Adidas Spring Classic Recap

Some new names are rising, fast, in the 2014 class while several of the top 2013 stars performed well on the big stage in the final weekend of the April evaluation period for Division I college coaches. Triple Double Prospects spent our time Indianapolis taking in the Adidas Spring Classic where two big Ohio clubs in OBC and the Ohio Phenoms participated, while a couple of Kentucky programs in The Ville and the B.A. Hoyas took the event by storm…..

RaChaun Martin

16u (Class of 2014)

• RaChaun Martin – PG Ohio Phenoms: The breakout player in 2014 over the last two weekends, and especially this past weekend, has been 5’9 Dayton Thurgood Marshall point guard RaChaun Martin. A competitive and super fast playmaker that is as good of an on ball defender as we’ve seen in his class in the state Martin can turn defense into offense quickly. With the ball in his hands he’s really good scoring it in transition and can make plays for others off the pick and roll. He should continue to grow and will develop his jumper more but he already has the look of a mid-major recruit. Martin is the kind of player that will win games with the little things he does and on the big stage this past weekend he showed the ability to take a game over with all double-figure outings, including back to back twenty point games in comeback wins.
• Martin Jones – SG Ohio Phenoms: “The Microwave” can heat up fast, evidenced by a stretch on Sunday where he scored 8 points in less then 20 seconds of play, and is capable of routinely putting up big offensive numbers. A pure scorer that can shoot the ball from deep or put it on the floor and pull-up from mid-range Jones is a smooth scoring wing. He doesn’t have bad size or athleticism and is just scratching the surface of his wing potential after previously playing some forward.  The 6’2 Jones, who goes to Cincinnati Winton Woods, is a name that college coaches at the low-major level should start to target.
• Nick Ruthsatz – PG Ohio Phenoms: A tough minded and crafty lead guard that can really score the ball the coach’s son from Covington Catholic might be undersized at 5’9 but he’s an impact player. Ruthsatz is best at creating mid-range pull-ups and floaters for himself, where he hits a great percentage, or pushing the ball in transition and finding teammates running the wings. A high level competitor with a high basketball IQ he’s someone that college coaches should start to circle on roster sheets.
• Nathan Boone – C Dayton Flames: In our first time seeing the 6’10 post from Troy Christian there wasn’t a lot to complain about. Boone is a true 6’10, he’s got a long wingspan, can run the floor, and isn’t afraid of physical play. Being able to post up against wider opponents will come as his body fills out but he’s a prospect that TDP will be monitoring over the remainder of the AAU season.
• Tim Fleming – PG Team One: Fairfield’s lead guard is an underrated Ohio prospect in 2014 because he doesn’t do anything flashy. Fleming can handle the ball and get a team in their offense before moving off ball and playing a scoring role. We like, but don’t necessarily love, his shooting stroke from deep; but he’s better attacking the rim and making a play. A tough defender who really competes on that end of the floor Fleming is a point man to keep an eye on.
• Tyonte Robertson – PG Ohio Basketball Club: Some wondered if they had already seen the best of the Cincinnati Withrow guard, but he made a statement this weekend that he still has good days in front of him as he showed the ability to dominate his age group. Elite ballhandler that can make plays off the pick and roll Robertson needs to value every possession but he is a high level playmaker when he’s clicking.
• Nate Harris – PF Ohio Phenoms: The best big man athlete that we’ve seen in Ohio in 2014 is Toledo Central Catholic’s Harris. He’s 6’6, runs like a deer, can jump out of the gym, and never runs out of energy. His basketball IQ isn’t bad and his skill set is improving as this raw big man has a chance to be one of Ohio’s top prospects in his class. Look for Harris to impress more scouts in May and be a breakout guy in front of college coaches in July.
• Blake Simpson – PF Ohio Phenoms: While he didn’t have his best weekend finishing plays around the rim Simpson was very effective as an athletic 6’6 big man that can really run the floor, while still having strength to be an enforcer inside. Cincinnati LaSalle’s Simpson needs to continue to improve his shooting touch and post game but his physical tools and great effort made him an impact prospect this weekend.

