Local Boys Shine in the Volunteer State

CPHR just returned from a long day of making the trip to the University of Tennessee, along with two of Cincinnati's finest young prospects, for the Volunteer's Elite Camp. Withrow's Devin Williams ('13 PF/C) and Tyonte Robertson ('14 PG) were the talk of the camp as they played focused and dominant basketball all day long. Thrown together on the same team, along with '13 Louisville Trinity combo guard Darryl Hicks, the two Withrow teammates seamlessly executed the two man games by playing pick and roll ball or throwing it inside and having Robertson cut off. Here is a more detailed evaluation of their performances:

Tyonte Robertson and Devin Williams

Devin Williams- The 6'8 warrior dominated the paint all day long, finishing everything through contact. Williams showed a nice array of power moves, hook shots, and finesse spin moves to keep the defense off guard. His ability to step out and face up, where he can shoot out to 17 feet or put the ball on the floor, is what stood out to the Tennessee coaching staff. Also displaying his ever improving athleticism with several dunks, Devin probably would've walked away with camp MVP if there was one. Coaches also raved about his tenacity and competitiveness, which they believe will be the separating factor for Williams as the recruiting process continues. At the conclusion of the event Tennessee became the latest high major school to offer (joining: Illinois, Xavier, Dayton, Cincinnati, and Purdue; while West Virginia, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Arizona, and several others are showing significant interest.

Tyonte Robertson- The 6'0 lead guard was probably the most dominant pure PG on the court today, impressive considering that he was also the youngest. Robertson showed a great feel for the game, including adding a more consistent pattern to his playmaking by eliminating unnecessary turnovers. That's not to say he wasn't flashy; as Robertson constantly blew by his man and scored in the lane or found a teammate for an assist. Tyonte also displayed a nice jumper from deep as he picked his spots and shot the ball well in rhythm each game. Coaches praised his toughness on the defensive end and his fearlessness against older competition as reasons why he has a great opportunity to become an elite prospect. Tennessee, along with several other high major programs, will be keeping an eye on Tyonte during the July recruiting period.

Cincy Prep Hoops Report would also like to thank the Tennessee staff for allowing us full access to the camp. 

Toledo Team Camp- Hughes HS

Coming off a rebuilding season, Coach Bryan Wyant is determined to turn around the historic Hughes basketball program. While many of the top young players in the city, over the last two 8th grade classes, have made The Big Red their high school choice, they still are in dire need of extra experience at the varsity level. One of the best ways to fix that problem is through team camps in the summer, and that is just what Coach Wyant did with Hughes last weekend, taking them to camp at The University of Toledo. 

SG Kevin Daniels is one of Ohio's most
talented scoring prospects in 2014.

Hughes was able to win all three of their pool play games, with opponents being- Dayton Northmont, Ann Arbor Skyline (MI), and Edgewood. In pool play, rising sophomore SG Kevin Daniels led the team in scoring twice (with 16 and then 25); while rising junior SG Terry Cook led in the other game, scoring 25 points of his own. Daniels slashing ability is a constant threat to the defense which really complements the mid-range scoring and shooting ability of Cook (who hit 7-8 three pointers in one game). Those two should combine for a lot of points next season, much like they did last year where (despite being even younger) they each averaged double figures.

After recieving a first round bye The Big Red were knocked out of the tournament by Ann Arbor Huron (MI), as Hughes ran out gas. The other main offensive threats for Hughes were sophomore PF David Mitchell, who's versatility makes him an intriguing prospect, and freshman SF Derrick Long (more to come on him in the '15 rankings, which will be released soon). Sophomore C Dwight Nored and senior C Don'jay Taper provided the inside presences for Hughes during the games in Toledo. Finally, Coach Wyant mentioned being impressed with senior SF D'Juan Bankhead who is starting to add consistent play to his arsenal of athletic abilities.

