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Dawg Days Grab Primetime Crown

May 25, 2017, 5:26 am
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Dawg Days Basketball
Coach Morgan Wenger’s 2022 Dawg Days Basketball squad finished 6-0 on their way to the title of a Primetime sponsored tournament last weekend. To claim it all, Dawg Days had to take down VAC-Knox (62-38); Ohio Hoopers (57-53); Team Cure-Molk (85-45); VAC Sullivan (70-55); Blue Jays (67-51); and Ohio Hoopers (second time) (55-53).  Standouts for the weekend included: Jalen Wenger, Javar Simpson, and Chris Smith.  Wenger’s team head to Ft. Wayne for the Memorial Run & Slam next weekend before returning to Columbus for the Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown.

Despite missing star forward, Willie Stewart, Another Level 2022 dominated the All-American Cage Classic.  Another Level went 7-0, with wins over Hard Work Basketball (65-44); Ohio KOTC (52-22); Dawg Days Basketball (66-26); Next Level (55-20); BFO (65-50); the tournament favorite, TNBA Shooting Stars (55-38); and Dawg Days Basketball in the championship (65-49).

According to the coach, Another Level “has had some disappointing losses this season.  Coming into the year expectations were very high with this talented group.  It took awhile, but they are finally catching their stride.  Losing to a team in the Elite Eight Gold Bracket at the Dur Joyce Shooting Stars Classic that they previously beat by 30 points illuminates their ups and downs.  However, they seem to be putting it together as the year progresses.”

Below is a look at Another Level’s roster and an evaluation of each player according to the team’s coach. This team has a lot of under the radar talent that has been under exposed so far. Star forward Willie Stewart (Euclid) has already received recognition at Buckeye Prep Invitational. His motor, mixed with his athleticism, could make him one of the best raw talents in the state. Also, forward Duron Montgomery (Euclid) has played like a man among boys all season, but especially against Ed Hebens' Shooting Stars, leading them to a 17-point victory, while completely dominating their bigs. Jalen Brown (Shaker) and John Henderson (Nordonia) is one of the top backcourts in the state. Jalen Brown has received top 20 in NEO national showcase two straight years and is an athletic play making point guard with a very high ceiling.

John Henderson has to be one of the top two-way guards in the state. Scoring 24 points in the championship game against Dawg Days, while also locking down their star player. This kid has unlimited potential. To round out this talented group, sharp shooting guard Sam Mulberry(Solon) is a knockdown shooter who has very high basketball IQ. The depth of this team is hard to match. Claishon Ivory (Euclid) is the most athletic player on the floor. Anthony McCarthy (Twinsburg) is a lockdown defender with a high motor. Lashon Singleton (Shaker) is a glass eater. Maurice Tartt (Warrensville) is a 6'2'' high-motor big. Jordan Cannon is an unstoppable slasher going left. We will catch Another Level at the Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown June 16th-18th.

The 2021 All-Ohio Wolves finished 3-3 on their way to a Silver Division runner-up finish at the All-Ohio Super Showcase on Sunday.  All-Ohio defeated Hardwork Basketball (67-28); lost to Dayton Wolves Blue; lost to MBA National (53-64); beat Dayton Nets (66-38), defeated Chicago’s Old Gold (53-37); and lost to ISG in the championship game (42-46). Deuce Shawand Aaron Davis II were selected to the All-Tournament Team.  For the season, All-Ohio Wolves are 41-10 overall.

All-Ohio Wolves 2023 have had a good run the last 3 tournaments including a 2nd place, 1st place and a 4-1 record and 2ndplace finish at the All-Ohio Super Showcase over their past 3 events.  Their run at the Super Showcase included wins over The Miller Factory, The Family (MI), Uplay Canada and All-Ohio White.  We will see All-Ohio Wolves 2023 at the Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown.

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Branham Video Demonstrates Talent

May 25, 2017, 5:41 am
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There's a new highlight video out on Malaki Branham (6'3/WF/2021/Columbus) showing his wide range of talent.  We've been following Branham for a number of years now and it's clear he continues to grow and develop.  A perennial all-star and Top 5 Award winner at our Buckeye Prep Elite Showcases, Branham easily projects as a D-I prospect.  Long, athletic with an improving skill set best describes Branham's gifts.  He's also getting to and finishing at the rim on a consistent basis.  As one of the key pieces to our #1 ranked Tru Game, Braham is becoming a force both offensively and defensively.  We expect Branham will contribute to a varsity program early in his freshman season.  Check out the video below.

Highlight Video

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Shockers Log in Impressive Season

May 26, 2017, 4:21 am
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2024 Ohio Schockers
The Jackson (Massillon, OH) based Ohio Shockers (2024) just completed their 2017 AAU Campaign with an impressive 27-0 overall record. Their record includes titles in all 6 of the tournaments they entered, including: The Ballers Bash (VAC), The Battle (VAC), Rising Stars Classic (Ohiobasketball.com), Massillon Challenge (Ohio Basketball.com), Akron Cage Classic (VAC), and Prime Time Challenge (VAC).  Along the way the Shockers defeated teams such as SMAC-Akron-Evans, Mahoning Valley Elite, Ohio Panthers, MKU, and the Dawgs to name a few.  However, they saved their best last in defeating TNBA East-Loppolo (2 championships & 4 finals this season) 49-32 in the Prime Time Challenge championship game.

Over the past 2 seasons, the Shockers have gone 62-6, with 3 of those losses coming at the hands of teams form out of state in the Dru Joyce Shooting Stars Classic.  The team, coached by Jim Kish, Dan Weekly, and Chad Bailey, includes players from Jackson, Lake, Louisville, and Green.  The key to the Shockers’ success is their unselfish brand of play, and the fact that each player is able to mesh well into a team concept.  We would like to congratulate to Shockers on their impressive 2-year run.  With that said, we would like to see them upgrade their 2018 schedule so the get an opportunity to play teams listed in out top 20 Power Rankings!  Hopefully we get a chance to see them in the Buckeye Prep Invitational next year!

