A sure sign that the AAU season is right around the
corner is the tip off of the Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase. On Saturday,
approximately two hundred and seventy 2nd-12th graders
gathered at Central Crossing High School in suburban Columbus, Ohio to
participate in the annual event. As is the case every year, the players rolled
in from all over the county, including Canada, Baltimore, Philadelphia, West
Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan.
For the first time ever, the event included a 2nd-5th
grade division which numbered about 80 kids.
In terms of the format, the showcase kicked off with a skills and drills
warm-up session in the morning, followed by a presentation by former Ohio State
standout Lawrence Funderburke. After that, the regular showcase games jumped
off, and the 1-day event culminated in all-star games in each of the 5
divisions.
 |
| Strom Cook, Seth Goodson & Isaiah Cummings |
The Buckeye Prep Elite Showcases are well known for
attracting talent, and this past weekend was no exception. Besides the players
who would eventually go on to make all-star teams and who were obviously
standout performers, some of the other standouts I saw included: Isaiah Cummings (6’2 PG Ontario, CN
2015), Storm Cook (5’10 PG Sidney
2017), Ryan Peaks (5’9 PG Columbus
2017) Seth Goodson (5’10 P/SG
Gahanna 2018), Garrett Tipton (6’2
WR Teays Valley 2018), Logan Jones
(6’6 C Mansfield 2018), Chance Barnett
(6’0 WF Clear Fork 2018), Colin Woodside
(6’4 C Lancaster 2018), Cameron Carlsise
(5’11 SG Gahanna 2018), Tanner Holden
(6’1 WF Wheelersburg, OH 2019), Korbin
Spencer ( 5’10 PG Sandy Hook, KY 2019),
Ratez Roberts (5’11 PF Sidney2019),
Teon Jennings (5’11 PF Columbus
2018), Caden Sanchez (6’7 C Columbus
2017), Deshon Parker (5’8 PG Dayton
2018), Antwun Johnson (5’10 WF
Dayton 2018), Charlie Large (5'10 WF Hanging Rock, OH 2017) and Devon Baker (5’11 SG
Dayton (2018)
 |
| Shawn Jones,, Derrick James & Zahree Harrison |
As noted earlier, the showcase provided an opportunity to
evaluate some very young players and they did not disappoint. Some of the young
talent I intend to keep an eye on going forward include: Montez McNeil (6’2 C Baltimore 2020), Travonne Jackson (5’2 PG Columbus 2020), Kole Whitley (4’11 PG Sandy Hook, KY 2020), Zahree Harrison (5’0 PG Philadelphia 2020), Justin Powell (5’8 SG Louisville, KY 2020), Chris Scott (5’9 WF Huber Heights 2020), Ryan Kern (6’1 C Vincent, OH 2020), Jake Younkin (5’2 PG Loveland 2020), Shawn Jones (4’9 PG Dayton 2020), Derrick James (4’9 PG Canal Winchester 2021), Magnus Entenmann (5’6 PF Upper Arlington 2021), Cameron Smith (5’8 P/SG Dayton 2021), Jayden Ballard (5’5 WF Massillon
(2021), Roman Newsome (4’10 SG Xenia
2021), Noah Peoples (5’6 C Akron
2021), Noah Rittinger (5’2 PG Charleston WVA 2021), Christian Winborne (5’0 P/SG Baltimore, MD), Jayden
White-Hawkins (5’2 PG Columbus 2021), Garner
Wallace (SG/WF Dayton 2021), Daaron
Brown (5’3 PG Columbus 2021), Jaden Hameed (5'5 P/SG Northfield, OH 2021) and Sarmartine
Bogues (4’4 PG Baltimore 2023).
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ReplyDeleteWhen will the top twenty be put up for each grade.
ReplyDeleteI think they need to start bringing id cause some kids are coming in playing under to make sure they rank I seen alot of it in 6 7 9 bad thats just unfair.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is a lot of kids have been held back to try and gain an edge so their not in the right grade not saying that it makes a different with their skill but when you see players that should be in the 8th grade and 14 playing with a 7th grade team is sad, but that is the rules of AAU.
DeleteHow do you know a lot of kids are playing "under"? Do you know them personally or are you basing this on the "looks" test. I know for a fact the three biggest 6th graders at this showcase are legit. My son is one of them. He's 6'1", 12 yrs old in the 6th grade. I always carry his birth certificate and latest report card with me to all tournaments.
ReplyDeleteCompulsory (required by law) school age in Ohio is 6 yrs old. Depending on the district, a child must be 6 by August 1st or September 30th, to start school. In those districts with the August 1st cut off date, it is possible for a child to be 7 yrs old when school actually starts, depending on their birthdate, which means they could be 14 in the 7th grade. Kindergarten is mandatory in Ohio. Everybody has the option to send their child to school at age 5 or age 6 per Ohio law.
ReplyDeleteso, if you have a son that is born on aug 1 he has to play on what team?
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