Xavier Team Camp

Dorian Jordan

On Saturday and Sunday teams from all over the midwest headed to Xavier University to compete in two days of high school scrimmages. CPHR made the trip over to Cintas and was impressed with the amount of talent in the building. Here is a recap of how the top local teams fared in the event: Photos

• Princeton- There are some schools that, no matter how hard they are hit by graduation, will always be a talent gold mine. Princeton is one of those schools. After losing 4 senior starters this team came to XU with something to prove and made a real statement. The lone returning starter, junior PG Dorian Jordan, had a sensational weekend. Jordan has elite court vision and his combination of ballhandling and quickness allows him to get anywhere on the court and find teammates, while rarely turning the ball over. On top of that Jordan made several deep three pointers and was able to score with floaters in the lane. The Vikings leading scorer was senior SG Malcolm Smith, who has really become one of '12 top scoring guards. Smith had his touch tuned in from deep and was strong taking the ball to the rim where he has some deceptive moves to create space and the leaping ability to finish above the rim. CPHR also was impressed with the physicality of senior C De'arius "Tank" Young and the shooting stroke of junior combo guard DiJuan Scott. 

Tyonte Robertson

• Withrow- Next year's Tigers team looks to be taking on a new, and very exciting, dynamic. As always at Withrow they have plenty of talent to mold their team around. Their four guards- sophomore PG Tyonte Robertson, junior PG Tim Coleman, senior SG Damon Gooch, and senior SG Kendall Beamon all played at a high level the entire weekend while their inside trio of junior C Devin Williams, senior C Rozelle Nix, and senior PF Tyler Jordan gave them the rebounding and scoring they needed. In particular it was the play of Williams, Nix, and Robertson that stood out this weekend. Williams showed an improved ability to put the ball on the floor as well as step out and hit the jumpshot; when you combine this with his overpowering strength he becomes an unstoppable post player. Nix racked up block after block in every game, including at least 7 blocks against 6'10 Springboro C Maverick Morgan; Nix's conditioning and touch around the rim have improved tremendously since the end of HS ball and he looks like he could be a force next year. When Tyonte Robertson, and the other guards who were red hot from deep, is hitting shots he is a tough player to handle. Robertson did a great job of picking the right spots to pull up and not settling for tough shots, and as always he showed great ability when it comes to breaking his man down and finding a teammate or scoring at the rim. 

Paul Woodson

• Aiken- In just a few days since CPHR last saw the Falcons scrimmage they have already shown great improvement. Junior wing Austin Grimes has shown that he the ability to play the point guard spot and create shots for teammates. Grimes did a nice job of pushing the ball when the numbers were there or setting up the offense if they weren't. Willy Moore, a senior SG who is the most talented prospect in '12, put on a show on Sunday as he lit it up from deep, and broke down defenders before firing bullet passes through the lane for easy layups. Senior PF Paul Woodson, who has left Clark and will most likely be enrolling in Aiken (as mentioned in our earlier scrimmage report), was a huge help inside with his outstanding athleticism. Woodson has shown improved ballskills, including the ability to push the ball in transition and finish the play himself; as well a much more consistent stroke from mid-range. 

• Other top players at the event include: Darryl Hicks ('13 SG Louisville Trinity), Jaaron Simmons ('13 PG Kettering Alter), and Maverick Morgan ('13 C Springboro).

Aiken vs Walnut Hills- Scrimmage Report

Just returned from watching Aiken scrimmage with Walnut Hills, after three ten minute quarters when they decided to clear the score Aiken was leading 45-42. CPHR's thoughts on the progress of the two teams:

Willy Moore is looking to take his game to
another level in his senior year with the Aiken Falcons

• Aiken: Playing without a pure PG, with senior Landen Gaulden absent, the team had to turn to senior SG Willy Moore and junior SF Austin Grimes to handle the ball. Both of them were a little sloppy at times in the fullcourt but did a very nice job of running Aiken's new motion offense in the half court. Moore, Grimes, and junior SF Mikey Thompson were effective attacking the rim and finding open teammates for good looks. Willy Moore in particular was able to rack up a lot of points by using his body to seal the smaller Eagle guards and score over them once he got in the paint. Senior SG Stevon Nelms is a name that City League fans should get familiar with; after playing a small role last year Nelms is ready to explode this year as a strong guard with a nice all around game. The Falcons got good inside play from a potential transfer '12 PF, who if he decides to enroll will really make this team a scary opposition. The other transfer that Aiken officially has landed is '13 PF Antonio Campbell, a 6'6 shooter with nice athleticism that should come out in a big way from under the radar. Campbell left Cincinnati College Prep Academy. The final piece of the puzzle tonight for Aiken was sophomore PG Correy Cavvins who looks to have really improved his jumpshot while learning to handle the ball on the varsity level. 

