The Hoop Group Pitt Jamfest, held annually during the first of April’s live recruiting evaluation periods for Division I college coaches in Pittsburgh, is always a great place for Ohio and Kentucky prospects to make a name for themselves. Several Ohio and Kentucky teams participated in this year’s event, with programs like the Louisville Magic and Team Work making big runs against some of the nation’s most talented teams. Additionally, although TDP didn’t get to see due to focusing on national talent at the 17u division, several regional teams played extremely well at the 15u (rising sophomores) division. Team Work made the semifinals in that division, while the Cincinnati Lakers, Ohio Basketball Club and the Louisville Magic all advanced to the quarterfinals. Finally, in the 17u “Steel City Division” of the Pitt Jamfest, Columbus powerhouse Ohio Varsity captured the tournament title. Of prospects that TDP was able to check out, here are the guys who stood out in front of packed gyms of college coaches…….

Gavin Skelly

• Gavin Skelly – ’14 Cleveland Westlake PF/C: Over fifty college coaches flocked into a gym on Saturday morning to check out one of Under Armour’s elite teams, Team Charlotte, and their slew of talented prospects, most of those coaches left the gym talking about the big guy from the other team, Team Work post man Gavin Skelly. An athletic interior player with endless energy the 6’8 Skelly was at times dominant against elite competition, showing the ability to score the ball in a variety of ways from mid range and in. Skelly is skilled enough to knock down mid-range jumpers, can attack slower footed big guys off of the dribble and has the physicality to get it in the bucket with his back to the basket. Also very good in transition, Skelly showed the ability to run the floor for dunks off of the pass or to even handle the ball some himself. Skelly told TDP that he has a ton of schools recruiting him right now, including Bucknell, Elon, Miami (Ohio), Ohio University, William & Mary and Marshall.

• Justin Bibbs – ’14 Montverde Academy (FL) SG: A Dayton native who just finished his first season of prep ball in Florida, Bibbs looked very much improved from last year in multiple viewings from TDP of his Ohio Basketball Club team. The 6’5 wing has good size at the guard position, has strength and athleticism and plays with great effort on both ends of the floor. The year at Montverde really helped Bibbs’ perimeter skills as he now is more comfortable handling the ball on the break, sees the floor better on drives and more than anything else he is able to consistently knock down mid to long range jumpers. Coaches from Cincinnati, Xavier, Dayton, Virginia and others checked out Bibbs over the weekend, and if he continues to add shot making to his arsenal of other skills the versatile wing will become one of the more heavily recruited players in Ohio’s rising senior class.

• Antonio Woods – ’14 Cincinnati Summit PG: The 6’0 point guard from Cincinnati is the best ballhandler in Ohio’s rising senior class, and showed excellent maturity in his floor game over the weekend as coaches from several mid majors watched on. Playing with Ohio Basketball Club, Woods showed poise under pressure against full court defenses, and the explosive speed to create plays in the open court. He’s not the tallest guard but his combination of speed and strength make him an excellent defender on the court. A pure point guard who prefers to play the role of set up man, Woods is going to continue to be recruited highly because he makes so many positive things happen on the court, while rarely making a mistake like turning the ball over.

• Quentin Snider – ’14 Louisville Ballard PG: Everyone is already familiar with the Louisville Cardinals commit, who is the best point guard in the state of Kentucky regardless of class. Playing over the weekend with his Louisville Magic squad, the top fifty recruit was again more than efficient as he dominated on the defensive end, forcing a ton of turnovers with his quickness, fast hands and energy. Offensively, Snider controlled the show as he usually does, but also showed an improved ability to knock down the mid-range jumper off of the dribble. Assistant coaches from Louisville checked out multiple Magic games, and they should be excited to eventually have the 6’0 point guard on campus in the fall of 2014.

• D’angelo Hunter – ’15 Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park SF: We had heard great things about the 6’7 sophomore from Louisville PRP, but this weekend after seeing him run multiple games with the Louisville Magic 16u squad we can say that Hunter has actually been under-hyped. A long and athletic combo forward who is making the transition to being a pure wing player, Hunter plays with great effort on the court and can affect the game positively in a number of ways with his versatility. He’s a good slasher who can find teammates when the help comes, gets toughness baskets and inside and is good in the transition game. Hunter still has a ways to go in his skill development but his size, mindset and talent are going to make him a heavily recruited prospect. After the game, Hunter told TDP that he is already being recruited by Western Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky and Wright State and has also begun to communicate some with Michigan State and Xavier.

