanton, Dezhante Bennet, Spencer Williams, Marco Columbo, Evan Bailey, Victor Dorsey, Lamonte Stone, Ben Haraway, Mike Mitchell, Jeff Larkin, Martin Jones, Tyonte Robertson, Adam Gigax, John Davis, Ryan Budowski, Isaiah Walton and Rosel Hurley. The All-Tournament Team included: Jae’son Tate (MVP), Nate Jameson, Jon Elmore, Joey Schmitz, Jeff Larkin, and Martin Jones.

Jea'son Tate-Sophomore MVP

For the second consecutive weekend Pickerington Central’s Jae’son Tate logged in a dominate performance. As he did last weekend in the local event, Tate left everything on the court, and his productivity propelled his Columbus squad to the championship. I have to give a shout out to Nate Jameson, a 6’3 guard from Northland, who has continued to develop his game. Like others, I have seen Jameson play for a number of years and it was clear from his play that his production is starting to catch up to his potential. Westerville central’s Eric James had another good weekend and has officially become one of the hottest players in central Ohio this fall.

Jeff Larkin-5'11 G LaSalle

Some of the other sophomore standouts included Dezhante Bennet (6’2 Trotwood Madison), Robert Caldwell (5’8 Stivers), Spencer Williams (6’3 Orange), Evan Bailey (6'5 Massillon Jackson), Mike Mitchell (6’4 Norwalk), Steve Carpenter (6'3 Fairfield Christian), John Davis (5’10 Beachwood), Larry Moore (6’0 Withrow), Martin Jones (6’3 Winton Woods), Jeff Larkin (5’11 LaSalle) and Adam Gigax (6'6 Moeller).

Other Standouts

All-Ohio City Series Freshman Division Recap

2011-11-02T00:35:00.004-04:00

The freshman division featured a battle of northeast Ohio teams, as a loaded Cleveland squad finished with a 65-54 win over Team Akron, area bragging rights and a championship. The Cleveland roster included: Kyle Stergis (Garfield Heights), Brandon Peters (Bedford), Jamie Bloxson Jr. (Berea), Darien Knowles (Amhurst), Kaleb Roy (CCC), Brian Parker (VASJ), Antwan Lillard (CCC), Devon Andrews (Lorain), Esa Ahmed (Shaker Heights) and Derek Pardon (VASJ).

Freshmen Division All-Stars

The freshman division all-star selections included: Xavier Holston-Simms, Seth McCoy, Jaquan Harrison, Michael Simon, Grant Zawadski, Andre Foster, Chris Landrum, Ahmed Wagner, Nick Miller, Austin Marciniak, Josh Williams, Brogan Scott, Bakari Evelyn, Katwan Singleton, Josh Jackson (8^th MI), Kheir Maxwell, Jordan Bailey, Robert Tubbs, Germaine Britten, Seth Orlemann, Jamie Bloxson Jr., Brian Parker, Devon Andrews and Esa Ahmed. The All-Tournament Team included: Esa Ahmed (MVP), Brian Parker, Kaleb Roy, Devon Andrews, Brogan Scott and Josh Williams.

Esa Ahmed-Freshmen Division MVP

The consensus top player in the freshman division was Esa Ahmed, a 6’5 C from Shaker Heights. Ahmed has consistently shined in every event we have covered this year. Ahmed’s size, agility and ability to score around the bucket set him apart from other post players in the state. Add to that the fact he is now trying to dunk everything he can get his hands on, Ahmed is getting even more difficult to defend. I have to say a few words about Josh Jackson, a 6’6 swingman from Detroit. With his length, the 8^th grader has the ability to excel at multiple positions. Already blessed with size and a solid handle, the bouncy athlete is a consistent jump shot away from the big time.

Josh Jackson-8th Grader Detroit, MI

I had a chance to watch Ahmed Wagner closely for the first time this weekend and I really liked what I saw. The 6’3 wing from Wayne is strong, has a solid frame and can score with the best of them. We don’t get a chance to cover many northeast Ohio guys, but Medina Highland’s Brogan Scott (6’4 wing) and Green’s Austin Marciniak (6'2 WF) are a pair to keep an eye on. Although Scott scored a little closer to the bucket, Marciniak was dropping 3-point bombs from deep all weekend long. Other freshmen standouts included: Jordan Bradley (5’6 Princeton), Antwan Lillard (6’2 CCC), Seth McCoy (6’0 Canal Winchester), Tony Anderson (6’6 Marion Franklin), Andre Foster (6’2 Trotwood Madison) and Brian Parker (6’1 VASJ).

Other Standouts

Upper Arlington Senior Nears Decision

2011-10-28T11:56:00.000-04:00

Carter Smith-Senior PG Upper Arlington

Yesterday we profiled Matt Rhodes, a central Ohio senior who is currently considering several division II offers. Similar to Rhodes is Upper Arlington’s Carter Smith, a 5’9 senior PG. Like Rhodes, Smith is well known in central Ohio basketball circles as a fierce competitor, who has more game than his small frame and appearance may suggest.

We caught up with Smith last Saturday to talk about his recruitment, and he reported several D-II offers from the likes of Stone Hill, Hillsdale, Ohio Valley and Wheeling Jesuit. Smith also mentioned that Findley and Lincoln Memorial are showing interest as well. Right now, Smith’s favorites are Stone Hill, Hillsdale and Lincoln Memorial. Though he has no firm time table for a decision, Smith did indicate “I will make my decision pretty soon.” When he is ready to make the call, Smith will be looking for a “winning program, pretty good academics, and a good coach who I can vibe with,” said Smith.

Smith, though undersized, is a tough, scrappy floor general who finds a way to get his team a win. Armed with a tight handle, Smith is proficient at getting to the cup, finishing, or finding an open teammate off of a drive. He’s not just a penetrator, as he can also knock down the jumper if left open. At the Nike Peach Jam the summer before last, while running with All-Ohio Black, Smith more than held his own against elite level competition, and actually emerged as one of the team’s most reliable players.

NCAA Approves Significant Changes In Scholarship Values

2011-10-27T21:11:00.002-04:00

Below is a link to an ESPN story about the major changes recently approved by the NCAA. The biggest change now allows conferences and schools to decide of they will provide what amounts to stipends of up to $2000 per student-athlete, designed to cover what the NCAA describes as "The full cost of admission." Although this measure stops way short of "pay for play," it does represent a win for college student-athletes who often struggle with the day-to-day expenses associated with the college experience. Check out the story below.

ESPN Story

Kaminski Out for the Season

2011-10-27T15:05:00.000-04:00

Kenny Kaminski- 6'8 PF Medina

Medina senior Kenny Kaminski will miss his senior season of basketball due to a recent shoulder injury. According to Kaminski's father, his son dislocated his shoulder on a pass reception during a football game against Lakewood last week. Kaminski would remain in the game, and actually go onto to score a touchdown before a subsequest MRI diagnosed his injury. Kaminski will undergo surgery in 2 weeks to repair a torn Librium, and should be fully recovered before reporting to Michigan State.

The Kaminski's have been in constant contact with Tom Izzo and MSU, and have actually consulted with MSU doctors about the injury. "Coach Izzo has been fantastic," said the elder Kaminski. "Actually, Adrian Payne [MSU sophomore from Dayton] had the same injury and had a full recovery," continued Kaminski. In theory, Kaminski could probably tough it out and play hoops this season, but in all likelihood, he would relocate the shoulder again, causing more injury. "Coach Izzo said if Kenny was a guard he could go on and play, but since he is a big man he would get hit too much," Kaminski said.

Before the injury, the Michigan State commit was one of the players most mentioned in the Ohio Mr. Basketball discussion. Over the summer, the 6'8 240 pound forward gave his All-Ohio Red squad a serious perimeter threat with his ability to consistently drain the trey. Some may recall, Kaminski suffered an Achilles heel injury in the playoffs last season. The Buckeye Prep Report would like to wish Kaminski a speedy and full recovery.

Rhodes Ponders Tough Decision

2011-10-27T10:03:00.001-04:00

Matt Rhodes-6'4 Senior Westerville North

Although he does not have a big statewide reputation, Matt Rhodes, a 6’4 senior shooting guard at Westerville North High School is known as a sharp shooter extraordinaire by most central Ohio basketball fans. As Rhodes prepares to enter his senior season he is trying to decide whether to pull the trigger on D-II offers from Walsh, Notre Dame College and Ohio Valley, or roll the dice and hold out for a D-I offer during the season. Rhodes indicated that he is also receiving interest from other D-II programs such as Lake Erie, Lincoln Memorial and West Liberty.

Though Rhodes’ game has long been about knocking down kick out treys, he has continued to develop his game to the point where is now proficient in shooting off the bounce, hitting mid range shots, and taking guys of the dribble and finishing. By most accounts, Rhodes has the size and skill to play low D-I ball, but he understands the risks of passing on a sure thing right now. “Coaches [college] want an early decision,” said Rhodes. “Some people want me to sign now and some people want me to sign late [to wait for D-I offers]. I think I can play D-I,” continued Rhodes.

Luscious Jones, Rhodes’ Hidden Gems AAU coach, knows Rhodes’ game as well as anyone. “I think Matt is a MAC player. Matt is receiving interest from BG [Bowling Green] and low D-I programs,” said Jones. Offensively, I think Matt Rhodes is a MAC player. On defense, he is NAIA. Matt can score on anybody,” said Jones. "Some coach will have to love Matt’s offense enough to put up with his defense,” Jones added.

Right now, Rhodes is torn between Walsh and Notre Dame, “I love Coach Young, and the campus is amazing. You know they [Walsh] just built a new arena,” offered Rhodes. I also really like Notre Dame. The coach [Kevin Bille] is not afraid to play freshmen,” Rhodes said. In terms of the upcoming high school season, Rhodes is very optimistic about Westerville North’s chances to go deep. "I think we will be very, very successful this year. It should be us [North] and Northland as tops in the Central District,” said Rhodes. “I really think we can win a state title Rhodes said.” Good luck to Rhodes and his family as he makes one of the biggest decisions of his life!

Pickerington Central Sophomore Turning Heads

2011-10-26T12:06:00.000-04:00

Jae'son Tate-6'4 Sophomore Pickerington Central

Jae’son Tate, an athletic 6’4 sophomore wing from Pickerington Central High School, has already caught the attention of college coaches. After we watched Tate dominate the competition at the All-Ohio City Series on Saturday, we spoke with him about his recruitment. Though he has only played one season of high school basketball, Tate has already established himself as at least a mid-major division I prospect. In fact, several of the MAC’s top programs have already taken notice. According to Tate, he already has offers from Kent State, Akron and Miami (Oh), while Michigan, Dayton, Ohio and Xavier are reportedly showing interest. To date, Tate has only visited two schools, Dayton and Akron, and does not plan any additional visits anytime soon.

