Month: June 2020

Belmont’s four-star Shawn Phillips to team up with Emoni Bates

Belmont forward Shawn Phillips

Dayton, Ohio — The top player in the 2022 class Emoni Bates announced on his Instagram story he would be making a big announcement on Sports Center at 1:40. The assumptions went wild on social media. Many assuming he would either be announcing his commitment to a college or him transferring to a prep school like Oak Hill or IMG.

Bates announced that he would be verbally committing to Michigan State University. This news may not mean very much as Bates will more than likely follow the trend to go to the G-League for a season like Jalen Green and other 2020 high school prospects.

Emoni Bates will leave Lincoln High School to join Ypsi Prep Academy (Photo via: ESPN)

The news many didn’t take into account was the shirt Bates was wearing. Bates has played at Lincoln High School in Ypsilanti, Michigan the last two seasons and dominated. Instead of wearing a Lincoln shirt, Bates was pictured in a Ypsi Prep Academy shirt. A new prep school created by his father in his hometown.

The rumors have been circulating in the Dayton area for some time now about Belmont forward Shawn Phillips leaving to join Emoni Bates at a prep school. Phillips’ recruiting blew up last summer after playing with Bates Fundamentals on the EYBL circuit. The 6’10” big man now has eleven division offers including offers from IndianaTCUAuburn, CincinnatiXavierOhio StateNC State, and Maryland.

Phillips is currently ranked as the #45 player in the country and the #2 player in the state of Ohio in the 2022 class by 247 Sports. After a full season playing with Bates, Phillips should stack up even more offers by division one schools.

Some other players joining the duo in Ypsilanti will be 2022 recruit, Dillon Hunter, from Westlake, Georgia. Along with other players like John McClear who will leave Lincoln to join Bates at Ypsi Prep Academy.

Miami Valley Hoop Vault’s coverage of Shawn Phillips will not stop here as we will hopefully see him play at this year’s Flyin’ to the Hoop. This is the best possible move for the young man, as the Dayton City League gets little to no coverage even locally so moving to a school that will have national coverage at every game will impact Phillips tremendously.

Dear players & coaches, if you come across any misinformation about you or your players, be sure to let us know by contacting us on one of our social media platforms !

Dayton Rec Runs – Week Three Review

Dayton, Ohio — Week three of Coach Render & Coach Osborne’s Dayton rec runs were shaken up a bit from the previous week. In an attempt to be different, unique, and put a new twist on the rec runs, the coaches added two new teams, adjusted the rosters, and invited some new prospects.

The runs have been an invite only open gym at Dayton’s Flyght Academy, consisting of the city’s top varsity prospects, along with some cameos from out of city stars.

Week two consisted of six teams of six players, while this weekend consisted of eight teams of five players. Like the previous weekend, games were played by one’s and two’s to seven, followed by a free throw to put the game away. A game clock was implemented to make sure games didn’t take too long.

Going into the run, teams one, five, and seven were the fan favorites. Team two was Coach Render’s sleeper team of the week. While a returning team six came in defending their seven game undefeated streak.

Division one prospects Ben Knostman & Nate Johnson made their rec run debuts, along with South Carolina stud, Colin Rodrigues.

In this article, we will review all eight teams put together by the coaches. We will go over some of the games they played, highlight plays, and give an opinion based analysis on the players of each team.

Team One – Lawrent Rice, Patrick Ivory, Damontay Raglin, Tom House, & Randy Latham

Patrick Ivory (Northmont | 2021)

Our first team put together by the coaches featured all returning players from week two, including 23′ Randy Latham (Belmont), 23′ Lawrent Rice (Wayne), 22′ Tom House (Centerville), 21′ Patrick Ivory (Northmont), and 21′ Damontay Raglin (Trotwood-Madison).

When Coach Osborne released the first team via his Instagram, they instantly became the favorite to go undefeated and put an end to Team Six’s streak.

The previous week, House had proved to be one of the best shooters in the gym, while a clip of Ivory getting a dunk off a fast break was trending on social media. Rice, although only going into his sophomore season, already holds an NCAA division one offer, while Raglin & Latham compliment the team perfectly.

To begin the day, Team One started out slow offensively, not getting much to fall against Team Two. Defensively, they had a difficult time stopping Ryan Chew from behind the arc in the half-court, while Chew’s playmaking ability in transition allowed for a lot of easy points for Team Two.

Although Team Two came out on top, a few things stood out with Team One. Latham and Chew consistently went at each other on both ends, making for a good game. Add in Raglin’s highlight block on middle school phenom Mason Shrout that sent the crowd into frenzy, and this was a perfect start to a long day of runs.

Team One would move on to play Nate Johnson & Ben Knostman’s Team Seven, but they came up short once again. Team One kept it close against the two future division one commits, as it was tied for most of the game. But, Team One failed to capitalize off of a missed free throw and Team Seven wouldn’t make the same mistake again, making Team One 0-2.

Team One returned to go up against Team Four’s Tyler Montague & Dayjuan Anderson. Going into the game, both teams were 0-2 and looking for their first win.

Team One had difficulty stopping Montague on the drive, which kept the game close. But together, everyone stepped up and chipped in on the offensive end to send Ivory to the line after a nice fade-away and finish at the rim to score the last two points his team needed for the win.

Unfortunately, Team One’s inefficiency from the free throw line started to show. Luckily, Team One’s defense pulled through and Team Four couldn’t score before time ran out, giving Team One their first win of the day.

Lawrent Rice’s above average ability to shift his defender was in full effect, but he wasn’t able to consistently finish off of it. This is possibly due to the foul heavy play that comes with the Render Rec Runs. As Coach Osborne stated on their live, “They’ll either make you . . . or break you.” His court vision and playmaking ability helped him serve as his team’s primary ball handler and playmaker. Rice is a top five 2023 prospect in the Dayton area, and he’s set to have another dominate season with Wayne. The Rice v Cupps rivalry this upcoming season will be an arena filler for sure.

Patrick Ivory has nice length and height for a guard, and this will be on show for his senior season. He showed off his clean footwork in a highlight play followed by a nice fade-away jumper over Darian Leslie to help his team against Team Four. Ivory also earned a spot on our list as one of the most underrated players in the area. He already proved he could step up in big situations. After finishing the regular season with only one win, Ivory led his team with 2 assists, 3 rebounds, and 20 points on 8-12 shooting against the higher seeded Wayne. Ivory kept Northmont in the game for their first round post-season game, but fell short, 59-55. We expect him to have a breakout season this winter.

Damontay Raglin’s physicality and strength was a sight to see at Flyght Academy this weekend. His shot blocking ability is no secret to the Dayton area, posting a solid 1.7 blocks per game in his junior season with the rams. This earned him a top five spot for blocks per game in his conference. Raglin was definitely one of my favorites to watch for the day. It’ll be interesting to see how he contributes to his Trotwood team this year on both ends with his rim protection and footwork down low in the paint.

Tom House has certified himself as one of the best shooters in the area, and his play at the runs has supported the claim so far. House has shown he can shoot off the catch, off the dribble, off screens, and from anywhere on the court. He is just one of Centerville’s many threats for their upcoming seasons. House’s size was also a surprise to me. These recent weeks, House has reeled in an abundance of interests at the division one level, including Texas A&M, Davidson, & St. Johns. His back & forth battle with teammate Rich Rolf was a highlight for the day, along with his nasty step back three in the last half-hour of the runs.

Despite his lack of size and height, Randy Latham’s defense and ball handling were on sight for everyone to see at the academy. Latham was one of the primary ball handlers and play-makers for his team, and has proved to be one of the most underrated in his 2023 class. His quick hands on the defensive end resulted in a good amount of points off turnovers for his team. Latham’s vertical was also surprise for me, as in between games, he rose up to flush one in. The 2023 trio of Latham, along with teammates Antaune & Antone Allen will be a difficult challenge to whoever comes across them there next three seasons.

Team 2 – Mekhi Elmore, Mason Shrout, Tre Dennis, Rich Rolf, & Ryan Chew

Ryan Chew (Bellbrook | 2022)

In the second week of rec runs, Coach Render chose Team Six as his sleeper team. Team Six went onto finish undefeated. This weekend, Render chose Team Two as his sleeper team. They were on track to fulfill Render’s prophecy, until Allen Lattimore Jr. (West Carrollton) put a stop to that in Game 11.

Team Two consisted of 22′ Mekhi Elmore (Thurgood), 22′ Ryan Chew (Bellbrook), 24′ Mason Shrout (Preble Shawnee), 22′ Tre Dennis (Trotwood), and 22′ Rich Rolf (Centerville).

In Game 4, Team Two made their debut against Team One, where backed by Ryan Chew’s sharpshooting and ability to find his teammates in transition with ease, they made quick work of their opponent to begin the day 1-0. Chew battled with Randy Latham throughout the game on both ends to make an interesting game.

Team Two returned in Game 8 to face a fan favorite, Team Five. Throughout the game, Allen Lattimore Jr. & Elmore continuously went at it. The foul heavy defense forced both competitors to earn each and every point they scored. After multiple alley-oop attempts and flashy finishes from both teams, Malcolm Curry added a nice finish to tie the game, 6-6.

Team Two matched Curry offensively, and it resulted in Rich Rolf finishing out the game with an easy bucket down low to continue his team’s winning streak. Team Two looked on track to go undefeated, until Render & Osborne made the decision to have the two teams rematch three games later. This time, the ending was different.