Shockers Website


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Buckeyes Make National List

May 26, 2017, 5:36 am
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Seth Wilson, Mechie Johnson, Skyler Schmidt & Chris Livingston
We recently stumbled on national player rankings for the classes for 2022 and 2021, and discovered that 4 Ohio players were featured. The Runna Report lists Seth Wilson (#20), Meechie Johnson (#33) and Skyler Schmidt(#35) among their top 40 players in the class of 2021.  In addition, Chris Livingston (#14) is the lone Buckeye to crack the report’s top 32.  Of course we’ve seen each of these players perform since the 4th grade, so it comes as no surprise that they are receiving national recognition. It should also be noted that each of the 4 players recently participated in the UA Next Combine in Chicago, IL and more than held their own!  In fact, Johnson was widely considered the best performer there, while Livingston, one of only two 7th graders, made a big time impact!

We are, however, surprised at a couple of omissions, as we believe that another handful of Ohio players could have made this list.  Moreover, each of the 4 listed players have been perianal all-stars and Top 5 Award winners at our Buckeye Prep Elite Showcases.  In fact, each of them was a participant in our prestigious Ohio North vs South All-Star Game last September.  Congrats the each player and their parents for this great recognition.  On another note, we also noted several other Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase alumni represented on the list. Zion Harmon (#1), Jalen Blackmon (#12), Ryan Conway (#19),  Furst (#23), Pierre Brooks II (#36) and Carter Whit (#38) all made the 2021 list.

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UA Next Combine Series LA-Early Look

May 29, 2017, 12:53 pm
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Devin Askew, Malik Thomas, Michael Mitchell, Anthony Swift & Glen Taylor
We’ve only gotten through a few skills and drills, combine testing and player/parent workshops, but it’s already clear that the talent level in the west coast session of the UA Next Combine Series in LA is already an upgrade from last week in Atlanta.  It’s also clear from what we’ve seen so far in a few drills that there are a few players who we can’t wait to see once the games tip off this afternoon.

In terms of early standouts, Devin Askew(6’3/PG/2021/Anaheim, CA) is making things look easy!  In a one-on-one drill, Askew, who is already nationally known, got to the cup with ease, scored almost every possession, and finished with both his left and right hands.  He’s already got great size for an 8th grade PG, coupled with a great skill set and high basketball IQ, Askew easily projects as a D-I prospect. Malik Thomas(6’3/CG/2021/Alta Loma, CA) showed some early signs that he’s here to grab some attention.  With his size and athletic frame it’ easy to see why he's capable of playing up in the U-15 division on the UAA Association. Thomas is strong, physical and can either get his shot off the bounce or euro-step his way to the cup.

Michael Mitchell (6’1/PG/2021/Los Gatos, CA) is another good-looking prospect early. Blessed with a nice skill set, quick first step, the ability to create space and then hit his jumper, Mitchell should excel this afternoon when the games tip off. Tyler Powell (6’4/WF/2021/Los Angeles, CA) is a grown man out here.  Big, strong and athletic, Powell is also quick on his feet.  Just when you think he simply uses his size and strength to bully his way to the basket, he flashes a 1-dribble pull-up and a nice looking mid-range game.  He should be a monster this afternoon.

Derrick Nettles, Anthony Swift, Ben Krystowiak, Will McClendon & Isael Silva
Glenn Taylor was a late arrival, but he’s already putting in work. Taylor has good length; he’s athletic and he has complete control of his body.  He also showed he can pull up and hit the mid-range jumper. Anthony Swift (6’5/PF/2021/Las Vegas, NV) caught our eye early. He has good size; he’s athletically gifted and he finishes well with contact. He also has good footwork and appears to defend well. Other guys we’ve seen this morning included: Ben Krystkowiak (6’1/WF/2021/Sandy, Utah), Isael Silva (6’0/PG/2021/Sacramento, CA), Reid Little (6’2/CG/2021/San Francisco, CA), Derrick Nettles (6’5/WF/2021/Perris, CA), Christian Moore (6’5/WF/2021/Los Angeles, CA) and Will McClendon (6’3/WF/2021/Las Vegas, NV).

As we stated earlier, we’re less than halfway through the 1-day event, so there are still a lot of players we haven’t seen and evaluated. When the games jump off this afternoon more players will emerge and we will get a closer look at the guys we notice early.

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UA Next Combine-West Top 5 Players

May 30, 2017, 7:14 am
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Malik Thomas, Tyler Powell, Chris Page, Michael Mitchell & Glenn Taylor
Yesterday we posted an early list of players who stood out in the skills and drills portion of the UA Next Combine Series at Bishop Montgomery HS in LA.  As you would expect, when the games tipped off later in the afternoon not only did some of the players we had featured earlier justify their early ink, additional guys emerged with standout performances.  When we mentioned Malik Thomas (6’3/ CG/2021/Alta Loma, CA) we suspected that the powerful and skilled Thomas had a chance to have a big day, but what didn’t know was that he would go on to establish himself as the top kid at the event.  There’s no need to repeat what we said about Thomas earlier, just know, the kid can go!

We also mentioned Tyler Powell (6’4/WF/2021/Gardena, CA) yesterday in terms of his size, strength and athleticism, but the more we watched Powel both power his way to the cup and knock down treys and mid-range jumpers during the games, the more it was clear he deserved the #2 spot on the day. We could not have been more impressed with Powell!  We didn’t see him in the skills and drills, so we missed the immense talent of Chris Page (6’4/WF/2021/Gardena, CA).  Page is a long and range wing who can easily slide over and run the off guard or even run the point in a pinch.  He’s extremely athletic, has good body control and finishes often and in traffic.  Page is also physical, tough and makes difficult plays look easy. From what we saw, not only is Page a good-looking D-I prospect going forward, he did enough to hold down our #3 spot.