Isaiah Johnson will be one of the FAVC player
of the year frontrunners this season at Walnut Hills

• Walnut Hills: Turned in a very impressive effort tonight with their lineup of 5 juniors. The only real area for concern with Walnut is their depth; they play very hard on the defensive end and are a patient team with a nice inside-outside offensive gameplan. Junior C Isaiah Johnson continues his growth as a force inside with several tough finishes through fouls tonight. Johnson just keeps improving; his passing, rebounding consistency, and footwork are all at an all time high. The three guard attack of Sterling Gilmore, Kyree Burton, and Ricardo Hill (all of whom saw significant varsity action last year) is going to improve this year as well. All three are tenacious defenders and tough competitors who have the ability to see the floor, drive and score with floaters, and can really stroke from deep. Walnut's fifth stater, PF Kodey Jackson, brings the athleticism that they need to guard athletic opponents and runs the floor fluidly for the guards to find. 

Stay tuned to CPHR as we intend on bringing you coverage from Xavier's team camp this weekend, where several local teams are scheduled to play. 

Rumble in the Bronx

While June is known as a high school month in Ohio, one travel team made the long journey up to basketball's mecca- New York City- to play in the month's premier AAU event "The Rumble in the Bronx". This Nike sponsored event draws top teams from all over the Northeast including NYC Gauchos, Long Island Lightning, New Jersey Playaz, Albany City Rocks, NY New Heights, NY Rising Stars, DC Assault, NJ MetroHawks, and many more.

The Cincinnati Knights 17u team had a great showing at the event, taking the silver division title and finishing the weekend with a 6-1 record. Their only loss came to Brookyln's Riverside Hawks, one of the AAU games pioneers. On their way to the championship Knight wins came against NJ Roadrunners, DC Assault, and Houston Prep in bracket play. In the silver championship the Knights defeated The Texas Franchize Ballers to take the trophy home to Ohio. For the Knights the top performers were PG Semaj Christon (Winton Woods '11), SG Brandon Neel (LaSalle '11), SG Keontae Brown (Dayton Dunbar '11), PF Paul Woodson (Clark), SF Darrin Harris (Mason), and new addition PG Landen Gaulden (Aiken).

Keep an eye on this team in the July live evaluation period, when they have their roster fully loaded they are one of the country's premiere AAU teams.

Taft Shootout

The Northland vs Taft matchup was the day's main event.
Here, Taft's Adolphus Washington battles Jalen Robinson of Northland.

When you win the State Championship everyone wants a piece of you, so Taft coach Mark Mitchell had no problem finding top teams to come to the home of the Senators for a one day shootout. CPHR was able to sit in for a couple of hours of action, and observe the progress that some of the top local teams are making this summer as they prepare for another season. Here are our thoughts: Photos 

• Taft: The Senators looked like they hadn't missed a beat as they convincingly defeated D1 runners up Columbus Northland without the help of the injured Dwayne Stanford. Adolphus Washington, Jalean Lowe, Orlando Berry Jr, and Jermaine Freeman all performed at their usual high level for Taft while sophomore transfer Aaron Oden and senior bench player Fred Cannaday were surprise contributors. Oden looked fairly comfortable in his first weekend of action with Taft as he adjusts to a new system, his talent certainly will help him gel quickly with his new teammates.

• Withrow: For a team that is playings its first real basketball without Aaron Thomas and the rest of the departed seniors the Tigers looked pretty impressive today in an easy win over Cincinnati Country Day and an overtime loss to Dayton Dunbar. Playing without Devin Williams, who is at an elite camp, the Tigers got great inside play from Rozelle Nix who played some of his best basketball. Nix was blocking shots, grabbing boards, and finished very well inside today. Withrow also got good contributions from their small lineup where they played three PG's at the same time. Damon Gooch, Kendall Beamon, and transfer Tyonte Robertson all made plays in flashes for the Tigers.

• 

  Rozelle Nix, of Withrow, had a big day on the low block.

  Winton Woods: This team probably lost more then anybody to graduation but the cupboard is far, far from bare. Next year's Warriors team will be young but they certainly will be as talented as the typical Winton Woods squad. The addition of transfer Trent Donald has taken this team to the next level, Donald was unstoppable today in games against Northwest and Batavia as his combination of strength and skill was too much for opponents to deal with. PG Ronnie Rousseau, one of 6 sophomores expected to contribute on varsity, was also very impressive today as he controlled the pace of the game without trying to do too much. Zach McCorkle, a senior center, and only returning varsity player, also was effective today by outrunning opponents up the floor to get his hands on rebounds and finish passes at the rim.