Among other names that had college coaches buzzing amongst Ohio teams were Isaiah Walton (’14 Elyria PG/SG) of Hidden Gems Black, Nate Sheppard (’14 Dayton Jefferson SG) of the Ohio Hoopsters and Dakota Mathias (’14 Elida SG/SF) from Northwest Ohio Basketball Club. TDP didn’t get a chance to catch these teams in action over the weekend, but we’ll have more on all three of these prospects in the coming weeks on the circuit.

News and Notes:

• Damarion Geter – Dayton Dunbar PF: The 6’7 Geter committed to Longwood University over the weekend. Longwood is a Division I program out of Virginia that plays in the Big South Conference.

• Dorian Jordan – Cincinnati Princeton PG: The undersized but dynamic playmaker committed to Division II Kentucky State over the weekend.

• Tyler Herron – The 6’8 power forward from the class of 2014 has bounced around in and out of state at several schools in the last few years, but has found a home for now back in Cleveland. Herron is currently enrolled in school at Euclid HS in suburban Cleveland and is playing for the Ohio Basketball Club 17u team.

• Kevin Fischer – The 6’8 power forward from the class of 2015 has officially transferred back from Florida’s IMG Academy to his home district of Logan Hocking, which is southeast of the Columbus area. For the second straight year, Fischer is running with the Ohio Basketball Club organization. 

The first session of Ohio’s Best Basketball League (O.B.B.L.) has come and gone, as the teams left Cincinnati with a great weekend of competition in the rear view mirror. Teams like Ohio Stampede 17u, Ohio Gators 17u and Elite Basketball Club 16u proved that they can play with anyone, while top programs Ohio Phenoms 17u, Ohio Varsity 17u and Ohio Basketball Club 16u & 15u showed the rest of the league that they wouldn’t be taking anyone lightly. Here’s a look at some of the individual stars from the first session, and who to watch for heading into the second session next month in Cleveland…..

Hidden Gems 16u guard Elijah Pughsley had a 45 point game on Saturday

• Kash Blackwell – ’13 SF Cleveland Shaker Heights (OBC): Blackwell is prep school bound, and playing with a new level of aggressiveness that we haven’t previously seen from him. The 6’5 wing is a versatile offensive player that can play multiple positions, defends well and has some toughness. Look for Blackwell to be sought after by several postgrad schools because of his athleticism and defensive abilities.

• Tysean Powell – ’14 PF Cleveland Benedictine (OBC): The 6’6 Powell is one of the top athletes in the junior class in Ohio. He plays with a high motor, has a build that should easily be able to add muscle and doesn’t mind getting physical. Powell still has a ways to go in developing his ball-skills, but he rebounds it well and finds ways to score in transition, the offensive boards and off of dump off passes.

• Nate Harris – ’14 PF/C Toledo Central Catholic (Ohio Phenoms): Another super athletic post player, the 6’7 Harris is one of the top defensive big men in the state with his combination of athletic shotblocking and his high IQ that comes from playing in the disciplined Toledo CC system. A great floor-runner, Harris has really added to his offensive game, showing more than just the ability to finish with dunks. As he continues to find ways to score around the basket, more and more mid majors will come calling.

• Willie Green – ’14 SG Dayton Dunbar (Ohio Phenoms): A versatile offensive player with a knack for scoring the ball, the 6’2 Green has a chance to be one of the breakout players on the national level in AAU this spring and summer. He’s a tough competitor with great length that will really defend the ball, and effortlessly finds his way to the rim off of the dribble, especially in transition. Green’s recruiting is really picking up, and if he finds ways to make perimeter shots consistently the sky is the limit.