Tate still has 3 more seasons of high school hoops, but he is already thinking about what he desires in a program. “I want to play fast; really get up and down,” stated Tate. “I also want a coach that can teach me more,” added Tate. Right now, the biggest decision for Tate is rather he continues to juggle both football and basketball going forward. Tate also plays outside linebacker for the Tigers. If he had his choice, Tate would concentrate on hoops exclusively. “My dad is making me play [football],” said Tate. Right now, Tate is perpetual motion, and does not have an equal in his class in central Ohio. Blessed with a strong body, plenty of bounce and a nonstop motor, the sky is the limit for Tate once he refines his jump shot.

Prep Spotlight's John Stoval, who has Tate ranked 4th in the state in the class of 2014, likes what he sees in Tate's game. "Effort, production and he plays hard," said Stovall about Tate. "He finishes, plays bigger than he is and is improving," continued Stovall. In terms of Tate's upside potential Stovall added, "It depends how tall he gets. Every inch is another level. If he gets to 6'6 he is mid [major] plus; if he gets to 6'8 he is high major," offered Stovall. Because Tate is already reaping the benefits of genetics (his father Jermaine was a standout at Ohio State and Cincinnati) the younger Tate may still have room to grow. "Historically, his father [Jermaine] grew as a sophomore," said Stovall. Jerry Francis, Tate's high school coach, sees the same potential in Tate as does Stovall. "His potential is untapped. A lot depends on his growth and development, but if he grows to 6'8 he is high major plus," offered Francis.

Tate's AAU coach, Myron Bess, has also seen a big improvement in Tate's game. "Jae'son just keeps getting better and better each year," said Bess. "This summer, we always had a mismatch with Jae'son. He is strong inside and can now step outside and hit the three pointer," continued Bess.

Tate's high school squad is predicted to compete for an OCC Capital league title, and has a good chance to improve on their district semi-final appearance last year (Tate scored 22 points in a 71-49 loss to Westrville South). Undoubtedly, the Tigers will go as far as Tate leads them. Last season, Tate led the Tigers in rebounding and taking charges, and was the second leading scorer on his way to 2nd Team All-Conference honors. "Jae'son will have to take more of a leadership role this year," continued Francis. Although only a sophomore, look for Tate to make a major impact on a still young Tigers squad this season.

All-Ohio Nike City Series Tournament

2011-10-24T00:23:00.002-04:00

Jack Gibbs-Sr. Westerville North

On Saturday I spent the day at Whitehall HS in Columbus checking out the action at the 3^rd Annual All-Ohio Nike City Series. As expected, most of central Ohio’s top players were in the gym. In fact, 120 players and 12 teams of 9-12 graders participated in the 2-day event. At the conclusion of this weekend’s tournament, 10-player all-star teams will be selected in each grade of 4 grade divisions to participate in the statewide competition scheduled for next weekend. All-star teams from Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Akron, Dayton and Toledo will compete with each other for not only community pride, but some serious bragging rights. Undoubtedly, everybody recalls that Columbus swept all four divisions at last year’s event, and I’m sure the other communities are determined not to let that happen again.

Devin Scott-Sr Northland

Although I have broken down my top 20 players on day one of the event in the attachment below, there are a few kids I want to mention here, as they had outstanding performances on day one. Westerville North’s Jack Gibbs had another monster day and continues to solidify his case as the top guard in central Ohio regardless of class. As he does every time he steps on the floor, Gibbs dominates in just about every facet of the game (i.e., scoring, rebounding and defending). Northland’s Devon Scott was an absolute monster in game one of the day. Scott tried to dunk everything in sight, and was successful more times than not. Not only did he score often in the post, his defense was relentless. Again, he tried to block everything in sight and he was successful more times than not.

Jalon Scott-Sr. Dayton Committ

Dayton commit Jalon Robinson had some bright spots of his own. I’m always impressed with Robinson’s footwork, but his mid range jumper appears to be improving. Robinson is an elite motor away from doing some big things. Also, I have to think college coaches are eyeing Walnut Ridge’s Malik Dime. The bouncy 6’9 center’s game is continuing to improve. He was very active around the cup on Saturday and is finishing at a high rate. I also have to mention Alasane Kah, a 6’8 senior from Walnut Ridge, as he logged in a solid performance as well. Hats off to coach Bates, as his front court has to be one of the best in central Ohio! There were several very good guards putting in work, including: St. Joe's Committ Kyle Molock, Westerville South’s Isiah Rogers, Mansfield South’s Keon Johnson, Brookhaven’s Randal Clarkson, Eastmoor’s John Draper, Gahanna’s Aaron Jackson and Manny Powell and Canal Winchester’s Shemar Waugh.

Jae'son Tate-Soph Pickerington Central

One of the most dominating performances I saw all day was logged in by Pickerington Central’s Jae’son Tate. The 6’4 sophomore is a stat sheet stuffer, as he does it all, from scoring, to rebounding, running the offense and locking up guys on defense. Tate is an explosive athlete who is always on attack mode. Another sophomore who really had a great day was little Rod "RJ" Mims, a 5’6 PG who displayed outstanding floor generalship. Every time I looked over Mims was making the right play; rather it was a creative pass or knocking down an open jumper. Mims made great decisions all day and did what you want a PG to do, he created shots for others, scored when open, and he ran his team.

Rod "RJ" Mims-Sophomore Whitehall

I also like Dymiere Finch, a 6’2 guard from Walnut Ridge. Finch already has good size for his position, he possess a solid handle and enough dribble moves to keep his defender guessing. Look for Finch to be one of central Ohio’s elite guards going forward. Also, keep an eye out for Eric James, a 6’3 sophomore from Westerville Central. Although I had not seen James before Saturday, I liked what I saw. Possessing good size and athleticism, James did a great job of finishing near the rim, and even stepping out and draining the trey. From what I saw on Saturday, this kid has serious upside potential. Northland has another talented young guy on the way in Jaylen Tucker. The 6’5 wing demonstrated the ability to score in bunches, as he had a 20+ point performance in a game I watched.

Eric James-6'3 Sophomore Westerville Central

In any event there are always players who, though don’t necessarily have break out performances, do just enough to grab some attention while displaying enough talent to suggest they have upside potential. Some of these players included: Ronnie Williams (Brookhaven), Nate Jamison (Northland), Kalid King (Brookhaven), Seth Anderson (Teays Valley), Seth Fuller (8^th grader), Tony Anderson (Marion Franklin), Michael Simon (Hilliard ), Seth McCoy (Canal Winchester), Jon Elmore (South Charleston, WVa), John Bradley Saxton (Grove City). I can't wait for next weekend, and the battle of the cities event that pits the top kids in each of the larger metropolitan cities against each other. If it comes close to matching the action last year we are all in for a treat!

Top 20 Standouts

Buckeye Prep to Sponsor 2012 6th Grade Team

2011-10-22T08:50:00.005-04:00

Coach Ed Lyshe

This coming spring, Buckeye Prep will be sponsoring an elite, statewide 6th grade boys basketball team. Although the team will play a very competitive schedule, the focus will center on player development. Coach Ed Lyshe, a long time and well respected AAU coach and Buckeye Prep supporter, will be putting the team together, and will be assisted by Jody Holms, a 10-year veteran coach himself, former OSU guard Troy Taylor and former Bowling Green football standout Kenny Rankin.

In addition to weekly practices, Ed and his team of coaches will be providing individual skill development sessions to the Buckeye Prep players. Open gyms and individual skill sessions are currently underway and will last throughout the winter basketball season. For more information about joining the team you can contact Ed at 614-746-5537. Buckeye Prep would like to welcome coach Ed Lyshe and his 6th grade team to the Buckeye Prep family!

Molock Headed to the A-10

2011-10-21T17:13:00.004-04:00

Kyle Molock-6'2 Guard Dublin Coffman

The past Monday Dublin Coffman senior guard Kyle Molock gave a verbal pledge to Phil Martelli and St. Joesph's University. As we reported a few weeks ago, Molock, since de-committing from Purdue, has been fielding offers from a number of mid-major programs. Although Molock did not list the Hawks as one of the schools showing interest when we talked to him, after returning from a visit to the Philadelphia area school earlier in the week, Molock felt that the A-10 school was the right fit.

I had a chance to speak with Molock's father, Karl, and he advised that "St Joe's was the first school involved early on, before Purdue. St. Joe's has always liked Kyle and they were the first school to call Kyle after he de-committed from Purdue. It meant a lot to Kyle and me as his father that St. Joe's stayed after us," stated the elder Molock.

The Philly area is familiar to the Molocks, "We are from Wilmington, Delaware, about 15 minutes outside of Philly," added Molock. "His [Kyle's] grandparents are there, we still have friends in Wilmington," Molock said. "Kyle also liked the size of the school; there are only about 5000 undergrad students. Coach [Martelli] lets his guards play and he loves Kyle," offered Molock. Kyle will join former Garfield Heights standout Carl "Tay Tay" Jones in the Hawk's back court next season. Congrats to Kyle and his family!

Rossi Brothers Decide on NKU

2011-10-21T08:36:00.000-04:00

Justin & Jacob Rossi-6'8 Forwards Franklin HS

Several weeks ago we featured the Rossi Twins, Justin and Jacob. At the time, the pair of 6’8 forwards was just beginning to receive interest, mostly from low to mid major D-I programs. Although the twins reported interest from programs like UNC Ashville, Belmonte, James Madison, Gardner Web and Dayton at the time, after a recent visit to NKU campus, the brothers chose division II Northern Kentucky University to play their college ball. Though the Norse are a D-II program presently, the program is in the process of transitioning to D-I, and could have the process completed by the time Justin and Jacob arrive on the Northern Kentucky campus. Congrats to the Rossi Family for this significant accomplishment.

TNBA Fall League-Look In

2011-10-18T12:31:00.001-04:00

The second leg of my northeast Ohio trip led me to Garfield Heights High School to check out Jermaine Gay’s TNBA Fall Basketball League. According to Gay, the 7-week league has over 300 players and 36 teams, and will finish up next week. The best player I saw was Devon Andrews, a 6’4 freshman from Loraine High School. I had heard a lot of good things about Andrews, and from what little I saw on Sunday, the praise was well deserved. Andrews is athletic, explosive and is surprisingly good at creating for himself and others. Also, Andrews has good length, a nice frame, good vision and solid passing skills.

I also had a chance to watch Brandon Peters, a 5’7 eighth grader from Bedford. Because Peters played up in the 9^th grade division at my Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase a couple of weeks ago, he flew a little under the radar and did not get an all-star nod. With that said, Peters is consistently mentioned among the best 8^th graders in the state. Although only 5’7, Peters is a strong, physical guard who knows how to play the game. Peters is not overly flashy, but his game is efficient, and because he regularly plays up a grade, his instincts are a bit advanced relative to his competition. Look for Peters to have another solid middle school season.

I also got a glimpse of a couple of bigs with upside potential. Calvin Calhoun, a 6’2 center from Cleveland Heights, moves well and is very active in the post for a kid his size. I really liked Calhoun’s aggressiveness in the paint, and it was clear someone is working with the big man. Also keep an eye on Jordan Davis, a 6’2 center from Garfield Heights. Like his big brother, Jermaine Davis, a 6’9 center who recently committed to LaSalle, Davis is big and takes up a lot of room in the paint. Although he still has a lot of work in the skill department, you can’t teach size. According someone close to the Davis family, the young Davis is already better than his older brother was at the same age. Coach Sunny Johnson could have another D-I post player in his program in a few years.

