Elite Showcase Alum Gets McDonalds Nomination

Jalen Miller-Lake Fenton HS-2017

In our long history of holding our elite showcases, many of our alumni have gone on to do great things.  Earlier this week, Jalen Miller (6’3/SG/Flint/2017) was nominated for the prestigious McDonalds All-American Game.  Miller is currently lighting it up for his Lake Fenton (Michigan) High School and people are taking notice.  We got our first look at Miller at our September elite showcase where his dominate play garnered him an all-star game selection.  That’s not all; Miller also excelled n the all-star game, which led to Top 5 honors.

Miller utilizes his strong frame to get to and finish at the rim. Because of his size and skill set, Miller is a match-up problem and is also able to play multiple positions. He can bang in the low post and still step outside for a jumper. Miller can also get his shot off the bonce or convert in catch and shoot situations. With what we’ve seen of Miller, college basketball should be in his future!  We would like to congratulate Miller on his nomination and wish him much success in the future!

Swain Emerging as a Talent

Daily Swain-2023 Columbus

We have recently highlighted several 2023 standouts from Northwest and Northeast Ohio, but this time we would like to turn the focus on Central Ohio.  One of Columbus’ emerging young talents is Dailyn Swain (5’6/PG/Columbus/2023), who started to make some noise on the statewide scene last season. He first caught our attention with his standout performance at the fall session of the Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase in September, where he played his way into the all-star game.  In addition, Swain logged in an all-star performance at the NEO event last year.

Although we only selected Swain as Ninth Team All-Ohio, we did have the opportunity to extend Swain a late invitation to play in the prestigious Ohio North vs South All-Star game.  With what we’ve seen and heard recently, Swian should finish higher in 2017 and has a chance to crack the top 10 in our player rankings going forward.

Although we’ve seen very little of Swain, we know he’s a shifty and deceptive PG who excels at getting to the rim.  In addition, because of his tight handle and quickness, Swain is difficult to stay in front of defensively.  According to Jason Dawson, Head coach of Swain’s Dose-Ohio Hoopsters travel team, Swain “is a scoring guard, who does a little bit of everything. [Swain] is long lanky and plays the passing lanes well,” said Dawson. In addition, last summer, Swain averaged 10-15 points per game, and was one of the leaders on Dawson’s squad.  We look forward to getting get a closer look at Swain at our March 4^th elite showcase.

Shooting Stars to Hold Tryouts

It’s no secret that the King James Organization is currently undergoing a transition period.  Over the past several years ,Malcolm Walters’ 2020 King James team has been one of the more dominate programs in the state, and nation for that matter.  Despite all of the team’s success, 2017 may be a challenge for the team. One of the biggest changes will be in the branding.  Going forward, Walters’ team will be known as Drew Joyce’s NEO Shooting Stars (NEOSS).  Although they will play under a new name, the program will still be “Nike affiliated,” and in terms of the very popular EYBL, the 2020 NEOSS will have the opportunity to participate in the 15U Nike Challenge Peach Jam qualifier and possibly play their way into the EYBL going forward.

According to Walters, his team is looking for undiscovered talent and other quality players who want to play a very competitive schedule.  “We will put them up against the best teams in the state,” said Walters.  Walters’ goal is to allow his players to demonstrate their skills on a national level. “It’s [Ohio] a big state; there’s a lot of players who are unable to showcase their talent.  We have a lot of talent in Ohio,” Walters continued. According to Walters, he already has several top 20 players committed.

The NEOSS will be holding their first round of tryouts on Sunday, March 26^th at Akron St. Vincent St. Mary’s High School from 9:00am to 1:00pm.  For more information about the program and/or tryouts, you can email Walters at mwalters8295@gmail.com.

Hayes has been Consistently Elite

LA Hayes-2023-Brook Park, OH.

