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| Jeremiah Francis-#1 PG |
Late
last night, the National Youth
Basketball League (NYBL) dropped their list of the top 135 7th
graders (2019) in the country. The list highlights the top 100 players in the
class, including a 35-player “Watch List.” In addition, the NYBL list ranks the
players by position. To date, the NYBL list is the most extensive, as the
league seeks to become the primary authority on the talent in the class.
Among
the list of 135 players, 10 Buckeyes made the cut. The highest ranked Ohio kid
is the #6th ranked Jeremiah
Francis (5’11 PG Pickerington) who the NYBL also ranks as the #1 PG in the
class. Francis had a breakout season in the NYBL and raised his stock with an
improved shot and ability to get to the rack and finish. Right behind Francis
is the #10 ranked Jordan Mitchell (6’2
WF Gahanna). Like Francis, Mitchell solidified his himself as a top 10 player
with an impressive showing during the NYBL. Mitchell also had a big time
weekend at the recent Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase.
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| Jordan Mitchell-Ranked #10 |
The third Buckeye on the list was Gerard Reynolds (6’0 C Columbus). Reynolds got out of the gate quickly at NYBL’s session #1 in Washington DC, where his outstanding play garnered him “Session MVP” honors. Although undersized for his position, Gerard was simply too strong in the post for most of his defenders. Strong with good feet and hands best describes Reynolds’ game. Cincinnati’s Chris’Seon Stringer (5’11 PF) checks in at #64 overall and the #12 power forward. “Grown Man” is what they call him and his play during the NYBL and the Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase backed up his nick name. Stringer is only a jump shot away from being special. Strong to the cup and athletic is Stringer’s calling card.
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| Alfonse Hale-Clevelenad PG |
Cleveland’s
Alfones Hale (5’6 PG), Chris Payne (6’0 PF Cincinnati), and Joey Edmonds (5’5 PG Cincinnati) round out
the Buckeyes in top 100. Included in the NYBL’s Watch List are Cleveland’s Josiah Hitchens (5’9 WF), Justin Smith (6’0 PF Cleveland) and Payton Harris (6’0 PF Springfield).
Look for the above players to continue to shine during season two of the NYBL
set to tip off in Washington DC in March of 2014. Congratulations to all of the
above mentioned players for representing the Buckeye State in the National
Youth Basketball League!