I also got a glimpse of Mikael White, a spunky 5’5 guard from Milkovich Middle school in Maple Heights. White, thou a little undersized, is strong, quick, and is at his best when he is attacking the cup. The kid played hard, showed leadership and really willed his team to the win. I was also impressed how the kid carried himself and communicated with his teammates, particularly these days when so few kids talk on the court.

Although we don’t often report on elementary aged kids, I got a kick out watching a 3^rd grade game featuring the next generation Cleveland ballers. Garfield Heights coach Sunny Johnson has a son, Sunny Jr, and a nephew, Demetrius Johnson in the backcourt of a Garfield Heights-based team. On Sunday, a team sponsored by King James and featuring Delvon Roe’s little brother, out muscled the home team to claim the victory. Remember those names folks. Finally, thanks to Jermaine Gay and TNBA for their assistance on Sunday.

Pictures

DB Hoops Fall League-Look In

2011-10-17T22:44:00.004-04:00

Look out northeast Ohio, there is a new force in the area in the form of Dwight Blair and his DB Hoops organization. Armed with a newly minted contract from Under Armor, Blair intends to grab “A seat at the table with the big boys.” This coming summer basketball season, Blair plans to suit up 31 boys and 7 girls (up from just 17 teams last year) teams in his new Under Armor gear. On Sunday, I hoped in the car and drove up to the NEO Sports Complex in Canal Fulton to check out middle school aged kids at Blair’s 36-team fall basketball league. The 8-week league has drawn about 300 plus kids from grades 5/6^th through high school.

One of the best young prospects I saw at Blair’s league was John Williams, a dynamic 5’6 PG from Barberton Middle School. Although Williams is highly skilled, has the rock on the sting, and has a full complement of dribble moves; I was most impressed with his defense, both on and off ball, as well as his ability and willingness to pass the ball. Despite his ability to take his defender off the bounce at will, Williams is unselfish, and allows the game to come to him From what I saw on Sunday, Williams has a claim as one of the top young 7^th graders in northeast Ohio.

Josh Williams-6'4 Freshman Barbeton HS

As proof that genetics is often a factor in sports, Williams’ brother Josh has a lot of game in his own right. The elder Williams, a 6’4 freshman at Barberton High School, is widely considered as one of the top guys in northeast Ohio as well. Although Williams played his way into the all-star game at my recent Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase in September, I did not get a chance to see him play. Still juggling basketball and football, and thou his jumper was a bit off on Sunday, Williams’ creativity off the bounce and his ability to get to the rack were proof positive that the kid can ball.

The Williams brothers were not the only ballers I saw on Sunday, as there were a number of other players in the gym worth mentioning. Below is a list of kids who flashed some game on Sunday: Elijah Porter (5'8 7^th grader from Canton), Emanuel Burton (5'9 7^th grader from Crenshaw MS in Canton), Andrew Earnest

(5'10 7^th grader from Medina MS in Canton), Tevion Cleveland (5'5 7^th grader from Edison MS in Perry), Matt Carrick (6'0 7^th grader from Edison MS in Canton), Derek Koch (7^th grader from New Salem), Zane Reece (6^th grader from Barbeton), Covar Chapman (6^th grader from Glen Oak), Cody Johnson (5^th grader from East Canton), Chris Fonres (5^th grader from Canton South), Justis Burton (6’3 9^th grader from Canton McKinley). Thanks to Dwight Blair and his staff for their hospitality on Sunday.

Pictures

Stars Shine All-Ohio Slam & Jam

2011-10-15T09:15:00.004-04:00

Keon Johnson-Junior Mansfield Senior

Last week before I shot down to Cincinnati to cover the Queen City Superstars Showcase, I spent a little time at Jerry Watson’s All-Ohio Slam & Jam event at Whitehall High School. Before I left, I noted that the gym was chalked full of talent. Roughly 150 players from as far as Toledo made the trek to Columbus to compete, and from what I heard, there were a number of standout performers.

Maurice O'Field-Junior Cleveland Heights

Apparently, Keon Johnson, a 5’6 junior PG from Mansfield Senior, stole the show. Because of Johnson’s dead eye shooting (someone told me he may have gone 25 of 27 on the day), he led his team to a 4-0 finish, and he could be considered the event’s unofficial MVP. Also, Cleveland Height’s Maurice O’field reportedly had a big day and impressed onlookers with his power and athleticism. Louisville commit Terry Rozier’s play solidified his place atop the PG list in the state, while Dayton Dunbar’s Teddy Hawkins shot lights out all day long.

Marc Loving-Junior Toledo St. Johns

In addition to the usual standouts, there were a few sleepers who emerged from the event, Jack Thome, a 6’6 junior from Chagrin Falls made some noise, as did 6’6 junior Trey Fletcher and AJ Ireland, both from Ironton. Also, keep an eye on 6’5 Rasheed Brooks from New Lexington. Some of the other standouts included: Elijah Macon, Marc Loving, Devon Scott, Wendall Davis, Malik Dime, Matt Rhodes, Zeek Rogers, Jalon Robinson, Jack Gibbs, Jae’son Tate, JB Best, Randal Clarkson Jr. and Christian Gaines.

Noah Bramlage-Freshman Ottowa Glandorf

There were several young guys who stepped up their games on Sunday and more than held their own against the big boys. Some of the top young guns included: Ottowa Glandorf’s Noah Bramlage, Tony Anderson, JaQuan Harrison and Brandon Peters (8th grader). Look for many of the above players at the 3^rd Annual All-Ohio City Series event in a couple of weeks.

Lemons is a Lion

2011-10-11T12:17:00.003-04:00

Josh Lemons, a 6'1 PG from LaSalle High School in Cincinnati, hinted to us on Sunday that he was close to making his college decision, and two days later Lemons announced his decision to attend Southeastern Louisiana State. The D-I program is a member of the Southland Conference and finished just above the .500 mark last season. After taking home several post season honors last year for LaSalle, Lemons attracted attention from several programs such as Morehead State and Elon while running with Orlando Berry's All-Ohio Purple squad. Congrats go out to Lemons and his family!

5 Star Profiles Ohio High School Basketball

2011-10-11T10:11:00.000-04:00

Picture by Kelly Kline

Below is a link to a 5 Star story that profiles the upcoming Ohio high school basketball season. In their "50 States in 50 Days" series, author Russell Steinburg profiles Ohio's top players, high school teams and key games while offering a few predictions as well. Enjoy!

5 Star Article

Queen City Superstars Showcase Classic Recap

2011-10-10T13:03:00.002-04:00

On Saturday I had a chance to shoot down to Cincinnati to catch some of the action on day #2 of the 3^rd Annual Queen City Superstars Showcase Classic. The 3^rd year event was hosted by Annie and Lanis Timmons, and was held at Woodward High School. The high school showcase featured about 129 of southern Ohio’s top 9^th-12 graders. In terms of the format, each of the 3 divisions contained 4 teams, and each team played two games over the course of the weekend; one game on Saturday and either a championship or consolation game on Sunday.

The senior division championship game featured the Orlando Berry Jr. led Pistons vs a Jalean Lowe led Bulls. The Pistons quickly jumped out to a 17-0 point lead. After a couple of time outs, insertion of Jalene Lowe and Josh Lemons, and the stellar play of 6’11 Rozelle Nix, the Bulls fought their way back and were up by 1 point when the Piston’s Djantae McCommons hit half court heave with time running out to claim the 62-61 victory. Orlando Berry Jr. was the consummate floor general as he orchestrated his team’s offense, abut also played pressure defense the entire game. Jalean Lowe was the catalyst in the comeback with deep treys and determined drives to the cup. Big Rozelle Nix was money around the basket and was pretty much unstoppable. Leading scores for the Pistons were Berry and Floyd Lee, both of whom finished with 15 points. Lowe paced the Bulls with 18 points, followed by Nix (14) and Josh Lemons (10).

The junior division featured a close game as well, as the Spurs defeated the Mavericks by a score of 66-63. In that game, Summit CD’s Kevin Johnson had a monster performance, finishing with 25 points. Johnson, a 6’4 combo guard, was pretty much unguardable as he knocked down jumpers and got to the cup whenever he wanted. His backcourt teammate, Withrow’s Tim Coleman, a 6’1 PG, did his own damage and finished with 9 markers. For the Mavericks, Withrow’s Devin Williams was a monster, and his dominance made it clear why he is so highly recruited. With his size, strength and ability to handle the rock, Williams is a matchup problem for just about anybody. He is too quick for most post players and too big for guards and wings. Williams finished with a team-high 16 points, followed by Colrain’s Kane Thompson (13 points) and Princeton's Dorian Jordan (9 points).

In the freshman/sophomore championship game the Magic defeated the Rockets 51-42. The leading scorers for the Magic were Trey Lampley and Martin Jones II, both of whom finished with 10 points. The play of the game involved a breakaway dunk by 5’9 Trey Lampley that was simply nasty. After his poster dunk, the gym was till buzzing 15 minutes later. Lampley is surprisingly explosive and made several plays that featured his athleticism. Meadowdale’s Aaron Harris also played well in the win, as did Myo Baxter and Kiere’ Bennie. For the Rockets, Turpin’s Zach McCormick demonstrated surprising athleticism as well, along with a creative handle and an aggressive streak. McCormick finished with a team-high 10 points. I was also really impressed with Ronnie Rousseau, a 5’10 PG from Winton Woods who is cat quick, crafty, explosive and excels at finding open teammates with creative passes. In addition, North College Hill’s Latrell Tidwell logged in a solid game as well and finished with 8 points.

In the senior division consolation game, the Nuggets defeated the Thunder 70-66 in overtime. North College Hill’s Jamal Ivery had a huge game as he exploded for a game-high 33 points. Right behind Ivery in point production was Malcome Smith, a 6’2 shooting Guard from Princton, who scored 24 points in the first half, and 32 points for the game. Other standouts in the game were Rick Robby (10 points) and Andrew Mitchell (10 points). For more results of the showcase click on the link below.

Showcase Recap Report

Pictures

Nike Fall League-Week 1

2011-10-09T09:41:00.001-04:00

Last week I had the chance to check out some of the action at Jerry Watson's Nike Fall League. This year, the league will feature 160 kids on 16 teams. Each teams plays 2 games per day in this 5-week league. During the short time I was there, there were few young players who caught my eye. I was most impressed with Isaiah Keene, a 6'4 SG from Worthington Christian. Keene has a nice frame, good size for his position and is aggressive to the cup.

Some of the other standouts included: Jack Gibbs, Jalon Robinson, Brad Smith, James Mann II, Austin Armwood, Deonte Williams, Esa Ahmed, Kevin Marsh, Mason Baich, DeMarko Cannon, Deonte Williams, and Kalid King.

Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase Highlight Video

2011-10-09T08:38:00.006-04:00

Below is a link to a highlight video developed by Steve Jackson and Future Stars Prep. Enjoy!