The rematch between Team Two & Five took home game of the day for me. Both teams put on a show for the parents, coaches, media, and fellow teams. Lattimore once again shined in this game, along with Elmore. But, neither team could finish at the free throw line. In the end, the West Carrollton transfer was too much for Team Two, handing them their first loss.

After pulling in interest from Indiana Wesleyan and Western Kentucky over the 2022 contact period between players and colleges, Mekhi Elmore made his return to Flyght Academy. Elmore proved to be a hard read for defenders. His smooth handle and ability to create space for himself were front and center for everyone to notice. Off of his separations moves, he was quick on the drive and pulled up off of it with ease. Elmore came off as very comfortable and confidant throughout the day as well. One of Dayton’s top five prospects in the 2022 class is sure to take any opponent who hasn’t met him yet by surprise over these next couple seasons.

Mason Shrout was the lone wolf of the rec runs, being the only participant in the 2024 class. Coming off a hot previous weekend, Shrout showed off his score first mindset with his quick release every other time he touched the ball. Unfortunately he couldn’t get much to fall. Throughout the run, Shrout kept confidence in his shot and positivity in his play. This will definitely translate at the next level and help him become a nice leader as a freshman. Although he had an off shooting day, he proved he could successfully handle the ball around the perimeter against elite varsity talent. We expect Shrout to be a top prospect in the area for the 2024 class. The duo of Shrout alongside Bryce Singleton will be one the SWBL‘s best.

Tre Dennis is a name that I believe is unknown to many in the city who aren’t familiar with Trotwood basketball. This is primarily due to him only seeing the floor in six games for the rams. In those games, Dennis averaged 4.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, and shot 48.0% from the field. As the team’s 8th option, Dennis put up 14 points on 6-10 shooting off the bench against Miamisburg, and looked well-rounded statistically. When asked why he sat the rest of the season after the first six games, Dennis stated he felt “the coaching staff had a difficult time relying on me and see me as trustworthy in game situations.” He’s definitely earned a spot as one of the most underrated players in the city. Hopefully his consistent finishing at the rim due to his solid frame can be used for his junior season.

Rich Rolf made his rec run debut this weekend, and stood out as soon as he walked in the gym. He’s was one of many Centerville’s studs that attended the private runs. He’s one of Ohio’s lengthiest guards at 6’7″ and has a nice wingspan to add. Rolf can do it all, and it will certainly show this coming season in the GWOC and Centerville’s out of conference match-ups. After sitting out his freshman year due to injury, he bounced back averaging 5.7 rpg, 2.1 apg, and 6.8 ppg on 47.1 fg% as his team’s fourth option. Rolf showed his durability as well, being only one of two Centerville players to play every game of the season. His competitive drive showed clearly when he matched-up against fellow teammate, Tom House, during the runs. Rolf has been quiet with his recruitment, but we can expect him to be playing basketball at the division one level.

Ryan Chew might’ve been the biggest standout on Team Two for this weekend. Despite him being undersized, he proved he can play with most elite talent in Dayton. Chew showed he was an ideal guard to run with, spotting up for shots behind the arc with his quick release, while pushing the ball quickly in transition and finding his teammates in perfect position. His playmaking ability helped him not only make himself look better, but the players around him. It was clear there was a nice team chemistry between Chew & Mekhi Elmore. This chemistry ended up expanding to the rest of the team. It will definitely be entertaining to see how Chew & Gabe Pavlak work together to compete in the SWBL next season.

Team 3 – Anthony McComb, Carter Mims, Anthony Johnson, Emmanuel Deng, & Gabe Pavlak

Carter Mims (Trotwood-Madison | 2021)

Team Three was possibly my favorite team to watch at the run this weekend, consisting of 21′ Anthony McComb (Thurgood), 21′ Carter Mims (Trotwood), 22′ Anthony Johnson (Fairmont), 23′ Emmanuel Deng (Centerville), and 22′ Gabe Pavlak (Bellbrook).

Team Three started their day against Team Eight. The game consisted of a lot of turnovers from both sides, but thankfully it didn’t effect Team Three enough to result in a loss for them. The game included a highlight block from Gabe Pavlak.

They returned two games later to compete against Team Four. A slow game, but the match-up was highlighted by Mims & Tyler Montague battling on both ends. Mims’ defense ended up paying off, earning Team Three their second straight win. The final score was 8-2.

Anthony McComb (Thurgood Marshall | 2021)

Anthony McComb can certainly make a case for the best player in Dayton. He doesn’t have a spot on the front of our website for no reason. While on one of Render’s lives, McComb was described as “a player who you can tell works on their game”. The 2021 guard comes off as a natural with the ball. Add in his consistent workouts with Coach Crawford, and he’s on track to have a huge senior season. We expect him to be one of the hardest players to guard in the city because of his ease to reach the paint so consistently while also being a knockdown shooter from anywhere on the floor.

Carter Mims was another Trotwood talent I enjoyed watching. His competitiveness and effort stood out compared to others on the floor. For me, he took home defensive player of the run this weekend, consistently poking the ball out of his match-ups’ pocket. At one time, Mims stole the ball from the opposing team for three straight possessions. Expect Mims & Damontay Raglin to force a lot of turnovers for Trotwood’s opponents this season. Although 5’5″, he also consistently finished at the rim in the half-court and transition. Bet on Mims to make a lot of noise for the Rams this season along with their loaded 2024 class. If Mims can use his explosiveness and freakish speed to the best of his ability, he’ll be hard to stop on both ends.

Anthony Johnson (Fairmont | 2022)

Anthony Johnson was another rec newcomer, and definitely proved he belonged. He showed to be one of the most consistent and efficient shooters in the gym. Johnson stayed squared up and ready to shoot off the catch from behind the arc. He also showed his ability to shift his defender with his quick handle and get up into a pull up jumper in a swift manner. After speaking to Johnson’s mom after the run, she stated how Johnson has stood out from other players his age since he first started playing in elementary. Much like McComb, his natural abilities with the ball mixed with his training with Coach Smart, will certainly result in a big season for the Fairmont point guard.

Emmanuel Deng (Centerville | 2023)

Although being one of the youngest in the gym, Emmanuel Deng also proved he belonged. He was also one of the few players in the gym who has yet to see much varsity playing time. Centerville’s young prospect is expected to have a big role increase next season, especially after what he showed us this weekend. Early in the day, Deng showed that he could step up in clutch situations. After sinking a pull up mid-ranger, Deng headed to the line for the game winning free throw. A teammate of Deng’s let us know that he was an inconsistent shooter from the line, but contrary to what was expected, Deng sunk the free throw to put his team up 1-0. The 2023 guard earned his highlight play in the last half hour of the runs, rising over Meadowdale star, Justin O’Neal, for a monster block.

Last but not least, Bellbrook big, Gabe Pavlak, was missing his rec rival in Shawn Phillips. He didn’t let that stop him from continuing to show off his competitive drive and toughness on each side of the court. While his Bellbrook coach was in attendance, Pavlak was very physical around the rim, and had nice footwork in the paint. This allowed the 2022 prospect to easily find teammates open around the perimeter, as well as score down low. Pavlak & Ryan Chew will be an exciting duo to watch and compete with in the SWBL.

Team 4 – Dayjuan Anderson, Christian Rand, Darian Leslie, Tyler Montague

Tyler Montague (Butler | 2021)

The fourth team that showed up to the runs was led by 21′ Tyler Montague (Butler), along with 23′ Dayjuan Anderson (Ponitz), 21′ Christian Rand (Wayne), and 22′ Darian Leslie (Dunbar). 21′ Jayson Hayes (Centerville) did not show unfortunately.

The group made their debut against Team Seven. Dayjuan Anderson stepped up early by showing he’s one of the best 2023 prospects in the city. Anderson showed his footwork with a post fade-away, followed by coming down the court and hurling a pull-up jumper from behind the arc to put his team up 3-1. He continued his stellar play, but this time on the defensive end, with a highlight block against future division one basketball commit, Nate Johnson. But, unfortunately the incoming sophomore couldn’t stop Team Seven from finishing on top, 8-6.

Team Four returned to face a nice looking Team Three. Throughout the game, Montague went at it with Carter Mims. After taking an early deficit, Team Four couldn’t come back. Mims shut down Montague defensively, and Anthony Johnson stepped up to be the difference maker, hitting a deep dagger for game.

Tyler Montague looked very nice later on against Team One in a close game. He was almost unstoppable on the drive. Anderson walked away from the game with a monster block on Randy Latham. But, Team Four couldn’t stop the teamwork of Team One, coming out with another loss.

Tyler Montague proved this weekend that he will be a candidate for Conference Player of The Year. His above average scoring ability on the drive proved to be helpful for his team on the offensive side. He was able to get downhill very quickly, and finish around his defenders with a unique finish and footwork on each occasion. Montague did well finishing high off the glass, and brought out his hook shot for the rec run. He showed off his nice jump-shot, and with an increase in consistency, will be a problem from behind the arc. Montague stood out as one of the best players of week 3.

Dayjuan Anderson is one of the many special talents in the 2023 class. Anderson showed he had a nice and consistent jumpshot, along with nice footwork. Anderson, while only coming out of his freshman season, stepped up big as a leader for his team to start out the runs. He was arguably one of the best shooters in the gym. He also showed his leaping ability on the defensive end and effortless recovery with two blocks at the rim, one on Randy Latham, and another on division one prospect, Nate Johnson.

