Basketball Is Here…Cincinnati Previews and Predictions Week One
Finally, it is time for boys prep basketball in the state of Ohio! With the state football championship finally wrapped up, it is time to focus on the prep basketball season with the first wave of action getting started this…
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Continue ReadingFinally, it is time for boys prep basketball in the state of Ohio! With the state football championship finally wrapped up, it is time to focus on the prep basketball season with the first wave of action getting started this Thursday. Let’s take a look at some of the top games that will take place on the first weekend of the high school season in Cincinnati:
Woodward at Hughes, Friday 7:30pm: One of the marquee match-ups of the weekend as winner gets an early lead on the loser in the CMAC race as well. Woodward will look to speed up the tempo of the game behind last year’s leading scorer in the CMAC at over 25ppg senior Will Coker, who speed in the open court is unmatched by many if any in the state. He will have help from two Winton Woods transfers in point guard Kane Cooper and big man Terry Durham. Durham has a chance to be talked about as one of the best players in the city with combination of size and athleticism. For Hughes it starts with the return of Senior Corry Long, a preseason candidate for not only conference player of the year but city player of the year as well. After missing most of last season with injury, the Stony Brook commit will look to show he is one of the best all-around players in the city. Junior G/F AJ Smith will also be a key factor for Hughes as well. Smith has the ability to score in a variety of ways with tremendous range on his jump shot while also showing in the grassroots season the ability to guard multiple positions. Look for Hughes to slow down the pace of the game and turn this into a half court battle, which is the game plan that helped Hughes split the season series 1 to 1.
Prediction: Hughes
Summit Country Day at Princeton, Friday 7:30pm: This is a good early season match-up between two schools with lofty post-season aspirations. Summit has arguably one of the most talented starting five’s in the area lead by Miami Valley Conference player of the year Sam Martin who averaged over 14ppg to go along with 3 rebounds and 4 assist per game. Martin uses his high basketball IQ and craftiness to get into the lane to create for himself and other teammates like TJ Walker who averaged 13 points and over 7 boards per game. Along with versatile junior guard Xavier Johnson, who holds an offer from Wright State, Summit is a well-rounded team that shares the ball well and always seems to make the correct extra pass. As for Princeton and first year coach Leon Ellison, formerly the head coach at Aiken, they will be without Ohio State commit junior Darius Bazley who must sit the first 11 games due to OHSAA transfer rules. But with juniors Dominic Pierce and Darweshi Hunter helping the lead the way until Bazley returns, Princeton should still remain a very dangerous team.
Prediction: Summit
Mt. Healthy at Taft, Saturday 7:30pm
Taft comes into the season with very high expectations lead by athletic Division I prospect Malek Green, who will be a contender for conference player of the year and city player of the year in Division II. Green is a ferocious rebounder with an improving jump shot who runs the floor very well and finishes well around the rim with both hands. Green along with c/o ‘19 F “Grown Man” Chris’Seon Stringer combine to form possibly the best rebounding duo in the city. Stringer is also adept at using his size and athleticism to finish around the rim. For Mt. Healthy c/o ’18 G/F DJ Brewton is a wing player that affect a game in a multitude of ways for the Owls. Whether it be scoring, setting up teammates or helping on the boards Brewton is a real stat sheet stuffer.
Prediction: Taft