• West High: Playing without star scorer Keevin Tyus, who is out until December with a torn ACL, the Mustangs have to find ways to work their offense and score as a team. In the early phases of that they looked OK in moving the ball around and helping free up PG's Bubba Hill and Darrell Bullock for open shots. One advantage that West High will have is on the boards where they return quality physical bigs Marquez Carpenter, Cortez Adams, and Charles Clark.

• 

  Trent Donald got off to a good start in his Winton Woods debut.

  Northwest: Another team that is going through a changing of the guard with the departure of Melvin Hunter; the Knights looked more then competitive today in losses to Winton Woods and Taft. Ramar Hairston, a junior SG, and senior wing Chazz Gwinn are the new go to guys for Northwest and both of them looked comfortable with the scoring load being directed towards them. The Knights also got some help from freshman PG Isaiah Jones, one of Ohio's most talented young guards, who really controlled the offense for Northwest. 

• Clark: Playing without Paul Woodson, who's name has come up in lots of transfer rumors, the Cougars struggled against more athletic teams. The bright spot however was the continued success of senior PG Max Hassell, who has quietly emerged as one of the city's better PG's.

• Columbus Northland: Not many teams in Ohio, or the whole country, have a starting five that is all projected to sign division one collegiate scholarships like Northland's is. Senior C Devon Scott, senior PF Jalen Robinson, senior SG Kechuan Lewis, senior PG Jordan Potts, and junior SG Jaylen Benton all have serious talent and will be expected to take Northland back to the division 1 State Championship Game, where they lost last season to LaSalle. Scott and Robinson will be on everyone's short list for Ohio's Mr. Basketball award as the two giants look like national top 150 players.

• Dayton Dunbar: If Northland doesn't have the most talented starting five in Ohio then Dunbar does. Playing without PG Andre Yates and PF Damarion Geter, who couldn't make the trip down, the Wolverines were still clicking on all cylinders in a win against Withrow. Senior forwards Deante “Teddy” Hawkins (one of Ohio's most coveted recruits as a 6'7 wing) and Gary Akbar (a 6'4 bruiser with a versatile offensive game) both shined today while rising freshman Amos “AJ” Harris looked solid, although it might be tough for him to live up to the immense hype.

Divisional Changes:

Per Kurt Stubbs of OhioHSHoops.com: The OHSAA has released divisional breakdowns for the next two school years. Here are the Cincinnati schools that will be changing divisions in Boy's Basketball starting next season.

Aiken and Hughes have officially moved down from Division I to Division II

Taft has moved up from Division III to Division II

Roger Bacon and North College Hill have moved down to Division III from Division II

**Divisional breakdowns are based solely on the number of boys enrolled in the school**

Tivis Returning Home

'13 SF Eric Tivis has re-enrolled at Princeton after spending last season in the St. Louis area. Tivis a 6'4 slasher is one of Ohio's more talented wing prospects in next year's junior class. A fluid athlete with long arms and a smooth handle, he is tough to contain off the dribble. Expect him to be an immediate impact player for the Vikings as his addition will lessen the effect of losing 4 starters to graduation.

Thoughts from the AAU State Tournament..........

Championship Sunday at State's was a wild one with several nailbiting finishes, and several upsets. The last event of the spring period, and one of the premiere tournaments for bragging rights, left CPHR with these observations: 

State's Photos **Results from the tournament are listed in the article directly below this one if you missed them**

Kenny Kaminski led his squad to a 17u AAU State Title

17u: 

• Columbus Mustang Ballers- CPHR watched them play a hard fought game against the Ohio Hoopsters, that ended in a close Hoopster win, and came away impressed with their progress. Always known as a guard oriented team, CMB has added some big bodies and increased their athleticism on the wings. Cincinnati prospects Mark Minch and Allante Foster, both Lakota East SF's, looked good in the loss. Minch was very active on offense and was able to get to the center of the lane and pull up several times, while Foster was efficient on the boards and ran the wing well on the breakout.
• All Ohio Purple- It took a special performance to knock them out, you'll read more about that below, as AOP fell to the sparking Ohio Hoopsters squad in a game that AOP let slip away early and couldn't come back to control late. Purple kind of struggled to rekindle its chemistry now that all of their players are available again, but CPHR would be surprised if those kinks aren't worked out by the time July rolls around. Geovonie McKnight (Middletown PG) and Josh Lemons (LaSalle PG) were Purple's most effective players for the day.

