Puma Pair Lead Undefeated Squad

Matt Allocco & Chris Mayfield

Midway through the middle school basketball season, the 10-0 Hilliard Memorial Jaguars remain undefeated, and are well positioned to cruise to a perfect record by seasons end.  The success of the 8^th grade Jaguars can be directly attributed to the outstanding play of Matt Allocco (5’9”/PG/2020) and Chris Mayfield (6’2/WF/2020), a pair of nationally ranked 8^th graders.  Other than a close 23-24 win over a Jack Pugh-led Jonathon Alder team last week, the Jaguars have not been challenged to date, winning by 20, 30, and 40 point margins.  Allocco and Mayfield lead their team in scoring, with both averaging anywhere from 17-18 points per game.

Allocco is no stranger to success, as the scrappy and tenacious floor general has led his various travel teams to great success.  This past summer, Allocco and Mayfield were both standouts for the Mid-Ohio Pumas, one of the most successful teams in the country.  Allocco is most well-known for his elite skill set, basketball IQ and ability to lead any team he takes the helm for. In addition, Allocco is a bulldog and the consummate competitor, who often wills his team to victory.  Not only can Allocco create his own shot, he excels and distributing the rock and making his teammates better.

Mayfield has elite athleticism, so when combined with a solid skill set and a natural feel for the game; he’s a problem for your typical middle school player.  What’s most impressive about Mayfield’s game right now is his strength, physicality and his ability to play through contact. Mayfield may be able to score at will, but he is also an able and willing passer.  In fact, Mayfield is an all-around player who impacts the game on several levels.  With Mayfield’s current size, athleticism and developing skill set, he easily projects as a division I athlete going forward.

 

Jack Pugh

While we are talking about elite middle school players who dominate for both their middle school and travel teams, we would be remised if we did not mention Jack Pugh (6’2/W/PF/2020), one of the top 8^th graders in the state and country.  Along with Allocco and Mayfield, Pugh is a consensus top 5 player in his class in Ohio. Around the cup, Pugh is virtually unguardable. Too crafty for most post players, and too strong for most wings; Pugh is a problem in the paint.  The best part of Pugh’s game right now is his ability to absorb contact and still finish at a high level.  With continued development with his perimeter skills, Pugh’s upside is good as well. 

Finally, it must me mentioned that the 2020 Pumas have another stud on that Jonathon Alder team in Jack Santa-Emma (5’6/PG/2020).  This season, Santa Emma is playing solid ball and is a key piece to a very talented Jonathon Alder team.  With a foundation of Allooco, Mayfield, Pugh and Santa-Emma, the Mid-Ohio Pumas should once again prove to be one of the top teams in the nation, with a legitimate chance of getting the nod as the #1 ranked 2020 team in the state when we release our Power Rankings if a few weeks.  In addition, each of the above players is an early favorite to make the Buckeye Prep All-State Team, as well as grab a coveted invitation to the prestigious Ohio North vs South All-Star Game later this year. We hope to catch up with the Jaguars during their run through their post season tournament at the end of the month.

Buckeye Prep Class of 2020 Rankings

Huffman Excelling on Multiple Levels

Grant Huffman-6'1 SG 2020

Grant Huffman (6’1/P/SG/Aurora/2020) is not only a consensus top 10 basketball player in the state, he is also a record setting quarterback for his Aurora Harmon Middle School (scored 27 touchdowns in a season).  If that wasn’t enough, Huffman is also a straight A student, as evidenced by his hefty 4.0 GPA, and is heavily involved in several school-based organizations (i.e. Beta Club).  Additionally, Huffman is active in the Aurora area and regularly performs community service at various agencies.  Based on his current academic success, Huffman may be our first nominee for the Buckeye Prep All-Academic Team, a program we only recently unveiled.

So far this middle school season, Huffman is the leading scorer on his 10-2 middle school team, is averaging 20 points per game, and has to his credit a season-high of 27 points. During the spring and summer, Huffman runs with Malcolm Walters’ King James Shooting Stars squad, where he is one of the team’s leading scorers and key pieces.  That’s not all, according to Walters; Huffman is a lock down defender.  “He is the best defender on our team,” Walters said.  Walters is clearly a fan of Huffman’s on-court play; however, he is even a bigger fan of Huffman’s character. “He’s a great kid; the kind of kid that if I had a daughter, I would want him [Huffman] to date her,” Walters said.