We caught him earlier in the day and noticed that Michael Mitchell (6’1/PG/2021/Los Gatos, CA) had game.  However, his play later in the afternoon confirmed his top 5 talent. Possessing an elite skill set, Mitchell is quick, handles the rock well and does a nice job of crating enough space to get his shot off.  He already has nice size for an 8th grade PG and easily projects as a D-I athlete.  Loved his game!  Rounding out our top 5 is Glenn Taylor (6’4/CG/2021/Las Vegas, CA), a long and athletic combo guard who is able to play both spots equally well. What we liked most about Taylor was his elite motor, energy level on both ends of the court and his willingness to give up his body to dive on the floor to secure 50-50 ball!s He also rebounds and slides his feet well while defending smaller guards.  Taylor is another nice looking prospect.  Stay tuned as we feature the rest of our top 10 players at the combine.

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UA Next Combine Series West-Final Report

May 31, 2017, 5:28 am
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Earlier, we posted our picks for the top 5 players at the UA Next Combine in LA on Monday.  Below are players ranked from 6th-10th based on our evaluations. Devin Askew (6'3/PG/2021/Anaheim, CA) started the combine on fire as he went basically uncontested in one-one drills early (see video).  In fact, Askew's size for position, tight handle and his ability to beat his defender of the bounce were impressive. He's also one heck of a playmaker, he defends well and is always a threat to knock down an open shot. He checks in at #6, but it could me argued that he made a case for top 5 consideration.  We thought Derrick Nettles looked great in drills (6'5/WF/2021/Perris, CA), but we liked him even better in the games.  Nettles has a good combination of size and skills.  He can bang on the inside and step out side and hit the trey as well. In fact, we saw him drain catch and shoot threes consistently.  He also rebounds well and pushes the rock in transition with purpose. As his reward for a good day, Nettles is our pick for #7.

Although we really liked the collection of wings at the event, the point guard play was also at a high level.  One of the better PGs we saw was Hercy Miller (6'0/PG//2021/Chalmette, LA). Miller is super quick, aggressive to the cup and always in attack mode. Although he's more than able to get to the basket and finish, Miller is a floor general who can find teammates for easy buckets with his excellent court vision and passing skills. We also really liked Kobe Stroughter (5'11/PG/2021/Las Vegas, NV), who is a pass-first PG with good change of speed and direction. Stroughter has great ball skills, which helps him get into the paint often and get off a nifty little floater. We also liked Stroughter's on ball defense and the fact he played the passing lanes and caused multiple turnovers.

Devin Askew, Derrick Nettles, Hercy Miller, Kobe Stroughter & Isael Silva
In our initial story early on Monday we mentioned Isael Silva (6'0/PG/2021/Sacramento, CA) and his ability to finish highly contested layups.  Well, in the games, Silva showed the ability to score at a high level while also making plays for teammates. He's smart, patient and excels at the pick and roll game. He's also crafty, changes speed and direction well, and makes great decisions with the rock.  If that wasn't enough, Silva also defends well and lives in the passing lanes where he converts turnovers into layups. Zaon Collins (5'11/PG/2021/Las Vegas, NV) was another excellent floor general. Collins does everything you want in a PG; he distributes ball, makes the extra pass, rebounds well for his position, works well in transition and defends.  The more we watched him the more we realized how productive he was. He just seems to always make the right play.

He impressed us during the one-on-one drills and again during the games. Anthony Swift (6'5/combo forward/2021/Las Vegas, NV) has a ton of upside potential. Long, athletic with good footwork and the ability to finish at the rim best describes Swift's game. He also defends well with his length and can drain the mid-range jumper if left undefended. He may have been the youngest player at the event, but Christian Moore (6'5/WF/2022/Los Angeles, CA) was still one of the better kids. Possessing great length for his age, Moore shoots it well, has nice form to his jump shot and is super athletic. Moore projects well with continued growth and development! We did not see much of him, but what we did see of Solomon Jones (6'6/C/2021/Long Beach, CA) we liked! With great size and length as an 8th grader, Jones' upside was as good as any player at the combine. 

As we stated earlier, there was ample talent in LA.  Some of the other standouts we saw included: De'Kquante Hayes (6'2/CG/2021/Las Vegas, NV), Ben Krystkowiak (6'1/WF/2021/Sandy, UT), Truman Gettings (6'7/C/2021/Calabasas, CA), Will McClendon (6'3/WF/2021/Las Vegas, NV), Brandon Perez (6'1/PG/2021/Valencia, CA), Elijah Willis (5'7/PG/2021/ Bakersfield, CA), Cole Anderson (6'1/PG/2021/Fresno, CA) and Dimitrios Stragalinos (6'3/WF/2021/Fairfield, CA). The next stop for the UA Next Combine Series is Dallas, where we're sure to find another group of very talented players.

Combine Player Pictures
Photo Gallery

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Gators Make Semi-Final Run

June 2, 2017, 4:50 am
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Lima Gators 2022
Quintel Wilson's 2022 Lima Gators advanced to the Gold Bracket Semifinals in the Adidas May Classic tournament in Indianapolis. The Gators were led by the hot shooting of Devin Taborn and Evan Unruh, along with the inside presence of Cyrus Burden, and the perimeter defense of Cecil Benton Jr. Brayden Knight and Quintel Wilson Jr. In pool play, the Gators defeated Charlotte Court (KY) 58-18, and IBA Blue 43-38. In bracket play, the Gators beat Indiana Elite Force 2022 71-51, before letting Team Teague off the hook by blowing a 14 point lead in the second half to lose 51-49 in the semifinals. 

Lima Gators also attended the 15th annual Memorial Day Madness in Cincinnati this past weekend. Led by Cecil Benton Jr, Willie Knight, and Cyrus Burden, the Gators went on to win the championship by defeating Huntsman Select and Team Shock in Pool play. In the first round of bracket play, the Gators were ahead by 40 points vs Club Ohio when the game was called off after a health concern of the opposing coach. In the semifinals, the Gators met a tough opponent Artic Rush featuring a few high caliber players such as Sean Jones, Jared Frey, and Tre Robertson, all former players of All Ohio Red. The Gators trailed by 13 points in the second half before rallying late behind a game tying 3-pointer by Cecil Benton to force OT. Devin Taborn took over in the extra frame to give the Gators the win 56-49. In the championship game, the Gators defeated Shockers Elite 62-48 in a highly competitive game. The Gators went on a big run in the second half that Shockers Elite couldn't recover from. The Gators coach Quintel can't wait until the Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown to see how his team stacks up with the other Elite teams in the state. The Gators were runner-ups in the Summer Showdown last year. 

