Johnson, Walker, Nichols, Walker & Conley |
We had the
opportunity to spend the day on Saturday at the Nike Summer Championship in Reynoldsburg, OH. Approximately 60 teams participated in the
first-year event that represented a collaboration between the All-Ohio Program
and TNBA. Although the field was small I
numbers, there were several talented teams and compelling match-ups. With a roster
full of talent, Chris Anthony’s Ohio Bulldogs appeared to be the class of the 9th
grade division. Marcus Johnson
(6’2/WF/2020/Columbus) was his explosive self and excited the crowd with a
powerful dunk. Von Cameron Johnson (6’2/PF/2020/Columbus) was productive in the
paint while CJ Anthony
(6’1/P/SG/2020/Columbus) was on his game. Despite their close loss to the Louisville,
Kentucky-based Go Hard In The Paint (GHITP), Marty Finta’s 2021 All-Ohio Red
team looked good on Saturday. The addition of Detroit’s Keon Henderson gives the team more scoring and toughness at the
point guard position. In addition, Henderson’s
motor and hawkish defense set the tone for All-Ohio. Of course Brent Walker (6’5/C/2021/Huber Heights) was dominate, as he
finished at a high rate around the basket and protected the rim from would be
scorers. Wil Sizer (6’2/PF/2021/Mt Orab) had a big day as well as he almost
willed his team to victory over a tough Key Player team. We also saw some good things out if Isaiah May (6’1/WF/2021/WV) who hit a
pair of big treys in a loss to GHITP.
May has good length and a nice skill set which allows him to be a
multi-level scorer.
GHITP had
several studs including Sam Conley
(6’1/WF/2021/KY), Chandler Strong
(6’1/SG/2021/KY) and Selah Brown
(6’1/C/2022/KY). Both Conley and Strong
are super skilled, while Brown is big and strong and able to finish at a high
clip near the cup. The fact he was so
productive playing up a year suggests he’s worth tracking going forward. You
can catch Conley and Strong in action when they return to Columbus on September
17th & 18th for the Ohio vs Kentucky All-Star Game. We
got out first look at Ohio Crush (2024) and were very impressed with what we
saw. They only rolled with 6 players,
but the starting five were as good as any 5th graders we’ve seen
this season. The Clutch is anchored in
the paint by Jonas Nicholas
(5’7/C/2023/Akron), who is big, strong and athletic. Surrounding Nichols are 4
guards who can all go. Jonathon Powell
(5’1/SG/2024/Akron) seems to be the best of them, but Amaree Pickens (5’1/SG/2024/Erie, PA), Jalen Hightower (4’9/SG/2024/Copley) and Levelle Sharpe (5’1/SG/2024/Akron) are all very talented and make
this team a tough out. We were also
really impressed with Chase Walker
(5’10/C/2023/Columbus) who was all most unstoppable around the rim. Speaking of
impressive, Coach Jeff Rike’s All-Ohio Blue (4th grad) squad is
absolutely loaded with talent! Delamarr
Blanton (5’2/SG/2024/Dayton) and Javon
“Tank” Vaughn are the engine that makes this team go, but there are several
other guys including Bryce Johnson
(5’2/PF/2024/Dayton) and Mason Carpenter
(4’7/PG/2024/Richmond, IN) who contribute and make this team tough to beat.
There are also some good-looking Canadian teams playing in the event including Grassroots
Canada. Big Hunter Harding (5’10/C/2023/Toronto, CA) is a huge space eater and
has potential written all over him, while Ryan
Regault (5’0/SG/WF/2023/Toronto, CA) brings toughness to the table and Sean Blake (4’11/PG/2023/Toronto, CA)
runs the show.
Davis, Sizer, Henderson, Regault & Vaughn |
Below is a
list of the standout performers we saw on Saturday. Marcus Johnson
(6’2/WF/2020/Columbus), Von Cameron Davis (6’2’/PF/2020/Columbus), CJ Anthony
(6’0/PG/2020/Columbus), Jordan Jackson (6’1/PG/2020/Loraine), Brent Walker (6’5/C/2021/Huber
Heights), Wil Sizer (6’2/PF/2021/Mt. Orab), Keon Henderson
(5’6/PG/2021/Detroit, MI), Isaiah May (6’1/WF/2021/WV), Chandler Strong
(6’1/SG/2021/Louisville, KY), Sam Conley (6’1/WF/2021/Shelbyville, KY), Selah
Brown (6’1/C/2020/Louisville, KY), Isaac Merchants (5’8/WF/2020/Toronto, CA),
Ethan Hunte (5’7/PG/2022/Toronto, CA), Elijah Aedo-Castillo
(5’9/W/PF/2022/Toronto, CA), Chase Walker (5’10/C/2023/Columbus), Jonas Nichols
(5’7/C/2024/Akron), Jonathon Powell (5’1/SG/2024/Akron), Amaree Pickens
(5’1/SG/2024/Erie, PA), Jalen Hightower (4’9/PGH/2024/Copley), Levelle Sharpe
(5’1/SG/2024/Akron), Bryce Johnson (5’2/PF/Dayton), Mason Carpenter
(4’7/PG/2024/Richmond, IN), Cannen Howser (5’1/SG/2024/Ft Wayne, IN), Hansen
Haffner (4’11/PG/2024/Ft Wayne, IN), Hunter Harding (5’10/C/2023/Vaughn, CA),
Delamarr Blanton (4’2/SG/2024/Dayton), Javon “Tank” Vaughn (PG/2024/Dayton),
Sean Blank (4’11/PG/2023/Toronto, CA), Ryan Regault (5’10/SG/WF/2023/Toronto,
CA), Jalen Simmons (2022), Clayton Thomas (2021), Brady Dingess (2022), Jordan
Williams (2021), Christopher Snyder (2022) and Joshua Jones (2021).
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