• 

  Andre Yates would be CPHR's event MVP at 17u

  Ohio Hoopsters- PG Andre Yates (Dayton Dunbar) should be proud of himself, because he put his team on his back and carried them to the title game. In a emotional semifinal win over AOP Yates was sensational hitting tough shot after tough shot as Purple frantically tried to come back; at one point Yates scored 10 straight points in the game (he had 30+ total for the game). The Hoopsters improvement can also be attributed to the rising inside play of Allasane Kah (Walnut Ridge) and combo forward Gary Akbar (Dayton Dunbar) who both left all their energy on the floor and contributed on both ends; Akbar was the 2^nd leading scorer on the day as the lefty is lethal when driving left in his face up game. 
• All Ohio Red- With their depth and talent level inside AOR has established themselves in a class of their own at the 17u level this season. Kenny Kaminski (Medina), Devon Scott (Columbus Northland), Elijah Macon (Marion Franklin), and Teddy Hawkins (Dayton Dunbar) were all unstoppable inside today; and this was without starting big man Jalen Robinson (Columbus Northland). Red will definitely be in contention at both the AAU National Championships and the Nike EYBL Finals.

16u:

• 

  Isaiah Johnson

  Shining Stars (Schaefer) and Queen City Prophets- Although they did not make it to the quarterfinals, both of these teams are solid squads with talented prospects. In a great game between the Stars and Cincinnati Celtics CPHR came away impressed with the improvement of PF CJ Reed (Colerain) as well as PG Deontay Waiters (Colerain); Shining Stars also features some nice guards from the Dayton area. QCP struggled this weekend with their team chemistry but the future is bright as SF Josh Davenport (Moeller) started to shake off the cobwebs from missing the last month due to injury; for the Prophets today the main scoring threat other then Davenport was SG Ramar Hairston (Northwest). 
• Cincinnati Celtics- An under the radar team in SW Ohio, the Celtics have some talented ballplayers. None better then C Isaiah Johnson (Walnut Hills), the 6'8 beast established himself as one of Cincy's top prospects with a great weekend; including a dominant performance against Shining Stars (Schaefer). CPHR was extremely impressed with the improvement in Johnson's conditioning as well as his passing ability when double teamed, as he continues to tone his body he is one to watch.
• Shining Stars (Moman)- This team isn't the most talented but no one out there competes harder. In a double overtime thriller against All Ohio Grey the Shining Stars refused to go away. Their team's ability to shoot from long range combined with their defensive discipline makes them a tough team to beat.
• Martin's Wolverines- Another good finish at State's for the Wolverines (2^nd last year), as they advanced behind the play of PF Maverick Morgan (Springboro).
• All Ohio Grey- Playing shorthanded, with only 6 players, Grey was able to take third due to their defensive intensity and shot making. PG's Tony Kynard (Toledo Rogers) and Edmond “Junior” Early (Thurgood Marshall) had nice days while wings Clemmye Owens (Toledo Rogers) and Deontae Cole (Toledo Central Catholic) each hit several big shots. Grey could not have advanced as far as they did if it weren't for the rebounding efforts of Keith Towbridge (Toledo Central Catholic) and Mark Alstork (Thurgood Marshall).
• All Ohio Varsity- As usual Varsity came out with energy and pushed their way through to the finals behind the play of PG's Jack Gibbs (Westerville North) and Randle Clarkson (Brookhaven). This team continues to be a nightmare for coaches with their defensive pressure and uptempo offensive pace. PF Marquiez Lawrence (Marion Franklin) did a great job all day of rebounding and then beating opposing big men down the floor for buckets.
• All Ohio Red- Playing with only 6 guys on championship Sunday and still taking home the title is very impressive, and that's exactly what Red did. PG Cha Cha Tucker (Michigan) and PF Marc Loving (Toledo St. Johns) were their most impressive players in games that CPHR watched. Red's combination of star big men, athletic ballhandlers, and shooters makes them Ohio's top 16u team.