Darian Leslie was the only current Dunbar player in attendance for the runs. His jumpshot also stuck out to me as one of the nicest in the gym. After years of hardship, Dunbar is taking the proper measures to turn their basketball program in a better direction. With Leslie expecting a new cast & crew, it’ll be interesting to see how he changes his play style and how is role on the team changes to fit the new & improved team. Expect to hear and see Leslie’s name a lot more as Dunbar basketball makes its return.

Christian Rand is one of three Wayne varsity players who were invited to this weekend’s rec that didn’t see much of the varsity floor due to Wayne’s deep depth. It’s hard to know if Rand will have much of a role increase with having a majority returning team, but we expect him to be seeing the floor much more. The 2021 forward showed his grit, grind, and effort as he picked up the opposing teams’ primary ball handlers in the full court on multiple occasions. Rand’s defense can be something Wayne could use to their advantage for his senior season with the program.

Team 5 – Allen Lattimore Jr, Chanze Amerson, Antone Allen, Tre Johnson

Antone Allen (Belmont | 2023)

Team Five was another fan favorite on the night of the team announcements. They certainly met their expectations, being one of the flashiest teams of the event. The team was made up of 21′ Malcolm Curry (Wayne), 21′ Allen Lattimore Jr. (West Carrollton), 21′ Chanze Amerson (Thurgood), 23′ Antone Allen (Belmont), and 21′ Tre Johnson (Centerville).

Team Five came out of the gates as the debut team for the day against the undefeated, Team Six. Allen Lattimore tried to put a stop to their 7 game winning streak, but came up short, 8-5.

After a tough loss, they made a return to face Team Two. It was probably the flashiest game so far at the time, but the finishing was lacking. Allen Lattimore came down the court with the ball as the spectators awaited a highlight dunk, but instead he put in between his legs and off the backboard for an alley-oop to a trailing Chanze Amerson. Unfortunately, the oop wasn’t on target enough, and Amerson couldn’t finish the highlight play. Curry had a good game as well, but the team failed to come out on top.

Team Five came back out for a rematch against Team Two, which ended up taking home game of the day. Allen Lattimore showed out and proved he was one of the top talents in the gym, resulting in a different ending for his team.

After being accused of “ducking rec” the previous week, Allen Lattimore Jr. came out and proved that was definitely not the case. The MVL newcomer and West Carrollton transfer will be getting the much more coverage and exposure that he deserves with his new team and new conference. It’ll be interesting to see how Lattimore & Stanley Shrivers mesh together with the pirates, but how he played alongside Curry & Antone, expect them to be a dynamic duo. His shot looked very consistent, smooth off the dribble, and off the catch. He also proved he has the ability to step up and put a team on his back. While against Team Three, Lattimore scored all eight of his team’s points to give them the win.

Malcolm Curry looked very smooth with the ball throughout the day. He seems to have a good idea on when he has a miss match, and how to execute on it. Against, Emmanuel Deng, Curry went to work on the perimeter. At one point, he put Deng on the floor for a nice highlight, but couldn’t finish the shot. He showed he could finish around the rim off the drive as well. It’ll be interesting to see how Curry does in a strong looking GWOC conference for his senior season, being one of the quickest & strongest ball handlers around the perimeter.

Chanze Amerson stuck out as one of the most athletic players in the gym for the day. His ability to use his air time to finish over, around, and through defenders is one of his nicest traits. Amerson has a type of athleticism that if he misses on the drive, you can expect him to grab his own board and go back up for the easy finish. His highlight dunks are a plus for any team he plays on, because it creates an instant boost in team morale and energy like no other.

Antone Allen might be the most underrated player out of his 2023 class. His vertical and athleticism is in the top percentile of any player of any class in the area. He showed that early in the run, when off a missed floater from Allen Lattimore, he rose up from no where for a put back dunk. He also showed his ability to finish through contact with tough finishes during the run. It’ll be exciting to see the show Antone and his brother put on in the Dayton City League for only their sophomore seasons.

Tre Johnson is an invitee that many participants and spectators probably weren’t too familiar with before the run. The Centerville big man has a ton of potential going into his senior season after being a JV junior and Varsity reserve. This is due to his lengthy frame and his ideal work ethic. Johnson was one player I was looking forward to seeing at the run, wanting to see his improvement. He unfortunately didn’t stick out much, but there’s still a lot of time left in the off-season to prove himself for the upcoming season. With the mix of Centerville losing their leading rim protector and big man, and Johnson’s chop wood mentality, expect him to make a good case for receiving a role increase with the Elks.

Team 6 – Justin O’Neal, Dasan Doucet, Jeremiah Thompson, Shayne Ferguson

The only returning team from week two had a lot of confidence going into this weekend after finishing undefeated. The team was made up of 21′ Justin O’Neal (Meadowdale), 22′ Dasan Doucet (Fairmont), 21′ Jeremiah Thompson (Wayne), and 21′ Shayne Ferguson (Thurgood). 21′ Daylon Morgon (Trotwood) didn’t show for this weekend.

Team Six was brought on the court to defend their streak for the first game of the day, against Team Five. Allen Lattimore came out of the gates hungry to stop Team Six. Dasan Doucet showed his strength and solidarity with a and-one finish through contact to keep his team in the game. In the end, Lattimore wasn’t enough to stop Justin O’Neal’s dagger from deep to keep the streak going.

After going 8-0 in the rec runs, Team Six’s streak came to an end at the hands of Team Eight. Team Eight made very quick work of Six in a fast paced game. Team Six was down 5-0 before O’Neal put them on the board. Doucet followed with a nice couple finishes but it wasn’t enough to stop Team Eight from ending the streak.

Justin O’Neal proved to be the leader for this team on the offensive end. He showed to not only be a slasher, but could also knock down the open shot when available. O’Neal’s defensive intesity seemed to spread throughout his teammates as well. The duo of O’Neal and Will Hill will be one of the most lethal in the Dayton City League.

Dasan Doucet is one of the many young talents at Fairmont with high potential. Doucet showed he was willing to finish through contact consistently when he got into transition. He brought a nice defensive prescence to his squad, feuled by his nonstop effort. Doucet will have a big role increase with his Fairmont team for his junior season, going from a contributor off the bench, to a starter and key part of the young team’s future. Plan on this year being a breakout season for the 2022 forward.

Shayne Ferguson & Jeremiah Thompson both served as quality role players for their team. Thompson didn’t let his height be a disadvantage, shifting defenders for shots around the perimeter, while Ferguson scored easy buckets down low. Both contributors stepped up on the defensive end, especially late in their game, forcing turnovers against Team Eight when it set in that their undefeated streak was on the line. Expect them to translate that same play style over into their final seasons at the varsity level.

Team 7 – Nate Johnson, Ben Knostman, Wilson Suggs, Antaune Allen

Antaune Allen (Belmont | 2023)

Team 7 was arguably the favorite to go undefeated for this weekend. With a stacked roster consisting of two division one prospects including, 21′ Nate Johnson (Lakota East) and 21′ Ben Knostman (Tipp), alongside 22′ Wilson Suggs (Tri-Village) and 23′ Antaune Allen (Belmont). 22′ Ray Greene (Wayne) didn’t show for Team Seven.

They first faced off against Team Four. The star of the event, Nate Johnson started out slow from the field, going 0-4. But, Johnson put his team on the board with a put back over Christian Rand to bring his team’s deficit down to 3-1. With the game tied 6-6, Antaune received a nice dime down low for an easy to finish to start Team Seven out 1-0.

Team Seven returned but this time to face Team One. This was another close game for Johnson and his crew, but Johnson sent himself to the line to end it after a nice shot from deep. He couldn’t finish at the line, but in the end Team Seven came back out on top, now 2-0.

For their third match-up, they were faced up against Team Eight. Their third games was another close one, but once again they came out on top.

Nate Johnson started out the day a little disappointing from the field, but he instantly bounced back after his first four shots to spark our interest. He made it difficult for defenders to stop him after he reached the paint. His quick crossover and lethal leaping ability resulted in Johnson scoring majority of his points in the paint, but he also showed he could hit shots from quality range on a consistent basis. Johnson played with a type of nonchalance and confidence throughout the run. His athletic build, speed, and overall athleticism definitely screams division one. The 8th highest ranked player in Ohio (247sports) holds offers from Miami (OH), Kent St, & Ohio, along with interest from Dayton & Cincinnati.

Ben Knostman was the other division one prospect highlighting the event. The Tippecanoe guard stood out as one of the best passers. He was able to consecutively find and hit Johnson along with his other teammates on the fastbreak for easy finishes in transition. His above average length for a guard also stood out from the others in the gym. Knostman would periodically create his own shot off the dribble, looking nice on the mid-range pull up. He led Tippecanoe to a conference championship, and along the way earned himself the conference player of the year title. Knostman is in the race for Ohio’s best passer and currently holds six offers including from Lehigh. He also has interest from FGCU & Yale.

Antaune Allen, much like his brother, has incredible athleticism around the rim compared to other 2023 players in the area. The young guard hasn’t received much interest, but surely will with some more exposure and coverage for his next three seasons. His explosive quickness and vertical is something that many 2021 players in Dayton have even yet to obtain. Expect Allen & his brother to climb many player rankings in the area this upcoming season.