As we’ve stated several times before, Ohio’s class of 2023 could be one of the best we’ve seen in years.  Right at the top of the class is LA Hayes (5’7/PG/Brook Park), who has been one of the most consistent young players we’ve seen in a while. Not only has Hayes enjoyed success on the travel team circuit running with the Shooting Stars, he has been a consistent standout performer at our elite showcases.  In fact, Hayes is not only a perennial all-star at our events, he routinely takes home Top 5 Awards.  Moreover, Hayes is easily among our top 5 in the state and could make an argument for the top spot based on his consistent play.  In terms of Northeast Ohio kids, Hayes is one the top 2-3 players in the area!

As further evidence of his consistent play, he was selected to participate in the prestigious Ohio North vs South All-Star Game in September, where his breakout performance led to MVP Honors.  Mind you, Ohio’s best of the best participated in that game!  Moreover, based on his body of work in 2016, Hayes was selected as Buckeye Prep’s Second Team All-Ohio.  According to Damon Stringer, coach of Hayes’ Cleveland Heights winter team, Hayes is averaging 18 points per game and is the second leading rebounder as a guard.  Stringer had this to say about Hayes, “…LA is an all-around player.  His on ball defense is second to none, he puts pressure at the top of our defense, and is good in transition.  If I had to start a team, I would start with LA,” Stringer said.

From what we’ve seen, Hayes is a threat to score in catch and shoot situations, and his solid handle, aggressiveness and length allow him to get to and finish at the basket.  Although it’s either a 3-ball or a lay up at the rim for Hayes right now, when he develops a mid-range game he’s going to be tough to handle.  Also, he’s a great on ball defender, who also uses his long arms to step into passing lanes, collect steals, and then finish easy transition buckets.  In our post event report in September of 2015, we had this to say about Hayes, “…We were well aware of Hayes and Molton, as both players attended our September elite showcase, and not only did they get all-star game nods, they went on to secure MVP honors and were both ranked in the top five in our post event rankings.  We were really impressed with Hayes’ motor, aggressiveness to the cup and his willingness to defend.  What’s most impressive is the fact that he competed against older guys and more than held his own.”

He’s not yet a national name, but Hayes has a chance to build on his national reputation as he participates more at national events.  In fact, there are some suggestions that Hayes might be balling with the North Coast Blue Chips this season.  If that’s the case, he will have the opportunity to make more noise nationally.  We look forward to seeing Hayes in action at our March 4^th elite Showcase.

Highlight Video

2023 Top Player List

2016 Post Season Awards

Docks Leads Team to League Championship

Mason Docks-2022 East Lansing, MI

In Michigan, many of the middle school basketball leagues have already concluded their 2016/2017 seasons. For Mason Docks (5’7/PG/2022/East Lansing), the culmination of his Lansing Christian School basketball season ended in a 10-1 record and a Greater Lansing Athletic Conference Co-Championship. Averaging 23 points and 6 assists per game, Docks was rewarded with team MVP honors. We’ve had the opportunity to evaluate Docks on several occasions; both with his Michigan Prospectors travel team as well as at our Buckeye Prep Elite Showcases.  In fact, at our spring showcase last March, Docks rode a standout performance to an all-star game selection and a top 10 ranking.

The best part of Docks’ game is his ability to make his teammates better.  Although he can score at all three levels, Docks is a pass-first floor general who often passes up opportunities to get his own offense in order to set his teammates up to score.  He knows how to run a team, has a high basketball IQ, plays with great pace and has great intangibles. Docks is also athletic and able to finish with contact with drives to the cup.  He makes the game look so easy, that after a game his stat line is surprisingly stuffed.

The last time we saw Docks our post event report reflected the following evaluation: “We could not have been more impressed with the play of Mason Docks (5’4/PG/Lansing, MI), who is one of the best 6^th grade PGs we’ve seen all spring. Along with an elite handle and a high basketball IQ, Docks is quick, understands the game and just seems to always make the right play.  Oh yea, he can shoot it, but he prefers to make the pass first, which is just what you want in a floor general.  Like his brother Chris Harrison-Docks, who played at Butler and is now at DePaul, Docks has an excellent chance to play D-I ball with continued growth and development.”

