Nike All-Ohio City Series: Columbus Finals Recap

Mark Minch

Just as every basketball fan familiar with the City Series event would've expected the 2nd edition of Jerry Watson's "Battle of Ohio" event was 48 hours of non-stop intensity. In the end Cincinnati made it to the championship game in two of the four age groups, but was not able to capture any championships; as Columbus took three trophies with Cleveland taking home the freshman title. Here's a look at how the Cincinnati teams fared in Columbus this past weekend..........
 EVENT PHOTOS 

Seniors (4-0-1 Round Robin) (Lost in Championship to Columbus)

• Mark Minch- The Lakota East SG took his game to a whole new level in Columbus and was the primary reason why Cincinnati made the finals. No one in the gym on either day could check Minch as he used his physicality and athleticism to get to the rim and score with great touch or pulled up with his patented mid-range game. If Minch continues this level of play he will be the senior that breaks out this season. Like Aiken's Willie Moore he is starting to find a consitency to his game that will make him a top flight prospect. 
• Willie Moore- To make the championship game the senior team knew that they would have to get scoring out of Willie Moore and as he has all fall he delivered. CPHR just can't believe what a consistency Moore has added to his play, taking his talents to a whole new level. The Aiken SG exploded off the floor with more bounce thanks to weight room work and his jumper also looked as pure as it has ever looked. 
• Rozelle Nix- The Cincinnati senior big men all played with great effort this weekend but none matched Withrow C Rozelle Nix. He just continues to improve and breakout as he looked to be in improved condition and really got up and down the floor well. Not only was Nix able to block shots and rebound as he always does, he was able to score around the rim. Rozelle produced some highlight dunks in traffic and even showed off an improved drop step and hook shot off the low block.  

Jermaine Freeman

• Jermaine Freeman- The Taft SG understood what his role was on the team: Be the vocal leader and be the toughest kid on the court. In a close win over Cleveland the first game Jermaine did just that in shutting down highly regarded Cleveland Benedictine '12 PG Desmond Ridenour. Freeman took advantage of smaller guards all weekend by using his superior strength to bully them around the rim and score or to find teammates off the dribble, as he played a lot of PG for the senior team.
• Paul Woodson (Aiken PF), Chris Connell (Woodward C), Malcolm Smith (Princeton SG), Geovonie McKnight (Middletown PG/SG), and Lionel Hill (West High PG) also helped the senior team as they gutted out and undefeated (with one tie) round robin record before falling in the finals. 

Juniors (2-3 Round Robin)

• Devin Williams- At times Williams looked like he was several years too developed to be playing in this event. It started off with the 34 point and 20 rebound effort against Dayton and kept going through much of the weekend as Williams tied Cleveland Garfield Heights SF/PF Tony Farmer as the top junior in the competition. Williams shot the ball purely out to 17 feet and was unstoppable using his strength to overpower opponents. 
• Corey Wise-The Withrow SG had a breakout weekend showing a level of passion and toughness that CPHR had previously not seen from Wise. For years Corey has been able to attack off the dribble and pull up for his pretty mid-range jumper but his consistent motive to get to the rim this weekend kept his Junior team in the games. Also showing the ability to play some PG when needed CPHR is really excited to watch the progress of Wise at Withrow this season. 

Corey Wise

• Austin Grimes- The Aiken SG showed a lot of heart by taking over primary ballhandling duties as well as being forced to be a go to scorer when Devin Williams was on the bench. In a blowout loss to Toledo CPHR was impressed with the resiliency of Grimes as he kept competing and attacking the basket. His continuously improving handle is really going to help his recruiting stock this season. 
• While the Juniors didn't finish with record they would've liked to they also received solid play from Kevin Johnson (Summit PG), Eric Tivis (Princeton SF), Brennan Ferrell (Milford SG), Will Clifton (West High PF), and Monty Boykins (Lakota West SG). Boykins played great in the first two games but was unable to attend the last three. 