Highlight Video

Recruiting Update

2011-10-06T16:14:00.003-04:00

Just today, Jermaine Davis, a 6'9 center from Garfield Heights, has committed to LaSalle. Davis is ranked as the # 6th best center in the state by Prep Spotlight. Also, Garfield Heights' Mike Davis, a 5'11 shooting guard, has committed to Northern Illinois. Mike Davis is ranked as the # 12th best shooting guard in the state by Prep Spotlight. Congrats go out to Coach Sunny Johnson, both players and their families!

Myles Hamilton committed to Kennessaw State today. Hamilton balled with All-Ohio Red this past summer and picked up his play toward the end of the season.

Northland’s Scott Still Evaluating Interest

2011-10-06T10:04:00.000-04:00

Devon Scott-6'8 Senior

As most people know by now, Northland’s Devon Scott originally issued a verbal commitment to the University of Cincinnati back in May of this year shortly after an unofficial visit to the school. What some people may not know is that Scott withdrew his commitment from the Big East school about mid-September, after the lines of communication became frayed. Since that time, the 6’8 center, widely considered as one of the top bigs in the class of 2012 in Ohio, has been sifting through several offers from mid to high major programs.

Right now, Scott claims offers from Alabama, Tennessee, Clemson, Dayton, Ohio, Kent State, Cleveland State, UNC Greensboro, Detroit, Toledo, St. Bonaventure and Oakland. According to sources close to Scott’s recruitment, Ohio and Dayton may be the favorites for Scott’s services. Apparently, Ohio’s John Groce has visited Northland on a regular basis in an attempt to close the deal on Scott. Not to be out done, Coach Archie Miller has also been to the school on several occasions to meet with Scott and his family.

Both Ohio and Dayton seem to fit some of Scott’s requirement, in that both schools are close to home. According to Scott’s father, distance will be a factor in his son’s decision. Ohio may have an edge at this point, because guard play may be another factor. When asked what his son will be looking for in a program he responded; “A guard like Stevie Taylor,” referring to freshman guard from Gahanna Lincoln who will suit up for the Bobcats this season. “Devon is looking to play with an unselfish guard. He is unselfish himself and he wants teammates who are unselfish. He wants to play with a guard who is confident in himself, has nothing to prove and will get him (Devon) the ball,” said the elder Scott. In terms of a time frame for his decision, Scott’s father thinks it will come soon.

According to Victor Dandridge, who is handling most of Scott’s recruitment, Scott may pull the trigger on a school within the next month. In addition, he has counseled Scott to “pick a program that will allow him to reach his full potential; a program that will allow him to play through mistakes and to develop.”

I did get a chance to interview Scott as part of the story, and he shared his thoughts about schools, goals, and a time frame for his decision. "I'm evaluating a lot of schools. Right now, I don't want to put any schools ahead of the other." In terms of what he wants in a school, "The best basketball situation that can help me achieve my dreams," (NBA) said Scott. I want a school that has a history of putting guys in the league. I'm looking for a forwards coach that can help me get to the NBA," added Scott. I asked him about OU and Dayton, and Scott replied, " I like OU and Dayton, but I'm keeping everybody on a level playing field." In addition, although he like both programs, after a visit from Alabama the night before last, that school has risen on his list. "Alabama just left (Associate Head Coach Dan Hipsher) and they like me more than I thought," said Scott. "They have moved up (on his list) to me mentally," offered Scott.

It does not appear that Scott is in a hurry to make the call, and it appears doubtful he will select a program before the high school season tips off. "I will make my decision (on a college) when it feels right," said Scott. The only visit Scott has planed is to Ohio on October 15th. "I want to focus more on academics than visits right now," continued Scott. Look for Scott and his Northland squad to do big things this season.

Devon Scott Video

Moore to the A10

2011-10-02T18:06:00.002-04:00

Willie Moore-6'3 Guard Cincinnati Aiken

During an official visit earlier today, Cincinnati Aiken guard Willie Moore gave a verbal pledge to coach Ron Everhart and the Duquesne Dukes. In an earlier piece we did on Moore, although he he listed offers from from several MAC schools as well as, Tulane, James Madison, Iona State and Wichita State, Duquesne was one of Moore's favorites. Long considered a guards league, the A-10 represents a good fit for the 6'3 guard. Congratulations to Willie, his family and the Duquesne coaching staff.

Highlight Video

2011 Buckeye Prep Elite Fall Showcase Report

2011-09-28T22:30:00.007-04:00

By most accounts, the fall session of the Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase was a huge success! Approximately 320 players from around the Midwest traveled Central Crossing HS in suburban Columbus, Ohio to participate in what has become an elite and must-attend event. The 300 plus players were divided among 32 teams in 4 grade divisions (6/7th, 8th, 9th & 10/11th). Although Sunday proved to be a long day, the level of talent and electricity in the 4-court facility was electric! Add to that the presence of local and national media outlets, and you had what turned out to be a great day of fall basketball and a great opportunity to gain much needed exposure.

Willie Jackson-6'4 8th Grader

One of the things I enjoy most with these types of events is the opportunity they create to discover fresh new talent. Most Midwest based coaches and fans know that Buckeye Prep’s elite showcase is a place for discovery, particularly for kids who live in rural areas or play for teams that do not play at the major AAU-type of tournaments. As is the case at every event, I see kids I have not yet seen. One such player is Willie Jackson, a 6’4 eighth grader from Garfield Heights. The 6’4 wing flashed impressive athleticism and the kind of explosiveness that brings crowds to their feet. Coach Sunny Johnson told me about this kid a few weeks, but I was a bit skeptical until I saw the easy in which Jackson plays the game. Also, from what I hear, Jackson is a good kid with even better grades. Based on everything I’ve heard and seen, this kid could really be something special.

Jaylen McDonald-6'4 9th Grader

Another such player is Jaylen McDonald, a 6’4 swing man from Hudson Ohio. Like Jackson, McDonald already has a good size, a great frame and ample athleticism. I did not see much of him, but what I did see suggests this kid has great upside. In the youngest of the divisions, a couple of kids really caught my eye. Jaylen Harris, a 6’2 seventh grader dominated the showcase. Despite being one of the bigger kids in the division, Harris demonstrated he could run the floor, handle the rock and score. I plan to keep an eye on Harris’ development. Although he was no stranger, Hilliard’s Trey Pugh logged in an impressive day as well. Every time I looked over Pugh was making things look easy, as he scored almost at will.

Jaylen Harris-6'2 7th Grader

In addition to Harris and Pugh in the youngest division, a pair of young guards made some noise. Michigan’s Caleb Hunter is a dynamic and skilled young PG with a basketball IQ beyond his years. Cincinnati’s Marcus Barton was also no stranger, but he proved to me that what I saw earlier in the summer was no fluke, as he played his way into the all-star game and a top 5 finish. Although I did not get a chance to see them play much, the dynamic duo of Tyler Mitchell and Tyler Knecht lived up to the hype. I had heard a lot of good things about the pair prior to the event, and I am happy the reports were credible.

Cassius Winston-8th Grade PG Michigan

As I pointed out earlier, in addition to the Ohio kids, the showcase drew kids from several states including, Michigan, West Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, New Jersey and North Carolina. As always, there were a few Michigan kids who traveled south, performed well, and deserve some Buckeye love. Algevon Eichelberger, a 6’5 8th grader is an elite showcase returnee, and like he did the last time he came down, Eichelberger got busy. A big with great feet and a soft touch around the bucket, Eichelberger can score in bunches. Joining the big guy from Michigan was Cassius Winston, a 5’10 floor general who possess a full package of dribble moves and tricks. I had heard that Winston is widely considered as the top 8th grade point man in Michigan, and I can see why. In addition to Eichelberger, Winston and Hunter, at least 3 other Michigan players played their way into all-star games (see my post-event report).

Marc Loving-2013 Ohio State Commit

I did not spend much time watching the 10/11th grade division, as there were several high school scouts watching and writing about that group. However, I am aware that Westerville North’s Jack Gibbs, Gahanna Lincoln’s Aaron Jackson, Toledo St. Johns’ Marc Loving, Reynoldsburg’s Wendell Davis, Brookhaven’s Ronnie Williams and Dayton Christian's RaChuan Martin all solidified their reps as elite players. As a side note, although both Loving and Davis were selected to the all-star game, neither player participated.

AJ Harris-Top 2015 PG-Dayton

The guard play at the showcase was spectacular! With young guys like AJ Harris, Lamonte Stone II, Xavier Holston-Sims, Kyle Stergis, Isaiah Jones, Cassius Winston, Rodrick Caldwell, Ashon Riggins, Xavier Simpson, Jalon Lewis, Darion Burns (KY), Craig Randall, Jalani Rogers, Tyrell Carter, Jaqual Parks-Freeman, Marcus Barton, Tyler Mitchell, Ty Wiley and Caleb Hunter in the gym, you know there are going to be some great battles! One such battle featured a match up between two of Ohio's top 9th grade point guards in Harris and Stone. I’m not going to declare a winner at this point (I did not see the entire game), but let me just say this; it was fun to watch!

Derrick Daniels-6'6 8th Grader

Although there were more guards at the event, there were also some very impressive bigs. Shaker Heights Esa Ahmed continues to lay claim as the top 2015 big in the state, as he logged in yet another stellar performance on Sunday. Africentric’s Tony Anderson continues to improve, as does Hilliard’s Michael Simon. Although Dayton’s Derrick Daniels arrived late, he was well worth waiting for. Daniels is easily the best post player in the class of 2016. Long and very active defensively, Daniels is a legitimate D-I prospect going forward. Speaking of long term prospects, I have to add Shaker Height's Kipper Nichols to the conversation, The 6'5 freshman''s play clearly established him as one of the top players in the class. When his scoring catches up to his rebounding and defense, watch out! I also really love Noah Bramlage’s game. A 6’6 power forward from Ottawa is high skilled and knows what he is doing in the post. Also, Bramlage has a nice face up game as well. From what I have seen from Bramlage during the last couple of events, there is little doubt that college basketball is in his future.

Kipper Nichols- 6'5 Freshman

Also, I need to give a shout out to Ashon Riggens, an 8th grader from Cincinnati who played up in the 9th grade division and still made the all-star team. To many, Riggens gets the nod as the top player in his class. A few other players to keep an eye on include: Cincinnati’s Tommie “TC” Wells and Phillip Dozier. These two Bulldogs are relentless, and really attack the glass both offensively and defensively. Dayton’s Joey Williams Jr., Joey Keeble and Andre Hawes Jr. proved that the love I showed them a few weeks ago after observing them at a Dayton area open gym was justified, as each of these players got the all-star game nod. I saw also saw some flashes from Seth Towns, Josh Williams, Devon Stover, Germaine Britten, Rodney Culver Jr., Elmore Jennoro, Nequan Carrington (WVa), Michael Ryan, Andre Foster and EJ Williams.