We’ve seen Huffman ball on the summer circuit as well as our Buckeye Prep Elite Showcases, where his outstanding play has solidified him as an all-star and MVP.  In terms of his game, Huffman is highly skilled, shoots the ball extremely well, and is deceptively athletic.  He also posses the ability to play multiple positions, has a high IQ and an elite motor.  “He can play th 1, 2 or 2, but he plays the 2 for me because he can score,” continued Walters.

In the near future, Huffman is heavily considering attending the Cleveland area’s St Edwards High School.  More long term, he plans to attend college, where he hopes to major in dermatology and on day become a Dermatologist.  Huffman not only posses many of the skills needed to play D-I basketball, he is also genetically gifted, as his mother is 6’1” and ran college track while his father is 6’5” and played college basketball as well.  By the end of the season, Huffman is well positioned to win several Buckeye prep-related awards, including a coveted invitation to the prestigious Ohio North vs South All-Star Game. For the college coaches who routinely visit this website, get this kid on your recruiting board!

Cincinnati Area Basketball Scouting Notes

In our continuing efforts to keep our eyes out for hidden gems from around the state, region and country, and to provide a platform for exposure for the players we find, below are a few notes highlighting some of the top middle school talent in the Cincinnati area.

Darion Henry is the best player in his league because of his pure size and strength 6'4" and thick.  Currently playing the 4, he has the potential to move to the wing with continued development with his ball skills and shooting range. Henry’s upside is very good. He plays for a Princeton feeder school.  Princeton is loaded in the class of 2020, and if they keep all their athletes together they will be good in a few years. Another player from Princeton worth mentioning is Aaron Ward, a lengthy 6'4" post player who has a huge upside as well.

Jake Younkin is the best player in his conference as indicated by his 20-point average playing the point guard position. Younkin's stats to date are: 80 points in 4 games played with games of 20, 24, 15, and 21. He is 24-32 from 2 point for and 75% and 5-17 from beyond the arc for 29% and a total of 29-49 from the field for 57%. He is averaging 6.5, 2 steals, and 2 assists per game. The best thing he is doing is that he is 17-18 from the foul line for 94%. It is pretty safe to say he is probably the best shooter and point guard in Southwest Ohio in the class of 2020, Younkin will be running with the Ohio Basketball Club this upcoming season.

Khalil Davis (5’10”/SG) from Princeton is a talented lefty who can play.  Max Land is a talented player out of Mason with huge upside.  He has grown to about 6'1" and with a 6'8" father and 6'2" mother; his best days are ahead of him. Jack Cooper is a 6'3" post player from Mason who has some potential. We also plan to keep an eye out on Darweshi Hunter (6’2”/SG/2018) and Caleb Crawford (5’9”/P/SG2019).

In the CHL- Cincinnati Hills League, which is a D2, and D3 league, there is one player that stands out. Evan Prater of Wyoming is the best in this conference.  He is 6'0" and growing and should get to 6'4" by his senior year. Prater is all around good player with no real weaknesses.  Prater has also has a good feel for the game and will be running with the Ohio Basketball Club this upcoming season. BJ Bransford is a player from Finneytown who is talented, is one of the hardest workers in Cincinnati and is very coachable. We have seen Bransford on a number of occasions at our Buckeye Prep Elite showcase where he has excelled.

There are 3 players from a summer team called the SP Shooters (Jared MacCorkle (Lakoata) Sean Ealy (Clark) and Steve Gentry) who are worth noting.  Stevie Gentry is a point guard who with solid skills. He is at a catholic middle school I believe but will follow his dad who is the current head coach at Shroder High school. He is a crafty lefty.

There is a boy named Cameron Rogers from a small school called Cincinnati Christian who is 6'1", has a whole lot of potential and dominates the small MVC league.

Brandon Lanier of Mt. Healthy is a 6'2" post player who has some potential in both basketball and football.

Out of the CYO-Catholic Youth Organization below are the top players:

G.Thompson WG All Saints 5'9”- Very Athletic.

Danny Griewe PF All Saints 6'3"- Long player with good IQ

Patrick Suter PF/SF St. Sue 6'2"- Long with good IQ.

Blake Lloyd SG/SF St. Gabe's 6'0"- Athletic slasher who is tough.