Sophomores (4-1 Round Robin) (Lost in Championship to Columbus)

• Jeff Larkin- The LaSalle SG proved that despite being small he has all-world toughness, can play with anyone in the state, and is ready for the big show at LaSalle this season. Larkin was one of the most consistent scorers in the event as he showed an ability to blow by his man and finish through contact around the rim, as well as shoot the ball from deep off the catch of off the dribble. A tough defender and clutch offensive player he should have a great year at LaSalle. 

Martin Jones

• Martin Jones- The Winton Woods product has gone from undersized PF to big SG in just a matter of months. Possibly the most consistent scorer in the entire sophomore division this weekend Martin was able to score from all three levels. A very good set shooter who showed an improved mid-range pull up game, CPHR was most impressed with his improved handle that allowed him to score around the rim. If Jones can consistently guard quicker perimeter players, as he did this weekend, he should be an impact guard in the FAVC as a sophomore. 
• Tyonte Robertson- The Withrow PG has his up's and down's over the weekend but showed why he is one of the state's elite PG talents, and probably still at the top of the list. In a 35 point effort in the championship game loss to Columbus Robertson was unstoppable off the dribble. His defensive abilities on the ball and array of finishing or passing moves in transition make him a special talent to keep evaluating as he improves.  
• Adam Gigax- The Moeller SF/PF did what we all know he is going to do: knock down three pointers. But he also did so much more; Gigax led the Cincinnati sophomores in assists, was able to guard much quicker perimeter players, and showed an improved ability to attack off the dribble. Gigax's controlled style on the drive fits perfectly into the GCL style and CPHR is wondering if he has made enough on an ascension to be a role player on the varsity this season. 
• Blake Simpson- While the Moeller post didn't have his best day finishing around the rim CPHR was extremely impressed with how hard he played on every possession. Showing off some new moves, and a better understanding of how to use his power, around the block Simpson was able to get his shot's at will and scored off second (and even third) efforts several times. Being forced to sometimes guard smaller players and sometimes guard bigger players he showed great toughness in slowing his man down. 
• CPHR's own ended up coaching the sophomore team and finished Sunday extremely proud with the effort and resiliency that this squad showed. All 10 of the players that participated should become known players by the end of their sophomore years. The rest of the Sophomore team was Kiere Bennie (Colerain PG), Kevin Daniels (Hughes SG), David Mitchell (Hughes SF/PF), Larry Moore (Withrow PG), and Latrell Tidwell (North College Hill PF).  

Jordan Bradley, Germaine Britten, Robert Tubbs

Freshman (0-5 Round Robin)

• The freshman just couldn't get it all the way right this event as short numbers and shorter height caused them to struggle on the bigger stage. CPHR would like to commend the players that did attend for not backing down. The five players that represented Cincinnati were Jordan Bradley (PG Princeton), Germaine Britten (SG Northwest), Robert Tubbs (PG/SG Sycamore), Lamont West (SF/PF Withrow), and Seth Orlemon (C Turpin). Bradley and Britten in particular were most effective scoring the ball as they have advanced skills for their age group and the confident mentality to try and take over games. 

Nike All-Ohio City Series: Cincinnati Recap

DaJuan Sherman

This weekend the majority of the top HS talent in Cincinnati converged on Taft to tryout for a spot in the 2nd annual Nike All-Ohio City Series Battle for Ohio next weekend in Columbus. While all of the normal stars showed out to their potential CPHR spent the weekend looking for fresh faces that might have been flying under the radar; as well as putting a heavy emphasis on getting a head-start on evaluating the area's top freshman players. With so many players showing improvement since the end of AAU season this weekend will force CPHR to re-evaluate the rankings at each grade; particularly the '15 and '14 rankings (But watch out for a new face in the '13 rankings). After two action-packed days here are our thoughts: 

Breakout Performers:

DaJuan Sherman- ’15 West High PG: After hearing about his vision, handle, and confidence CPHR was very excited to check out Sherman for the first time. DaJuan put on an absolute show on Saturday as he scored at will in the lane, off the pullup, and found teammates via some spectacular passes. Already showing an IQ way beyond his years, and elite quickness with both his hands and feet, Sherman might be Cincinnati's 2nd best PG this early in 2015 behind Northwest's Isaiah Jones. 