Seth Towns-6'4 8th Grader

In closing, I could not be happier with how the showcase turned out. Although there are always areas of improvement, at the end of the day, the event featured a lot of talent, plenty of exposure, great facility all in a safe environment. In addition, I know I have not highlighted every player who played well and deserves recognition, but I brought in other media to serve this purpose as I was busy running the event. Also, I put together a more extensive report with individual and team photos. Enjoy! Finally, based on the overwhelmingly response and positive feedback about Sunday’s event, my March 2012 showcase has the potential to be really really special!! Click on the links below for additional showcase recaps:

Buckeye Prep Report
ESPN Report
Spencer Pulliam's 2015 Report
Triple Double Prospects Report
Cincy Prep Hoops Report
Showcase Photographs
More Pictures
Standout Photos

Levert Verbals to Ohio

2011-09-26T11:36:00.002-04:00

Caris Levert-6'4 Sr.

Caris Levert, a smooth 6'4 shooting guard from Pickerington Central High School located in suburban Columbus, Ohio, had an eye catching sophomore campaign with his high school squad and a good summer on the AAU circuit. Consequently, Levert has seen his recruitment pick up lately. After a visit to beautiful Athens campus late last week, it appears Levert, ranked as the #59 best shooting guard in the country by ESPN.com, liked what he saw, and committed to coach John Groce and the Ohio Bobcats. Congatultions to the Levert family and the Ohio coaching staff for a good get.

September 25th Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase

2011-09-23T15:37:00.004-04:00

I just sent out the below email to parents and coaches. Please read.

Parents/Coaches, Attached is an updated draft of the showcase material. Please review the same to ensure the information I have for your son/player is correct. In addition, there still may still be some minor changes to the rosters up until I call out the names in the morning. Also, as a reminder, the showcase has been moved to Central Crossing High School located at 5400 Big Run Road South, Grove City, Ohio. Registration begins at 8:00am and the games will tip off about 9:15am. Games will start early so I would suggest you arrive at the gym as soon as possible. Please take the time to review the attached game rules. Because the showcase is completely sold out, there will be no room for walk-up registrations. At this point, if a player is not listed on the rosters, he cannot participate.
If you are coaching a team, please plan to arrive no later the 8:30am, as we will be having a short coaches meeting. I will be providing you with a t-shirt to wear so please dress accordingly. Everyone one must have completed registration forms. You can download them from the website (lower right hand corner) and bring them with you in the morning. Also, I know some of you have paid the fee by Pay Pal, however, we may not have been able to match the Pay Pal receipt with your son/player’s forms or name. Therefore, our records may show you as not paid. Please bring a copy of your pay pal receipt so we can make the match and speed up the process. There will be a concession stand which will be operated by the school’s booster club and we will be selling camp t-shirts. It’s going to be a long and taxing day for all involved, so please arrive at the gym with a patient and positive attitude. Every effort has been made to ensure you and your son/player has a positive experience. If you have any questions or concerns simply call or text me at 614-203-2929 and I will do my best to be responsive. Have safe travels and I will see you in the morning. Rob Taylor

4th Draft
Showcase Awards

National Recruiter Service to Cover Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase

2011-09-22T13:19:00.001-04:00

As promised, the Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase will offer an excellent exposure opportunity. I just learned yesterday that the National Recruiter Service, one of the leading college scouting services in the country, will be monitoring our showcase. National Recruiter scouts cover many of the elite national events across the country and have established themselves as a invaluable tool for college coaches in search of recruitable players. At the conclusion of the event, player contact information will be forwarded National Recruiter, and will then be forwarded to the many college coaches who subscribe to their service. This represents a great opportunity for our showcase participants, as actual college coaches will be handed their information! Also, a number of small college coaches will be attending the event as well and will be presented with a coaches packet which contains player's contact information. To ensure your son/player's name is listed in this material, the showcase registration forms must be completed. In addition to National Recruiters, the following scouting services will be attending the event: John Stovall (ESPN/Prep Spotlight/Nike), Spencer Pulliam (Hype Basketball), Corey Albertson (Triple Double Scouting Service), Jeff Rapp (Bucknuts/Ohio Prep), Ty Kish (City League Hoops), Clay Dade (Jr. All-American Camp), Cap City Prep, Youth1 Sports, Future Stars Prep, and others.

db Hoops Skills Academy Spotlights North East Ohio Talent

2011-09-20T19:03:00.002-04:00

Team of the Day

On September 17, 2011, db Hoops held the first ever Skills Academy. Founder Dwight Blair provided Buckeye Prep with a post event account of some of the standout players at the event. Below is his report.

"The high school event drew 50 players in our first year, and out of the 50 kids at the event there were many talented young players. The top three senior players were 6'6" wing Cody Blizzard out of Ashtabula Lake Side; 6'5" D'Vontie Rorie out of Canton McKinley and 6'3" Bryson Smith out of Canton South High School. These three men played hard all afternoon and really turned some heads. In fact, Bryson's play may have earned him an offer from D-II California PA.

Cody Blizzard

The junior division also had some outstanding players including: 6'8" Mike Mills from Canton McKinley; 6'3" Jaevon Johnson out of Canton Glenoak (very smooth left hander); 6'2" Kyle Deckerd from Canton South (deadly 3pt shooter) and 5'9" Hollas "Scamp" Alexander from Canton McKinley. All of these players turned some heads and had solid days. The sophomore class was as solid as they come and had many outstanding players as well. Those players included: 6'5" Ethan Boose from New Philly and his teammate 6'3" wing Marco Columbo really put on a show. Also db Hoops teammates 6'3" Brennan Czuchran from Buckeye Local and 6'3" Anthony Wallace from The Linsley School had outstanding days. Also 5'8" Jarel Wooldridge from Akron ST Vincent ST Mary really put on a show on Saturday.

Devonte Rorie

Finally, not be out done, the freshman class was saying do not forget about us. We had some very talented young men who will be raising stars in the near future. 6'4" Jordan Stock (Massillon Washinton), 6'3" Brogan Scott (Medina Highland), 6'1" twins Michael & Scott Peterson (Lake Center Christian), 5'9" Tyler Dunn (Massillon Jackson) and 5'8" Jaevon McClain ( Akron ST Vincent ST Mary). These young men were solid, and at times, they were the best players on the floor, and will be worth watching this season and in the spring for db Hoops (their summer squad). With all of that being said, our camp MVP was Marco Columbo (New Philly), who just put on a show and was as solid with shooting and passing. Had an outstanding camp and was making every player around him better."

Marco Columbu-Camp MVP

Potts Pulls the Trigger for UNC Greensboro

2011-09-20T00:32:00.003-04:00

Jordan Potts-5'10 PG

5'10 2012 PG Jordan Potts (Columbus, OH. Northland H.S.) committed to UNC-Greensboro. Potts is a solid PG that helped lead All Ohio Red to the 17 & under AAU National Championship this year. He is a great get for the UNCG staff. Potts can score and lead a team. He has really come on in the last 6 months and had a great summer this year.

6'4 2012 SF/SG Dylan Kaufman (Berlin, OH. Hiland H.S.) committed to Findlay. Kaufman is a natural wing scorer. he has put up very good numbers in high school in every year leading up to his senior season. He helped lead his team to an Ohio Division 4 state championship last year and his team should be the favorite to repeat this season.

Finally, Olentangy's Steve Walczak committed to division II Lake Erie College last week. Congratulations to each of the above players!

John Stovall

Williams Cashes in on Hot Summer

2011-09-15T17:18:00.001-04:00

Devin Williams-6'8 Junior

Devin Williams, a nimble 6’8 225 pound power forward from Cincinnati Withrow, has seen his recruitment sky rocket since he tore his way through the summer circuit. While running with Mike Duncan’s Ohio Basketball Club this summer, the nationally ranked Williams grabbed the attention of numerous high major college coaches. In fact, in an interview with Williams two weeks ago, he boasted having secured a hefty 40 plus scholarship offers so far. Although too numerous to mention them all, Williams lists offers from the likes of Pittsburgh, Marquette, San Diego State, USC, Tennessee, Xavier, Cincinnati, Penn State, Illinois, and Dayton. In addition to the above offers, Williams reports receiving interest from Arizona, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Kentucky and West Virginia.

Only a high school junior, Williams has not developed a list of favorites just yet, nor does he have any immediate plans to drop a verbal anytime soon, preferring to wait until his senior year in high school. Williams has a good idea about when his recruitment took off this summer, indicating, “After the Indiana tournament (Adidas Take Five). In July, as soon as they (coaches) could call us,” stated Williams.

Williams plans to carry his stellar play into the upcoming high school season, and he feels the Tigers can go deep in Ohio state tourney. “We should make a real big run. I think we can get to the final four,” stated Williams. If you have not had a chance to catch Williams in action, you can't possibly appreciate the footwork, ball skills and the power this athletic big man possess. For a sneak peak at Williams’ game, click on the link to the below video of Williams dominating at last year’s Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase.

Devin Williams Video

Site Change for Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase

2011-09-15T12:29:00.002-04:00

Due to an overwhelming response to the Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase, the site has been changed from Gahanna Lincoln HS to Central Crossing HS, located at 4500 Big Run Rd, Grove City, Oh. 43123. At this point, because over 280 kids have registered, we needed a larger facility. The event will now use 4 regulation sized courts in a very beautiful facility. Also, I have instituted several changes to this event to increase the level of evaluation and exposure for the players. Also, there will be several new scouting services and video guys in attendance to evaluate and capture the players. Small college coaches are also welcome to attend. Registration will open at 8:00am and the games will start at 9:15am.

Not only will the top Ohio kids be in the house, but players from Michigan, West Virgina, Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina, New and Jersey Wisconsin will also be competing. Right now, there are 28 teams in the following 4 divisions: 10/11th; 9th; 8th & 6/7th. Each team will play 3 games with the top 2-3 kids to play in an all-star game, which is set to tip off at 5:30 PM. If your son/player is registered for the event he should report to Central Crossing HS by 8:00am. I am currently in the process of fine tuning my information, and I will be posting an initial draft of the rosters, team assignments and game schedule by Sunday night.

Because not everybody is good with a computer, it would be much appreciated if you can help me communicate the changes to friends, players and other coaches, so no one shows up at Gahanna (cross town). Finally, I will be sending out an email with more specific information about the event within the next couple of days. This will be the biggest and most competitive Buckeye Prep showcase ever! I hope everybody is as excited as I am about this event; it could be very special!!

Friars Club to Host 3rd Annual Basketball Showcase

2011-09-14T22:32:00.002-04:00

On October 8th and 9th, the Friars Club will be hosting their 3rd Annual Queen City Superstars High School Showcase at Cincinnati's Woodward High School located at 7005 Reading Road in Cincinnati. Not only will the competition be HOT, but a number of small college coaches will be in the house evaluating players. For more information about the event, call Lannis or Annie Timmons at 513-702-7726 or email them at atimmons@cinci.rr.com.

Event Flyer

Central Ohio Open Gym-Week 5 Standouts

2011-09-12T23:46:00.000-04:00

Caris Levert-6'3 Shooting Guard

Although there were a number of quality players missing from this week’s Central Open Gym, there were several standout performances worth mentioning. Pickerington Central's Caris Levert put on a show. The 6’3 sophomore had to convert over 80 percent of his shots over the course of the day. Levert is really starting to turn some heads with his athleticism and ability to score the ball, and I over heard a couple of observers comment that he might be the best shooting guard in the city. I mentioned last week that Levert has an offer from Alabama State, but I have to think his recruitment will pick up in a hurry once the high school season tips off. Pick Central will be loaded this year as evidenced by the stellar play of sophomore Conner Kern, a 6’0 shooting guard. As soon as I thought Kern was just about the jump shot, he showed me more depth in his game, and an ability to get to the basket and to play solid defense. Also, Kern appears to be a little more athletic than he looks.