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All-Ohio Cruises to State Championship

June 6, 2017, 5:30 am
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2022 All-Ohio Red
It’s not as prestigious as it was a few years ago, but any state championship is a good championship.  This past weekend, Coach Paul McMillan’s #1 ranked All-Ohio Red (2022) squad ran through the field at the Ohio AAU State Qualifier in Cincinnati.  On their route to the title, All-Ohio ran through Club Ohio, COBBA Knights, New Birth Warriors and Arctic Rush.  According to McMillan, no team came within 30 points of his team.  Up next for All-Ohio is the ultra-competitive MIT in Maryland.  Congratulations to All-Ohio on their win.

We have to give a shout out to Coach Wesley’s 5th grade All-Ohio Phenom team on an impressive 2-tournament, 8-1 run.  During that stretch, All-Ohio’s lone loss came at the hands of the #3 ranked All-Ohio Red on a buzzer beater in the championship game of the Under Armour Queen Cup.  During the same tournament, Phenom posted a 20-point victory #18 ranked MVP Dynasty. This past weekend, All-Ohio went 5-0 at the Memorial Day Shootout.  In the championship game, All-Ohio took down #17 ranked Hard Work Basketball 39-30. So far this season, Wesley’s team has won 5 tournaments and made the final game in 3 other tournaments.

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Wolves Take Second in State Qualifier

June 7, 2017, 5:18 am
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This past weekend, Coach Allen Shaw’s 2021 All-Ohio Wolves squad finished second at the AAU State Qualifier in Cincinnati. The Wolves’ 4-1 overall record included wins over Team 4D (63-58), PBC (56-50), COBBA Knights (63-47) and Huntsman Select (47-33).  The Wolves’ were upended in the championship game by the Westside Panthers 69-78.  From what we understand, the Panther’s roster includes players form the former All-Ohio Purple team that was so talented for several years.  Standouts for the Wolves included: Deuce Shaw, David Larkins and Aaron Davis.  You can catch the Wolves in action at the Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown next week.

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UA Next Combine Series Dallas Early Look

June 10, 2017, 11:17 am
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P.J. Neal, Duncan Powell, Juan Reyna, Emmanuel Obaseki & Damon Nicholas Jr.
The UA Next Combine in Dallas, TX is only a couple of hours old and has only featured skills and drills and combine testing, but already, a couple of the forty 8th graders here are setting themselves apart from the competition. The best 2 players we’ve seen so far are P.J. Neal (6’2/PG/2021/Houston, TX) and Duncan Powell (6’7/PF/2021/DeSoto, TX).  Both guys are excelling at the skill and drills portion of the event before the games even begin this afternoon. Neal is a big, sturdy PG who prefers to find open teammates rather than score; however, his size, strength, athleticism and ball skill equip him to get to the cup.  He’s a high-energy guy who doesn’t mind sitting down and defending smaller guards.  Powell is a bruiser with a solid frame and explosiveness.  He’s more than just a big who can use his size as a weapon; it’s also clear he has been in the gym working on his skill set.  He has the ability to stop and pop and hit the mid-range shot, in addition to powering his way to the cup.  He rebounds and defends well and plays with a good motor.  He also has nice touch around the rim rebounds well and will bang it on you if he gets a chance.

Neil and Powell are not the only early standouts we’ve seen so far here in Dallas.  We also liked Juan Reyna (6’2/PG/2021/San Antonio, TX), Jaylon McDaniel(6’6/PF/2021/Les Summit, MO), Wilfredo Amaro (6’3/CG/2021/Floresville, TX), Harrison Ingram (6’5/WF/2021/Dallas, TX), Emmanuel Obaski (6’2/PG/2021/Allen, TX), Damon Nicholas Jr. (6’2/CG/2021/Arlington, TX), Wade Taylor IV (5’10/PG/2021/Dallas, TX), Zion Swader (5’11/PG/2021/Murfeesboro, TN,) and Gaven Perryman (6’1/PG/2021/Grand Prairie, TX). It’s important to note that it’s still very early in the event and there are still a number of players who have a chance to gain some recognition when the games tip off this afternoon. We just wanted to put something up early which highlights some of the kids who caught our eye early.  Stay tuned for more event coverage later.

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June 12, 2017, 5:17 am
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Lima Gators
Three teams ranked in Buckeye Prep’s Power Rankings (2022) participated in were in the Hoopin N The Summit tournament this past weekend in Ft. Wayne Indiana. The third ranked Lima Gators, 4th ranked Dayton Wolves, and number 7thranked SMAC Premier all attended the event. A highly competitive tournament had upsets and revenge in the making. SMAC Premier won their pool, which included a win over the Lima Gators (57-52). This game had many lead changes and went down to the wire. 

The Lima Gators went on to beat FBC out of Michigan in an overtime thriller on a 3-pointer from the Lima Gators’ Evan Unruh to cap off a 14 -point comeback by the Lima Gators in the last 5 minutes of the game. This game sent the Gators into the championship bracket on Sunday.

A showdown between SMAC Premier and Dayton Wolves seemed imminent, but the Wisconsin Shooters had other plans, as they upset the Wolves in the first round of championship play (45-41). SMAC went on to eliminate the Wisconsin Shooters in the semi finals (51-42). Meanwhile, the Lima Gators went on to beat Always 100 in a tough game (57-49), and then defeated Artic Rush (56-40) in the semi-finals game to set up a rematch with SMAC Premier in the championship game.