Carlas Jackson- ’14 Roger Bacon SF: Son of former Bearcat AD Jackson, and starting to play like it, Carlas has some serious potential to be a stud for the Spartans. A long and fluid athlete who can shoot the ball effortlessly from downtown he showed enough ballskills to be considered a pure wing at 6'4. 

Latrell Tidwell

Malik Rhodes- ’14 Clark PG: A scoring PG that CPHR had seen a lot before but was extremely impressed with his improvement. Rhodes showed better decision making, a stronger frame, and an improved shooting stroke. Look for him to have a breakout year with Clark this season. 

Latrell Tidwell- ’14 North College Hill PF: Between this showcase and the Queen City Superstars no one has seen their profile rise quicker then Tidwell. An athletic and long combo forward with nice mid-range jumper and touch around the rim he shows signs of becoming a go to scorer at NCH. Has a semi-developed face-up game which overtime could make him an elite player in Cincinnati in 2014.

Martin Jones- ’14 Winton Woods SF: Jones has put himself squarely on the map as a small forward as he has transitioned from a skilled post to a big strong wing. Jones was stroking the three ball all weekend and is starting to show some ballhandling ability as well. If he keeps up his current level of play expect Martin to play a big role at Winton Woods this season.

Will Clifton- ’13 West High PF: Like Tidwell fans are learning the name Will Clifton. After moving to Cincinnati this summer from Atlanta he is on the verge of being known as one of the elite players in the city in his junior class. A super athlete at 6'6, who won the slam dunk contest (footage coming), Clifton has great touch around the rim and is a natural scorer. While his wing skills are in development his effort and IQ for the game make him a top tier player who CPHR will be watching closely with the Mustangs. 

Will Clifton

Will Cox- ’13 Princeton C: One of the best athletes in the state at 6'6 CPHR always knew that Cox, who was the slam dunk contest runner up, could jump. This weekend he showed that he might be worthy of a role on the Viking squad as he showed a high motor getting up and down the court and finished around the rim with good consistency. If he can continue to improve his skills Cox could become a standout player very soon.

Mark Minch- ’12 Lakota East SF: One of the elite talents in the 2012 class that has been on the scene for years Minch had a great weekend, starting to really put all of his potential together. A big and strong athlete with a great first step his jumper from mid-range, which he excels at creating off the dribble, was money and so was his finishing around the rim. When footage comes out from this weekend fans are going to be seriously impressed with the productiveness of "Chico". 

Floyd Lee- ’12 West High PF/C: After three years of struggling at Aiken CPHR has noticed a re-focused Lee over the last couple of weeks. A dynamic athlete with a mean streak and a willingness to block shots and rebound Lee is really coming into his own. He possesses nice touch around the rim and a relentlessness about the way that he attacks defenders. 

Floyd Lee

2015 Standouts:

Lamont West (Withrow SF), Seth Orlemon (Turpin C), Robert Tubbs (Sycamore PG), Lanis Owensbry (Clark PG), Brandon Aning (Monroe SG), George Brown (Colerain C), Jordan Bradley (Princeton PG), Isaiah Jones (Northwest PG), Germaine Britten (Northwest SG), Reggie Mack (Taft SG)

2014 Standouts:

Tyonte Robertson (Withrow PG), Correy Cavins (Aiken PG), Kenny Kaufman (Taft SG), Tamarik Washington (Taft SG), Marcus Scott (Taft SG), Larry Moore (Withrow PG), Isaiah Thompson (Withrow PG), Kevin Daniels (Hughes SF), David Mitchell (Hughes PF), Adam Gigax (Moeller PF), Blake Simpson (Moeller PF), Dwight Nared (Hughes C), Kiere Bennie (Colerain PG), Trey Lampley (St. Xavier SG), Ahmad Frost (Wyoming PG), Jeff Larkin (LaSalle PG/SG), Devyn Walker (Northwest SG), Cole Cloud (Reading PG)