Jaylen Benton-6'1 PG

Westerville North’s Jaylen Benton had a huge day as well. Benton, a 6’1 PG and recent transfer from Northland, had every aspect of his game clicking. He took guys to the cup and finished; he had his jumper dialed in, and his defense was stifling. Watching Benton dominate in the first 3 games was very entertaining. All I can say is; Westerville North is going to be a tough out this year! I have to give a shout out to his teammate, Matt Rhodes, who shot the cover off of the basketball. Rhodes is not just a spot up shooter,on no, his use of the jab step moves and head fakes are next level, and he shoots it well off the bounce. I also saw him attacking the cup a lot more on Sunday. There have to be some programs pout there looking for a kid like Rhodes! Click on the link below to see the other players of the day as well as the top team.

Week #5 Standouts

Dayton Area Middle Schoolers Shine at Open Gym

2011-09-12T09:56:00.005-04:00

Joey Williams-6'2 8th Grader

Earlier in the week I posted a story about the middle school open gym at Brunner Catholic School in Dayton. On Saturday morning I took a quick trip over to Dayton to check out some of the city’s top 7^th and 8^th graders. Although only about 18 kids showed up, and a few of the kids I wanted to see were playing football, I was pleasantly surprised to find so much young talent in the gym.

Aside from Rodrick Caldwell, who did not arrive until much later, I was most impressed with Joey Williams, a 6’2 combo guard from Valerie MS in Dayton. Williams has participated in prior Buckeye Prep Elite Showcases, but he never really landed on my radar. If not for the fact that stopped playing the post and assumed the role as the lead guard on Saturday, Williams' considerable skill with the rock may have again gone unnoticed. Unlike so many young players with early size, Williams has not been regulated to the post, but has obviously receieved perimeter work. Already 6’2 with athleticism, length and ball skills, Williams has upside potential written all over him. Williams really excelled at getting to the rack and finishing, and his defense was the best I saw all morning. I plan to keep an eye on this kid, he could be a good one.

Andre Hawes-5'7 8th grader

Andre Hawes Jr., a 5’7 combo from Wantz MS in Miamisburg caught my eye as well. Hawes is a crafty little guard with a tight handle, good vision and a nice shot. I also really liked his aggressiveness and confidence. I was also really impressed with Joey Keeble, a 6’10 swing man from Horance Mann MS in Dayton. He is still very slender, but he handles the ball well, attacks the cup on a regular basis and is not afraid to play defense. I think Keeble will be a nice prospect going forward. According to Tony Boddie Sr., who trains Keeble, "His offense has really picked up over the last year."

Joey Keeble-5'10 8th Grader

I can’t forget Yerusalem Hill Jr., a 6’1 combo forward from West Carrollton MS in Dayton. Hill has really good length for his age and is blessed with loads of athleticism. What impressed me the most was his vision and willingness to pass the rock. Stiver's Noah Howell, one of the few 9th graders in the gym, did some really nice things on Saturday as well. This pass-first floor general did a good job of running his team, and he showed he could work off screens and knock down jumpers off the bounce.

Roderick Caldwell-5'7 8th Grader

Although he arrived later in the session, and I only saw him play 2 games, Rodrick Caldwell was hands down the most talented kid in the gym. Despite coming in late, right from the start of his first game, he came out passing the ball to teammates, a sign of his confidence and having nothing to prove. Caldwell has been featured on this site many times and his advance game, basketball IQ and substantial package of skills have been well documented here.

Tony Boddie-7th Grade Guard

Last but not least; there were only a few 7^th graders at the open gym, and Tony Boddie Jr, stoodout the most. Right now, the best part of Boddie’s game is his ability to knock down shots from both the mid-range and behind the arc. If his handle catches up with his shot, Boddie has a chance to be really good.

Yerusalem Hill-6'1 8th Grader

Thanks to Tony Boddie Sr. for the invitation; I really enjoyed my trip to the Gem City. Also, if I’m not mistaken, each of the players spotlighted above will be attending my September 25^th elite showcase, so I will get a chance to see how they perform against other top players from around the region! To see the pictures I took at the event, visit the Buckeye Prep Facebook Fan Page.

Rozier Headed to the Big East

2011-09-11T13:06:00.001-04:00

Terry Rozier

Terry Rozier's stellar play this summer with All-Ohio Red and at the Lebron James Skills Academy led to interest from several high major programs. Last night at an open gym in Shaker Heights, the 5'11 floor general wrapped up his recruitment with a verbal pledge to Rick Patino and Louisville Cardinals. Also in the gym last night was West Virginia's Bob Huggins and Cincinnati coaches. I had the opportunity to coach Rozier this summer with All-Ohio Red, and I became increasingly impressed with his game. At the Nike EYBL finals at the Peach Jam, Rozier did some amazing things, which obviously did not go unnoticed. Being a Louisville native myself, and a big Cardinals fan, I could not be happier about his decision. Congratulations to Terry and his family on this major accomplishment!

Currier Journal Article

Rossi Twins Talk Recruitment

2011-09-11T12:18:00.000-04:00

Justin & Jacob Rossi

If twins were not rare enough, how often to you see a pair of 6’8 twins, both of whom are highly skilled, posses a high basketball IQ and can hoop. Last week I caught up Jacob and Justin Rossi, 6’8 power forwards from Franklin, and asked them about their recruitment. Although neither brother had received an actual offer when we spoke, they reported increasing interest from several low to mid-major D-I programs including: UNC Ashville, Belmonte, Manhattan, James Madison, Gardner Webb and Dayton.

Neither player has taken any unofficial visits so far, but both guys plan to visit Dayton in September, and have received notice that many of the above programs will be sending coaches to their high school open gyms within the next couple of weeks. I spoke with Justin this morning to get an update and he indicated that the UD coaching staff will be attending a workout today at the high school, along with Gardner Webb and Cincinnati. Justin admitted that Dayton will be at the workout to see freshman Luke Kinnard, but was pleased that the coaches will get a chance to see them workout as well.

With twins, the obvious question always centers on their desire to play together at the same school. Although Jacob and Justin would prefer to play together, it would not be a deal breaker should a program only want the services of one brother. Both guys are very optimistic about the upcoming high school season. “We have the number one freshman in the state (Luke Kinnard) coming in. I know we will go undefeated,” stated Jacob. “No doubt we will win our league,” continued Justin. Watching these guys play together was a treat, and you could see the pair communicating with their eyes and a simple head nod. Look for D-II Franklin to do some serious damage this upcoming basketball season.

Central Ohio Open Gym-Week 5 Team Rosters

2011-09-11T12:00:00.000-04:00

Below is a link to a tentative list of team rosters for week #5 of Vic Dandridge's open gym. The rosters are subject to change depending on who shows up.

Week #5 Rosters

Moore Shifting Through Offers

2011-09-09T11:24:00.000-04:00

Willie Moore-6'3 PG Cincinnati Aiken

Willie Moore, a dynamic 6’3 senior guard from Cincinnati Aiken, is currently evaluating several D-I offers including: Wichita State, Tulane, Cleveland State, Kent State, Iona State, James Madison, Ohio, Akron and Miami (OH). In addition, Moore has also received interest from Dayton and Duquesne. When we spoke last week, Moore had paired his list down to a top four of Dayton, Duquesne, Wichita State and Cleveland State. Although Dayton had yet to offer at the time, it was clear that Dayton would get the nod if an offer was forthcoming. In fact, Moore is scheduled to visit the A-10 school within the next week. According to a source close to the recruitment, Cleveland State may be the club house leader if Dayton does not pull the trigger. Moore would like to have his decision all wrapped up prior to the start of his senior season, and will be assessing each program’s academics and style of play when deciding on a school. Moreover, Moore indicated that he would prefer to stay close to home if possible.

Moore has big plans for his final prep season stating, “I can see us in the (Ohio High School Tournament) final four or championship.” Aiken, a D-II program, will face a challenge in league play. “Our league will help us. Our schedule is tough. We have all the GLC schools plus Taft,” said Moore.

In addition to his recruiting and his predictions for this upcoming season, we discussed Moore’s rocky summer, which included play with multiple teams (Ohio Hoopstars, All-Ohio Purple and Cincinnati Knights). As he spoke, it was clear he had some regrets for bouncing around between several teams. “I should have stayed with one team,” said Moore. "It (changing teams) hurt my recruitment. Had I stayed with one team my recruitment would have been different. I would not still be going through this stuff,” continued Moore. Buckeye Prep would like to wish Willie much success in the upcoming season and beyond.

2011-09-07T11:53:00.001-04:00

Roderick Caldwell-8th Grade PG

With the football season underway, and as basketball players and fans look toward the start of the hoops season in a few months; kids all across the state are participating in fall leagues and open gyms in an effort to develop their games. One such open gym is being held at Brunner Catholic School in Dayton, where approximately 20-25 elite 7th and 8th grade kids meet every Saturday morning from 9:00am to 11:00am to get in a quality run. In its 5th week, the open gym has attracted many of the city’s top young players. According to Tony Boddie Sr, one of the organizers of the event, “the open gym is designed to give non-football players a good run.” Also, for those players who might be interested in participating, Boddie advised that the open gym will run another 3-4 weeks.

Derrick Daniels-6'5 Center

From what I hear, Roderick Caldwell is lighting it up, and has clearly separated himself from the other 8th graders in the city. Right behind him is Derrick Daniels, a 6’5 center at Mary Queen of Peace. I had a chance to see Daniels this summer and came away super impressed with his upside potential. I’m also hearing some good things about Joey Williams Jr, a 6’2 combo guard. Although I have not seen Williams, his game is well respected by those who follow youth basketball in Dayton. It should be noted that both Caldwell and Dainels are listed as one of Buckeye Prep's "Top Thirty 8th Graders."

Below is a full report on some of the standout players at last Saturday’s session. If possible, I plan to attend the event in person with in the next couple of weeks to see firsthand who is getting it done. Also, look for many of the below players at my September 25th Elite Showcase here in Columbus.

Event Report

"Some of Dayton's top 8th graders and a couple of the top 7th graders have been playing weekly at Brunner Catholic School in Dayton. The 8th graders are led by Roderick Caldwell, Derrick Daniels, and Joey Williams Jr. Other 8th graders that shown well include: Josh Smith, Isaiah Williams, Joey Keeble, Terance Landers and Michael Pickel. The 7th graders are led by Tony Boddie Jr. and Brandon Sutherland.

The games are becoming increasingly fierce with some serious intensity. Caldwell is a point guard that continues to show a high hoop IQ while regularly unleashing a killer jump shot. Derrick Daniels remains raw on the offensive end but is one of the most intimidating defensive players in the state. At 6'6" he can dunk the ball almost any way you want it and uses that height and athleticism to defend the middle. Joey Williams Jr. is a multiple-skilled player that at 6'2" can play the 1, 2, or 3 at a high level. If he continues to work on his shot he has a chance to be special.