Wilson Suggs, similar to Mason Shrout, is a player we’ve heard great things about, but didn’t show too much for this run. Suggs definitely showed he could run with the elite varsity talent without turning over the ball, and added in a few buckets, but didn’t stick out as a star. He was a nice role player for his team, and can be expected to step up more with an increase in confidence over the next couple weeks. Suggs is also expected to have a big season with Tri-Village in the CCC. Paired with another top sophomore player in the area, Layne Sarver, Suggs & Tri-Village will be making a lot of noise.

Team 8 – Stanley Shrivers, Colin Rodrigues, Kalerrio Reaves, Isaiah Ramey

Colin Rodrigues (North Augusta | 2021)

Team Eight was another team spectators were looking forward to seeing, due to the rec debut of a top player in the area, Stanley Shrivers, along with the event’s first out of state participant, Colin Rodrigues. The team not only included 21′ Stanley Shrivers (West Carrollton), and 21′ Collin Rodrigues (South Carolina), but also 23′ Kalerrio Reaves (Meadowdale), and 21′ Isaiah Ramey (Cedarville). 21′ Courtney ‘Deuce’ Blake (Trotwood) was absent.

Team Eight started out with a tough loss against Team Three. But, Team Eight rebounded from their loss in their next match-up against the undefeated Team Six. Ramey started out nice after a rough start shooting from the field, leading the team to a 3-0 lead. Reaves followed with a two to put them up 5-0. Team Eight closed the doors on a potential comeback for Team Six, putting an end to their 8 game undefeated streak.

Stanley Shrivers was one of two West Carrollton’s stars for the upcoming season to made their rec debut in week three. The other being Allen Lattimore, Shrivers and the pirates are on track to have their biggest season in the school’s recent decades. After what was shown this recent weekend, the pair of Shrivers and Lattimore will give West Carrollton one of the toughest back-courts in the city. With the addition of Lattimore & D’Shawn Ferguson, along with their current team, Shrivers will almost certainly lead the conference in assists per game. Expect Stanley Shrivers to be the most all around statistical player in the MVL.

Colin Rodrigues took home our Week Four Rec Player of The Week. Rodrigues’ athleticism was unmatched. His ability to explode off the dribble and soar through the air opened up many opportunities on the offensive end. Rodrigues’ air time would frequently allow him to pass up finishes after beating his defender to find and hit open guards on the perimeter. The 2021 forward transferred from Dayton to North Augusta High School in South Carolina his freshman year. He also showed he was able to hit shots behind the arc. According to Rodrigues, his recruitment so far has seen a lot of interest. He’s definitely a player we hope to see in action again.

Team Eight was full of new faces to the rec runs, including Isaiah Ramey. The Midwest AAU guard was a little off from the field, not getting many shots to fall. But, Ramey was one of the more confident players in the run based off his play. He constantly went into contact and wouldn’t shy away from it on the drive. He had difficulty finishing at the rim, but in an official game, most of his finishes would’ve been met with a foul call. The 2021 prospect has earned a couple offers from prep schools, along with an offer from Sinclair at the JUCO level. He and his father’s ability to network and build connections has been the perfect supplement to Ramey’s recruitment, on top of his already nice skill set and work ethic. Along with expecting more offers to begin flowing in, Ramey can be expected to have a big season in the OHC with Cedarville along teammate, Trent Koning.

Kalerrio Reaves was the second Meadowdale player of the run. The young prospect is one of the top and most underrated in his 2023 class. Reaves’ Meadowdale squad is on track to finish as one of the top teams in the Dayton City League, returning their stars in Will Hill & Justin O’Neal. The sky is the limit for Reaves, having two elite 2021 prospects with division one interest by his side to learn from. With his quickness and ability to spot up and hit easy shots around the perimeter, he’ll be on a lot of 2023 watch-lists.

Outro

After another weekend of Dayton rec runs at Flyght Academy, week five is on track to repeat its successfulness. After feedback from participants & spectators, Coach Render and Osborne made the decision to cut back on the teams, and go back to the original six team, six player format.

23′ Will Maxwell (Oakwood), 21′ Jakob Reed (Stebbins), 22′ Ben Southerland (CHCA), 22′ Adam Duvall (Beavercreek), 21′ Larry Kocisko (McNicholas | ISA Prep), and 24′ Delamarr Blanton (Trotwood), will all be making their much deserved debuts.

Big things are on the way for the two coaches, as they’ve also put in plan a college/pro run to go along with the current high school runs. Top college players from around the area have already earned themselves a spot in the event, including Caleb McConnell (Dunbar | Rutgers), AJ Harris (Dunbar | New Mexico St), and Trey Landers (Wayne | Dayton).

Dear players & coaches, if you come across any misinformation about you or your players, be sure to let us know by contacting us on one of our social media platforms !

2019 GWOC Player Of The Year Finally Finds A Home

Kettering, Ohio — Dayton’s 2019 class was highlighted by an incredible set of prospects. Many of the city’s athletes found homes, a good handful at the division one level.

The GWOC held arguably the most elite talent to make it to the next level. Sidney‘s Andre Gordon landed a scholarship with Texas A&M. Springfield‘s Ra’Heim Moss took the reclassification route and did a year at Spire Academy, before committing to Toledo. Trotwood-Madison bred another division one athlete in Amari Davis, who spent his freshman year at Green-Bay.

But, one of GWOC’s biggest names spent their first year out of high school without a team.

Ryan Hall celebrating during a stellar performance against Crestwood Prep at 2019’s Flyin’ To The Hoop (Source: Ryan Hall’s Twitter)

In his senior season with Kettering Fairmont, Ryan Hall earned recognition as a GWOC Player of The Year.

The 6’4″, 190 pound, point guard posted a solid 17.0 ppg, 4.7 apg, 7.0 rpg, and 1.7 spg.

Unlike the majority of most highly touted basketball prospects, Hall didn’t see Varsity action until his junior season. In those final two seasons, Hall was still able to prove himself not only on the court, but also on the football field. This opened up the option for him to choose either sport to play at the next level.

Hall held division two football offers from Tiffin and Urbana, while receiving much division one and two interest with his play on the court, including offers from Mercyhurst and Walsh.

He made a name for himself outside of just the GWOC, leading his team to a huge win over nationally acclaimed team, Crestwood Prep. The school out of Canada consisted of many top recruits from around Canada and the United States.

Hall finished with a career high of 28 points on 50% from the field, 6 assists, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals. The performance surely impressed some of the scouts in attendance.

It also earned him a spot on the 2019 FTTH All-Tournament Team, alongside top recruits, Jaden Springer (D1 – Tennessee), Nimari Burnett (D1 – Texas Tech), Samari Curtis (D1 – Evansville), Terry Armstrong (Pro – NBL), and Meechie Johnson (D1 – Ohio St).

As national signing day for athletes accepting division one and two football scholarships approached, Ryan Hall had a big decision to make. What sport would he be playing at the next level?

In April of 2019, Hall made the choice to play basketball and commit to Taylor University in Indiana (NAIA Division One).

In the end, Hall decomitted and made the decision to stay in Kettering, continuing to work out and stay conditioned for a potential comeback.

Rumors swirled that he would join the hometown JUCO basketball team, Sinclair for the upcoming season. The 15-15 team already consisted of two of Hall’s former Fairmont teammates, Cade Morgan & Jack Hendricks.

The rumors were put to rest when Sinclair released a statement announcing they’d be suspending all athletics for the 2020-2021 seasons.

This was followed up by a post on social media from Hall’s former assistant coach at Fairmont who seemed to have a big influence and part in Hall’s recruitment, and a current assistant for Oakwood, Julian Grasso. The post was a video of Hall working out with the coach, with a caption stating that his recruitment was open.

Ryan Hall was ready for a return.

One month later, Coach Grasso released a statement via Twitter. “Thankful for all the interest Ryan Hall received over the past several weeks. After talking to coaches and fielding offers from all over the country, Ryan has decided to take one year to play and study at Iowa Lakes JUCO who was 26-6 last season! Please keep an eye on him!”

We wish Ryan Hall the best of luck with his future at the next level. We plan to continue to cover Hall over these next few years.

Dear players & coaches, if you come across any misinformation about you or your players, be sure to let us know by contacting us on one of our social media platforms !

Top GCL Co-Ed Prospect Teaming Up With Meechie Johnson & Andy Barba

Cincinnati, Ohio — Following a 3rd place finish in the GCL Co-ED last season, McNicholas was on track to be arguably the best team in the conference for the 2020-2021 season.

The team is losing the 2020 GCL Co-ED POTY, Evan Brunot, due to graduation. But, the team was on track to return their loaded 2021 class.

Larry Kocisko, Caden Conrad, Nick Schulte, Carson Seemann, & Max Minardi were all returning contributers to McNicholas’ run last season.

Unfortunately, one of them will not be returning to McNicholas for their senior season. Larry Kocisko was on track to be McNicholas’ star player next season, but will be transferring 4 hours away to ISA Andrews Osborne for his last go around before playing at the next level.

The prep school out of Willoughby, Ohio, near Cleveland, is only going into their third season as a program, but is no stranger to the Dayton area. These last two years, ISA has participated in the 2nd biggest high school basketball showcase in the country, Flyin’ To The Hoop. The rumor is they’ll be back for their third consecutive year.

In their Flyin’ To The Hoop debut, ISA was embarrassed in front of a packed crowd, losing 95-64 against a stacked Bella Vista Prep squad. Bella Vista was led by Terry Armstrong (NBL), Addison Patterson (Oregon), and 2021 ESPN #19 recruit, Zion Harmon (Western KY).