15u:

• Cincinnati Lakers- Winning on Sunday at State's is about one thing; and that is winning the battle of attrition. The Lakers were able to win that battle due to their depth, as they have a full roster of players who can contribute. While they might lack a true consistent superstar, although they did have PG Tyonte Robertson (Withrow) with them for the weekend, the Lakers play well as a team and focused their energy on the defensive end. Their third State Title in as many years shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone.

As the spring AAU period comes to an end Cincy Prep Hoops Report will re-shift gears back to the high school scene over the month of June and try keep fans up to date with area teams as they compete in camps/shootouts as well as player progress and news. At the end of the month CPHR will be back on the AAU scene for the July period, in which college coaches are able to come out and watch the competition. 

Ohio AAU State Tournament Results:

Due to the extra turnout of teams, and some teams having already qualified for Nationals, every team that made it to at least the quarterfinals of State's has qualified for the National Championships at the end of July. Here are the results from today's bracket games:

The Cincinnati Lakers won the 15u State Title

17u:

Quarterfinalists- Hidden Gems, Columbus Mustang Ballers, GameTime Magic, All Ohio Black

Semifinalists- All Ohio Purple (3^rd), Dayton Metro

Runners Up- Ohio Hoopsters

State Champions- All Ohio Red

16u:

Quarterfinalists- Shining Stars (Moman), Cincinnati Celtics, Cincinnati Warriors, Fire Select

Semifinalists- All Ohio Grey (3^rd), Martin's Wolverines

Runners Up- Ohio Varsity

State Champions- All Ohio Red

15u:

Quarterfinalists- Queen City Prophets, Shining Stars, Dayton Flames, OIC Dynasty

Semifinalists- Cincinnati Royals (3^rd), Team Queen City

Runners Up- Ohio Varsity

State Champions- Cincinnati Lakers

Full analysis and coverage of the action coming soon.........

AAU State Tournament- Saturday Report

As teams scrambled to make it into the top two of their pool, to qualify for Sunday bracket play, games got intense at the Ohio AAU State Tournament. Some of today's highlights that CPHR observed were........

Elijah Macon was the top prospect in the 17u division

• The shocking upsets of the Cincinnati Knights 17u and 14u teams, both of whom were unable to make it out of pool play. The 14u team looked their age against 15u competition, especially without their two top post players. The 17u team, playing without postgrads Semaj Christon, Keontae Brown, and Brandon Neel, struggled to consistently score the ball. 
• GameTime Magic can play! CPHR was anxious to see this team for the first time and they didn't disappoint. The 17u squad looked excellent in their upset of the Cincinnati Knights with solid team play and defensive intensity. Guards Malcolm Smith and Deontez McGee proved that they can score with anyone as they hit shots from all over the floor while big men Tank Young, Rozelle Nix, and Chris Connell were effective inside. 
• In the 16u division the game of the day was between Shining Stars (Schaeffer) and All-Ohio Red. The game ended with Red stealing a 1 point victory as Shining Star was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer. With star forward Damarion Geter sidelined with injury Shining Star proved that they are for real. 
• Another exciting 16u game was the matchup of the Cincinnati Lakers vs All-Ohio Grey. The score might have ended up lopsided, with Grey winning by 18, but the game was a fast paced and high emotion contest. For the Lakers, PG Keith Watkins (Moeller) was effective as a physical slasher who scored through contact.   
• '14 PG Aaron Oden, of Taft, played extremely well today for his Team Queen City squad in two defeats. Oden was able to consistently drive the lane and did a nice job running the point for his team. 

Tomorrow is championship Sunday, as always CPHR will have you covered with all the results. In the 16u division pool winners All-Ohio Varsity, All-Ohio Grey, All-Ohio Red, and Martin's Wolverines await the winners of the play in games in the quarterfinals. In the 17u division pool winners All-Ohio Red, All-Ohio Purple, GameTime Magic, and the Ohio Hoopsters await the winners of the play in games from their division. If the top seeds hold up, and even if they don't, we're in for some exciting semifinal and final's action. 