Docks’ skills and natural abilities are not surprising, as he comes from great stock. Docks’ father, Ted, hooped for Morehead State University from 1995 until 1999, and his older brother, Chris Harrison-Docks is a senior guard at DePaul University. Although he’s reluctant to say it, the elder Docks suggested that his younger son might be the best of the bunch by the time it’s all said and done.  “Chris was more polished and a scorer at this age, but Mason is more athletic and better able to take the bump going to the basket,” Docks father stated.  Having coached both of his sons, he has a great perspective of what each brings to the table.

Docks is also a good student as evidenced by his 3.6 GPA, and he also loves science.  Although Docks played travel soccer when he is younger, and may play high school soccer, he’s concentrating on basketball for now.  We look forward to seeing Docks again when his Michigan Prospectors teams come to Columbus to participate in our March 31^st-April 2^nd Buckeye Prep Invitational Tournament.  For our college coaches, who regularly visit this site, we suggest you take an early look at Docks, as he easily projects as a D-I PG going forward if he stays on his current track!

Easter at the Top of His Class

Jerry Easter Jr.-2024 Toledo

As most basketball fans know, the state of Ohio has become a hotbed for basketball talent, and routinely pumps out top 10 players nationally. We also know that guys like Seth Wilson (2021), Chris Livingston (2022) and LeBron James Jr. (2023) are well known nationally, but you have to add Jerry Easter Jr. (5’5/PG/2024/Toledo) to the list of nationally recognizable names from Ohio.  Currently, Easter is ranked by some as the #1 ranked player in the country in the class of 2024.  Moreover, recently, we gave Easter the edge for the #1 spot in the state.

We’ve recognized Easter’s talent for several years while evaluating him at elite events around the country; however, it was not until his standout performances at our elite showcases did we really start to appreciate Easter’s talent.  In fact, in our elite showcase in September, Easter parlayed a standout performance into an all-star game selection and then a Top 5 Award.  In addition, at our Buckeye Prep Invitational Tournament last April, Easter was selected to the All-Tournament Team after leading his team in scoring.  In terms of his consistency, we’ve also seen Easter excel at other elite camps and showcases as well.

Easter is a dynamic PG who is highly skilled; plays with poise, and can get his buckets while also creating offense for teammates.  He has great court vision and is also a willing passer who can deliver the rock on time and on target. Although you might assume that Easter is a ball dominate guard who forces shots in order to get his own numbers, you’d be wrong, as Easter is a distributor who can also score. Easter he can shoot off the bounce or in catch and shoot situations or he can employ a nice little floater.  Not only can he use his ball skills to get in the lane, he’s a threat to shoot it from beyond the arc as well.  We’re most impressed with Easter’s poise under pressure and the fact that he cannot be sped up even when doubled teamed defensively.  We also like Easter’s length for his position, his high basketball IQ and the fact that he’s a great on ball defender.  In our opinion, Easter easily projects as a D-I player with continued growth and development. The highlight video below does a good job of featuring Easter’s many talents.

Easter’s talent is a hot commodity, as he has played for several different programs over the past several years. Last year alone, Easter was seen running with All-Ohio Red, the Western Kentucky Wildcats and North Coast Blue Chips (NCBC).  It’s also worth noting that any team he has suited up for has won on a high level!  According to his father, the younger Easter will play exclusively with the North Coast Blue Chips this upcoming season.  That team was already loaded with guys like Tyler McKinley, Jaiden Arnold and Jonas Nicholas, but with the edition of Easter they are going to be tough to beat!  According to Coach Tuffy Rhodes, Easter “…by far will be my best all around player [this season].” Coach Rhodes also likes Easter’s versatility, “…He can play anywhere; can do anything,” Rhodes said.

We look forward to catching him in action at our march 4^th elite showcase and again when his NCBC squad attends our Buckeye Prep Invitational tournament March 31^st-April 2^nd. We plan to keep an eye on this kid!

Highlight Video