Buckeye Prep 6th Grade/2020 Watch List Released



Shemar Morrow-Aurora

We recently released our list of the top thirty 7^th graders in Ohio, and from the amount of chatter in the comment section (22 posts and counting), there is much debate regarding several players on that list. With the release of our 6^th grade/2020 “Watch List,” the debate is sure to continue. Our list currently contains the names of 46 players who have already established themselves worthy of statewide recognition. Clearly, our Watch List is incomplete and does not nearly identify all of the top guys in the class.  However, the list represents a good starting point, and will aide us in better defining the elite talent in the class going forward.

Although there is much debate about several of the top players in 2019, there is no such debate about the #1 player in Ohio in 2020; that honors goes to Shemar Morrow, a 6’0 WF from Aurora. Morrow is not only considered to be the top prospect in Ohio, he is the consensus #1 player nationally as well. At this point in his young career, Morrow is physically dominate and has no equal. Bigger, stronger and more athletic than his peers, Morrow scores at will in the paint. When he does occasionally miss, he often grabs his own rebound and puts the rock back for the score. His play in the Best of Midwest all-star game at last September’s Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase left no doubt to onlookers that Morrow is the real deal!

Zeb Jackson-Toledo

Currently, there is a huge gap between Morrow and the other elite players in the class; however, there are still some quality players on the radar presently. Matt Allocco (5'3 PG Upper Arlington) has made the case as the top PG in the class. He may be diminutive, but nobody is tougher under pressure than Allocco! This kid has more than held his own against 2018’s best floor generals, and his skill set, IQ and motor are superior to any floor general in the class. Other elite 2020 kids include: Jack Pugh (5’10 PF Plain City); Grant Huffman (5’5 SG Aurora); Zeb Jackson (4’11 SG Toledo) and a handful of others.

Between now and next fall, we will be watching this class very carefully in order to add names to our list and to  better define the truly elite among them. As I have mentioned earlier, there are a number of other talented players who deserve to be featured on our list, but until we see them on multiple occasions, we can’t evaluate them. If your son/player is not fortunate enough to play on an elite team that plays in the more competitive tournaments, it will be more difficult for them to get the exposure they need. In those cases, camps and showcases are an alternative.

Now of course we realize that not everybody is interested in early exposure for their child/player, and that’s ok, but understand that if exposure matters, parents have to put their child in the right position. Finally, the list below is just “one person’s opinion,” and placement on the same does not guarantee future success; we simply want to recognize the hard work of those players who have landed on our radar so far.  Let the debate continue!

6^th Grade/2020 Player Watch List