The championship game was very intense rematch and both teams competed at a high level. The Gators struck first with a 12-2 spurt before SMAC went on a signature run with their signature hot shooting. The Gators led for the entirety of the game, but SMAC would not make it easy by keeping the game within 6 points for the most part of the 2nd half. The Gators went on to win (51-45) due to the play making of Cecil Benton Jr., the inside presence of Cyrus Burden, hot shooting from Devin Taborn, who led all scorers with 23 points, and a much needed quick 7 points off the bench by Quintel Wilson Jr. in a 2-minute span late in the 2nd half. The Lima Gators are now 31-5 on the season with 4 tournament titles. You can catch the Gators and the Dayton Wolves this coming weekend at the Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown.

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UA Next Combine Series Dallas-Final Report

June 13, 2017, 5:10 am
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On Saturday we published an early look at several players who stood out in the skills and drills portion of the UA Next Combine Series in Dallas, TX. Of the 40 elite 8th graders who attended the event at Duncanville High School, there were several players who logged in standout performances during the games on Saturday afternoon.  We liked them early in the day and we were even more impressed with P.J. Neal (6’2/PG/2021/Houston, TX) and Duncan Powell (6’7/PF/2021/DeSoto, TX) during the games.  Neal was of one of 2 elite guards on the day and his play on Saturday clearly explained why he’s effective playing up on the UA Association with the Houston Defenders’ U15 team.  Big, powerful, with a pass-first mentality best describes Neal’s game. Powell has a big body and can bang with the big boys in the paint; however, he's skilled and more than capable of stretching the floor and scoring on the perimeter. For their efforts, Neal and Powell were ranked #1 and #2, respectively.

In terms of guard play, Wade Taylor IV(5’10/PG/2021/Dallas, TX) was one of the best guards in the gym. Taylor is very active on both ends of the floor and excels at getting buckets.  He’s good at changing speeds and direction, and when he attacks the cup he finishes at a high rate.  We also liked Taylor’s willingness to defend. From what we saw, Taylor should be an early contributor at Duncanville High School next year.  In terms of upside potential, Jaylon McDaniel(6’6/PF/2021/Lees Summit, MO) had as much as any player we saw.  A rebounding machine, McDaniel has great length and he plays with a big time motor.  He has some dog in him, and he understands the need to protect the rim.  A big time prospect and D-I caliber player in our opinion!

P.J. Neal, Duncan Powell, Wade Taylor IV, Jaylon McDaniel & Emmanuel Obaseki
Rounding out our top-5 is Emmanuel Obaseki(6’2/PG/2021/Allen, TX), who is long, athletic, bouncy and quick off his feet. He defends well and is always a threat to catch an ally oop for a highlight play. Obaseki plays the pick and roll well and he flashed a nasty spin move in the lane, which he finished.  Obaseki is another good-looking prospect. Possibly the best shooter in the gym, Gavin Perryman (6’1/SG/2021/Dallas, TX) was a late entrant and seen knocking down treys all day.  He’s not just a catch and shoot threat, as Perryman can go get his shot off the bounce.  He moves well with out the rock, he’s got good court vision and he does a god job finding open teammates.

We also liked the skill set of Juan Reyna(6’2/PG/2021/San Antonio, TX).  He’s crafty, has the rock on a string and is a threat to hit the 3-ball if left unguarded.  He’s also a threat to score off the bounce, going to his left or right. Christopher Felix (6’3/CG/2021/Fresno, TX) has good length, solid ball skills, hits his free throws and has a nice looking floater.  It also looks like Felix has a lot more growing to do.  Later in the day, Nicholas Davidson (6’6/PF/2021/Mission Viejo, CA) started making a little noise.  Like most bigs his age, Davidson needs to add strength, but on the perimeter, Davidson is money.  He does much of his damage in the pick and pop situations, but he’s really a stretch 4, who’s most valuable in catch and shoot opportunities from beyond the arc.  He could be a good one in a few years!

Gavin Perryman, Juan Reyna, Christopher Felix, Nicholas Davidson & Damon Nicholas Jr.
Rounding out our top 10 is Damon Nicholas Jr.,(6’2/CG/2021/Arlington, TX), who is another long guard with ample athleticism. Nicholas also has the ability to knock down 3-pointers.  Other guys who caught our eye included: Cameron Smith (5’11/CG/2021/Little Elm, TX), Wilfredo Amaro(6’3/CG/2021/Floresville, TX), Zion Swader (5’11/PG/2021/Murfeesboro,TN), Dallan Coleman (6’3/CG/2-21/Memphis, TN), Harrison Ingram (6’5/WF/2021/Dallas, TX), Jacobi Lewis, Kendell Fair, Damon Gentry, Jaden Jones (6’5/WF/2021/Richardson, TX) and Elijah Bernstein (5’8/CG/2021/Missouri City, TX). The 5th and final UA Next Combine rolls into Washington DC this coming Saturday to close the 2017 campaign and will conclude with a boatload of talent.

Player Pictures
Photo Gallery
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Allocco Receives First Scholarship Offer

June 13, 2017, 6:14 pm
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Matt Allocco 
As most of our followers know, one of the primary missions of the Buckeye Prep Report is to assist kids in reaching their dream of receiving a free education.  Therefore, anytime one of our Buckeye Elite Showcase alumni achieves that goal we get excited, and look for an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishment.  Matt Allocco (6’1/PG/2020/Hilliard Bradley) got a little closer to his dream when he recently received his first scholarship offer from Miami of Ohio. 

As most people have read on this website, we have followed Allocco’s development since he was in the 5th grade, and despite his small stature early on, we always felt that his elite skill set, basketball IQ and tenacity projected him as a D-I prospect. His recent play with Hilliard Bradley High School, All-Ohio Red and the Mid-Ohio Pumas in the summer has obviously caught the attention of the Miami coaching staff.  We would like to congratulate Matt and his family for their first offer, which will not likely be his last!