17u (Class of 2013)

• Mark Donnal – PF/C Indiana Elite: The 6’9 Michigan commit put on an offensive clinic over the weekend with his long range jumpshooting off of the pick and pop, skilled low post moves, and power game against smaller opponents. Donnal continues to be one of the most underrated players in the Midwest with his offensive skill set, good athleticism, and wide build.
• Darryl Hicks – SG The Ville: Speaking of complete offensive players there aren’t many better then Louisville Trinity’s Hicks. The smooth 6’4 wing can pull-up from mid range, shoot it from deep, play the point without turning the ball over, and has the size and athleticism to slash to the basket. Look for Hicks to re-emerge as one of the nation’s top prospects, after losing a little bit of the hype he generated in his middle school days.
• Rusty Troutman – SF B.A. Hoyas: Under the radar wing from Louisville Bullitt East that can flat out shoot the rock. Troutman is tough, has great size at 6’5, and is simply unconscious from behind the arc. Right now it’s safe to say he’d be a steal for any D2 college coaches and he gained interest from several Division I coaches with his play over the weekend.
• Kevin Johnson – PG Ohio Basketball Club: Another great weekend for one of Ohio’s top prospects in Cincinnati Summit scoring combo guard Kevin Johnson. The 6’2 super athlete had another great defensive showing while getting to the rim at will all weekend long. The word is getting out fast as several new high major schools were in attendance to watch his OBC team play.
• Major Canaday – PG Ohio Basketball Club: The more TDP watches the Kiski Prep (PA) product play the more we like this guard, whom we compared to Rajon Rondo last week. The 6’2 Canaday is big time fast, can create his shot at the rim whenever he wants, and really sees the floor. Major did a better job this weekend of not forcing plays and letting the offense come to him. He can really guard in the halfcourt and is deadly pushing the ball in transition. Still need to see him shoot it better but he looks like a great mid-major recruit at this point.
• Kash Blackwell – SF Ohio Basketball Club: The Shaker Heights wing stands 6’3 but plays bigger because he does the little things for his team to win on the defensive end, on the boards, and by being unselfish offensively. Blackwell is a sleeper in Ohio as a slashing wing that can be used as a versatile utility player and he really competes on a high level.
• Monty Boykins – SG Ohio Phenoms: Attacking the rim at a much more efficient rate this weekend Boykins, of Lakota West, was very impressive. When he gets to the rim defenders back off of him and he shoots the ball at a great clip from behind the arc. Boykins is both more athletic and a better passer then people think. The key is going to be consistent efficiency but he is a very good mid-major recruit with a little bit of high-major interest to go along.
• Mark Alstork – SG Ohio Phenoms: The Dayton Thurgood Marshall wing stands 6’3 and is a pure mid-range scorer. Alstork is a lockdown defender that is best when pushing the ball, or running the wing, in transition to create easy offense. He still has some work to do on his handle and the consistency of his long range shot but Alstork has big play ability and the streaky scorer can go off at any moment.
• Clemmye Owens – SG Ohio Phenoms: Owens is strong but undersized at 6’0 for his natural shooting guard role, but the Toledo Rogers product is a flat out winner. Owens is strong when attacking the rim off a reversal in the half court, is great at scoring the ball in transition, can get hot from deep in a hurry, and is a deceptively good passer. Owens is a hustle player that uses his strength and anticipation abilities to make plays defensively and is a glue guy that college coaches from D2 schools and low D1’s are really interested in.
• Tony Kynard – PG Ohio Phenoms: Kynard, from Toledo Rogers, is a 6’1 scoring lead guard that can really make plays off the bounce. He’s a triple threat as a crafty scorer around the rim, a good shooter from deep, and a passer with creative vision. He needs to make sure he takes care of the ball and doesn’t force quick shots but he is instant offense for any team. With his quickness and ability to defend the ball look for Kynard, a sleeper PG in 2013, to be recruited at the Division I level.
• Sterling Gilmore – PG Ohio Phenoms: Cincinnati Walnut Hills product that coaches love because he does all the things you want to see from your lead guard. Gilmore has great speed, he defends, he’s a leader on the floor, and he’s a pass first guy that can make the easy set up play in the half court or a highlight reel pass in transition. Being able to shoot the ball with consistency from deep helps to, that’s why D2’s are trying to get a steal and low major schools are starting to jump all over Gilmore.
• Nick Fredrick – SG Ohio Phenoms: Coaches at the D2 level are starting to buzz about what the 5’10 sharp shooter from Covington Catholic can do. Fredrick shoots the ball as well as any prospect out there, can put it on the deck, and is deceptively bouncy. He could be a breakout prospect for smaller colleges over the next month.