ISA overcame their growing pains this recent season by defeating the #2 team out of Arizona, Hillcrest Prep. Hillcrest was led by Puff Johnson (North Carolina), Dalen Terry (Arizona), and 2020 ESPN #16 prospect, Makur Maker. But, the three high school basketball stars couldn’t overcome the 81-68 upset ISA handed to them.

ISA’s Andy Barba made a name for himself in front of the Dayton crowd, earning himself a spot on this recent year’s FTTH All-1st Team. Barba is ranked Ohio’s 6th best player in the class of 2021 by ohhoops.org. The 6’6″ small forward is being scouted by an abundance of division one schools.

It might be a surprise to why Kocisko would leave a team destined for a big season. But, his reasoning is inspirational. “The competition man. I want to play against the best and guard 4 and 5 stars every night.”

Kocisko didn’t only was tougher competition, but also wanted a tougher schedule, “It’s 40 games, so way more games”. He mentioned the powerhouse program, La Lumiere, will be apart of their schedule. Lumiere has been home to the NBA’s Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies) & Jordan Poole (Warriors).

The 2021 guard seems to be doing everything he can to make sure he’s ready to play at the collegiate level.

Kocisko is going on reduced tuition after receiving a scholarship to attend the academy, “I was just talking to the coaches, then went up there for a visit and worked out. They liked my game and gave me a scholarship. I’m blessed.”

Kocisko will be teaming up with the nephew of one of basketball’s greatest in LeBron James. After sitting out last season with ISA due to injury, Meechie Johnson will be that teammate. The 2nd highest ranked player in Ohio’s class of 2021 held offers from Louisville & Georgetown, before committing to Ohio State. Andy Barba will also be returning to squad up with the McNicholas transfer.

The academy will be graduating some of their top contributors in Keon Ambrose (Alabama) and the former Moeller Crusader, Brad Colbert (Louisville). Four star big man, Charles Bediako, who currently holds offers from 13 elite D1 schools including Michigan St., Michigan, Ohio St., & Alabama, will be transferring for his senior season to play at IMG Academy.

As his team’s 2nd option, he finished top 10 in conference scoring (11.3 ppg), top 15 in 3ptfg% (37.1%), top 15 in ft% (75%), and top 5 in blocks (1.4 bpg).

Who knows what other top prospects Larry Kocisko will have the chance to team up with at ISA Andrews Osborne? Will we get to see an ISA V.S McNicholas rivalry match-up at Flyin’ To The Hoop, like we did with Spire Academy & Springfield last year? We’ll have to wait until January to find out . . .

Dear players & coaches, if you come across any misinformation about you or your players, be sure to let us know by contacting us on one of our social media platforms !

Dayton’s “All-Slept On” 1st Team

Dayton, Ohio — With the thousands upon thousands of basketball prospects in the Dayton area, there’s unfortunately going to be many that fall through the cracks, unrecruited and unnoticed.

Overview

This list makes up the top prospects in the city that have yet to receive any offers and have received minimal interest from colleges and prep schools in the 2023, 2022, and 2021 classes. These prospects have also had to receive quality varsity playing time.

A separate list is subject to be made for those in the 2020 class that have yet to commit or earn an offer as well.

These are 15 of the players we believe to currently be “the most slept on” in the city!

Starting Lineup (2021)

1.) Jayden Priddy-Powell (G | 2021) – Botkins HS. | NW Ohio AAU

The 5’10”, Botkins guard, has stated, “I think I’m slept on but I’m going to get that offer somewhere sooner than later.” With this mindset, the undersized varsity guard doesn’t let his height get in the way of his impact on the court.

Botkins’ leading scorer was looking forward to teaming up with Parkway‘s Dylan Hughes for his upcoming AAU season with NW Ohio. But, as the months pass it looks less and less likely this deadly duo will happen.

Only receiving interest from Wooster & Defiance so far, his surprising jump on the scene with Botkins after transferring his sophomore season from Perry (Lima, OH) might’ve been an underlying reason. His transfer shortened his sophomore season with Botkins by reserving him their first eleven games.

Priddy-Powell received much recognition for his junior season, including 1st Team All-Conference (SCAL), District 9 Coaches First Team, and Div. IV OPSWA All-Ohio Special Mention !

After leading his team to an 18-7 season after a rough start caused by their lack luster defense, Jayden Priddy-Powell will definitely be on coaches radars “sooner than later.”

2.) Jakob Reed (G | 2021) – Stebbins HS. | Midwest AAU

Stebbins 2021 guard, Jakob Reed

The Stebbins Indians will have to move on from their previous big three of Kelby Cox, Jalen Tolbert, and Jakob Reed, to a new big three of the returning star, Reed, alongside Ryan Hickey, and sophomore prospect Nate Keller.

Reed was set to join the Midwest AAU Club this upcoming AAU season alongside top prospects, Ben Knostman (Tipp) and Isaiah Ramey (Cedarville).

After a 17-5 season, the indians received a #9 ranking going into the postseason. In the first round, backed by Jalen Tolbert’s 28 points, the indians took down #8 Franklin. Reed added on a clean 13 points and 5 assists.

In the second round, Jake Reed and his teammates showed their grit & grind by defeating #3 Sidney after going 0-2 against them in the regular season. Stebbins and Reed are known around the MVL for their scrappy, ‘go get it’ attitude on the court.

If you’re looking for that type of player, and someone who can use that to earn themselves 14.9 ppg, 3.6 ast, and 4.4 rpg, Reed is the player for you. Don’t forget about his 50% field goal percentage.

Stebbins finished their tournament run with a down to the wire loss to a #12 ranked Springboro team, 60-57.

Both teams fought hard to move on, as it would potentially be a majority of the players’ last high school game.

Reed started the game with an and-one. Both teams were hot offensively and traded bucket for bucket.

Going into the fourth quarter, Stebbins led 41-35. Tolbert battled with Boro’s Noah Moser throughout the quarter. With one minute left and down 5 after a Boro comeback, All-Conference 1st-Teamer, Reed, stepped up by grabbing a board and going coast to coast to bring Stebbins’ deficit to 3.

To end the game, the indians gained possession while down by 1. The ball was inbounded to Tolbert, and he was able to gain contact and head to the foul line for a one-and-one.

Unfortunately, Tolbert’s shot was too strong, and he missed, putting the nail in the coffin for Stebbins’ playoff run. Reed put up 11 points, 3 assists, 5 rebounds, and added in a steal.

Reed finished out his season 4th in conference scoring (15.1 ppg), 8th in assists (3.5 apg), and 7th in steals (2.6 spg), but received no offers or interests.

Reed still has one season remaining to prove all of his doubters wrong . . .

3.) A.J. Eller (G | 2021) – Brookville HS. | Charging 1 Way AAU

In A.J. Eller’s first three seasons at Brookville, he’s proved to be one of the best pure scorers in the Dayton area.

Eller’s 19.1 ppg has ranked him 11th on our Dayton area scoring leaders list. He’s one out of only six players in the 2021 class to rank in the top twenty of our list, and one out of only four players below 6’0″.

Even with Eller’s scoring abilities, it only resulted in the Brookville Devils finishing right above 50% this recent season. It was a down year for the Devils after finishing 21-4 in the 2018-2019 season, primarily due to the loss of then seniors Wade Turner and Josh Gudorf.

With Brookville losing their second leading scorer, Manny Willis, they’re on track to have an even worse season, but Eller expects the opposite . . .

“. . . losing Willis will be tough but I think Dominique (Daniel Dominique) is ready to step up . . . we have some young guys that’re grinders and some shooters that can really contribute.”

Going into this coming season with the mindset of proving everyone wrong, Eller believes his teammates are ready to step up for the challenge. He believes the recent season was a rebuild season after their 21-4 contender season.

“Honestly, I see us as a contender for the league . . . I felt like this year some of the other guys were just getting their feet wet and now they really know how the varsity game is and what we expect from them”, Eller would go onto say about his team.

With every team in Brookville’s SWBL division having one or two key guys, it’s really going to depend on the role players surrounding each player to separate their team from the others.

“Everyone is going to expect a lot to come from me this year, but I really feel like they will step up and make my job easier”, Eller had to say about his teammates.

In Brookville’s last game to end their 2019-20, Eller finished out his junior season by outscoring the rest of his team by 10 points, putting up a career high 31 points! But, the devils would go on to lose the first round tournament game to the higher ranked, West Liberty Salem, 53-51.

A.J. Eller’s scoring would definitely be a nice addition to a college team, but he’s yet to pick up any offers or interest.

The 2x All-Conference 1st-Teamer, Jet Holiday Tournament MVP, 2018-19 SWBL Champion, D-3 All-Ohio Honorable Mention, Dayton’s 10th leading scorer, and the SWBL’s 3rd leading scorer, is sure to land on some scout’s radars his senior season.

4.) Stanley Shrivers (G | 2021) – West Carrollton HS. | Team Flyght AAU

West Carrollton’s 2021 guard, Stanley Shrivers

After transferring from Ponitz, the West Carrollton newcomer rose above expectations in his first season with a new team, assisting the Pirates to a 17-7 record.

He was the cherry on top to arguably West Carrollton’s best team in the recent decade.

Shrivers’ 8 rpg (3rd in MVL), 2.9 spg (5th in MVL), 11.6 ppg (11th in MVL), and 5.7 apg (2nd in MVL) not only led his team to their first winning season since 2012, but also earned him his first All-Conference 1st Team selection, with an All-Southwest District Honorable Mention selection.

