The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association showcase on Saturday on the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University was the only opportunity for NCAA D1 college coaches to evaluate in the state of Ohio (off of their own individual college campuses), as roughly 100 prospects, each nominated by their respective high school coach, attended the event. Based on information from the OHSBCA twitter account, a total of 28 NCAA D1 schools attended the event, plus plenty of non-NCAA D1 programs. TDP was there for the camp to evaluate prospects as well, with several standing out individually…
Javan Simmons – ’22 Gahanna Lincoln C: Simmons is what he is, and shouldn’t be too hard for college coaches to evaluate. He’s a 6’6 bruising big man who brings physicality and motor to the floor, making him appear bigger then he is with his presence on the floor. What Simmons does best is to be aggressive around the rim as a rebounder and finisher, but he’s able to make a go-to move, especially to his left-hand out of the mid-post and has worked on his ability to hit the mid-range face-up shot. Currently holding NCAA D1 offers from Toledo, Miami (OH) and Liberty, we think Simmons is one of the better post prospects in Ohio’s 2022 class, as you know what you’re going to get from him from a toughness standpoint and he has the physical strength to play early if called upon.
Cooper Davis – ’22 Olentangy Liberty SG: Currently holding two NCAA D2 scholarship offers, we’re caught scratching our heads a little bit that Davis doesn’t have more going on in his recruitment. We’ve been high on the 6’4-6’5 rising senior since the fall of his sophomore year at the 270 Hoops Fall League, as Davis is an exceptional shooter with size who is light on his feet and who brings great energy on both ends of the floor. A tough customer who can also pass and defend, Davis’ shooting alone with his size and mobility should attract more college interest by the end of the summer, especially playing on a really good travel team with Nova Village alongside guys like Javan Simmons and Drey Carter.
Drey Carter – ’22 Westerville South SF/PF: A long, skinny and versatile shot-maker with a ton of upside out of the Columbus area, Carter’s name has been on the tip of the tongue for college coaches and scouts since the early parts of the travel season in April. At 6’7 Carter can handle the ball, create his own shot with a couple of dribbles, make open shots or score out of the post, and, as he’s added some weight to his skinny frame he’s become a more reliable athlete as well. The thing that’s going to get Carter recruited right now isn’t just his current ability, but the fact that he’s taken such huge strides and still has more considerable upside, as his combination of skills can’t be taught to most players who are legit 6’7.
Jaiden Cox-Holloway – ’22 Richmond Heights PF: The MVP of the skill-sessions we watched Saturday morning, Cox-Holloway was simply unguardable in the 3v3 station. The 6’5 forward might not have missed a shot the entire station, as he used his size and mobility to free himself up for mid and long-range jumpers. Cox-Holloway gets great balance on his shot, and is skilled at using his jab-step to create more space, as the rising senior scored on four consecutive possessions at one point late in the segment. He’s a little bit of a tweener forward at 6’5, but we like Cox-Holloway more as a small-ball four-man, where his frame and mobility allow him to guard bigger players and his skill-set allows him to stretch bigger players away from the rim offensively.
Braylon Wenger – ’23 Dalton SG: The breakout name on our list, Wenger caught fire in his team’s game on the main court and didn’t stop until the final buzzer, making tough shot after tough shot. A mobile 6’4 wing guard with a good frame already, Wenger can really create his mid-range shot and is smooth in using hesitation or a ball-fake to get his shot off. When you mix in size and shooting ability, especially as a rising junior, in today’s game you’re going to get the attention of college coaches, which is exactly what Wenger did Saturday at Mount Vernon.
Will Maxwell – ’23 Dayton Oakwood SG/SF: We’ve been high on Maxwell’s game since his freshman season, only wanting to see him be more consistently aggressive in matchups where he has a physical advantage. The rising junior from Dayton did just that on Saturday, attacking closeouts and in reversals to get to the rim, where the 6’5 wing loves to drive the baseline to try and finish with a two-hand dunk. A well above average three-point shooter, Maxwell’s size makes him a matchup problem when he can attack off the dribble, and his athleticism to finish above the rim gives him highlight potential as well. Maxwell already holds NCAA D1 offers and could see his recruitment skyrocket this July playing with All-Ohio Red 16u EYBL.
Terrance Pankey – ’23 Youngstown Ursline PG: The Youngstown Speedster is what we’re going to call Pankey moving forward, as this rising junior is a great athlete in the open court. When Pankey has the ball you know he’s going to push the tempo, and he’s going to be aggressive, putting pressure on the defense with drives to the rim. Having that speed isn’t enough, so Pankey plays to his own strength by bringing really good energy on the defensive end, leading to steals which will allow him to use his athletic tools to score around the rim. The Youngstown/Warren area has been a little quiet on the basketball recruiting front over the last few years, with the breakthrough of Pankey potentially putting the area back on the map of regional college coaches.
Colin White – ’24 Ottawa Glandorf SG: The player we were most excited to evaluate heading into the event, White is a 6’3 rising sophomore wing from Northwest Ohio whom we had not seen live yet. He did no disappoint, as White was relentless in 3v3 drills, attacking the rim with a smooth skill-set and a combination of both excellent size and athleticism from a young wing. With the size and athleticism to play college basketball, as well as shooting and scoring skills, White certainly projects as one of the top 2024 prospects in the state of Ohio, and should be primed for a big year as a sophomore at OG.
Darryn Peterson – ’25 SG: The lone rising freshman to get invited to the event, Peterson is a highly regarded prospect nationally from the Canton area who is yet to make an official decision on where he’ll play high school basketball. Whichever school lands him is going to be getting an impressive young prospect, as the 6’4 wing guard is skilled and mature beyond his years on the basketball court. Peterson is a mobile and physically mature wing who can handle the ball and make shots, but what he does best is use his dribble to create offense, whether at the rim or with his patented pull-up game. If he ends up in the Akron/Canton area next season, expect Peterson to be among Ohio’s top high school players.
Honorable Mention: Michael Bova (’22 Cleveland St. Edward), Justin Perry (’22 New Albany), Max Roth (’22 Findlay), Atticus Schuler (’22 Columbus DeSales), Tyler Ganley (’22 Brecksville-Broadview Heights), Owen Murray (’22 Cincinnati Walnut Hills), Donovan Hunter (’23 Westerville Central), Nelson Johnson (’23 Cleveland University School), Jesse Hayes (’23 Padua Franciscan), CJ Hornbeak (’22 Toledo St. John’s Jesuit), Samuel Johnson (’24 Worthington Christian)