• Ty Hairston – ’14 SG Columbus Northland (Ohio Varsity): Everyone knows that Hairston can be one of the most explosive scorers in the O.B.B.L., but the key for him will be consistency. Over the weekend, Hairston found that consistency as he knocked down jumpers from behind the arc (one of his specialties), attacked the rim for layups or assists and led his team to four wins. A very emotional player, if Hairston has his focus on scoring and defending in April then he’ll really impress some college coaches on the circuit.

• Aundre Kizer – ’14 SG/SF Toledo Bowsher (Ohio Gators): The 6’3 wing is an explosive athlete that can score in bunches, evidenced by multiple games of over 20 points on the weekend. The Gators guard was one of the biggest reasons why his squad finished 4-1 on the weekend in the 17u division, and are now going to be one of the most feared teams in the league heading into the next two sessions of league play. Kizer will be one that TDP will have a close eye on as the league continues to play itself out.

• Khalil Iverson – ’15 SF/PF Columbus Delaware Hayes (Elite Basketball Club): Iverson is a bit of a tweener right now, as he’s not quite skilled enough to be a pure wing but not quite tall enough at 6’4 to be a pure power forward; but he’s a big time scorer around the basket. When Iverson has hit motor running he’s one of the most efficient scorers and rebounders in the O.B.B.L. because of his length, athleticism and strength around the basket. He can drive it from the high post, and is able to score on multiple efforts even against taller opponents with his ability to get off the floor on a second jump. As he adds to his skill-set, Iverson could make a big jump in the TDP prospect rankings for Ohio’s 2015 class.

• Elijah Pughsley – ’15 PG/SG Lima Shawnee (Hidden Gems): On Saturday night, Pughsley torched the nets at Hughes High School, connecting on 13 three-point shots en route to a 45 point and 8 assist outing as Hidden Gems fell to Ohio Basketball Club. The scoring point guard, who could end up at Lima Senior next year, misses his sophomore basketball season at Shawnee, but showed very little rust in his return to the court. Pughsley is capable of creating a shot off the bounce whenever he wants, and has a solid stroke that he can put through the basket from as far as 25 feet out; making him one of the league’s most dangerous offensive players in the 16u division.

• Lloyd Chatman – ’15 PG Columbus Reynoldsburg (Ohio Varsity): The tiny point guard lacks size but makes up for that with heart and skill, as he strung together big scoring game after another. A quick guard with a knack for creating space off of the crossover, Chatman is a streaky shooter; but when he gets it going defenses better watch out. TDP wants to see Chatman continue to expand his assist game, but he’s unquestionably one of the most dynamic scorers in the sophomore class.

• Craig Randall – ’15 SG Youngstown Girard (OBC): Randall had a big weekend shooting the ball for the OBC 16u team. He has deep range, very good mechanics, shoots it with consistency and is above all confident; showing the ability to spot up or hit shots off of the dribble. A long guard with a smooth handle, Randall showed an ability to score off the dribble as well, establishing himself as a prospect to keep a close eye on future sessions of the league.

• Devon Robinson – ’15 SF Cleveland John Adams (OBC): Robinson is an athletic wing forward that doesn’t have a true position yet, but gets things done on the court by out-muscling and outworking his opponents. Very strong for his size, and skilled enough to find ways to score in the mid-range and closer, Robinson is going to be one of the more dangerous inside-outside scoring and rebounding prospects in the 16u division in the league. If he continues to show more advanced skills on the offensive end, he’ll have a chance to be OBC’s breakout player in the 2015 class.

• Jaevin Cumberland – ’15 PG Wilmington (Ohio Phenoms): Cumberland is another scoring point guard, and like the others was one of the most dominant players in the 16u division of the O.B.B.L. this past weekend. A very good three-point shooter, who plays with a smooth handle that allows him to create shots, Cumberland is becoming known for being one of the tougher competitors on the circuit. This could be a breakout spring for the sharpshooter, as his combination of strength, skills and IQ are what colleges love in a point guard.

• Nick Ward – ’16 PF/C Columbus Gahanna Lincoln (Nova Village): Ward is a super skilled big man who has a ton of upside in the 2016 class. The 6’6 post has a wide frame with strength but has trimmed down significantly since the fall to become more mobile in running the floor. Ward can score around the rim with his back to the basket, face-up and put it off the backboard with touch, and plays hard on the glass. As the season progresses, Ward should improve greatly playing up in the 16u division of the league; and he could easily establish himself as one of Ohio’s most promising big man prospects.