AAU State Tournament- Friday Report

The first night of State's was one of few surprises as most of the top seeds cruised to convincing victories over lesser opponents. The only major upset was the 15u Dayton Flames squad knocking off heavily favored Cincinnati Knights 14u in a game that the Knights just never got into; missing 6'8 C Nate Fowler set them back and after the momentum generated from a quick Flames start the game went in their favor. CPHR saw several solid performances from Cincinnati teams and players on Friday night at Landmark including:

PG Isaiah Jones is one of Ohio's elite 8th graders

Friday State's Pics 

• Queen City Prophets 15u- This was the first time that CPHR has gotten to see this team and they looked very impressive in a blowout of the Cincinnati Royals. In typical Prophet fashion their depth at guard was just too much for their opponent to handle as PG Isaiah Jones ('15 Pleasant Ridge MS), PG Ronnie Rousseau (Winton Woods), and SG Kevin Daniels (Hughes) all were unstoppable as they broke out for bucket after bucket. The QCP big men do a nice job of getting on the glass and passing the ball out while SG Kenny Kaufman (Taft) was there to knock down long range bombs. 
• Queen City Prophets 17u- QCP got off to a quick start and never took their foot off the pedal as they blew Dayton Metro out of the gym. The story to this game was the shooting, fastbreak playmaking, and defensive tenacity of the Prophet guards. Lionel "Bubba" Hill (West High) led the scoring in his first game with the Prophets while Darrell Bullock (West High), Kendall Beamon (Withrow), Sterling Gilmore ('13 Walnut Hills), and Nick Thornton (Dayton Meadowdale) were all equally impressive as well. 
• Cincinnati Lakers 15u- After getting off to a slow start the Lakers exerted their will on Club Ohio in the second half behind the play of big men Martin Jones (Winton Woods), Mike Barwick (Summit) and Daniel Cage (Winton Woods). Jones was particularly impressive with his athleticism and length as well as his energy on the court. Guards Tyonte Robertson (Withrow) and Jeff Larkin (LaSalle) were also productive for the Lakers. 
• Shining Star Sports 17u- A big second half led them to an easy victory over the Cincinnati Bulls. Shining Stars' most impressive player was '12 Trotwood-Madison PG James "Woo" Brown who showed his solid handle to combine with an extra gear of speed in the open court. Colerain wing Eli'Sha Campbell, McNicholas wing Drew Hall, and Moeller wing Alex Voss also were major contributors. 

Other Individual Performances:

• David Mitchell- Playing with the Club Ohio 15u team the Hughes PF was extremely active around the rim and in the full court against the Cincinnati Lakers. Mitchell had at least 5 blocked shots, showing off some increased leaping ability, and was the focal point of the Club Ohio offense as he faced up and attacked slower opponents while showing confidence in his jumper. 
• Trey Dees- The Shroder PG, playing with the Club Ohio 17u team, was a very productive passer in his team's loss to Hidden Gems. Dees routinely found alleys to get to the basket and fed his big men under the rim for easy finishes inside. 

AAU State Tourney Preview:

We are 24 hrs away from the start of a long weekend that will determine who has the top AAU team in the state of Ohio at the 15u, 16u, and most importantly the 17u levels. Action will be non-stop in Cincinnati all weekend as teams from all over the state come to town, here is the tournament schedule: Pools (although the scheduler is claiming that they could still change slightly tonight due to some conflicts).

All-Ohio Purple's shooters will
have to be on mark for another title

17u 

• Favorites......
• All-Ohio Purple & All-Ohio Red
• These two have met several times over the last few years with both teams winning about half the games. Red has more talent, size, and more known players; but, Purple has always been near unbeatable at state's. If these two teams meet in the finals, as expected, then fans might be in for a treat.
• If they don't win it then......
• Cincinnati Knights Gold is a talented team that is more then capable of taking the title. Playing in their hometown and coming off a championship last weekend the Knights can't be counted out.
• The Ohio Hoopsters are a dangerous team in this field on Sunday; the team, which features mostly Dayton talent, could knock off either Red or Purple if they get hot. 
• Sleeper teams to make the Final Four......
• GameTime Magic of Cincinnati, Columbus' All-Ohio Gold, and the Mustang Ballers all have the talent and team chemistry to make a run to the Final Four and qualify for Nationals. 
• Prediction......
• All-Ohio Purple keeps their streak alive and defeats the Cincinnati Knights in the semi-finals then All-Ohio Red in the finals to take another title. 

