NEO National Showcase Returns

NYBL Session III All-Session Teams

Zeb Graham Jr, Jordan Toles & Jalen Blackmon-MVPs

With the tip off of the NYBL Finals set this weekend in Columbus, OH, the NYBL has released their official list of Session III All-Session Teams.  As was the case in the previous 2 sessions, in each of the 3 divisions, 4 teams and an Honorable Mention list were developed.  In addition to the All-Session Teams, MVPs were chosen in each division. Each of the 3 MVPs put up gaudy numbers in Pigeon Forge, TN. Team Charlotte's Zeb Graham Jr. dropped over 20 points (24.6 average) in each of the 5 games he played (27, 28, 20, 24 & 24). Team Melo's Jordan Toles was a monster in session III, scoring over 30 point in 2 games with 2 additional 20 point plus games. Team Teague's Jalen Blackmon was outstanding in the third session with two 20 point games and a 19.5 scoring average after 5 games. 

Other standouts included Jack Pugh (2020 Mid-Ohio Pumas), Jamal Edmonson (2019 Team Loaded), Chris Ford (2021 CBC Elite) and Ellison Mason (2019 Atlanta Xpress). He did not put up big numbers, but Team Florida's Chol Marial (7'2/C/South Sudan/2019) was a force defensively. Extremely long and athletic, Marial's NYBL debut had the gym buzzing with his above the rim play. Not only are the All-Session Teams lists designed to provide added exposure to standout performers from each session, these lists will also be used in the NYBL All-Star Game selection process.  The league will be holding the NYBL All-Star Weekend at Otterbein University in Columbus, OH. the weekend of September 12^th and 13th.  Congratulations to all of the players selected to these prestigious lists!

NYBL Session III All-Session Teams

NYBL Releases Session II All-Session Teams

Balsa Koprivca, Shemar Morrow and Latrell Moore-Session II MVPs

As teams get ready to head to Pigeon Forge, TN for session III of the National Youth Basketball League (NYBL) this weekend, the NYBL has released their official list of the Session II All-Session Teams.  As was the case subsequent to session I, in each of the 3 divisions, 4 teams and an Honorable Mention list were developed.  In addition to the All-Session Teams, MVPs were chosen in each division. Not only are the lists designed to provide added exposure to standout performers from each session, these lists will also be used in the NYBL All-Star Game selection process.  The league will be holding the NYBL All-Star Weekend at Otterbein University in Columbus, OH. the weekend of September 12^th and 13th.  Congratulations to all of the players selected to these prestigious lists!

NYBL Session II All-Session Teams

Official NYBL Standings

All-Ohio Super 16 Day II Top Performers

Y. Hill, C. Woodside, L. Norman, I. Speelman & C. Stringer

On Saturday, we spent a few hours taking in the action at the All-Ohio Super16 tournament.  We posted up at Reynoldsburg High School where we watched some of the top U15 teams in the state. We can’t speak for the other division, but the U-15 division was absolutely stacked with talent, as evidenced by the presence of most of the top programs and talent evaluators in the state.  We did not come close to seeing all of the top performers in the event, but who we did see the few hours we were there are listed below.  For the record, Buckeye Prep Goodwin defeated King James in the finals by 2 points to collect the U-15 championship.

Top Performers

Yahel Hill (King James), Devon Baker (King James), Eric Boykins (King James), Isaiah Speelman (Buckeye Prep Godwin), Dane Goodwin (Buckeye Prep Goodwin), Braden Norris (Buckeye Prep Goodwin), Ross Ryan (Buckeye Prep Goodwin), EJ Williams (Queen City Prophets), Chris’Sean Stringer (All-Ohio Red 2019), Duane Washington Jr. (Michigan Mustangs), Lamar Norman Jr., (Michigan Mustangs), Jerome Hunter (Nova Village), Colin Woodside (Buckeye Prep Lyshe), Garrett Tipton (Buckeye Prep Lyshe), Cameron Carlisle (Buckeye Prep Lyshe), Chase Rankin (Buckeye Prep Lyshe), Donnie Fitzgerald (Buckeye Prep Lyshe), Cooper Crawford (TNBA), Seth Goodson (Ohio Hoopsters), Paul “PJ” Jones (Ohio Hoopsters), Deion Burton (OBC), Gunner Short (West Virginia Flight).

Top Performer Pictures

All-Ohio Southeast Takes Eddie Guice Crown

All-Ohio Southeast-7th Grade Champions

On Saturday we had a few minutes to catch the 7^th grade championship game of the Eddie Guice Memorial Tournament at Westerville North High School.  When we arrived All-Ohio Southeast was up on Aaron Brown’s Buckeye Prep 2021 team 11-8.  By halftime, All-Ohio had ballooned the lead to 22-15. All-Ohio increased the lead to 26-15 early in the 2^nd half before Buckeye Prep surged to cut the lead to 6 points.  The scoring was even until about the 7:38 mark when All-Ohio’s size started impacting the game. With about 3:20 left in the game All-Ohio was comfortably ahead 43-30, and by the time the horn sounded All-Ohio was up 50-35.

Because Buckeye Prep was a 6^th grade team playing up a division for the competition, their run to the championship game in the 7^th grade division was impressive.  Speaking of impressive, Zach Loveday (6’7/C/2020/Gallipolis, OH) was dominant on both ends of the court.  Defensively, Loveday’s length made it near impossible to finish anywhere near the rim. Offensively, Loveday’s ability to finish put backs was key. That’s not all, Loveday rebounds at a high rate, giving his team multiple possessions and shots at the basket. As he continues to put on weight and gain strength, Loveday’s potential will remain big time. We also really liked Dalton Mischal (6’3/PF/2020/Greenfield, OH) who has good size, is athletic and slashes to the bucket unimpeded. He’s not just a problem driving to the basket; Mischal can drain the three-ball if given space. Loveday and Mischal paced All-Ohio with 14 and 12 points, respectively, while Makhale Massey led Buckeye Prep with a game-high 12 points.

Zach Loveday, Dalton Mischal & Makehale Massey

In the 9^th grade division, Ohio Hoopsters Elite (8^th grade) got by Ohio Hoopsters Warriors (9^th grade) 66-64 to claim the title. The Hoopsters were led in scoring by Colton Landis (6’6/C/2019/Pickerington) and Ethan Hazelrig (6’0/P/SG/2019/Pickerington), both of whom finished with 14 points.  Both Landis and Hazelrig will play their freshman season at Pickerington Central High School. The Warriors were paced by Antwon Hampton (6’0/SG/2018/Groveport Madison) and Chance Dawson (6’0/SG/2018/Licking Heights), who scored 25 and 18 points, respectively.

Photo Gallery

Ohio Teams Excel in NYBL

When Prolific Performance published their NYBL Top Ten Power Rankings yesterday 4 Ohio based teams were recognized.  As most youth basketball fans know by now, in only 3 short years the NYBL has established itself as the most competitive middle school basketball event in the country. With teams from across the country and Canada, if you can make it in the ultra-competitive NYBL you can make it anywhere. The Mid-Ohio Pumas program cracked both the 2020 and 2021 lists, while the Ohio Basketball Club made the 2020 list and Aaron Brown’s Buckeye Prep team made the 2021 cut.  In the 2020 division, the Pumas (8-2) are ranked 5^th and the Ohio Basketball Club (7-3) is ranked 10^th. Among 6^th grade teams, Buckeye Prep (6-4) is ranked 9^th and the Pumas (6-4) slid in at 10^th.  Congratulations to all of the Ohio teams representing the Buckeye State.