• Jarron Cumberland – ’16 SG/SF Wilmington (OBC): Cumberland was the most efficient scorer in the entire league this past weekend, showing a mature game for someone who is still in the ninth grade. Simply too big and strong for opponents his age on the wing, Cumberland has the ability to bully defenders and score around the basket, or knock down a perimeter shot with very good mechanics. When the year is over, it is very conceivable that Cumberland could be one of the top prospects in the 17u division of the league, as he spent time on Sunday playing up with the big boys on OBC’s junior team.

Other Top Performers:

Justin Blanks – ’14 SG Norton (OBC Blanks), Oshay Vinson – ’14 SG Akron Kenmore (OBC Blanks), Blake Simpson – ’14 PF/C Cincinnati LaSalle (Ohio Phenoms), Latrell Tidwell – ’14 SF/PF Cincinnati Winton Woods (Ohio Phenoms), Kendrick Mallory – ’14 PG Dayton Trotwood Madison (Ohio Phenoms), Derrick McKeithton – ’14 SG Columbus Northland (Ohio Varsity), Nate Allen – ’14 SG/SF Toledo Bowsher (Ohio Phenoms), Alex Murphy – ’14 SF Columbus Licking Heights (Ohio Varsity), Jeff Larkin – ’14 PG/SG Cincinnati LaSalle (Ohio Phenoms), Anthony Glover – ’14 PG/SG Toledo Saint John’s (Hidden Gems), Carlton Bragg – ’15 PF Cleveland VASJ (OBC), Isaiah Jones – ’15 PG Cincinnati Woodward (OBC), Brian Parker – ’15 SG Cleveland VASJ (OBC), Jeremiah Roberts – ’15 SF Toledo Southview (Ohio Phenoms), Shondell Jackson – ’15 SF Warren Harding (OBC), David Dunnigan – ’15 PF Cleveland Midpark (Hidden Gems), Kyron McClure – ’16 PG Columbus Westerville South (Nova Village), Kameron Moore – ’16 PF Cincinnati Aiken (OBC), Evan Clayborne – ’16 PF/C Dayton Chaminade Julienne (OBC), Maverick Rowan – ’16 Pittsburgh Lincoln Park (OBC), Tarik Wright – ’16 PF Columbus Walnut Ridge (Nova Village)

The NY2LA Sports Swish-N-Dish in Milwaukee is always a great AAU tune-up event for teams in the Midwest. Offering high level competition under one roof at Homestead High School, NY2LA Sports brought in some of the top teams from Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio; with Nike program All-Ohio Red leading the way for Buckeye State teams. With apologies to the Cleveland VJ Sports 16u and Ohio VCC Warriors 15u teams, Triple Double Prospects spent the weekend in Milwaukee following the All-Ohio Red program; where we got at least two viewings each of the 15u, 16u and 17u teams. Here are the top players from AOR who stood out over the past weekend….

Ahmad Wagner

• Jae’sean Tate – ’14 SF Columbus Pickerington Central: Since he committed to Ohio State last summer, the 6’5 Tate hasn’t changed his approach to the game. In fact, the Columbus native is still always going to be the hardest worker on the court, that’s what makes him such a great player. Tate’s lunch-pail and hard-hat attitude paid dividends in AOR 17u games over the weekend, as he found ways to score around the basket with drives, floaters, post moves and offensive rebounds. With his motor always running high, Tate turns a lot of steals and defensive rebounds into transition baskets, often dunks, and impacts the game in so many other ways besides scoring; making him arguably Ohio’s top 2014 prospect. The jumpshot of the Buckeye verbal looked much improved from last year with its mechanics, but that is still the area of his game that Tate will need to focus the hardest on improving. Still, with his athleticism, strength and toughness Tate is an ideal fit in the Big Ten at the next level.

