Now that the summer travel circuit has come to an end and the AAU Nationals are in the books, I thought it would be a good idea to put together my thoughts about which players logged in the most consistent standout performances over the course of the summer. To this end, below is a link to my "2012 Buckeye Prep All-State Teams" in the 2016 division. For the most part, the 3 teams plus honorable mentions, are made up of players who made significant impacts for their teams this summer. In addition to their play at local events, performances at the AAU Nationals was also factored in.
Also, the All-State teams do not necessarily represent how I would rank the players, but rather the teams are more about a players production this summer based on what I saw and/or heard. I know there is always debate when lists like these are published, but it's my belief that debate is good as long as it remains healthy and can be used as motivation for those players listed or not listed. As always, I invite you to use the comment section below to express your thoughts about the teams. With that said, keep it positive! On a final note, many of the players listed will be participating in my September 22nd and 23rd elite showcase and will be representing their communities in the inaugural Ohio North vs South games. Let the debates begin!
2012 Buckeye Prep All-State Teams (2016)
Jarron Cumberland should be on that 1st team to carry a team to 6th place nationally sure says alot! You even said that AOE only goes as far as Jarron could carry them.
ReplyDeleteHad I gone with the top 5 over all vs by position,he would have. However, I went with King at the wing so that bumped him down a team.
ReplyDeleteRob do you know if Jacari Tillman from Cleveland played AAU or if he's planning on attending your showcases.I hear he's one of the Elite Guards IN THE STATE.I've seen him play once or twice,but couldn't get in touch with him.
ReplyDeleteEverybody is saying Tillman is of the Top Guards In Ohio.I caught a game last summer.He had 35pts 6boards 8or9ast like 2 or 3steals and a missed dunk.Everyone was ready for him to come into Shaw High School and Start with the rising Senior Cordell Smith.But what is this I hear about him going to Shaker!Why Shaker?
ReplyDeleteYavari Hall is at Warrensville Heights and is 6'2 now. I watched this kid put up 44 points against Team Adidas (PA). Just needs some polish. I also believe that Brandon Peters is staying at Bedford.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Christian should be on their too as far as Jarron they led AOE to a 6th place finish at nationals and have of those teams didnt even place.
ReplyDeleteThis means nothing Sept 22 will Tell it all
ReplyDeleteLets take the first team and second team to nationals next year because all those kids can ball Rob make it hapen
ReplyDeleteHow did Yavari Hall do for AOE at nationals? OK, Terrible, good? I didn't get a chance to go down.
ReplyDeleteBrandon Peters is going to CCC.
ReplyDeleteWhy would Brandon Peters leave Bedford when he has Yavari Hall, Armand Perry and Lamont Rhodes to play with in his class? All these guys had pretty good AAU seasons...
ReplyDeleteA lot of good talent in the class. IMO, we need to get more organized moving forward so we take 3 or 4 teams to nationals next year and clean up. With 8 teams going this year, the talent was spread across too many teams.
ReplyDeleteIf AOE had bigs, they would have probably won Nationals. They have good team chemistry, and great coaches. If you could make two strong teams, out of the 8 teams from Ohio that went to nationals, what players from each team would you pick up.
ReplyDeleteHow is xavier simpson on first team and Keith griffin killed him a couple weeks ago and Keith griffin should been on first team he better then all them PG'S he still in my eyes the number one PG in the class of 2016
ReplyDeleteYes I agree he did have his way with Xavier but xavier is still good so you can't say who better or not but I know them two are top 2 point guards in the state I dont know who # 1 yet and I saw both of them play and I like both
DeleteHow about a list for 2017 and 2018 ? The list for 2016 has generated a nice response. No doubt a list for 2017 and 2018 would generate the same.
ReplyDeleteThe talent in Cleveland and Akron is outstanding! They should all come together and put egos aside to form a national power. If that doesn't happen I agree with the earlier post about putting the top ten together and taking on the rest of the country! Ohio as a whole has the best talent by far......I may be bias but it's true.