2013 Standouts:

Eric Tivis (Princeton SF), Dorian Jordan (Princeton PG), Kevin Johnson (Summit PG), Monty Boykins (Lakota West SG), Devin Williams (Withrow PF), Austin Grimes (Aiken SG), Mikey Thompson (Aiken SF), Trent Donald (Winton Woods SF/PF), Tim Coleman (Withrow PG), Corey Wise (Withrow SG), Ramar Hairston (Northwest SG), Bryan Porter (Colerain SF)

2012 Standouts:

Orlando Berry Jr (Taft PG), Willie Moore (Aiken SG), Geovonie McKnight (Middletown SG), Jalean Lowe (Taft SF), Andrew Mitchell (Walnut Hills SG), Rozelle Nix (Withrow C), Paul Woodson (Aiken PF), Malcolm Smith (Princeton SG), Josh Lemons (LaSalle PG), Lionel Hill (West High PG), Kendall Beamon (Withrow PG/SG), Chris Connell (Woodward C)

Check back with CPHR all week as we will have the official rosters of the 10 players from each grade that will be representing Cincinnati in the statewide event next week, as well as a preview of the Columbus championships. CPHR also has tons of video highlights of the event which should be available by late Monday. 


Note: Withrow junior guard Tim Coleman won the three point shooting competition

Josh Lemons De-Commits

LaSalle senior PG Josh Lemons has re-opened his recruitment, backing off from his previous verbal commitment to Southeastern Louisiana Univ, a Division I program from the Southland Conference. Lemons cited the distance as well as previously having rushed into a decision before thinking things all the way through as reasons for his decommitment.

Now that he is back on the board Josh expects to begin hearing from Morehead St as well as several other Division I programs that were recruiting him again. Lemons said that SE Louisiana is still an option but not the place that he wants to commit to at this time. With the fall signing period coming in just a few weeks it appears that Lemons will play his senior season at LaSalle and sign with a school in the spring; potentially opening the door for more schools to evaluate him.

Ross PF Mischkulnig headed to Maryville

2012 PF Max Mischkulnig of Ross high school has verbally committed to play Division II basketball at Maryville University in Missouri. A 6'8 skilled forward with a face up game and great length Mischkulnig should be able to create mismatches at the power forward spot at the Division II level. A prospect that flew under the radar as a late bloomer Max turned several heads of college coaches in July with his strong play with Club Ohio AAU.

Mischkulnig becomes the second Cincinnati area player to pledge to Maryville, joining fellow under the radar (but recruiting steal) forward Drew Hall, of McNicholas.

According to his AAU coach Max chose Maryville over interest from Northern Kentucky and several other regional Division II schools.

Rossi's headed over the bridge.........

Jacob Rossi

6'8 twin brothers Jacob and Justin Rossi, forwards from Franklin high school, have given their verbal commitment to Northern Kentucky University. After a weekend visit in which the brothers were blown away by the new facilities that the NKU program has built, all part of their process of moving from Division II to Division I (which they could be as early as next season), they were sold that the Norse were the right fit for their family. The proximity to home also was a factor as they referenced their parents being able to see almost all of their games as a deciding factor as well.

Jacob, more of a SF, should play a valuable role on the wing from the get-go at NKU as his versatility for his size makes him a difficult matchup. A very good shooter who can pass, put it on the floor, and is an above average athlete, Jacob has all the tools that Division I college coaches look for.

Justin has the same size and athleticism as his brother but plays more of a down low game, where he really thrives as a turnaround jump shooter off the block. A high motor player, Justin will also have an opportunity to earn playing time for the Norse.

Justin Rossi

NKU won the recruiting battle for the forwards by beating out Division II top programs such as Bellarmine, Lincoln Memorial, and West Liberty; as well as Division I Manhattan and St. Francis (PA).

