Louisville Jamfest

Dieonte Miles

The final of the three July live evaluations periods, where NCAA D1 coaches can watch prospects play on the travel circuit, has come and ended; with many of the top players from Ohio choosing to end the period with a bang instead of a fizzle. For the final weekend, we at Triple Double Prospects spent our time in Louisville for the Hoop Group’s Louisville Jamfest, an event which attracted top teams from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and some even further away states. Here’s a rundown of some of the top individual performances from games that we evaluated in the Derby City….

Dontaie Allen – ’19 SF Pendleton County/KY: While we went to Louisville to primarily track Ohio talent, it was Allen’s travel team, MATTS Mustangs out of Kentucky, who stole the show. As was the case when we saw this team in April in Indianapolis, the focal point of the Mustangs’ offense was Allen, a 6’7 wing guard from just south of the Greater Cincinnati region of Northern Kentucky. One of the most skilled wings in the country, Allen made jumpers in bunches this weekend, proving that he is a three level scorer who, despite limited athleticism, can create a shot at will with his handle, feel for the game and size at 6’7. With his offensive versatility at that size, Allen is an ideal fit for an offense that likes to feature big wings as ballhandlers, as well as somewhere where he will be able to load up on three point attempts. Kentucky head coach John Calipari was among the potential suitors tracking Allen, who holds offers from schools like Louisville, Xavier, Auburn, Florida, Illinois, Purdue and many other high-majors.

Deionte Miles – ’19 C Walton Verona/KY: This 6’10 mystery man from the Greater Cincinnati region of Northern Kentucky was without question the most talked about prospect in Louisville this weekend, as it was the first event where Miles, who has dealt with injuries this summer, has played with a major AAU outfit such as the MATTS Mustangs. An elite athlete at 6’10, Miles was an active and long rim protector who ran the floor, finished above the rim and even showed an ability to step outside and knock down the three-point shot with some consistency. While he still lacks the refinement and repetitions of most of his competition, Miles is an incredibly intriguing prospect who is beginning to receive considerable interest from a multitude of high-major programs who were in attendance in Louisville.

Evan Bainbridge – ’19 PF Stow-Munroe Falls: With size at 6’8 and a legit college ready skill as a pick-and-pop three point shooter, Bainbridge is a mid-major recruiting special who has seen his recruiting stock sky-rocket over the last few months. Currently reporting offers from Furman and Kent State, Bainbridge scored the ball with consistency for his Ohio Basketball Club team this weekend, mainly knocking down three point shots, but also showing the ability to put the ball on the floor once or twice as a prototypical new-age power forward with a skilled game. Bainbridge will have to add strength to make an impact around the basket at the next level, but his size and shooting ability have D1 coaches excited.

Devon Grant – ’19 PG Lorain: After a great showing at the Ohio HS State Tournament and then subsequently missing the April recruiting periods with an injury, we were excited to get another look at Grant with his Ohio Basketball Club outfit. A scoring point guard who isn’t a flashy athlete but who can create shots with separation dribbles, Grant was consistent as a shooter and scorer from mid and long range for OBC. Grant doesn’t have great size for a scoring guard at the next level, but he plays with a lot of heart, and his combination of skill-set and IQ are the ideal fit for what coaches seek in the modern scoring point guard. Currently, Grant has offers from Kent State and Bowling Green.

Max Land – ‘20 SF Cincinnati Moeller: Land, a 6’4 wing athlete, has bounced around some on the travel circuit this spring and summer, but looked at home in Louisville while playing with the Mid-Ohio Pumas. Playing the role of primary scorer on an amended Pumas’ roster, Land showed his ability to get to the rim and use his athleticism and frame to draw contact or finish. With that length and athleticism, Land has the ideal physical tools to be an impact defender at the next level, and, as he becomes a more consistent perimeter shooter, Land should only see his stock continue to ascend up the list of Ohio’s top 2020 prospects.

Luke Frazier – ’20 PG Mentor Lake Catholic: In just a period of two months we’ve seen Frazier, a 6’4 lanky combo guard, go from a kid who was thought of as a role player for Ohio Basketball Club to one of the team’s marquee talents, as Frazier has picked up offers from Northern Kentucky, Wright State and Youngstown State. A smooth and skilled combo guard with some burst to his game off the dribble, Frazier is a long combo guard who can do it all offensively; and, as his confidence grows, Frazier has shown he can be a big time playmaker off the bounce as a scorer or facilitator. College coaches are going to want to see Frazier continue to add muscle to his game, but, his versatility, size and skill-set make him the ideal D1 guard who can contribute in different offensive roles.

Jayvon Maughmer – ’20 SG Chillicothe: This was our first time seeing Maughmer, a 6’4 combo guard playing his first event with the elite team from the Mid-Ohio Pumas organization, and we were in no way disappointed, as Maughmer handled the primary point guard role with a lot of success. Another big and slippery guard who can handle and create, Maughmer was effective as a set-up man or as a scorer, where he has the length and frame to be a finisher around the basket. Maughmer’s frame is still very much in the development phases; however, in the two games we watched we’re ready to give him our stamp of approval as one of the most promising 2020 prospects in the state of Ohio.

Walt Mattingly – ’21 PF Deerfield/IL: While he now resides a little bit out of our normal range of coverage, Mattingly, who is originally from Greater Cincinnati, then Batesville (IN) and now Deerfield (IL), played well enough with the Cincinnati Royals 15u team that it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t show him some love. A 6’7 versatile and skilled forward with some real competitiveness to his game, Mattingly showcased a ton of upside on Saturday night, as he battled physically with his long and mobile frame against stronger interior players, and also stepped out on the wing where he showed the ability to handle against pressure and create shots. Now that Mattingly is in the Greater Chicago area, one of prep basketball’s most historically talent-rich metropolitans, look for his stock to continue to rise.

Honorable Mention: Isaiah Cozart (’19 PF Madison Central/KY), Ben Fort (’19 SG Reynoldsburg), Greg Tribble (’19 PG Cincinnati Winton Woods), Sam Towns (’19 SF Springfield), Milton Gage (’19 PG Dayton Chaminade Julienne), AJ Garrett (’19 PF Cincinnati Purcell Marian), Coleton Landis (’19 PF Pickerington Central), Grant Huffman (’20 SG Cleveland St. Edward), Andy Barba (’20 SG Cleveland Benedictine), Evan Prater (’20 SF Wyoming), Quentin Richardson (’20 PG Cleveland Holy Name), Greg Johnson (’21 PG Cincinnati St. Xavier), Isaiah Walker (’21 SG Wyoming), AJ Braun (’21 PF Middletown Bishop Fenwick), Alex Williams (’21 PF Cincinnati Moeller), Aiden Turner (’21 PG Cincinnati Moeller)