Branham Flying under the Radar

Malachi Branham-2021 SG Columbus

Although we’ve mentioned him on this website on several occasions, Malachi Branham’s (6’1/WF/2021/Columbus) continued development and long-term potential have convinced us that he warrants more attention. In addition to his outstanding play this past summer with Aaron Brown’s Buckeye Prep squad, Branham is lighting up the Columbus Public Middle School League this season to the tune of 23 points per game. Branham’s combination of size and skill, in addition to a focus on his academics (has a 3.0 GPA), make him a legitimate college prospect going forward.  In terms of his place among Ohio’s elite, right now, Branham is a prospective top 10 player in the state.

What’s most impressive about Branham is the fact that his versatility, length, athleticism, speed, and ability to shoot and pass allows him to play multiple positions. This past summer, Branham demonstrated the ability to spot up and knock down the 3-ball. He also uses his length to shoot over top of opponents, and he proved to be his team’s most consistent scorer and best 3-point option this past season.  According to Coach Aaron Brown, Branham “stays in the gym.”  In addition, Branham not only excels at playing in a team format, his individual talent has been on display at prior Buckeye Prep Elite Showcases, where he has garnered MVP honors.

 Jaden Hawkins-White & Patrick Daniels 

While we are on the subject of “under the radar kids,” Branham has a couple of teammates who have been under exposed as well, including Patrick Daniels (5’10/WF/Columbus) and Jaden Hawkins-White (6’0/SG/Columbus), both of whom have proven to be key pieces to Buckeye Prep the past couple of years, and either can lead the team in scoring in any given game. With other up and coming guys like Mikhale Massie, Azzon Daniels, Daaron Brown, Will Miller and Elijah English, Buckeye Prep has a great chance of cracking our top 5 when we release our preseason Power Rankings in a few weeks.  This summer Branham and his teammates have a chance to do some special things.  We will be watching.

Buckeye Prep Class of 2021 Rankings

Wildcats Drop a Close one in Dallas Tourney

Toledo Wildcats-Class of 2022

Although the 2016 travel basketball season is still a few weeks away, elite level basketball can still be found.  Case in point, this past weekend the Toledo Wildcats traveled south to Dallas, Texas where they participated in the Hype Winter Jam, and ended up face to face with the Gulf Coast Blue Chips (GCBC), the #1 ranked 2022 team in the nation. After an opening round 54-13 win over the Dallas Mustangs, the Wildcats found themselves on center court and in a battle with Gulf Coast. Battling injuries and competing without a key player, Toledo was in position to win with only a few tics left on the clock.  A lone GCBC free throw with 2.7 seconds remaining in the game propelled Gulf Coast to a 46-47 pool play victory.

Toledo would enter Sunday bracket play with a 1-1 record. Right out of the gate Toledo matched up with Texas Express and would advance to the second round with a 57-20 win. Next up was San Antonio Hardwork, and as was the case against GCBC, the Wildcats were in the game late, but eventually fell 45-47 in the Elite Eight. The Wildcats did not win the tournament, and despite 2 close losses, they were the talk of the tournament based on their near upset of Gulf Coast. “The #1 one team was going down. They [GCBC] fear us, said Head Coach Tony Kynard. 

Emoni Bates (6’3”/WF/MI) was credited with most of the Wildcats’ success, as he was the team’s leading scorer with an average of 14 points per game.  “Emoni led the team in a lot of areas,” Kinard said. Kynard is convinced his team will “garner national recognition,” after their performance in Dallas. He was equally excited about the buzz centered around Bates. “Emoni left [tournament] regarded as a top 5 player in his class,” continued Kynard. 

Also playing well for the Wildcats were Dior Connors  (5’7/SG/Columbus), Jordan Kynard (5’6/SG/Toledo) and Nareon Grier (5’7/PG/Toledo). Of note is the fact the Connors, once a key piece to John Mobley’s All-Ohio Red squad, will reportedly be running full time with the Wildcats this season. Connors, a potential top 10 player in the state, represents a big pick up for Kynard, and could catapult the Wildcats to the #1 spot when we release our Power Rankings in a few weeks. We can’t wait to get a closer look at the Wildcats at our Buckeye Prep Invitational Tournament April 1^st through the 3^rd, where they could potentially be matched up against a Paul McMillian IV led All-Ohio Red team in super pool play.  That should be a great game!

Get Me Recruited All-Star Weekend

For additional information about the event, visit their website at: www.GetMeRecruitedCamps.com