The Rossi's become the 3rd and 4th Ohio commitments for NKU in the 2012 class as they are joined by Lima Senior SG Tyler White and Chaminade Julienne PF/C John Staley.

Weekend Recruiting News.....

• Colerain senior wing Eli'sha Campbell tells CPHR that he is getting the most interest from Miami (OH) with Toledo, Akron, Arkansas, and Miami (FL) also showing some interest. Campbell expects the Redhawks to offer as soon as he gets the results back from his latest ACT test. 

• Geovonie McKnight enjoyed his trip to Eastern Kentucky for a quick unofficial visit. Due to travel complications McKnight didn't get to see everything he had planned on seeing but did get to watch the team conduct a workout. Geovonie told CPHR that he plans to wait until after his senior season to make a college choice.

• CPHR would like to congratulate former Aiken SF Darren Goodson, a '09 graduate currently at Pensacola State Community College (FL), on committing to play at Kent State next season. Goodson, who was considered on of Ohio's top seniors in 2009 was originally signed to play at Bowling Green before going the Junior College route. A 6'5 slasher with power and a tough minded attitude Goodson can score with anyone and has the athleticism to create matchup problems in the MAC. 

• After big weekend's at the Queen City Superstars Showcase CPHR got great feedback from Division II and III college coaches on some of the local big men. Coaches from 6 different schools mentioned Floyd Lee (West High), Chris Connell (Woodward), Brandon Murphy (Fairfield), and Zach McCorkle (Winton Woods) as guys that they will be watching closely during their senior seasons. 

• Paul Woodson had good things to say about his visit to pre-season #2 ranked Divsion II Lincoln Memorial in Tennessee. Woodson also plans on re-visiting top 15 pre-season Division II Central State (near Dayton) this week. While those two schools are out in the lead for Woodson he is considering some other schools. Woodson has pushed back his decision date from next week to late November, right before the start of HS games. 

• Division II Kentucky State has begun recruiting West High PG Lionel "Bubba" Hill. An under the radar scoring guard with great speed and a pure jumper Hill will be a steal for any coach at the Division II level. Similar to Taft's Orlando Berry Jr he lacks size but has a big game to make up for it. 

Lemons Headed Down South

'12 LaSalle PG Josh Lemons has given a verbal commitment to Southeastern Louisiana University, a Division I program from the Southland Conference. The Lions who finished 15-14 last season, and 9-7 in conference, should expect a big boost in their scoring from the speedy Lemons. A 6'1 scoring point guard with a great first step and deep shooting range Josh is a great get for Coach Jim Yarbrough.

After a busy summer of attending several elite camps all over the region, and playing AAU with his All-Ohio Purple team, Josh strongly considered Morehead State, Elon, and several MAC schools before deciding to make an early commitment to SE Louisiana, which is located less then hour from New Orleans.

As a junior last year Lemons was the leading scorer for the Division I State Champs where he averaged 13.6 points a game. Lemons finished fifth in the league in scoring, first in steals, among the leaders in assists, and was named the GCL-South Player of the Year; to go along with several All-Region and All-State accolades.

Speaking on behalf of the family Josh's father, Dave Lemons, said that the opportunity to earn playing time is what most intrigued Josh about SE Louisiana. Lemons also said that the Lions run a similar offense to what Josh is accustomed to at LaSalle making it an easy transition for him if he is able to earn that playing time.

Lemons makes the third commitment in the GCL so far, joining Moeller C Tony Sabato (Elon) and McNicholas SF Drew Hall (Marysville)

Queen City Superstars Showcase- Video Highlights

Highlight videos of the top 2013 performers at the Queen City Superstars Showcase brought to you by 

Triple Double Prospects: The #1 Scouting Service in Ohio & Kentucky

• Devin Williams- Withrow PF
• Dorian Jordan- Princeton PG
• Eric Tivis- Princeton SF
• Kevin Johnson- Summit PG
• Tim Coleman- Withrow PG
• Trent Donald- Winton Woods PF
• Joe Cossins- Anderson PF