With Shrivers becoming West Carrollton’s first option next year and the exit of MVL star, Kalen McKinney, Shrivers will make a good case for MVL Player of The Year.

He’ll still have to compete with returning player of the year Ben Knostman (Tipp), along with Jakob Reed (Stebbins), Tyler Montague (Butler), and Shaeden Olden (Troy).

We can’t forget about MVL newcomer, Allen Lattimore. Lattimore was one of the Dayton City League’s best players, leaving behind his legacy at Stivers. While there, he received the 1,000 point accolade after only his junior season, helped Stivers to their first conference championship in 62 years and regionals for their 2nd time in school history, and back to back district championships. He will be joining Shrivers & Coach Parker’s already star studded team, along with Jefferson Township transfer, D’Shawn Ferguson.

After Shrivers’ breakout season, he was looking forward to picking up an offer with Dayton’s Team Flyght for his AAU season, alongside a star studded lineup of 2021 prospects, Damontay Raglin & Carter Mims (Trotwood), Chanze Amerson (Thurgood), Allen Lattimore (West Carrollton), Patrick Ivory (Northmont), Will Hill (Meadowdale), Jayson Hayes (Centerville), & Tyler Montague (Butler).

Shrivers & the pirates left it all on the court throughout the season and especially in a close postseason game to close out their year against a higher seeded Beavercreek, 64-63.

But, don’t expect the pirates to be going anywhere next season.

Although they’re losing their leader in McKinney and key role players Austin Jones and Zahir Hopkins, they’re returning Shrivers, alongside top 2023 prospect, Sam Walker, and one of Dayton’s best shot blockers, Aigbokhai Kadari (4.2 bpg).

Add in Jye’Ton Howard, Terry Green, and Tyron Darby stepping up, plus the swirling rumors of the pirates possibly gaining another transfer on top of their already confirmed transfers in Lattimore & Ferguson, and it doesn’t seem to be the end of the road for Shrivers and the West Carrollton Pirates.

So far, Shrivers has only picked up interest from Wilmington & Edison State. Expect him to wow the Dayton area in his final season and prove to be one of the city’s best point guards.

5.) Patrick Ivory (G | 2021) – Northmont HS. | Team Flyght AAU

While at Northmont, Patrick Ivory unfortunately hasn’t seen much success. In his first three varsity seasons with the thunderbolts, they’ve struggled with a 19-51 record and never made it past the second round of the postseason. They’ve finished at the bottom of their division each year, nor finished with a winning record.

Ivory was just a year late to Northmont’s success in 2017. Led by class of 2017 stars, Rodney Richardson (Edison St.), Vinson Walker (Miami-Hamilton), and Christian Wilson (Dayton), Northmont finished with a 20-5 record.

Richardson was the team’s point guard & statistical leader, placing 5th in the conference for apg (4.7), 3rd for spg (2.8), and led the team in scoring (12.0 ppg). He went onto play for Edison St. where he averaged 5.5 ppg, on 52.4 fg%, 1.4 rpg, and 1.2 apg in his freshman season. He was quoted as having very impressive “speed and agility to get to the rim.” It’s unknown where Richardson is now, but it’s not believed he’s still playing basketball at the collegiate or professional level. He left Edison St. for his sophomore year.

Walker has been excelling while at Miami-Hamilton. His senior season at Northmont, he placed 6th in conference rebounding (9.0 rpg) and took home Athlete of the Year for his division. This recent year at Miami was special for Vinson Walker. Walker led his team in rebounding (9.8 rpg) and field goal percentage (57.1%). He had many eye-opening games, including one where he put up 28 points and 19 rebounds. His IQ has also been a weapon on the court, backed by his 2018 selection to the National Society of Leadership & Success. As a 6″5′ wing averaging a double double and shooting over 40% from deep, we can expect to see Vinson Walker transfer to a bigger team sooner than later.

Christian Wilson was a four-year varsity member while at Northmont, along with being the team captain. Although Wilson’s Northmont team received much success, he didn’t receive much recognition around the city. During his four years, Wilson never received even a special mention on the All-Conference selections. His senior year with the thunderbolts, he placed in the top 25 in assists (2.7 apg) and 7th in steals (2.4 spg). Even while being the third option on his Northmont team, he went onto walk-on for Dayton’s basketball team his sophomore year. This recent year, he made it into 15 games, putting up 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Ivory’s high turnover rate might be one cause for his lack of recruitment, ranking 10th in conference for highest total turnovers. Turnovers were a big problem for the thunderbolts as four of their top contributors all placed in the top 12 of total turnovers during the 2019-20 season.

With a majority returning team, Northmont is on track to have a better season now that their young players have gotten their feet wet at the varsity level. Ivory will have his returning forward in Jordan Smith, along with Michigan football commit, Markus Allen, and decorated freshmen, Tyrin Sturdivant.

Ivory so far has received quite amount of recognition, but not from where he might seek most, colleges. Highly respected basketball media site, Prep Hoops, has frequently praised the Clayton guard and featured him on their top prospect lists.

He finished out his season securing an honorable mention selection on the 2020 All-SW District Teams, as well as his first All-Conference 1st Team selection after being named a special mention his sophomore season. Ivory placed 5th in conference scoring (13.6 ppg).

Northmont also closed out their season in a respectable fashion. In an expected blowout, the thunderbolts surprised everyone by putting on a show in their first round tournament game.

As the 19th seed, they competed with #5 Wayne Warriors until the final seconds. After a close first quarter, Wayne built a decent lead. At halftime, it looked like the favorites would begin to run away with it. But, Northmont turned it up the second half and brought the game within two with the clock running down.

With 16 seconds left in the game, they fed the ball down low to Jordan Smith. Smith looked to kick it back out to Northmont’s senior guard, Andrew White. Before the ball could meet the hands of White, top 2023 prospect, Lawrent Rice, ended the thunderbolts’ hopes at making it out of the first round with a game ending interception.

Rice ended the game with an exclamation point by topping his steal off with a dunk that was met with a loud reaction from the crowd. Northmont’s turnovers once again came to haunt them. Ivory ended the game with 20 points, 2 assists, and 3 rebounds.

Patrick Ivory has yet to land an offer, nor much interest, but has stated that he’s communicating with colleges. Colleges such as San Diego St. at the division one level have shown interest, while prep schools like the Illinois Prep Trojans have also been in contact with the 2021 guard.

With Northmont on track to have a more successful season, and Ivory at the front of it, we can bet that he’ll be reeling in his first offer very soon.

The 2021 class is entering their final season. With the delay and possible cancellation of their 2020 AAU season, prospects are taking a big hit. These five prospects especially were looking forward to their 17U AAU seasons, expecting to build some more interest and pick up a few offers before their last dance at the high school level.

Bench (2022)

6.) Jacob Pleiman (F | 2022) – Botkins HS. | Mid-Ohio Pumas AAU

Another one of Botkins’ top performers, Jacob Pleiman, is one of the top forwards in the 2022 class.

Being paired with top 2021 prospect Jayden Priddy-Powell and a majority returning varsity team, Botkins is on track to compete against Fort Loramie and Jackson Center for an SCAL championship.

Pleiman was on track to have a big off-season, committing to play for the Mid-Ohio Pumas for his 16U AAU season. He had previously played for the Lima Gators alongside Kettering Fairmont‘s Anthony Johnson, and Sidney‘s Devin Taborn.

The Pumas’ program has developed talent such as top prospects Rich Rolf (Centerville ’22), Carson Seemann (McNicholas ’21), Cam Harrison (National Trail ’21), and five-star OSU football commit, Jack Sawyer (Pickerington North ’20).

The 6’6″ center is not your average sophomore and the SCAL knew that, adding his name to the All-Conference Second Team. Pleiman was the youngest player to be on the list that included the SCAL’s seventeen best players through three lists, first team, second team, and honorable mentions. Pleiman also earned his way onto the District 9 Coaches Second Team.

Pleiman’s name began being mentioned along with Ohio’s top 2022 prospects when going into his breakout sophomore season, he made the decision to attend 270 Hoops’ 2019 Fall League. Pleiman used his overwhelming size and footwork to dominate in the paint on one side, while sending shots into the bleachers on the other side.

Jacob Pleiman currently has zero offers or interests. But, this is certain to change with him on track to be the best player in the SCAL by his senior year and the contributions he will make with the Mid-Ohio Pumas.

7 & 8.) Ryan Chew (G | 2022) & Gabe Pavlak (F | 2022) – Bellbrook HS. | Team Flyght AAU

1/2 of Bellbrook’s talented 2022 duo, guard Ryan Chew

The SWBL‘s young duo of Ryan Chew and Gabe Pavlak are looking to bring back Bellbrook to a time similar to their golden age in the mid 2000’s, when they took home seven straight division championships between 2004-2011.

Chew and Pavlak will have to step up in a big way as they’re set to have only two other returning players who received varsity playing time, Ashton Ault and Caleb Fugate. But both are up to the task and ready to give it their all, backed by their All-Conference selections following their sophomore seasons.

Chew is one of the most talented guards coming out Dayton’s 2022 class. His height might look like a disadvantage, but just look at his 14.8 ppg (8th best in conference), 2.5 apg, 2.0 spg, and 2.0 rpg.

Reducing turnovers will also be a big task for the golden eagles this upcoming season, supported by Chew’s 3.9 turnovers per game.

He’ll need to work on his efficiency from the field, as he put up a field goal percentage of 35.8%. This was one of the lowest percentages when compared to the other top scorers in the SWBL.

