TDP/Friar’s Showcase

Mark Wise

The first ever Triple Double Prospects/Cincinnati Friar’s Club joint showcase was a success this weekend in Cincinnati, as forty of the area’s top prospects showed up to the Friar’s Club for some exposure, skill work and some seriously competitive games of basketball. The top performer’s list is a mix of some talented prospects whom we had previously evaluated, and some new faces, with many of the players in attendance showing that they have spent their time this fall working on their skill-sets. Here’s a breakdown of some of the top standouts from the event….

DJ Brewton – ’19 SG Cincinnati Dohn Prep: A post-grad prospect originally from Cincinnati Hughes, Brewton was one of the top scoring guards in the 2018 class, and will bring that same smooth offensive game into the 2019 class this winter. A 6’2 athletic and long guard who can create whatever he wants with the bounce, Brewton is a scoring machine who can fill it up from deep as well. Look for Brewton to put up some big offensive numbers this winter on a Dohn Prep team full of talented scorers.

MeKell Burries – ’19 PG Cincinnati Dohn Prep: Another post-grad prospect, with Burries having spent his high school career in Greater Cincinnati at Newport (KY) HS, Burries has drawn attention from several NCAA D1 schools this fall with his ability to score and play the point guard position. Burries is a lefty slashing guard who can hit the floater, has deceptive explosiveness around the rim, but is best as a jump shooter with limitless range from deep. At the showcase Burries also impressed with his improved desire to make teammates better, consistently find the right man in pick-and-roll situations.

Elijah Bishop – ’19 SF Cincinnati Dohn Prep: Potentially the most talented prospect in attendance, and on the Dohn Prep roster, Bishop, a 6’7 combo forward and native of Columbus, was dynamic as a versatile wing forward who can attack off the dribble. Capable of making perimeter shots or playing the hybrid four-man role, Bishop is best as a wing athlete who can handle the ball well for his size and who competes defensively with his length. As the pieces all start to come together for Bishop, expect to hear his name a lot in NCAA D1 recruiting circles once Dohn’s season begins.

Matthew Lee – ’19 PG Cincinnati Dohn Prep: If you follow us on Twitter then you already know that we declared Lee, a native of Puerto Rico, the MVP of our two TDP Elite Open Gym sessions this fall, as the small but quick and strong point guard was tremendous on both ends of the floor. Nothing changed today, as Lee dominated the point guard position with passing, shot making, creating off the dribble and particularly with his on-ball defense. While he’s small for a college guard, Lee has the chops to match the production of the last two Puerto Rican point guards to come through Cincinnati in Giovanni Santiago and Angel Rivera.

Cameron Harris – ’19 PF North College Hill: The most physically intriguing prospect in attendance, Harris, a recent transfer from Finneytown to North College Hill, has great size as a 6’7 forward who is a mix between a hybrid four man and a pure small forward. Capable of ripping and running off the defensive rebound, Harris is a smooth and nimble athlete at 6’7 who has the skill-set to handle and finish at the basket. Yes, the pieces are still coming together for this late blooming forward; however, we expect him to have a huge senior campaign at North College Hill, as Harris easily could end up becoming a scholarship college player in due time.

Kenny Jackson – ’19 C Cincinnati Hughes: Entering just his second year of organized basketball, this wide-bodied 6’8 bruiser showed that he has improved by leaps and bounds since last winter, as Jackson looked much more agile running the floor, was more consistent finishing around the rim, and generally dominated the paint on both ends today, as the most efficient pure post prospect in attendance. You can’t teach Jackson’s size, and, while he’s still learning the nuances of organized basketball, he has considerable upside as a space eater inside who will compete physically.

D’Marco Howard – ’19 SG Hamilton: One of the top returning players in Cincinnati’s largest suburban league, the GMC, Howard is a versatile guard who really excels on the defensive end. His full talents were on display on Saturday, as the 6’2 combo guard shot the ball with more consistency then we’ve seen in the past, while attacking the rim with controlled takes and finishes. On a Hamilton team that has some fire-power, look for Howard to be the one who consistently puts pressure on the rim with driving scores, while he’ll also undoubtedly be the teams top defensive player. When the dust settles, we’d be surprised if more NCAA D2 and NAIA schools don’t jump in on Howard’s recruitment.

Omari Peek – ’19 SF Cincinnati Dohn Prep: Another Dohn Prep prospect, originally from Cincinnati (Walnut Hills) but most recently from Cleveland (Strongsville), Peek is a 6’5 wing guard or small forward who can score it in bunches. Very strong with the ball in his hands and able to create a shot off of one or two dribbles, Peek is a mid-range scorer who can draw contact and finish through defenders with his physical gifts. Due to his size and athletic ability as a mature 6’5 forward, look for Peek to play a variety of roles defensively for Dohn Prep, while his best offensive quality is without a doubt his ability to put the ball in the bucket.

Ibrahima Athie – ’19 SF Cincinnati Deer Park: A 6’5 wing defender and athlete with length, Athie is the quintessential third option offensively, as he knows how to position himself for buckets off assists when the defense closes in on the primary scorer. An improving offensive player who can finish around the rim and who is very good on the offensive boards, Athie will try and also prove that he can be a consistent outside shooter this winter. A late bloomer physically who now has a college ready body, Athie’s physical tools are intriguing enough that college coaches will be checking him out again this high school season.

Alex Dotson – ’19 PG/SG Cincinnati Purcell Marian: It’s hard to come by smooth playmaking guards, especially ones like Dotson, as this senior stands near 6’4 and has both the length and athleticism to give opposing point guards fits at the high school level. A slashing guard who can create for himself or make the pass around the basket, Dotson is a gifted offensive player who, as he continues to improve his jumper, can keep the defense guessing with his array of weapons. His size also gives him great tools to work with defensively, as Dotson has as much upside as any available 2019 guard in Ohio.

Mark Wise – ’20 SG Cincinnati Deer Park: The first of two underclassmen to make this list, Wise was a dynamic scorer on Saturday; and, while he still is capable of playing both guard positions, we continue to value him more off the ball where he can fill it up from all three levels. A more consistent shooter then he gets credit for, Wise is a shot maker off the bounce who can use his strong frame and tight handle to create what he wants, or draw contact at the rim. One of the toughest guards in the state in the 2020 class, Wise already has mid-major NCAA D1 offers and continues to attract more attention daily.

Steve Gentry Jr – ’20 PG Cincinnati Deer Park: The only other underclassmen to make this list, Gentry is a speedy point guard who can really play in transition; whether it’s with his full-court defense or ability to push the ball to the rim, Gentry is one of the most athletic point guards in the state, and does a nice job of managing the game for other scorers. Yes, his size is always going to be mentioned by some, but Gentry is a winning guard who started last year on Deer Park’s undefeated State Title team.

Honorable Mention: Benez Woodard (’19 Cincinnati Dohn Prep), Dayshawn Blair (’19 Cincinnati Dohn Prep), Marcus Hutchinson (’19 Cincinnati Oyler), Louis Frazier (’19 Cincinnati Dohn Prep), Greg Phelia (’19 Cincinnati Walnut Hills), Micah Thomas (’20 Cincinnati Princeton), Brenton Foust (’20 Loveland), Will Burns (’20 Cincinnati Deer Park), Wendell Hughes (’21 Cincinnati Hughes), Jayden Bennett (’22 Middletown), Jae’sean Martin (’22 Cincinnati Hughes)