For more prospect videos and evaluations of these players (and hundreds more) visit: www.TripleDoubleProspects.com 

Don't forget to like "Triple Double Prospects" on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @TripleDoublePro

Weekend Recap:

Queen City Superstars Fall Showcase

Standout Players

Malcolm Smith

2012 

• Malcolm Smith- Princeton SG: Put on a scoring display Saturday as he was simply too much for his opponents off the dribble. Smith scored at the rim and showed his usual consistency from behind the arc. Several Division II college coaches commented on his improvement and believe that he is one of Ohio's top sleeper prospects in '12.

• Orlando Berry- Taft PG: The little general has taken on a increased scoring load this fall, both at the showcase and at open gym at Taft. Berry is so explosive and fearless when attacking the rim but it is his understanding of how to use his body and ability to control himself through contact that lets him score over defenders a foot taller then him. Look for Orlando to really step up his scoring this season.

• Josh Lemons- LaSalle PG: Looking at the improvements Josh Lemons has made since July the first thing that sticks out is his noticeable strength gain. College coaches consider him a scoring point guard and his added strength might intrigue teams that play a scoring PG with a traditional PG so that Lemons could potentially guard the other teams SG.

• Rozelle Nix- Withrow C: For such a fast paced atmosphere Nix performed well this weekend. He has improved his finishing around the rim and did a good job of securing rebounds. While he is still developing as a low block player he is gaining a better understanding of taking his time on the catch and reading the defense before using his drop-step towards the baseline or middle.

• 

  Eric Tivis

  Jalean Lowe- Taft SF: While he wasn't as aggressive as he usually is Lowe played a really solid game on Saturday, only missing 1 shot attempt. He hit 3 three pointers and showed improved court vision. As Jalean's passing and handle continue to improve college coaches at the Division II level become more and more certain that he can play the SG spot at 6'4.

• Floyd Lee- West High C: After missing last season, when he was at Aiken, CPHR had not seen Lee play in a while but came away impressed with his improved offensive skillset. Always known as a big athlete at 6'8 he not only made plays around the rim but shot the ball effectively as well.

• Dajuan Bankhead- Hughes SF: Known as an athletic slasher who plays the undersized post Bankhead came out stroking the ball on Saturday. CPHR counted 6 three pointers made for DaJuan, several of which were contested pull-up jumpers. If Bankhead can consistently shoot the ball this season he will put up big numbers as he has the athleticism to get to the rim whenever he wants.

• Keevin Tyus (injury update)- CPHR had a chance to speak with '12 West High wing Keevin Tyus (18 ppg last season as a junior) at the showcase. Tyus tore his ACL playing pickup ball in April but is ahead of the curve in his recovery process. Doctors have recently cleared Keevin to run, jump, and lift and he is expecting clearance to practice with the team by November 10^th at the latest. CPHR wishes Keevin a continued successful recovery and an injury-free senior season.

2013

• 

  Kevin Johnson

  Kevin Johnson- Summit PG: After spending a lot of time this fall in the yoga classroom Johnson has added another step to his vertical ladder. KJ was able to make plays above the rim and, as usual, was able to get to the rim off crossover dribbles. While his shot still is a work in progress he did show more confidence in his stroke from the foul line.

• Tim Coleman- Withrow PG: No one came out and shot the ball on Saturday as well as Coleman who hit at least 4 first half three pointers. CPHR knew that Coleman was a gifted scorer, the area the he impressed was with his passing ability. Traditionally a scoring PG who makes the simple pass Tim has now found ways to make his teammates better with his passing skills; something that should come in handy for his loaded Withrow team.

• Dorian Jordan- Princeton PG: Speaking of making teammates better, no one makes their teammates look as good as Dorian. In transition he has such a keen understanding of speed and space that he can wait till the perfect time to deliver a pass to a cutting teammate. Jordan also is shooting the ball with a lot more confidence from deep, as he will need to do with opposing teams backing off him due to his quickness.