But, he’s also shown he’s able to adjust in games. In a match up against division rival, Brookville, Chew shot 0-5 from the field, but proceeded to put up a career high 7 assists. If Chew can just improve his consistency, eagle fans are in for a show.

The other half, forward Gabe Pavlak

Down low, Gabe Pavlak is known for being one of the hardest competitors in the area. He’s “exactly what a coach wants in a low post defender and a low post scorer”, MVHV’s Rob Ellis quoted after Pavlak’s game against Badin.

Pavlak’s shot blocking was definitely a show for the spectators this season. If you don’t believe me, just look at his 1.4 bpg that ranked him 5th highest in the SWBL. Gabe’s 11.4 ppg was a nice compliment as well.

So far, Chew has yet to gain any looks from coaches and scouts. But, Pavlak has received interest from Marietta.

With both on track to be four year contributing varsity members, and hitting the road with one of Dayton’s best AAU teams, they’re on track to be earning their first offer very soon.

9.) Gabe Phillips (F | 2022) – Beavercreek HS. | WTNO AAU

6’7″ Adam Duvall makes up one part of Beavercreek’s dynamic sophomore duo. The other. . . 6’7″ Gabe Phillips. Duvall, despite his height, is a guard with a good handle and shot to fit the position. Phillips on the other hand, plays the center position perfectly for Coach Pittman‘s Beavers.

But, his contributions don’t always show up on the stat line, senior leader Chris Herbort saying, “Gabe might go into a game and have two blocks, but it doesn’t show that he altered 15 shots.”

Gabe might not receive the same recognition as seniors Yousef Saleh, and Chris Herbort, or sophomore Adam Duvall. But, it’s safe to say the Beavers wouldn’t have had the historic season they had without having his presence in the paint. “Every single game, Gabe made an impact, whether it’s how many points he scored or how many shots he altered”, Herbort would go onto say.

Gabe’s 2.4 bpg (2nd in GWOC) and ability to shoot 63.4% (3rd in GWOC) might not have secured him any offers or interests, but it did earn him an All-Conference Honorable Mention and helped lead his team to a district final versus top seeded, Lakota East, who they lost to by a single point in a controversial ending.

Speaking of district finals, Phillips has also showed that he can prosper in clutch situations. With 20.2 seconds left in Beavercreek’s first district final’s match-up in twenty years, Gabe Phillips headed to the free throw line with the Beavers down one to the heavy favorites, the Lakota East Thunderhawks.

Phillips preceded to knock down both free throws in the tense tournament atmosphere in the Cintas Center, putting the Beavers up by one. Gabe Phillips was only shooting 43% from the free throw line before this . . .

Herbort stated before discussing Phillips, “Gabe Phillips . . . he’s not really that talked about”. I think it’s safe to say if Phillips continues improving on how he played this recent season, Gabe Phillips will be talked about.

10 & 11.) Anthony Johnson (G | 2022) & Keon Wright (G | 2022) – Fairmont HS. | Lima Gators AAU & Next Level Prep AAU

Fairmont’s 2022 point guard, Anthony Johnson

Back on the topic of young duos, the cross conference GWOC duo of Anthony Johnson and Keon Wright, along with Malachi Parker, gives Kettering Fairmont one of the best back-courts in the area.

Much like Bellbrook, the firebirds also have a turnover issue. To finish out their season, they put up 19 turnovers in their first round loss to Sidney. Wright had 6 turnovers that game, while Johnson averaged 2.6 throughout the season.

Johnson, a shifty guard with a good all-around game, was one of Fairmont’s leaders this season, even though he was only a sophomore. He’s on track to be the team’s only current four year varsity member.

Prep Hoops’ lead writer, Tony Peters, described Johnson after a tough loss to hometown rival, Kettering Alter, as “showing patience and a strong offensive presence.”

His ability to rebound for his size and position is also a plus for the firebirds. He’s 1 out of only 7 players in his conference under 6’0″ that placed in the top 50 for rebounds per game.

Anthony’s field goal percentage is also elite, placing 8th in 3ptfg% (40.0%), 3rd in ft% (84.1%), and top 30 in fg% (46.3%). Not only was he an elite shooter and rebounder, but passer as well, placing 10th in apg (3.2), and 9th in total assists (67).

Johnson earned himself an All-Conference Special Mention selection, but no interest or offers. We expect that to change very, very soon.

Fairmont combo guard, Keon Wright

At Fairmont’s two position, combo guard Keon Wright is the definition of a shooter. He lit up the field in his first year on varsity.

Wright placed 15th in made three pointers throughout GWOC (24). He was 1 of only 3 underclassmen in the top 15.

Much like Johnson, Wright is someone you don’t want to send to the line if you’re the opposing team. He placed 6th in ft% (77.8%).

If Wright improves on his recent season, he’s on track to be Fairmont’s leading scorer and rebounder.

Football is where Wright shines though, racking in interest from Marietta, Buffalo St., and more. The wide receiver’s athleticism is a huge plus for the young prospect.

Wright surprisingly did not earn any All-Conference honors, but did earn a placement as one of Triple Double Prospect’s honorable mentions on their 2022 Player Rankings list. He neither earned an offer or any interest for basketball.

The two Kettering guards accomplished a lot for the firebirds in only their sophomore season. They defeated the Springfield Wildcats for the first time since 2015. They defeated the stars of Overtime’s “Chopping Wood” with Gabe Cupps, the Centerville Elks, for the first time since 2013. They capped off the 2nd biggest high school basketball showcase, Flyin’ To The Hoop, with a win over Cincinnati Hughes, coming from 2022 prospect, Malachi Parker.

If Johnson & Wright can lessen the turnovers and keep moving up the statistical leader board, they will be two of Dayton’s most unstoppable guards.

12.) Jaden Journell (G | 2022) – Greenon HS. | Next Level Prep AAU

When Keon Wright isn’t teaming up with Anthony Johnson at Fairmont, he’s playing AAU for Next Level Prep with Jaden Journell.

Journell could definitely make a case for OHC‘s most improved player of the year. The Greenon guard was one of his conferences best players in only his first season with varsity.

Journell swung between varisty and junior varsity his freshman year. After gaining a few inches and increasing his athleticism, he earned the varsity spot his sophomore year.

By improving his overall game, Journell passed up players who previously were in front of him and received a big role improvement. He became the team’s leading scorer, and lock-down defender.

Journell stated, “Coach would usually put me on the other team’s best player”, backed by his 2.2 spg (5th in conference).

He placed 8th in scoring (13.7 ppg), 15th in 3-pointers made (26), while not being able to miss from the field, finishing 4th in fg% (55.9%) and 7th in 3ptfg% (41.3%).

The 2022 duo of Jaden Journell and Clayton Minteer, alongside Mason Potter will be very hard to stop. The OHC have a problem on their hands these next couple years.

Could Journell bring Grennon their first conference championship in decades?

Much like receiving his first offer and interests, only time will tell for the young star.

13.) Andre Simmons (G | 2022) – Purcell Marian HS. | All-Ohio Purple

Alongside upperclassmen Jared Baldock, Nate McMillan, and Dustin Davis, Andre Simmons and #4 Purcell Marian gave Dayton powerhouse, #1 Trotwood-Madison, a challenge for their fourth round postseason game.

The Cavaliers held a 40-23 lead at halftime. The cavs held onto the lead after the third quarter, but after the rams outscored Marian 51-27 in the second half, Trotwood finished out on top, 74-63.

Arguably Dayton’s best player from the 2019-2020 season, Carl Blanton, was held to only 7 points at halftime. He proceeded to drop 22 in the second.

The story was different for Jared Baldock, scoring 18 in the first half, and only 2 in the second. Davis’ leg cramps limited him to only 18, while Simmons added 14.

Since head coach Rocky Rockhold took the program over in 2011, the Trotwood Rams have won their *reported* post season games by an average of 33 points and on top of that, won 86% of their postseason games (43/50).

Don’t forget the ruthless result of their game against the Northmont Thunderbolts this season, beating them 153-67.

Taking all of this into consideration, if the cavs could’ve limited turnovers in the second half, the end result might’ve been different. But, Purcell Marian’s performance was very praisable.

Their coach summed it up perfectly, “they fought like hell all year. A couple shots here or there and our record would look a lot different.”

It was a shaky year for the cavaliers after winning the GCL Co-Ed championship and finishing 24-5 in the 2018-2019 season.

After not seeing much varsity playing time his freshmen year, the Cincinnati Hughes transfer, Simmons, placed 13th in conference scoring (10.7 ppg), 8th in 3-pointers made (31), and 2nd in ft% (81.8%) .

The 5’9″ sophomore guard placed 15th in rebounding (3.9 rpg). Simmons is the shortest player in the top 30 for rpg (at least 3.0 rpg). Simmons placed in the top 20 in apg (2.0), but 11th in total turnovers (55).

He’s not only an offensive threat but plays both sides, placing 11th in spg (1.4).

Simmons could be debated as GCL’s best player in the class of 2022, being the only sophomore to make the All-Conference 1st or 2nd team, while Jacob Conner and Logan Broaddus were respectfully selected as honorable mentions.

With the return of an improved Simmons, alongside Dustin Davis, Purcell Marian could compete for a top spot in the GCL Co-Ed next season.

Andre Simmons currently holds no offers or interests, but that is definitely subject to change with him becoming Purcell Marian’s first option over the course of these these next two seasons.