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Buckeye Prep Summer Showcase Promises Competition

June 14, 2017, 4:16 am
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It may be smaller in numbers, but when the Buckeye Prep Summer Showcase tips off at Otterbein University on Saturday there should be several juicy match-ups worth watching!  In the 8th grade division, we will finally get a close look at Darryl Peterson’s 4th ranked All-Ohio Phenom Squad.  We’re not sure any team has made as big a jump in the rankings as All-Ohio Phenom has.  We are also excited to get a good look at Kobe Johnson (6’1/PG/Canton), who has cracked the top 10 in our individual rankings and has been the driving force for one of the hottest teams in the state.  In that same division, Extreme Heat Neon and SMAC Akron will have a chance to move up in our rankings.  Also, watch out for Probound Elite, MKU Athletics and All-Ohio Black, all of whom could make some noise.

The 7thgrade division should be the most competitive, as there are 4 teams ranked in the top 10 of our Power Rankings.  The 3rdranked Lima Gators; 4th ranked TNBA Shooting Stars, 5thranked Dayton Wolves and 10th ranked Dawg Days Basketball are all heading to Columbus for match-ups that will surely answer several questions and impact our rankings.  In addition, the Ohio Hoopsters-Hill (#11), SMAC Akron (#13), All-Ohio Black (#18) and Artic Rush (#20) are all represented in our rankings and have a legitimate chance to make some moves this weekend.  Oh yea, we have to mention to Michigan Prospectors, who are not only one of the top teams in Michigan, but could be the favorite to win the event with a solid roster and excellent coaching.  We can’t wait to see some of these match-ups!

Cecil Benton, Jr., Mike Bova, Cody Head, Kellon Smith, Desh Molton, Dre'Sean Roberts & Automne Allen
We are very excited to get another look at Andre Wheeler’s 5th ranked MWA Elite team who is the clear favorite to take the 6th grade division. MWA’s roster is full of players who are ranked in our individual rankings.  Guys like Desh Molton, Jayvion Moore, Cody Head, Andre Wheeler Jr. and Kellon Smith have all excelled at our elite showcases and will be fun to watch.  We will also get another look at Dre'Sean Roberts and Autaune Allen, both of whom are elite guys in their class. We can’t wait to see the battle of Dayton, which will feature the 6th ranked Dayton Swish and the 7th ranked MVP Dynasty.  Both teams feel they have been under represented in our Power Rankings and are eager to stake a claim as the best 2023 team in the Gem City.  They will get that chance early in pool play!  You can’t sleep on the Shinning Stars, who have a chance to pull a few upsets.  We have not seen them this year, but we know they have talent and are well coached.

All four teams in the 5th grade teams are represented in our Power Rankings.  We are eager to see the 4th ranked TAD, as we’ve heard some good things about them.  Also coming to the event are All-Ohio Phenom (#11), All-Ohio Black (#12) and the Lima Gators (#18).  After this weekend’s results the picture should be clearer in terms of our Power Rankings. 

With a smaller field this weekend we will really get a chance to sit down and take a close look at some kids and teams.  In addition, we should be able to make some decisions relative to our post-season awards as well as participation in the prestigious Ohio North vs South All-Star Games in September.  Stay tuned for our post event report.

Summer Showdown Schedule
Buckeye Prep Power Rankings

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Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown Day One Report

June 18, 2017, 8:10 am
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Raymar Pyror, Alex Watters, Jelen Wenger, Sellers Littles & Brady Hawewig
It’s only been one day at the Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown, but already several players have emerged as standout performers.  In addition, for the most part, the teams seeded at the top have held serve so far. One of the most anticipated games of the event featured a 2023 battle for Dayton by the 6th ranked Dayton Swish and the 7th ranked MVP Dynasty.  MVP got on the board first hitting 1 of 2 free throws.  After a Dayton Swish 4-0 run, MVP countered with their own 4-0 run. There were multiple ties and lead changes in the first half, but Swish took a 20-17 lead into the break. The Swish scored first to start the second half and the scored stayed close during the second period. By the time the horn sounded, MVP Dynasty was ahead 44-42. Standouts for the game included MVP’s Tyrin Sturdevant, Mason Shrout and Dre’Sean Roberts.  For the Dayton Swish, Kalerrio Reeves and Antaune Allen were the high men.

Later in the day, the same MVP Dynasty team would face off against the 5th rankedMWA Elite. MWA would lead most of the game, but Dynasty was in great position to pull the upset before a buzzer-beating heave by MWA’s Marlon Barnes broke a 63-63 tie as time ran out. Kellon Smithled MWA Elite with 14 points, while Marlon Barnes added 13 points.  Dynasty was led in scoring by Tyrin Sturdivant and Tyron Barns, who finished with 16 and 14 points, respectively.

Another big game on the opening day pitted the 3rd ranked Lima Gators vs TNBA Shooting Stars.  Although TNBA raced out to a 16-7 run to start the game, the Gators cut the lead to 17-16 by half time.  The game went back and forth in the second half, but by the end, the Gators got the win 51-48. In this game, TNBA’s Mike Bova and Raymor Pryor were spectacular.  Bova dropped a game-high 23 points, while Pryor added 18 points. Cyrus Burdenled the gators with 18 points, while Devin Tabson added 11 points and RJ Cortzfinished with 10 points.

Tyron Barnes, Mekhi Elmore, Antaune Allen, Jared Frey & Kellon Smith
In addition to the games that had direct impact on our Power Rankings, there were some teams we saw for the first time that really impressed us.  SMAC Akron has a couple of teams (6th& 7th), both of whom are very fundamental and are well coached. In addition, both teams are loaded with guys who can shoot the heck out of the ball! All-Ohio Phenom’s 8th grade squad is mowing down the competition with wins averaging 20 points.  There’re long, athletic and fun to watch. Kobe Johnson, Jayden Ballard and Sam Oliver are inflicting the most damage for this team.