ReplyDeleteI live in Middletown & when you speak about elits PGs I've seen 2. One is by far Xavier Sumpson. He runs a team, defends & has the highest iq by far. Caldwell is right there w/him but isn't as aggressive but does shoot it alot better. I've never seen Griffith play but have heard he's nice. I know everybody across the state knows about Simpson & Caldwell. Only people around Cleveland speak about Griffith. That should tell you something.
ReplyDeleteI seen Keith & X play in Lima & on that day Keith played a LITTLE better. He didn't KILL X. However, I've seen them play in Columbus twice. Once at the Grassroots & in Rob's event. Both times wasn't even close. That "scrimmage" in Lima dictated nothing. X ha performed & held his own on every big stage event. Do ya homework before u make it about 1 or 2. Bc Keith isn't there yet. X & Caldwell are head & shoulders above the other PGs in OH.
ReplyDeleteonly reason keith aint out there like that is because he aint got it like them and he dont go to all them camps and i saw all them play caldwell and simpson is not better then him and everybody be at buckeye prep showcase and we can see who's the #1 PG IN THE STATE OF OHIO
ReplyDeleteYou guys keep saying the Cumberland is all thst AOE has. If he is then its ok because those coaches have developed him since he was 8 years old. But he is a monster both those kids have won Spiece Run and Gun, The Maryland Big Shot Tourney, The Nike Cup 15u, finished in the final 4 at Kings James, Runner up 15u Buckeye Prep Tourney, and 6th at Nationals. If he is all they have he has to be the Best Player in the Country. They have even won Nationals at 8U and 11U. Anythony Christian helped at nationals both all those kids defend hard and are very skilled
ReplyDeleteWhat about 6'1 kalib younger wing forward from columbus ohio , also has been. Mentioned on buckeyeprep website before and will be attending Walnut Ridge HS , when are signups for the fall showcase ??
ReplyDeleteI think some of u all are obviously looking at "comparing" kids to kids instead of lookin at the big picture....and that's just the opportunity to play collee ball for FREE. In 3 or 4 yrs, alot of the kids (across the country) won't be heard about bc the grades will kill them. I make sure X works hard in the classroom first. Bc if not, there won't be no basketball....NONE!!! So it's good to debate whose better & that's everyone's opinion. I respect it all. But for me, I just want mines to have success at the game of LIFE!!!
ReplyDeleteCoach Q. (Simpson)
Well said Coach Q...I agree all of this whose better debate is pretty dumb seeing that these kids are in the NINTH GRADE. Progression as a basketball player takes hard work, some of these top players on here might not put in the time that the kid who never gets mentioned on here will. 3-4 years from now some of these kids unfortunately will be H.S. dropouts or not have the grades to continue playing basketball at a Higher Learning institution. Rob I'm curious to know if Academics is a part of your business. Do you have people coming in to speak to these young men at your showcases about being a student FIRST. If not you should consider. Telling these kids how great they are when they really havent accomplished anything yet is not the answer. All it's doing is enabling these kids to have more ego and attitude issues, not all of them but definitely alot. For $115 per kid I know you can get a former buckeye or speaker to come in and enlighten these kids with REAL LIFE GUIDANCE. I like what your doing, but I've seen too many great ballers walking the street broke because of bad decisions and/or a lack of guidance.
ReplyDeleteAs a matter of fact, I have 2 speakers lined up. Clark Kellogg and Sconnie Penn have both confirmed interest in speaking at the showcase. On another note, if you check back over the years on this site you will see that I have posted numerous articles and information about the importance of education and the stiffening NCAA qualification guidelines, in an effort to get the word out. However, the kids/parents most in need of the information are not reading articles on the internet. Coaches and parents who have day-to-day contact with the kids have to carry the message to the courts and the streets, and then hold their players/kids accountable for grades. How many times has an AAU coach gotten angry at a kid/parent for missing a game/tournament to attend summer school, or as a result punishment for poor grades? "It takes a village!" Denying exposure and recognition to players who work hard and gifted is not the problem! From where I sit, I can’t determine which kids/parents are hearing and responding to the message. Buckeye Prep is doing its job; others must step up (including coaches, handlers, teachers, the kids, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, family friends, etc.) and provide guidance and oversight to these kids). I’m going to re-post the last article I published to remind those who read it the first time and to allow 1st time readers to see it. In the piece, I asked parents and coaches to make a copy of the article and take it home and to practices to share the information with their players/kids. How many of you followed the suggestion?