There have been two 8th graders that until now, at their fathers' discretion, have flown under the radar screen. They are Joey Keeble and Michael Pickel. Michael is a big body lefty guard that can play the 1 or 2, while Joey Keeble is a 2 or 3 that can lock down an opposing 2 guard. Terance Landers is multi skilled and can get to the basket at will. Also, watch out for Tony Boddie Jr. and Brandon Sutherland, the only two 7th graders participating in the open gym. Tony holds his own well with the older fellas due to a mid-range game reminiscent of 80's ballers like Bernard King. Brandon Sutherland is a hard nosed point guard that plays the game from baseline to baseline. Watch out for these guys. They should have outstanding Jr. High campaigns this winter."

Central Ohio Gym-Week #4

2011-09-05T17:03:00.003-04:00

Walnut Ridge's Roy Alexander had a big day

Week # 4 of Vic Dandridge’s open gym was the best yet in terms of both the amount of talent in the gym as well as the level of play. The competition was enhanced with the participation of a Cincinnati/Kentucky based team of Devin Williams, Willie Moore, Tyonte Robertson, Paul Woodson, Nick Ruthsatz (Ky) and Nick Fredrick (KY) The team ended the day with a 4-2 overall record. A shout out to Cincinnati Prep Hoops’ Corey Albertson for bring the kids up to Columbus to participate. This week, I thought I would try a new format for listing the team and players of the day. Please click on the link below for that information. Let me know what you think in the “comment” section below.

I have to mention a couple of other things. First, I really enjoyed watching the Rossi twins play. Jacob and Justin, both 6’8 centers, attend Franklin HS, and both logged in a solid day of basketball. Look for a feature of the two in a few days. Also, Northland’s Ke'Chaun Lewis’s dunk over Devon Scott was simply nasty! Click on the red highlight to check it out; I’m sure you will agree. It was all in good fun thou, as the 2 teammates were seen laughing about it later.

DJ Blanks-6'2 ASVSM

I got a chance to watch ASVSM’s DJ Blanks play for the first time and was very impressed with the young man’s game. Arguably the top 2 teams of the day were the Jack Gibb’s led team #7 (including Matt Rhodes, Steve Wolscak, Jake Bischoff & Jaylen Benton), and team #5 with Jordan Potts, DJ Blanks, Jacob Cashen (Norwalk), Devon Scott and Jalen Robinson. Team #5 grinded it out all day, while having to play 3 sudden death games on the day. Also, the match up between Gibbs and Potts was a good one!

6"9 Malik Dime-Walnut Ridge

The pair of Walnut Ridge kids represented the red & white well. 6’4 Roy Alexander had a big day while 6’9 Malik Dime showed flashes of something special. I also noted several D-II & D-III coaches in the gym checking out the talent. I saw coaches from Walsh, Dennison and Cincinnati State to name a few. It’s always nice for kids to get college looks. I spoke to Pick Central's Caress Levert and he mentioned he had received an offer from Alabama State recently. The way the kid has been playing, that should be the first of many offers coming his way.

Finally, in case you have not heard, there were several college commitments this past week. Elida’s Reggie McAdams pulled the trigger for Akron; big CJ Getty verbaled to UNC Wilmington, and Pickerington Central’s Chad Nelson committed to Ohio Dominican University. Congrats to Coach Artie Taylor and his staff at ODU. In closing, the way it is going, I can't wait to see what goes down in week #5!

Week #4 Standouts

Pictures

Highlight Video

Cap City Prep Video

Toledo Junior Holds Early Offers

2011-09-04T12:27:00.001-04:00

Nigel Hayes-6'7 Jr Toledo Whitmer

Nigel Hayes, a 6’7 power forward from Toledo Whitmer, has parlayed a solid summer of AAU basketball into a handful of college scholarship offers, as well as interest from several high major programs. In a conversation with Hayes recently, he advised he has received offers from: Xavier, Cincinnati, Dayton, Butler, Akron, Central Michigan and Toledo. In addition, Hayes, ranked as the #2 power forward in the state by John Stovall and Prep Spotlight, is reportedly receiving interest from Ohio State, Purdue, West Virginia and Memphis. Although it’s still early in the process, Hayes already lists his favorites as Ohio State, Xavier and Butler.

The only unofficial visit he has taken so far was at Xavier 3 years ago. Hayes does not have any current plans to make any visits prior to the high school season, and he expects to make his decision sometimes before his senior year. When he does pull the trigger on a program he will consider the school’s “academics, athletics and location.” Hayes also mentioned that he would prefer to “play close to home, either in-state or a neighboring state.” Also, although Hayes plays wide receiver for the Toledo Whitmer football team, and has already secured a scholarship offer from Wisconsin, he prefers hoops at the next level.

When asked about the upcoming prep season, Hayes indicated his “goal is to win states. We still need to see if our transfers are able to play (Leroy Alexander, Recardo Smith & Chris Harris). Three of our five starters are new,” said Hayes. “If we can get our chemistry together we can be pretty good,” continued Hayes. Although I saw Hayes dominate at times this summer, he appeared to be a little disappointed with his personal and team's performance (ran with All-Ohio Red), stating, “It was pretty good, but not as good as it could have been. As a team, we should have won more tournaments than we did.” Hayes accepted his role in his team’s limited success stating, “I should have played better than I did.” Look for Hayes to have a breakout season this year.

Prep Spotlight High School Showcase

2011-09-04T00:45:00.000-04:00

John Stovall and Prep Spotlight will be hosting a one day showcase for high school aged players in the Cleveland, Ohio area later this month. Below is additional information about the event:

What: Prep Spotlight Showcase

When: Thursday, September 22nd
5pm to 10pm
Registration: email: john_stovall@ymail.com

Cost: $30

Where: Garfield Heights High School

Note: There will be over 30 D2 and D3 colleges in attendance

Email questions to john_stovall@ymail.com

Potts Evaluates Offers

2011-09-02T14:24:00.001-04:00

Jordan Potts-Senior PG Northland

Last week I sat down with Jordan Potts, a 5'10 senior floor general at Northland High School, to get an update on his college recruitment. According to Potts, he is currently considering offers from UNC Greensboro, Radford and Bethune Cookman. Potts also reports interest from Indiana State, Tennessee Chattanooga and Southeast Missouri State. I asked Potts what factors would play into his college decision and he mentioned the desire to play at mid-major level. He also values the ability to “play right away” with a program that has “a good non-conference schedule.” Potts also does not see distance (from home) as an issue in his decision, and although he did not declare a favorite, people close to the family predict UNC Greensboro as the program to beat.

By most accounts, Potts had a solid summer and rapped up his AAU career with a nice run at the AAU Nationals. Potts agrees, describing his performance this summer as “productive.” Potts is also optimistic with Northland’s chances this upcoming high school season, and when asked how deep he thinks the team can go in the state tournament he indicated, “state, no doubt.” Look for Potts and his Northland team to once again make a serious run at another state title. With Cincinnati commit Devon Scott and Dayton pledge Jalen Robinson in the front court, Northland certainly has enough talent to get the job done. Good luck to Potts and his family as they ponder their decision.

Central Ohio Open Gym-Week Three

2011-08-29T11:50:00.004-04:00

John Drapper-Eastmoor Academy

I had a chance to spend some time at Victor Dandrige’s open gym yesterday, and noted the fact that the number of players in attendance had increased. In fact, 70 players showed up for the run. At this point, all 6 courts at the USA Sports Academy are being used for games, and this week, there were more younger players. While I was there, I spotted a few kids who were really getting it done. Eastmoor Academy’s John Drapper continues to look impressive. The crafty 5’11 PG can really handle the rock and he does a great job of attacking the cup and finishing. Westerville South’s Isiah “Zeek” Rogers made some noise on Sunday and he was widely considered one of the top performers of the day.

Isiah "Zeek" Rogers-Westerville South

Pickerington Central's Caris Levert is a "Player of the Day" candidate, as his play was spectacular on Sunday. Both Devin Scott and Jordan Potts (Northland) logged in solid performances as well. Pickerington North's Devon Price had his jumper dialed in, while Walnut Ridge's Malik Dime, a long 6'9 center, showed his defensive prowess. Add Windall Davis (Reynoldsburg), Jordan Potts and Brandon Bapst's (Grove City) name to the standout player list, as each of them played well. Team of the day honors go to team #5 with Caress Levert, Daryl Levert, JB Best (Pick Central), Drew Makiewicz (The Miami Vallley School) and Steve Wolczak (Olentangy). Every week the competition just keeps getting better, so if you have some time on Sunday afternoon, you might want to head on over and catch some of the action!

Open Gym Rosters
Pictures
Zeek Roger's Buzzer Beater

Molock Still Has Interest

2011-08-28T14:45:00.001-04:00

Kyle Molock-Senior PG

Kyle Molock, a 6’1 PG at Dublin Coffman, has had his fair share of bad luck over the past 12 months. As most people know by now, Molock, widely considered one of the top guard prospects in Ohio in the class of 2012, verbally committed to Purdue early, but suffered a season-ending knee injury last summer. If that wasn’t enough, Molock and the Purdue coaching staff agreed to part ways several months ago. In an interview with Molock last week, he appeared at peace with the situation with Purdue.“I have no bad feelings for them (coaching staff), I’m not bitter. They had to protect themselves (concerns about recovery) when I got hurt and I had to protect myself,” stated Molock.

Fortunately for Molock, there is still interest in his talent, thou mainly from mid-major level programs. In fact, according to the senior guard, he holds offers from Toledo, Wolford, Kent State and Cleveland State. Molock has also received interest from larger programs such as Stanford, Virginia, Norte Dame and Dayton. Although Molock has not taken any unofficial visits to date, he is currently trying to set up a visit with Stanford in a couple of weeks.

Molock does not claim any favorites at the moment, but he intends to ”make a list at the end of September after the open gyms,” added Molock. He plans to make his college decision prior to the high school basketball season and will base his decision on the potential for early playing time. Distance is not a huge consideration for Molock, but he noted, “Playing close (to home) would be nice, but I’m willing to go wherever.” Molock reports that he is fully recovered from his injury and is optimistic about his senior season, stating, "We got a chance; I think we can win districts and make the regionals.” Look for Molock and Dublin Coffman to make another nice run in 2012.

Pair of Central Ohio Juniors Draw Interest

2011-08-26T11:25:00.003-04:00

Jack Gibbs

Although they are only juniors, Westerville North’s Jack Gibbs and Gahanna Lincoln’s Aaron Jackson have both converted a solid summer of performance into college scholarship offers. While running with Ohio Varsity this summer, both players were key to the team’s surprising success, and college coaches have taken notice. I sat down with both players on Sunday to discuss their current recruiting status. According to Gibbs, he has actual offers from Ohio, Toledo, Akron, William & Marry and James Madison. In terms of other interest, Gibbs is hearing from VCU, Davidson, Indiana State, Wake Forrest and Cincinnati. Although Gibbs has only had a chance to visit Ohio (2 weeks ago), describing the school as “nice,” he plans visits to VCU and Cincinnati some times in September. When he makes his final decision, prior to his senior year he says, Gibbs will be focusing on style of play; he prefers up-tempo, and “good coaching.” When asked about his upcoming high school season, Gibbs was optimistic, stating, “I think we can win district if we play together and develop good chemistry.” With the addition of Jaylen Benton (a transfer from Northland) in the backcourt, look for Westerville North to claim a league championship and to make a deep run in the district tournament.