We saw MKU Athletics for the first time and were very impressed. MKU is loaded with athletes the play extremely hard.  They won a big game against a very good SMAC Akron team in the afternoon.  MKU is powered by Demarcus Rogers (5’9/PG/2021/Akron) and Vernon Smith (6’4/C/2021/Akron). Rogers put up big numbers on Saturday while Smith protected the rim from would be scorers. The Michigan Prospectors are looking good again.  They are a well-built team with great guard play, slashing wings, a quality big and good coaching. Alex Watters 5’10/SG/2022/East Lansing, MI) came up big for the Prospectors on day one.  He plays at full speed both defensively and offensively, and is good at both driving to the basket and knocking down perimeter shots. Mason Docks (5’9/PG/2022/East Lansing) is still controlling this team at the point.  Docks is smart, skilled, can make plays at a high level, and can still score when needed.  He’s most certainly a D-I prospect going forward.

Mike Bova, Demarcus Rogers, Ty Hall, Marlon Barnes & Isaac Little
Artic Rush has an intriguing team.  The team is coached by a high school coach that has obviously infused a lot of skill work on the team.  Also, although they have a smaller backcourt that can some times be exploited, those guys can go! Both guards are highly skilled with high basketball IQs.  We really liked Jared Frey(6’1/SG/WF/2022/Hilliard), who has good length tremendous skill set and is very versatile. He has great range on his jump shot, is patient, and his length and ball skill allow him to play multiple position.  We can definitely see him playing college ball at some level in a few years. 

The 7thgrade Dayton Wolves went 2-0 on Saturday and is being led by a dynamic backcourt featuring Sellers Littles(5’4/PG/2022/Dayton) and Mekhi Elmore(5’9/CG/2022/Dayton).  Both guys are capable of putting up big numbers. In 2 games, Littles and Elmore put up 44 and 36 points, respectively! The Buckeye Storm (2021) is another good-looking teams with multiple shooters and good guard play. Isaac Little (5’8/PG/2021/Piketon) appears to be the best player on that team, as evidenced by the 25 points he dropped on a very good Extreme Heat Neon team in a highly contested game Saturday afternoon.  Speaking of the Extreme Heat Neon, they are a very good team as well. TJ Pugh (6’4/PF/2021/Attac), Ty Hall (5’10/WF/2021/Shelby), and Garrett Chapin (6’2/PF/Norwalk) appear to be the guys for this squad.

Mason Docks, Tyrin Sturdivant, Marlon Barnes, A.J. Campbell & T.J. Pugh
The other 2-0 team in the 6th grade division are the Shinning Stars. There’s little doubt that the star of the team is Brady Hardewig, who put up crazy numbers on Saturday. In fact, in 2 games, Hardewig exploded for 49 points.  If you don’t guard him, he’ll hit a trey in your face.  Both Hardewig and the Shinning Stars will be tested on Sunday when they run into the 3 teams in the other division!  One of those teams is Andre Wheeler’s MWA Elite team that is 2-0 and is more than capable of winning the whole thing. Kellon Smith (5’10/WF/2023/Cleveland) and Jayvion Moore (5’11/C/2023/Cleveland) have been the day one standouts so far, but guys like Desh Molton, AJ Wheeler Jr. and Marlon Barnes (6’2/PF/C/2023/Cleveland) can step up big at any time.

Other day-one standouts include: Quadrees Ward (5’6/PF/2023/Canton), Corey Hudson (5’6/PG/2022/Columbus), A.J. Campbell (6’1/WF/2021/Copley), Jonathon Powell (5’2/SG/2024/Akron), Lamar Douglas (6’4/C/2022/Columbus), Vaughn Armour (5’10/PG/Westerville), Jalen Wenger (5’11/WF/2022/Dalton), Devin Taborn (55’SG/2022/Sidney), Cyrus Burden (5’11/WF/2022/Lima), DeMarr Foster (5’1/PG/2024/Lima), Jaylen McElroy (4’11/PF/2024/Canton), Jay Crablle (5’6/PF/2023/Massilon), Tyron Barnes (5’4/PG/2023/Springfield), Chris Smith (5’6/PG/2022/Orrville), Zachary Jones (5’3/WF/2024/London), Luke Denbow (5’10/PG/2022/Ashland) and Camden Beatty (5’9/WF/2022/Columbus).

All in all, it was a great opening day of basketball.  As is the case on every championship Sunday, teams and players will be tested as they as they pursue championships. Stay tuned for our final report tomorrow.

Day One Photo Gallery



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Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown MVPs

June 19, 2017, 10:02 am
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Brock Henne, Devin Tabor, Tyrin Sturdivant & Ethan Stare
The following is a list of the Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown Most Valuable Players.  Not only did these players help lead their respective teams championships win, they excelled during the course of the entire weekend.  Congratulations to each of these players for their outstanding play!

Brock Henne-SMAC Akron (8th Grade)
Devin Taborn-Lima Gators (7th Grade)
Tyrin Sturdivant-MVP Dynasty (6th Grade)
Ethan Stare-TAD (5th Grade)

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SMAC Akron Takes 8th Grade Crown

June 20, 2017, 5:14 am
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2021 SMAC Akron Elite-8th Grade Champions
In one of the best games of the day, SMAC Akron Elite (2021) outlasted Extreme Heat Neon to win the 8th grade division (72-71) of the Buckeye Prep Summer Showcase at Otterbein University yesterday. The game was highly contested and the lead changed hands several times.  Just when it appeared that Extreme Heat was headed toward a victory, a last minute surge by SMAC proved to be the difference.  Both teams scored the ball at will, but the Heat, who need over time to get by MKU Athletics in the semi-finals, seemed to run out of steam late in the second half.

SMAC Akron Elite’s success is not about 1 or 2 high flying or star players, but rather a team of highly skilled players who play together, move the basketball well and are blessed with good coaching.  They play hard, defend well and can really shoot the ball.  The leading scores for SMAC were: Marcus Steele (11 points), Jacob Jariga(10 points), and Brock Henne (10 points).  SMAC finished 4-1 on the weekend with a 63-33 win over Probound Elite and a 54-48 loss to MKU Athletics in pool play.  In bracket play, SMAC defeated Buckeye Storm (69-19), #4 ranked All-Ohio Phenom (62-70) and Extreme Heat Neon in the championship game.

