John Lucas Camp

Jeremiah Francis

This weekend marked the latest annual trip down to Louisville for the always highly anticipated John Lucas Midwest Invitational Camp. About one hundred and fifty of the nation’s top juniors, sophomores and freshmen ascended on the Mid-American Sports Complex in suburban Louisville, as John Lucas’ staff again provided top-level development, exposure and talent. Ten Ohio prospects participated in this year’s camp, with several more than holding their own against top prospects from Texas, Florida, California and even Canada. Here’s a look at some of those standouts….

 Jeremiah Francis – ’19 Pickerington Central PG: A veteran, even as a sophomore, in playing against top competition, Francis showed that he will not back down to anyone in Louisville. The 6’0 point guard matched against bigger and more athletic prospects; however, he controlled the game time after time with his smooth handle against pressure and ability to make the right basketball decision as a passer. Also showcasing great strength at the point guard position, Francis was able to bully opposing guards on both ends as he craftily found ways to score at the rim. The top point guard prospect in Ohio’s 2019 class, expect for high-major coaches to continue to flock to Pickerington Central to get an early look at this floor general.

Tanner Holden – ’19 Wheelersburg SF: A small town Ohio kid with big city game, Holden is a walking mismatch who really impressed at John Lucas Camp in a setting where few knew about him heading in to Saturday. A rangy 6’5 athlete with length, Holden is a triple threat prospect who can handle, shoot and pass the basketball from the wing. As he continues to come out of his shell and show more emotion on the court, Holden is going to become not only one of the top 2019’s in Ohio, but potentially one of the top 2019’s in the entire Midwest. 

Amari Davis – ’19 Trotwood Madison SG: Known as an elite athlete, the John Lucas Camp setting was a great opportunity for Davis to be forced to show off his basketball skill-set, as he was faced against players who were athletically either his equal or superior (while also being older and often bigger). In Louisville, Davis showed that his skill-set is developing, as he made lefty jumpers in the mid-range and looked comfortable handling the ball in transition settings. With his athletic upside and size at 6’3, there’s no reason why Davis can’t continue to develop into one of the top wing prospects in the region, and maybe even the nation, as his ball-skills keep on improving.

Houston King – ’18 Toledo St. John’s SG: We learned back in the AAU season that King is a tough kid who will flat out defend on the wing. Nothing changed in Louisville, as King embraced the camp staff’s challenges to try and dominate the game on the defensive end. A 6’3 wing guard with length, solid athleticism and the ability to make perimeter shots, King is an improving wing prospect out of Toledo’s most well-known program, and should continue to receive more and more NCAA D1 interest as his junior season begins.

Solomon Pierre-Louis – ’18 Columbus Wellington SG: An intriguing 6’3 guard who has made a name for himself over the last few months, including appearing in a TDP Open Gym, Pierre-Louis is a slippery ballhandler and attacker who can make plays as a scorer at the rim, with the jumper or as a passer. He’s not really a wing guard and not really a point guard, but a solid all-around guard who can create offensive opportunities and also has enough athleticism to turn some heads; part of the reason why more and more NCAA D1 schools have been showing interest in Pierre-Louis over the last month.

Recruiting Notes:

Riley Voss – ’17 Cincinnati Moeller PF: Since our last recruiting update this past week, another Ohio senior has made a pledge to an NCAA D1 school, as Cincinnati Moeller senior forward Riley Voss committed to IVY League program Cornell. After weighing offers from Air Force, multiple top D2’s and Cornell, Voss chose the Big Red for their academic offerings. A skilled 6’5 forward with toughness, a great basketball IQ, a refined skill-set and versatility, Voss should bring a solid all-around game to New York next year. Look for Voss to be the key piece in 2016-2017 for Moeller, as they are arguably the team to beat in the Southwest Region heading into the start of practice.