Aaron Jackson

Gahanna’s Aaron Jackson also parlayed a big summer into interest, as he lists offers from Ohio, Akron and Toledo, with interest from VCU, Miami (OH), Bowling Green and Dayton. Although he is yet to make any visits, Jackson intends to visit VCU as soon as his schedule allows. When he makes his decision next summer, Jackson will be looking for a school that can provide him with a good education, has a sports management program, and is located within a 6-10 hour drive. Jackson is optimistic about this upcoming prep season, and sees a possible district championship in his future depending on Gahanna’s post play. In terms of the OCC Capital division, Jackson believes Pickerington Central and Newark will also be contenders. Good luck to Gibbs and Jackson as they prepare for their junior seasons. Buckeye Prep will keep an eye on both players and provide updates on their recruiting.

Ohio New Heights Claims Indiana Championship

2011-08-24T23:18:00.000-04:00

Ohio New Heights-Silver Division Champs 2011 Hoosier Shootout

Congratulations to coach Nick Tillman and his 8^th grade Ohio New Heights squad for winning the silver division title at the 2011 Hoosier Shootout this past weekend. The team finished with a 5-2 tourney record with wins over the Kimbro Ballers, Team Indiana White, Team Hustle (Illinois), BA Celtics and the Village Athletes. New Heights team members included: Gabe Akins, Max Oyer, Tristin Tillman, Rico Stafford, Connor Woods, CJ Saunders, Xavier Simpson, Elijah Pugsley and Caleb Mitchell. Reports have it that “point guards CJ Saunders and Xavier Simpson controlled the offense and played lock down defense,” while “Caleb Mitchell rebounded well and had a lot of blocks”. For the season, Ohio New Heights finished with an impressive 51-15 record. Props go out to the team’s players and parents for finishing the season strong!.

Trey Burke Gets Run at Open Gym

2011-08-24T11:55:00.001-04:00

Trey Burke

Although I saw him in they gym, I just learned that Michigan's Trey Burke, who was home for a few days, actually participated in Victor Dandridg'es open gym on Sunday. Although I did not get a chance to see him play, Ty Kish caught the action and hooked up a highlight video of Burke. From some accounts, Burke is transitioning well in Ann Arbour and has a good chance of starting when the college basketball season tips off.

Central Ohio Open Gym-Session Two

2011-08-23T13:39:00.002-04:00

I had a chance to catch some of the action at Victor Dandridge's open gym on Sunday, and I left impressed with the level of play at the third year event. Out of the 55 kids in attendance, there were about 10 players that caught my attention. Westerville North's Jack Gibbs had a nice day, as did his teammates Tavion Thomas and Matt Rhodes. Cincinnati verbal Devon Scott logged in another solid day of play, along with Upper Arlington's Carter Smith. Eastmore's John Draper continued to open eyes with his play. Although he is only a freshman, Africentric's DeQuan Harrison had a lot of people trying to figure out who he was. Huntington Prep's Elijah Macon was in town to get a haircut and stopped by the gym to get in a quick run before he got back on the road. I'm glad he did, as he treated onlookers to some highlight-worthy plays, all above the rim of course.

Jack Gibbs-Player of the Day

Some of the top teams of the day included the Westerville North led group of Jack Gibbs, Matt Rhodes, Tavion Thomas, Jalen Benton and Isaiah Brooks. The Brookhaven bunch of Ronnie Williams, Kalid King, Randy Clakson Jr., Steve Walzcak and JaQuan Harrison ran off a string of wins that led them from court 5 to the top court. The team of Devon Scott, Jordan Potts, Carter Smith, Keshaun Lewis and Darryl Levert notched several wins as well. On a side note, it was good to see Dublin Coffman's Kyle Molcok back on the court, after missing all of last season recovering from an ACL injury. From what I could tell, Molock did not appear to be slowed by the injury.

Devon Scott, Coach Vic & Elijah Macon

Due to the increased interest, next week Dandridge expects to use all of the facilitie's 6 courts to accommodate another 20 players to the event. As proof that the event is starting to attract more attention, ESPN 's John Stovall and Ty Kish were both in the house checking out the action. To see the pictures I took at the event, visit the Buckeye Prep Facebook Fan Page.

Central Ohio Open Gym Tips Off

2011-08-16T11:55:00.001-04:00

Devon Scott-Player of the Day

On Sunday, Victor Dandridge's open gym attracted many of central Ohio's top high school players. The seven week event will be held at the USA Sports Academy in Columbus, and will again provide about 40 varsity level players the opportunity to get in a quality run simply for the cost of admission. In week one, 37 players showed up, and each of the 7 teams played about seven games. According to Dandridge, Northland's Devon Scott was the player of the day, as his performance was described as dominate. In addition, Scott's undefeated team got the nod as the team of the day. The team's roster included: Scott, Jordan Potts, Ty Harriston, John Draper and Jordan Fair.

From what I hear, some of the other standout players included: Carter Smith (Upper Arlington), Nick Archer (Olentangy Liberty), Roy Alexander, Eric Robey (Jonathon Alder), Caris Levert (Pick Central), Manuel Powell (Gahanna), Jalen Robinson (Northland), Jordan Potts (Northland), Jordan Cowgill (Thomas Worthington), Isiah Brooks (Walnut Ridge), and Adam McCall (Walnut Ridge)

Some of the other players in the house included: Jack Gibbs and Matt Rhoades (Westerville North), KeChaun Lewis (Northland), Eric Weisenbach (Dublin Coffman), Jaylen Benton (Westerville North), Also, for those of you who have not yet heard the news, Jaylen Benton has transferred from Northland to Westerville North, where he will now compete alongside Gibbs, Rhoades and Adrian Cook. With that said, don't cry for Northland, as sophomore Ty Harriston is reportedly poised to fill the spot vacated by Benton. If you want to catch the action for yourself, the sessions run from 4:00pm to about 6:00pm on Sunday afternoons. Finally, look for more updates on Dandridge's open gyms over the next 6 weeks.

Ohio Freshmen to Transfer to IMG Academy

2011-08-14T22:57:00.003-04:00

MaCio Teague

According to his mother, 2015 MaCio Teague will be taking his talents to Bradenton, Fl. and the IMG Academy this fall. In an email to Buck Prep, Barbara Teague indicated, "I am so humble in letting you know that MaCio will be attending IMG Academy in Bradenton Fl. They have known about MaCio for a while now. Although IMG is most known for producing professional tennis players, the Florida school specializes in 7 sports including basketball. While in Bradenton, Teague will be exposed to a daily curriculum that will be heavy in basketball skill training. "Each player will be individually trained and evaluated. I can go on and on. What a blessing this is," said Teague's mother.

Not only is IMG known to produce next level athletes in a variety of sports, the school's academic reputation is impressive as well. According to Teague, "this is a blessing as we have ALWAYS thrived on development on and off the court. The school allows for a structured classroom setting. It allows the students to prepare for college. MaCio is an honor student which this school will afford him the level of courses that will allow him to challenge himself." As far as basketball, he will have the opportunity for diverse training, being evaluated in the Gatorade Science Center as well as the travel and exposure," said Teague's mother. Had he remained in Ohio, Teague would have most likely attended Princeton High School. I for one will miss watching MaCio play this upcoming season, but I wish him success at IMG Academy.

Kevin "Sticks" Fisher

After posting the above story last night, I was informed that another Buckeye freshman would be heading south the Bradenton, FL. as well. I was surprised to learn that Kevin "Sticks" Fisher will joining Teague at IMG Academy in the fall. Fischer, a 6'6 center from Groveport, apparently saw the same opportunities in the Florida school as did Teague. Both players toured the IMG facilities while in Florida for the AAU Nationals in July. Although the departure of Teague and Fisher represents a loss to Ohio basketball, I hope the move pays dividends for both players going forward.

Both Teague & Fisher in Action

John Stovall's Top Ohio AAU Teams

2011-08-06T19:02:00.000-04:00

All-Ohio Red 17s-AAU National Champions

John Stovall, the primary authority on high school basketball in Ohio, has put together a list of the top high school AAU teams in the state. In addition to writing and scouting for ESPN.com, Stovall works for Nike, and is co-owner of Prep Spotlight Magazine. In his various roles, Stovall attends most of the major AAU events around the country, and he has seen many of the teams on his list on multiple occasions. Below is his team list:

15's

1. King James
2. King of the Court
3. Cincinnati Lakers
4. All Ohio Red
5. CBIZ
6. Ohio Varsity
7. Cincinnati Tar Heels
8. Team Lima
9. Millinium Fire
10. Ohio Basketball Club
11. Team Queen City
12. Queen City Prophets
13. Northwest Ohio Basketball Club
14. TNBA
15. Shining Star

16's

1. All Ohio Red
2. All Ohio Varsity
3. Ohio Basketball Club
4. Martin's Wolverines
5. All Ohio Grey
6. Shining Star Schaefer
7. King James
8. CBIZ
9. TNBA
10. Ohio Hoopsters
11. Midwest Athletic Club
12. Cincinnati Lakers
13. Shining Star Moman
14. Queen City Prophets
15. Northwest Ohio Basketball Club

17's

1. All Ohio Red
2. Ohio Hoopsters
3. All Ohio Purple
4. King James
5. Ohio Basketball Club
6. Ohio Shooting Stars
7. Cincinnati Knights
8. Friends for Life
9. CBIZ
10. All Ohio Gold
11. Shining Star Walther
12. Northwest Ohio Basketball Club
13. All Ohio Black
14. Mustang Ballers
15. Millinium Fire

All-Ohio Red Claims U-17 AAU Title

2011-08-01T18:38:00.004-04:00

With their 60-48 win over Memphis YOMCA today, All-Ohio Red bought home yet another national championship. On their way to the title, in championship bracket play, All-Ohio got by the Florida Rams Blue (85-66), Houston Hoops (73-59), Charlotte Nets (69-62), Georgia Stars (84-55) the Alabama Challenge (68-72) and Memphis. Over the past several years, Jerry Watson's All-Ohio program has enjoyed unparalleled success, and his program has established itself as arguably the best AAU program in the country.

Although All-Ohio Red had its struggles at various points this spring and summer, their talent was always unmistakable, and their trek to the championship proved they could play with anybody in the country. Coach Quinton Rogers described the win as, "a total team effort." The is even more special, as All-Ohio was playing without Terry Rozier, the starting point guard. Reports have it that the standout players over the course of the week included Northland's Devon Scott and Jordan Potts as well as Marion Franklin's Elijah Macon. Congratulations to the All-Ohio Red players and coaches for bringing home the U-17 AAU National Championship!