• Eric Tivis- Princeton SF: A talented prospect that is a little under the radar, after missing last season, Tivis was the talk of the crowd on Saturday. He scored well over 20 points and impressed CPHR with his improving skill set. Tivis is long, athletic, and attacks the rim under control. His three point shot has improved and his handle is getting to the point that he will become a legit guard prospect. Could have a breakout year for the deep and talented Vikings.

• Devin Williams- Withrow PF: No one at his age group could match Williams physicality down low and he took advantage of that late in games when his team needed points. Williams has been focusing on improving his range and adding explosiveness to his leaping ability and both showed well on Saturday. While his shot wasn't falling his release looked consistent and he was bouncing off the floor with confidence and power.

• 

  Zach McCormick

  Trent Donald- Winton Woods PF: Playing in his old HS gym Donald took advantage of familiar territory. What sticks out about Trent right now is his slimmed down physique which has added another level of quickness to him as he attacks defenders out of the high post. 

• Joe Cossins- Anderson PF: All fall CPHR has been raving about the high motor that Cossins has been playing with and his improvement on the glass. Both of those traits were in full display on Saturday.

• Bryan Porter- Colerain SG: When his three point shot is falling Porter is a tough cover, that was the case this weekend. Porter has the ability to play the PG, SG, or SF position with his handle and shot; while CPHR would like to see him improve his decision making/basketball IQ his skills are improving.

• DeMarcus Cook- North College Hill PG: After missing last season the talented NCH combo guard came out and was very productive both penetrating into the paint and harassing ballhandlers with his strong frame and quick feet.

2014

• Zach McCormick- Turpin SG: The top performer in his division by far and away CPHR has noticed a change in McCormick's game that everyone noticed, this kid can jump! Zach threw down several dunks including a two handed alley-oop in traffic to bring the crowd to its feet. Scoring is always his specialty but CPHR came away impressed with McCormick's improved passing ability as well. He shows a nice understanding of how to use subtle fakes and patience to create lanes and he can fire bullet passes through tight spaces.

• Tyonte Robertson- Withrow PG: The crowd showed up early on Saturday to see Robertson put his talent on display and he turned in a nice 16 point performance, with a few highlight behind the back assists to cap. While he did have a problem playing too fast, or maybe trying to do to much (part of that is due to the setting) Robertson was effective finishing around the rim; where he is too strong and quick for opponents in his age group to check him and he has an array of dribble moves to take advantage.

• 

  Tim Coleman

  Ronnie Rousseau- Winton Woods PG: It took him a little while to get going but Rousseau showed a glimpse Saturday of what CPHR had been expecting after such a dominant summer in AAU. Ronnie showed improved understanding of how to score over bigger defenders by using change of speed and direction, as well as a nice new step-back move, to create room to finish or shoot his pure jumper. 

• Dwight Nared- Hughes C: Another surprise star in a day dominated by guards. Nared has really improved his mobility and that was put on display by a crowd-pleasing off the backboard alley-oop that he finished in transition over two defenders. While he still has work to do he is on of 2014's top sleeper prospects due to his size, athleticism, and high motor.

• Aaron Harris- Dayton Meadowdale PG: An unknown player to CPHR before the event we came away very impressed with the skills of this speedy playmaker. Harris showed equal success in passing and scoring the basketball and competed harder then just about every player on the floor.

• Kiere Bennie- Colerian PG: Athletic combo guard with good size is showing CPHR that he can really play. Still need to see more of him to get a great feel for his overall game but Bennie can really guard and he can break his man down off the dribble. He might be a jumper away from becoming a stud.

• David Mitchell- Hughes PF: Athlete that is playing with a higher motor this year, while he is still making inexperience mistakes, those mistakes are easier to tolerate when he is covering as much ground as he has been on the court. Still possesses a world of talent and is working hard to harness it.

• 

  Myo Baxter

  Devyn Walker- Northwest SG: Scoring guard showed a much improved stroke from three point range. 

