Josh Corbin
We said it on Twitter this past weekend, there’s nothing like the Spiece Run-N-Slam. Every year the top travel teams from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin head to the Spiece Fieldhouse in Fort Wayne for a chance to play elite competition; which is precisely what happened this past weekend, as scouts got the rare opportunity to watch teams from competing shoe companies battle it out for bragging rights. With all the top national scouting services on hand to evaluate talent, Ohio teams fared well yet again at Spiece, with All-Ohio Red winning the 17u championship and the Mid-Ohio Pumas taking the 15u championship. Here’s a look at some of the top individual performers in the games we saw in Fort Wayne….
Josh Corbin – ’19 SG Gahanna Lincoln: Known for some time now as one Ohio’s top shooters, Corbin has become one of Ohio’s top players in the 2019 class, as well as a guard prospect who is becoming synonymous with winning. The 6’2 shooting guard out of Columbus was instrumental in his All-Ohio Red team taking home the 17u title, as Corbin lit it up from deep as Red’s best perimeter player on the offensive end. However, besides just shooting it well, Corbin’s fiery style of play gave Red the boost they needed to get over the hump and avenge a loss to Spiece Indy Heat the previous weekend in the Nike EYBL. With nine NCAA D1 offers, including Duquesne, Akron, Toledo, Kent State and Cleveland State, Corbin is going to be a priority target for mid-major programs looking to sign a scorer in the 2019 class.
Nate Bruns – ’19 SF Marion Local: We first wrote about Bruns’ play at the Ohio HS State Tournament where he led his team to a Division IV State Championship; Bruns followed that up with two impressive outings in Fort Wayne, as his Northwest Ohio Basketball Club team was competitive (as they always are). A 6’6 forward with a skilled and versatile game, Bruns has a high IQ and knows how to take advantage of mismatches as a scorer. Also a high-volume rebounder and a vocal leader, Bruns isn’t the best athlete on the floor but he knows how to play, can affect the games in different ways with his skill-set and is a proven winner. Already with a NCAA D1 offer from Toledo, as well as D2 offers from Findlay and others, we will be interested to see if any other mid-major schools throw their hat in the ring in the Bruns sweepstakes.
Ethan Conley – ’19 SG Franklin Monroe: One of the big stock boosters from April in Ohio’s 2019 class, Conley is a strong-bodied and mobile 6’4 wing forward who can really shoot the ball from range with consistency and a smooth stroke with soft touch. With the physical versatility to play the 2-4 at the NCAA D2 level, Conley has earned scholarship offers from Findlay, Cedarville, Ashland, Tiffin and Urbana, and more offers could be headed his way soon, as several of the top regional D2’s evaluated Conley’s Dayton Metro team in Fort Wayne.
John Hugley – ’20 C Cleveland Brush: The biggest member of All-Ohio Red’s 16u team, we were impressed this weekend with the 6’8 post man’s conditioning, as Hugley has really toned his body over the last year. With strength and touch around the rim, Hugley has the size and ability to get a bucket around the rim, which is the primary reason why many mid-major schools have made him a priority in the 2020 class. With offers from Akron, Toledo, Kent State, Cleveland State, Bowling Green, Miami (OH), Buffalo and others, Hugley’s combination of raw size, power and scoring ability will make him one of Ohio’s most heavily recruited 2020’s.
Joey Holifield – ’20 PG Toledo Cardinal Stritch: We love no-nonsense point guards, which is exactly what Holifield brings to the table, whether as a starter or as the first guard off of the bench, for his C2K Elite 16u team. A strong and athletic guard who can defend, run the show and score at the rim, Holifield is a winner who meshes well with C2K’s Zeb Jackson and Matt Allocco, despite playing off the ball more so than he is accustomed to. He might not be the flashiest prospect in Ohio’s 2020 class that is full of playmaking guards, but we’ll take Holifield over most of his competition due to his defensive prowess, strong frame and winning mindset.
Meechie Johnson – ’21 PG Garfield Heights: The most hyped guard in Ohio in the 2021 class, the pressure was on Meechie to produce at Spiece, with all the top state and national scouts watching. Johnson did just that in a pool play win on Friday night and a bracket play loss to eventual champion Indiana Elite on Saturday, as the 5’11 scoring point guard filled it up in bunches for his Hardwork Basketball team. With a mature skill-set and a competitive fire to his game, Johnson can score off the dribble with pull-up jumpers, sees the floor well as a passer and can get to the rim and finish with touch in transition. He might not have the physical tools of similarly ranked players, but Johnson is a competitor who fits the mold of the new age scoring point guard, who will be one of Ohio’s top ranked prospects when we release our 2021 list in June.
Kalen Etzler – ’21 PF Convoy Crestview: Another player who will be highly ranked in our 2021 list when it comes out (possibly even in consideration for the #1 spot), the younger Etzler (his brother committed to Miami-OH this week) is a 6’7 athletic forward with a versatile all-around game and a lot of upside. Playing in his first tournament with All-Ohio Red, Etzler blended in quickly with his new teammates, as his athleticism, energy and perimeter shooting were a welcome addition. As Etzler adds strength, he’ll have the opportunity to be highly recruited by various NCAA D1 programs, as his game translates to exactly what coaches value with the ability to run the floor and shoot it with size at 6’7.
Garner Wallace – ’21 SF Pickerington Central: Last time we wrote about the Mid-Ohio Pumas 15u team we focused on Jack Sawyer and Logan Duncomb (who were productive again this weekend); however, the key this weekend, in our opinion, was the play of Wallace, a 6’4 wing. Leading his team to a championship in which they defeated four Nike EYBL programs, Wallace was efficient as a scorer who can finish with touch in the paint, draw contact and is a fluid athlete off the dribble. As his perimeter skill-set continues to develop, Wallace will have a chance to be one of Ohio’s top 2021 prospects, as he has all the physical tools, versatility and scoring instincts to be a playmaker.
Other Top Performers: Elijah Bishop (’18 SF Columbus Beechcroft), Giovanni Santiago (’18 PG Cincinnati Hughes), Tre Williams (’18 PF Reynoldsburg), Alonzo Gaffney (’19 PF Garfield Heights), Tanner Holden (’19 SF Wheelersburg), Morgan Safford (’19 SG Columbus Bishop Hartley), Owen Hazelbaker (’19 PF Johnstown Monroe), Max Land (’20 SF Cincinnati Moeller), Devontae Blanton (’20 SF Cleveland St. Edward), Matt Allocco (’20 PG Hilliard Bradley), Zeb Jackson (’20 PG Maumee Valley Country Day), Von Cameron Davis (’20 SF Columbus Walnut Ridge), Steven Coleman (’21 SF Maumee Valley Country Day), Ramelle Arnold (’21 PG Warrensville Heights), Enavell Lighty (’21 SF Cleveland VASJ), Logan Duncomb (’21 C Cincinnati Moeller), Jack Sawyer (’21 PF Pickerington North), AJ Mirgon (’21 PG Hilliard Bradley)
You must be logged in to post a comment.