MVP & All- Tournament Team
Extreme Heat Neon finished 4-1 on the weekend with wins over All-Oho Black (65-46) and Buckeye Storm (55-52) in pool play, and Probound Elite (66-54) and MKU Athletics (56-52) in bracket play before going down to SMAC in the championship game. In the championship game, the Heat was led in scoring by TJ Pugh who dropped a game-high 24 points and Garrett Chapin who added another 15 points.  We could not have been more impressed with the play of Pugh!  We’ve seen him excel at our Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase, but some of the things he did this past weekend raised his stock in our eyes.  He’s big, skilled and athletic and deserves to move up in or individual rankings.  Congratulations to both teams for a great championship game!

Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown Final Results
Summer Showdown Day-2 Pics


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Gators Get Revenge and Title at Summer Showdown

June 21, 2017, 4:45 am
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2022 Lima Gators-7th Grade Champions
They first met in pool play of the Buckeye Prep Invitational Tournament back in April, but Quintell Wilson’s 7th Grade Lima Gators got a little pay pack for the earlier loss with their 41-39 win over the Michigan Prospectors in the championship game of the Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown on Sunday.  This game was a slugfest with both teams taking turns holding the lead.  Early in the contest it became clear that the winner would not be determined until the last possession of the game.  In the end, the Gators’ scrappy style play and aggressive defense was the difference.

Devin Taborn andCyrus Burden were the leading scorers for Lima with 13 and 10 points, respectively, while Carson Sanders and Mike Williams led the Prospectors in scoring with 12 and 11 points, respectively. The fact that we speculated that the Prospectors might have been the favorite to win the event in our tournament preview did not sit well with Coach Wilson, and he let us know it right after their very emotional win.

7th Grade All-Tournament Team
Lima’s trek to the championship went through All-Ohio Black (59-52), the then 5thranked TNBA Shooting Stars (58-48), Ohio Hoopsters (53-29), Artic Rush (63-55) and the Michigan Prospectors.  The Prospectors’ 4-1 run included wins over All-Ohio Phenom (53-23) and Artic Rush (52-13) in pool play, followed by a 57-23 win over Dawg Days Basketball and a 56-28 win over the Dayton Wolves in bracket play. With the Gators’ win, they have now moved up to second in our Power Rankings.  All in all, it was a great championship game with both teams having a chance to get the victory.  Congratulations to the Lima Gators for a great run last weekend!

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Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown New Comers

June 22, 2017, 5:29 am
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Jared Frey, Kobe Johnson, Vernon Smith, Marlon Barnes & Demarcus Rogers
As are readers know, the Buckeye Prep Report is always on the lookout for new up and coming players who have been under exposed and flying under the radar. Well, this past weekend at the Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown, we had the opportunity to see some new teams and evaluate players we had not seen previously.  Each of the players we will spotlight below had breakout performances at the event, are now firmly on our radar, and have been added to our individual rankings.

As we have stated in previous stories, we were completely impressed with Jared Frey (6’1/SG/2022/Hilliard), who is the engine behind a good Artic Rush team.  He played very well on Saturday, and then he followed up on that performance with spectacular play on championship Sunday.  With his length, skill set, and IQ, Frey’s versatility allows him to play every position on the floor.  We are so impressed with Frey that we intend to invite him to participate in the prestigious Ohio North vs South All-Star Game in September! 

We finally had an opportunity to watch Kobe Johnson(6’1/CG/2021/Canton) ball out for his All-Ohio Phenom squad.  Johnson is a supreme athlete who is at his best driving to the basket and finishing athletic plays.  If Johnson develops a consistent jump shot, he has a chance to be special. Look for Johnson to make an impact on a high school program next season.  MKU Athletics has several players worthy of attention.  The 2 best are Demarcus Rogers (5’9/PG/2021/Akron) and Vernon Smith (6’4/C/2021/Akron).  Smith is a strong and aggressive PG who excels at getting to the cup.  He’s more of a scoring PG right now, but he has the ability to make plays as wells.  In his team’s over time loss to Extreme Heat Neon, Rogers dropped a gaudy 21 points. Clearly, Rogers is a player to watch going forward. Vernon Smith is long, athletic and is more of a rim protector than a scorer at this point in his development. With that said, Rogers could be a D-I prospect with continued growth and development.

Donated Jones, Garrett Chapin, Mason Shrout, Michael Williams and Devin Taborn

MVP Elite’s Marlon Barnes (6’2/PF/C/2023/Cleveland) is a big time prospect.  He’s got great length for only a 6th grader and his upside potential is as good as any player in his class. Barnes got better and better as the event progressed, and he’s good both offensively and defensively.  In a highly contested game against MVP Dynasty, Barnes showed he’s clutch when he converted buzzer beating mid-range jumper to give his team the #1 seed heading into bracket play.  With out the services of Mekhi Elmore who suffered an injury on Saturday, Dontez Jones (5’10/WF/2023/Kettering) had to step up for the Dayton Wolves. Jones is a high-flying athlete who has the ability to finish at rim level.  He also has a great motor and loads of potential.

We also liked Chris Smith (5’6/PG/2022/Orrville), Tyrin Strudivant (5’9/PF/2023/Dayton), Demarr Foster (5’1/PG/2024/Lima), Devin Tabor (5’5/SG/2022/Lima), Brady Hardewig(5’1/CG/2024/Cincinnati), AJ Campbell(6’1/WF/2021/Copley), Isaac Little(5’8/PG/2021/Piketon), Mark Stulley(5’0/PG/2022/Waverly), Derrick James(5’1/PG/2022/Canal Winchester), Mason Shrout (5’8/WF’2023/Camden),Michael Williams (6'1/WF/2022/Detroit), Garrett Chapin (6'2/PF/202/Norwalk),Jay Cradle (5'6/PF/2023/Massillon and Trey Robertson (5’0/PG/2022/Waverly).  We intend to keep an eye on each of these players over the next couple of months and years.  In fact, we hope to see each of these players at our Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase scheduled for September 16th and 17th at Otterbein University.

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