16u

• Favorites......
• All-Ohio Red and All-Ohio Varsity



All-Ohio Red's Nigel Hayes is a difference maker at 16u

• These two teams have already met in two tournament finals this year, with Red taking both of them in close games, and they are the favorites to make it back again. Varsity was upset minded last year and came away with the title, although Red has reloaded and become the team to beat. 
• If they don't win it then......
• All-Ohio Grey has the size, depth, talent, and defense capable of putting together a title run.
• Martin's Wolverines have had a great spring, and came in 2nd last year, they could easily run the table and take home the trophy.
• Sleeper teams to make the Final Four......
• Queen City Prophets have talented guards that can put up enough points to take them deep into bracket play. Also, don't count out the Cincinnati Lakers who have more experience in this tournament then any other team. 
• Prediction......
• All-Ohio Red escapes the other two All-Ohio teams, and the rest of the favorites, by overwhelming teams with the size of Nigel Hayes ('13 Toledo Whitmer PF) and Marc Loving ('13 Toledo St Johns PF).

15u

• Favorites...... 
• With Ohio's most highly regarded 15u team, King James Shooting Stars, not in the field then All-Ohio Red will be the favorite to win as they have the most talent.
• If they don't win it then.......
• Cincinnati Knights 14u might be a year young but they have arguably the best team in the field, and experience playing up an age group. 
• Cincinnati Lakers have won this event before at this age group and have the talent to do it again.
• Ohio Tarheels have talent and size, which is always a dangerous combination. 
• Sleeper teams to make the Final Four......
• Queen City Prophets have been lighting up scoreboards and always play well in State's, while Ohio Varsity and Nova Village (both of Columbus) have enough talent to make a run.
• Prediction......
• All-Ohio Red defeats the Cincinnati Knights 14u squad to take the title. 

The Return of All-Ohio Purple

Adolphus Washington

All-Ohio Nike Cup, Pitt Jamfest, King James Classic, Spiece Run N Slam, Nike Super 16, Memorial Day Midwest Future Stars Showdown- Cincinnati's most decorated 17u AAU team had to play all of these tournaments shorthanded, and produced some impressive results against top competition. It's been a couple months since six of their eleven players got to put on State Championship medals with their high school teams; now All-Ohio Purple is ready to come back and keep their AAU State Title streak alive. Purple has won 7 State Titles in their time together, their core has played together since age eight, and have also won 2 National Titles. In this, their last AAU season together, AOP is looking to add one more State trophy to their resume.

5 of Purple's 11 players attend Taft HS meaning that they have had to share playing time at tournaments, AAU rules dictate that before June 1st only two players from a HS can be on a teams roster for each tournament. This weekend, the State Tournament, begins after the 1st of June so Purple will again be fully loaded. AOP along with their brother program All-Ohio Red, and the Cincinnati Knights, will be the favorites to win the State's this weekend. CPHR will now take a look at the revamped AOP roster:

• Adolphus Washington- Taft PF: "The Diesel" has always been, and will continue to be, the go to player. Stats, and especially wins, speak for themselves; as opponents grow "DD" only improves. 

• Dwayne Stanford- Taft PF: "Too Tall" brings the athleticism and energy to the floor for Purple year in and year out. 

• Orlando Berry Jr- Taft PG: Son of a coach, and plays like it, "Lil' O" is the floor general. 

• Josh Lemons- LaSalle PG: One of the original AOP players, they call him "Speedy" due to his ability to push the tempo. 

• Jalean Lowe- Taft SF: Versatile shooter has expanded all around game, J Lowe has been with AOP since the beginning. 

• Willy Moore- Aiken SG: In his 2nd stint with AOP Moore adds another scoring guard with shooting ability to an already deep supply of weapons. 

• Geovonie McKnight- Middletown PG: CPHR's #1 prospect is a new addition that takes AOP to the next level. 

• Tommy Kreyenhagen- Summit SG: Go to shooter, has been knocking down triples for AOP for years.

Josh Lemons

• Jermaine Freeman- Taft SG: Lock down defender for year's, hit FT's to win AOP's last National Title.

• CJ Gettys- Findlay C: AOP's only out of town player is a 7'0 new addition with real talent. 

• Andrew Mitchell- Walnut Hills SG: Lights out shooter is a new member of AOP. 

With the additions of McKnight and Moore Purple now has the top 7 prospects in CPHR's 2012 rankings, we'll see on Sunday what type of result this team can produce. Stay tuned in to Cincy Prep Hoops Report for full coverage of our favorite AAU event, hosted right here in Cincinnati.