ReplyDeleteAlso The Guard from Ohio Warriors Tyrell Carter , Which attending Saint Charles this yr. So he is great in the class room (coach q) and I seen him drop two 25 point games in nationals one against E1T1 and he killed Griffin in the lima tournament dropping 23 so he is also one to look at. Might not be that flashy one but can be deadly when he is on. Also Tyus Fergouson
ReplyDeleteCarter Is A great player to mention , he has nice handles , good shot , the defense is there , and his basketball IQ is getting better . I also heard he was coached under Scott Bradley for a good couple years , and he was puttin up 20 per game . So you cant sleep on him he has a great future. But his weakness is camps , he dosent get mentioned enough to get invited to those big camps so always keep him in mind
ReplyDeleteTyrell Carter is a gifted hard working young man, and is hungry to better each and everday. Yes he was in our program for 4 years and was dropping 20 plus last season at New Birth.
DeleteRob has done a wonderful job at his events. He tells it exactly how it is. He gives constructive criticism (TRUTH) & some kids AND parents can't take that well. His events are well run, great competition & all that. The best speaker you can have is the PARENT keeping on top of the kids education. EVERYTHING starts at home.
ReplyDeleteCoach Q. (Simpson)
Shaker Heights High School is SERIOUSLY LOADED with talent this season.They have two of the top Freshman guards in the state the #1 Ohio 2015 recruit and somee experienced players already there.
ReplyDeletePreview of Starting Lineup
Keith Griffin 5'10 PG Freshman
Jakari Tillman 5'11PG,SG Freshman
Rosel Hurley 6'4SG,SF Junior
Kash Blackwell 6'5PF Senior
Esa Ahmad 6'7C Sophomore
Don't forget
Melran Leach 6'1SG Senior
what about the kid from the bulldogs - he is dominating!
ReplyDeleteRob Taylor in your opinion who's the top PG in the state
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ReplyDeleteTo be honest, it's really too early to say. Also, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Some guys like bigger guards while others like smaller/quicker guards. Some people like scoring guards while some prefer more pure PGs. Some guys want flash and some want pure production and leadership. It really just depends on what you like. I think it’s safe to say that the PGs listed represent most of the top guys to date who we have seen. I think in another year we may be closer to really knowing who can do what. Kids will get a chance to grow a little bit more and refine their games. Also, I always tend to pay more attention to 8th graders, so I can prepare an accurate top player list for the guys who scout/rank high school kids; as a way of giving them a head start on who’s who.
What you do rob is a very helpful start for evaluators at the high school level. At the end of the day those middle of the pack kids who are getting overlooked will narrow the gap. Everyone remember a kid name Trey Burke ,,, who was always right there early on but never got the attention. By 17u he was the best player in the state. Aaron Thomas is another kid that as a Freshman was unknown. Hard work took them from bottom to top. Trey is now at Michigan, and Aaron is at Florida State. So people don't get wrapped up I these ranking get caught up in the gym.
ReplyDeleteRob who was the top guard at your last showcase
ReplyDeleteU guys only seem to mention the same few kids only because they are at all your camps but there are plenty of kids that play for their local high schools who simply can't afford to shell out money for these camps and these are the ones who you will see getting majority of the scholarships its not about who's top dog in this and that its about education cause injuries and bones break down degrees don't even Michael jordan still goes to work everyday even though its his business its still his job
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