• Javon Bess – ’14 SF Columbus Gahanna Lincoln: The 6’5 Bess has always been sort of a jack of all trades type of player, as you might see him playing point guard, wing or power forward depending on the day. Playing for Red’s 17u team, Bess has assumed the role of starting point guard in a lineup with a lot of size. Over the weekend, Bess played some of the most productive basketball that we’ve see him play lately, using that utility role style of play to maximize that production. The Columbus native handled the ball, drove strong to the lane and scored, picked his spots on when to score or pass and defended well on the perimeter. Bess still has to continue to develop his feel for the point guard position, but with his size, length and athleticism he can be a dangerous player at the next level if he’s capable of being a primary ballhandler.

• Robert Caldwell – ’14 PG Dayton Stivers: A lot of people questioned AOR’s selection of Caldwell onto their 17u team, but the 5’10 guard from Dayton silenced those doubters quickly in Milwaukee, coming up big for Red in an overtime victory over the Wisconsin Playground Warriors. The lefty scoring point guard has always been a good shooter, and that was evident over the weekend as he knocked down big three after big three in the closely contested game. Caldwell’s shooting ability will give All-Ohio a weapon they can use to stretch the defense all year, similar to the way that they used the shooting abilities of Zack Denny (Bowling Green) last season.

• Ahmad Wagner – ’15 PF Dayton Huber Heights Wayne: No one surprised TDP more over the weekend than the 6’6 power forward from Dayton. After being a defensive player much of last season, Wagner came onto the court with an offensive aggressiveness in Milwaukee that we had previously not seen out of him. Wagner scored in the post, played with strength and was relentless on the offensive boards. With good strength and athleticism, Wagner is a force in the paint when he plays with that motor, and will be a breakout player this AAU season if he continues to produce at such an efficient level. Wagner told us that he has yet to receive and offer, but is being recruited by Wright State, Dayton, Cleveland State and Miami (OH).

• Esa Ahmad – ’15 PF Cleveland Shaker Heights: The 6’7 Ahmad picked up where he left off last season with Red, as the team’s most consistent scoring threat. The versatile forward can step out on the perimeter and knock down shots or attack from the high post, but also has the strength, size and skill to score the ball down low in the painted area. As he continues to improve as a rebounder and in other areas besides scoring, Ahmad looks more and more like a skilled power forward who can be very productive as his body continues to mature. Currently, Ahmad is being recruited by Xavier, Miami (FL) and several Big Ten schools, while holding offers from Cleveland State, Akron, Toledo, Kent State, Ohio University, Wright State and Miami (OH).

• Jordan Dartis – ’15 PG/SG Newark: The 6’2 Dartis has always been a guy that high majors programs have wanted to know more about, as his size and athleticism at the guard spot make him a top prospect. Over the weekend, Dartis showed us that he has made improvements since summer, both as a ballhandler and a decision maker. That ability to effectively run the point will be critical in Dartis’ recruitment, but he’s also a guard that is very efficient as a scorer in space in transition. Dartis is continuing to refine his perimeter shot, although that would be his biggest weakness right now; however, he is a very good defender on the perimeter who can make a name for himself as a lockdown guard on the AAU circuit.

• Tervell Beck – ’16 SF Cleveland Central Catholic: In a 2016 class that we at TDP have been the first ones to hype, Beck’s name belongs near the top of a list of most talented. The 6’6 wing can play the two or the three guard positions on the court, is an exceptional athlete for his age and has a knack for getting to the rim off of the dribble. Beck is still working on his shot, and like most freshmen will need to get stronger, but the tools are all in place for him to have a breakout season on the AAU circuit. His size as a guard makes him a top prospect, while that leaping ability makes him elite; look for high major colleges to take an interest in Beck sooner than later.

• Willie Jackson – ’16 SF Cleveland Garfield Heights: The 6’5 Jackson doesn’t have a pure position on the court yet, but he has several things that very few other freshmen do have, notably size, strength and elite athleticism. Right now, Jackson is most effective around the basket as a scorer and rebounder who can use his physical abilities to bully his way into being productive. If Jackson continues to improve his perimeter skills and become a player that really drive the ball strong off of the wing, then he’ll have a chance to be one of the most elite players in Ohio’s most promising class in recent memory.