Dayton’s 2022 class is filled with young prospects with tons to prove. These seven prospects are going into their junior year, already leading contributors at the varsity level, and ready to pick up their first offer.

Reserves (2023)

14.) Antaune Allen (G | 2023) – Belmont HS. | Emerge Elite AAU

15.) Sam Walker (F | 2023) – West Carrollton HS. | All-Ohio Blue AAU

The 2023 class serves as an “honorable mentions” for our list. These two young prospects still have three seasons to pick up an offer and with how these freshmen played in their first year of varsity, we can fully expect them to pick up more than one. But, Walker and Allen have both yet to pick up any offers or interests.

Junior Varsity (Special Mentions)

1.) Antone Allen (G | 2023) – Belmont HS. | Team Flyght AAU

2.) Dasan Doucet (F | 2022) – Fairmont HS. | Hopson Elite AAU

3.) Tre Dennis (G | 2022) – Trotwood-Madison HS. | None

4.) Mekhi Elmore (G | 2022) – Thurgood Marshall HS. | Team Flyght AAU

6.) Layne Sarver (G | 2022) – Tri-Village HS. | Team Flyght AAU

7.) Caden Conrad (F | 2021) – McNicholas HS. | None

8.) Jayson Hayes (G | 2021) – Centerville HS. | Team Flyght AAU

9.) Josh Tolliver (G | 2021) – Springfield HS. | Miller Factory AAU

10.) Prophet Johnson (F | 2021) – Thurgood Marshall HS. | Miller Factory AAU

Our special mentions list is a group of guys who equally deserve a spot on this list. As MVHV increases our coverage over the Dayton area, we expect our list to increase in accuracy. Thank you for supporting our mission.

Dear players & coaches, if you come across any misinformation about you or your players, be sure to let us know by contacting us on one of our social media platforms !

Bobby Jones named the new head coach at Greenville

Photo via: Daily Advocate

Greenville, Ohio — Tri-Village head coach Bobby Jones has been named the new coach at Greenville. Former coach Kyle Joseph announced his contract would not be renewed on March 10th. Joseph took over as the head coach of the Green Wave during the 2016-17 season.

Greenville last won the GWOC back in 2015 as they were led by senior Aaron Balsbaugh, sophomore Isaiah Gable, and junior Clay Guillozet. Head coach Michael Bashore resigned at Greenville following the 2015-16 season after Versailles head coach Scott McEldowney resigned. Bashore did not get the Versailles job and instead was named the head coach at Fort Recovery in May of 2017.

In Kyle Joseph’s first season in 2016-17, the Green Wave finished second in the GWOC North just behind Andre Gordon and the Sidney Yellow Jackets. The next two seasons, Joseph would only manage to win one game at Greenville. The Wave went 1-22 in 2017-18 and 0-23 in 2018-19. This past season, Greenville went 5-18 after moving to the MVL conference from the GWOC. The combination of an easier schedule and a trio of talented returning seniors helped Greenville win some games. They still had a first round exit to the talented Thurgood Marshall Cougars.

Bobby Jones was announced as the new head coach at Tri-Village in May of 2019. This past season the Patriots went 11-12 (7-5 CCC). They were led by sophomore Layne Sarver who averaged 18.1 points per game and freshman Wilson Suggs who averaged 9.4 points per game. Had Jones stayed at Tri-Village, the Patriots would have likely had a very successful year this upcoming season as they should still be one of the favorites to win the CCC.

Jones will have his work cut out for him as Greenville will graduate seniors Foster Cole, Tyler Beyke, and Marcus Wood. Cole put up 9.5 points per game, while Beyke and Wood averaged 8 points per game. Upcoming junior D.J. Zimmer should be the face of the Green Wave next season as the second leading scorer will have a much bigger role next season with the departure of the majority of Greenville’s scoring from this past season.

Dear players & coaches, if you come across any misinformation about you or your players, be sure to let us know by contacting us on one of our social media platforms !

Dayton Rec Recap

Thurgood Marshall guard Anthony McComb

Dayton, Ohio — Basketball was back in the Dayton area on a Sunday afternoon, as Coach Render hosted his second “rec” held at the Flyght Academy. The event lasted around 3 hours and had some of the best talent in the Dayton City League and surrounding conferences.

Some new and old faces stuck out. Thurgood Marshall guard Anthony McComb who will be a senior next year showed that he’s been working over the quarantine as his dribble moves and shot are both still very smooth.

Incoming freshman, Mason Shrout from Preble Shawnee was also in attendance. Shrout will be one of the top incoming freshman in the Dayton area, his shot and dribble moves are very smooth and he should be able to dominate the SWBL early on.

Belmont’s trio of talent was there as well. Big man Shawn Phillips, and twins Antaune and Antone Allen. Phillips showed some improvement from last season as he continues to develop as a finisher. He was recently ranked as a top 50 player in the country by 247 Sports. Antaune Allen was one of the top freshman last year in the area. He had a couple of nice dunks and some good transition layups, but his brother Antone stole the spotlight. He hit shot after shot and was one of the top performers at the event.

Another player that played well at the rec was former Beavercreek guard Isaiah Moore. Moore moved to North Carolina this past summer, but would have been a big part of the Beavers’ team had he stayed. Moore dominated the rec scoring and driving with ease. It’s unclear where he will play next season but if a team in the Miami Valley lands him they would be very lucky.

The next rec is scheduled for next Sunday and we will have coverage for that as well.

Dear players & coaches, if you come across any misinformation about you or your players, be sure to let us know by contacting us on one of our social media platforms !

Mo Njie commits to DME Sports Academy

Mo Njie will spend a prep year at DME Sports Academy in Florida

Centerville, Ohio — Centerville star big man Mo Njie announced on Twitter and Instagram that we will playing a post grad year at DME Sports Academy in Florida. Njie had multiple division one offers lined up from schools such as Dayton, Toledo, Providence, Xavier, and VCU. He also had interested from other division one schools. This move may come as a surprise to some people as many people thought Njie would go to one of those schools that offered him.

Mo led the Elks this season off and on the court. It was obvious that he was their leader from watching their pregame huddle to their on-court play. Mo missed some time during the season with a foot injury that came during Centerville’s Flyin’ to the Hoop matchup against AZ Compass. During the games that he missed, Centerville was not the same team. They picked up losses to Trotwood-Madison, Wayne, and Fairmont.

Njie averaged 10.2 points per game this season for the Elks, which was second only behind freshman star Gabe Cupps. His leadership and physical play on the court will be missed for Centerville next season as they will have to look to replace the 6’9″ star.

DME will play Florida Coastal Prep, which is the future home of Beavercreek guard Chris Herbort. The two will play each other twice next season.

Dear players & coaches, if you come across any misinformation about you or your players, be sure to let us know by contacting us on one of our social media platforms !

Allen Lattimore will transfer to WC for his “last go around”

Stivers guard Allen Lattimore will transfer to West Carrollton

West Carrollton, Ohio — Stivers junior guard Allen Lattimore has announced he plans to transfer to West Carrollton for his senior season. Lattimore led the Stivers Tigers to the division three regional final, before their season was ended due to COVID-19.

Lattimore will leave behind a bare Stivers team as they will also graduate seniors DaJuan Allen and Tre Ellis who along with Lattimore led the Tigers this past season. Lattimore averaged 17.9 points per game last season while DaJuan Allen put up 17 a game and Ellis averaged 16.2 a game.

Allen already has a relationship with up and coming head coach Anthony Parker at West Carrollton. He has turned around a once struggling Pirates basketball program. Lattimore will be paired with former Ponitz guard Stanley Shrivers who had a breakout junior season last year averaging 11.6 points per game. They will also be joined alongside guard Jye’Ton Howard and talented forwards Sam Walker and Aigbokhai Kadari.

Two New Rule Changes To Ohio Basketball

Columbus, Ohio — The Ohio High School Athletic Association have been busy with rule changes for high school sports around the state recently. Out of the changes, two will have a direct effect on high school basketball in the area. Both will immediately be going into effect in the upcoming season.

The first rule dealt with an increase in playing time availability. An announcement from WOSN Sports stated, “The amount of quarters an athlete can play in a season (between FR/JV/V) moves from 110 to 120, while the number of quarters that can be played in a day moves from 5 to 6.”

The second rule dealt with suspensions spurring from fighting. The OHSAA increased suspensions for fighting ejections from a minimum of two games, to now four games.

The rule is the effect of the OHSAA noticing a spike in violent altercations and behavior in athletic events.

“Primarily, we’ve seen an uptick in aggressive behaviors/fighting in sporting events, and quite frankly, we cannot tolerate it, and we won’t tolerate it,” OHSAA executive director Jerry Snodgrass explained on a podcast.

OHSAA senior director Beau Rugg supported the claim by stating, “Almost 80 percent of all ejections are for fighting.”

Snodgrass is ready for the backlash after the first four game suspension is issued, but will stick behind the ruling, ““I know there will be varying opinions the first time someone is ejected for four games as a result of that. … I do subscribe to the idea that this will help reduce the number of fights that take place.”

Coaches will receive an equivalent four game suspension for fighting ejections as well.

In an Instagram poll taken by MVHV, 90% of players were in favor of an increase in playing time availability. On the other hand, 75% of players were against increasing suspensions for fighting.

If you’re interested in voicing your opinion to the OHSAA and executive director Jerry Snodgrass, their contact information is posted below.

Dear players & coaches, if you come across any misinformation about you or your players, be sure to let us know by contacting us on one of our social media platforms !