Luster Drawing Comparisons to Lima Great

Khalil Luster-2022 PG Lima

We’ve had the opportunity to see him ball on multiple occasions, and each time, Khalil Luster (4’6/PG/Lima/2022) was nothing short of impressive.  Not only has he excelled at our Buckeye Prep Elite Showcases, where he has consistently taken home MVP honors, Luster’s dynamic style of play has drawn raves at other elite events as well. Currently, Luster is ranked in the top 10 of our statewide rankings, and is poised to move even higher when we get a chance to see him again this spring.  We’ve wanted to feature Luster for some time now, but it wasn’t until we viewed a recent highlight video of the Lima guard that we decided it was time to shine the spotlight on this unique talent.

He may be diminutive at only 4’6, but Luster more than competes against bigger and older opponents. With an impressive skill set that includes an elite handle, excellent court vision, a mid-range game and a high basketball IQ, Luster looks a lot like Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis did at the same age.  Like Ulis, another undersized floor general who began his career in Lima, Ohio before moving to Chicago, Luster has the ball on a string, is adept at finding open teammates, can score in the paint or from the perimeter, and plays with poise beyond his years.  Having observed Ulis from an early age (see video), Luster comparisons come easy to us.  Not only does he possess many of the same physical tools that Ulis has, Luster’s on court leadership and understanding of his size limitations mirrors that of Ulis’. He’s not just a scorer; Luster is the type of pesky defender coaches require in undersized guards.

According to Quincey Simpson, who has worked with many of Lima’s elite basketball players in the past, “comparisons to Ulis are pretty accurate.”  “Like Tyler, Khalil’s IQ is off the charts.  He [Luster] shoots well, plays hard and is a gym rat” said Simpson. “Kahlil stays in the gym and has the desire to get better.  He understands better than some high school kids how to get better,” Simpson said.  As the head coach at Lima Senior High School and father of Michigan bound Xavier Simpson, the Simpson knows a little bit about Luster and basketball in general. So, when he says Luster projects well as a D-I athlete, we’re inclined to believe him. If Luster has the kind of season we expect him to have, selection to the Buckeye Prep Ohio North vs South All-Star Game and All-State teams is a probability.

Highlight Video

Buckeye Prep 2022 Watch List