Forty-five players showed up to test their skills at the first ever Triple Double Prospects Unsigned Senior Showcase, played in Cincinnati on March 30th. With talent from all over the state of Ohio, as well as a couple of prospects from the Bluegrass State, in attendance, here are the ten players who stood out the most to TDP’s staff of evaluators at our showcase….

Trent Donald

• Trent Donald – PF Cincinnati Winton Woods: Donald is always a matchup problem in showcase events because the open style of play caters to his ability to create mismatches. The Cincinnati native was probably the most consistent and dominant scorer at the event, using his strength and handle to drive the ball from the high post and power his way through contact at the rim. He’s undersized, but Donald has put up huge numbers in his high school career, and caught the eyes of some Division II coaches in attendance.

• Tim Coleman – PG Cincinnati Withrow: Coleman was the most talented guard to sign up for the showcase, and he lived up to that reputation with a good all-around performance both as a scorer and a playmaker. The Withrow guard has junior colleges begging for his services, as his combination of competitiveness and talent gives him the potential to be a star at the college level.

• Patrick McClendon – PG Columbus Bexley: The “I didn’t know that kid was that good” award goes to McClendon, who was the breakout player of the Senior Showcase. The confident scoring point guard got hot from behind the three-point line, was crafty off of the dribble, and showed the ability to run a team efficiently. Coming from a program in Columbus that not everyone is familiar with, McClendon is one to keep an eye on, and will most certainly see a bump in his recruitment after his strong weekend performance.

• Corey Wise – SG Cincinnati Withrow: Several coaches in the Cincinnati area believe that Wise would be a steal for a Division II college team because of his overall offensive playmaking package; based on Saturday’s results, that makes sense. Off of the dribble, Wise can get wherever he wants to on the court in one-on-one settings, he has the mid-range jumper to make him hard to guard, and he’s deceptively strong and athletic when attacking the rim. Division II coaches that attended the showcase were already recruiting Wise, and he’s going to have even more interest after another strong performance.

• Alex Blink – PG Cincinnati Saint Xavier: Blink brings two things to the table that are tough to teach to college players. He’s an in-game shooter that is going to knock down three’s at a good clip, and he’s one of the tougher, more competitive point guards in the state of Ohio. The Saint Xavier product showcased both of those skills on Saturday, while also proving that he is a good enough ballhandler and passer to play the point guard position effectively.

• Marquez Carpenter – PF Cincinnati West High: Carpenter is one of the most improved prospects in Ohio, and he now has the complete and full attention of junior colleges in and out of region. The 6’6 wide bodied combo forward has gotten better athletically, shoots the ball exceptionally well from deep and is a tough prospect who loves the game. With the way he improves each year, look for Carpenter to become a strong player at the junior college level, and have a great chance to improve into a true small forward on the offensive end.

• Tyler Miller – SG Troy: Miller was by far and away the top shooter in attendance on Saturday, earning him the respect of a pair of college coaches in attendance. The 6’3 wing has good size, excellent mechanics on his release and is constantly working on the offensive end to find an opening for a shot. Add in a competitive desire to be a good player and Miller is just the type of guys that teams who are craving some instant offense will look for in the late signing period as a key pickup.

• Dorian Jordan – PG Cincinnati Princeton: By now just about everyone knows Jordan’s game. He’s a very small (5’6) point guard with elite quickness, game-changing vision and a confidence in his game that allows him to make players better. He’s going to continue to get overlooked by some due to his size, but pound for pound there aren’t many guards in the state better than Jordan, and he continued to prove that with his overall court game from the one spot on Saturday.

• Ramar Hairston – SG Cincinnati Northwest: An underrated combo guard with a utility game, Hairston is a kid that can shoot the three-pointer, play some point guard and who really excels on the defensive end. He’s being recruited at the Division II level for both his basketball abilities, as well as football, and plays with a competitive style that should allow him to be successful in whichever sport he ultimately chooses.

• Jermal Richardson – SG Toledo Scott: Richardson was a virtual unknown before the showcase, but impressed junior college coaches with his first-class leaping ability. The Toledo wing explodes like a ball out of a cannon when going up for two handed dunks, making him by far and away the most impressive athlete at the showcase. Richardson will have to continue to improve his overall ball-skills, but he certainly put his name on the map with some highlight reel plays.