2015

• Myo Baxter- Lakota East SF/PF: Remember this name as Baxter looks like a freshman that could make a varsity impact sooner then later at East. A strong 6'4 frame with great quickness for his size Baxter has a really defined skill set for his age. He reminds CPHR a little bit of '13 Trent Donald with is array of moves and ballhandling ability with so much strength. What seperates Baxter from players his age is ability to handle the ball while under control and his court vision. CPHR is very excited to see more of Baxter over this season.

• DeShaun Pickett (Hughes SF), Tyriq Johnson (Purcell Marian PF), and Jordan Bradley (Princeton PG) were three other freshman who impressed and CPHR will have them on the evaluation radar over the next few weeks to get a better feel for their promising games.

Jalean Lowe- Showcase Highlights

Highlights from this weekends "Queen City Superstars Showcase"
of Jalean Lowe ('12 Taft SG/SF), one of the state's top shooters and senior players.

Full recap of the event coming to CPHR on Monday morning...........

10/05 Recruiting News........

• Jacob and Justin Rossi, '12 Franklin forwards, have been offered by Northern Kentucky. 
• Jacob Rossi is currently Missouri State, Belmont, Manhattan, Lipscomb, and several Division II schools. 
• Justin is currently considering West Liberty, Bellarmine, Marysville, Ashland, and Lincoln Memorial; all Division II schools

• '12 Withrow C Rozelle Nix has been hearing from Lincoln Memorial and Kentucky State, both D-II's.

• Paul Woodson, '12 Aiken PF, is rumored to be deciding between a final two of Lincoln Memorial and Central State, both are high level Division II programs. 

• '13 Lockland SG Dontonio Wingfield Jr has been offered by Ohio University and Toledo with strong interest coming from West Virginia and Iowa.

• Allante Foster, '12 SF/PF, has transferred from Lakota East to Colerain.

Moore finds his home...

“It's time,” '12 Cincinnati Aiken combo guard Willie Moore said as he wrapped up his official visit to Duquesne on Sunday. After two days, and one night, on campus Moore had seen enough to know that the Dukes were the right spot for him and made the commitment as he left the campus. 

“Their head coach, Coach (Ron) Everhart, just showed me so much love up there; he really made me feel welcome and wanted. The whole staff was real cool, they're fun to be around but when its time for basketball they're all business,” Moore said.

Always considered one of the top guard prospects in the state Willie's recruitment had its peaks and valleys but in the end he couldn't be more excited to be playing at Duquesne. “They play my exact style of ball. Push the ball, attack the lane, kick it out, and if your open shoot it. I really love passing the ball and Coach told me several times that they led the nation in assists last year and how their goal is to keep that going every year I'm there."

Moore might be an elite ballhandler and passer but his powerful and speedy drives to the rim, where he has a great sense of how to score around the rim, make him so dangerous offensively. “They told me that I can come in and have the green-light, just like the rest of the guys, and get my shots up and be aggressive looking for assists. I like how Coach Everhart pushes his players to get better but lets them do what they do best.”

After a busy summer with both the Cincinnati Knights and All-Ohio Purple the Cincinnati Aiken guard saw many suitors come through the school this fall to watch open gym including Cleveland State, James Madison, Eastern Kentucky, Kent State, and other schools like Wichita State and Dayton were expressing interest but no one could match Duquesne's appreciation for Moore's talent.

“They're just like a big family up there. Their players love each other and they love playing for the coaches. I think that I'm really going to fit in well up there.”

In Coach Everhart's five seasons at the helm Duquesne has improved each year in the Atlantic 10 standings and looks to have NCAA Tournament potential in the coming seasons. Having also produced a player on the Atlantic 10 All-Freshman Team each season since Everhart has been there means that Moore is likely to get his shot early to make an impact.

“Their program is just getting better and better. They're making all types of improvements to their facilities. It's a basketball school. I think that we can be competitive with anyone in the country. Coach (Everhart) wants to play as tough of a schedule as he can every season and that's what I'm all about. I can't wait.”