All Ohio Super 16: Southwest Ohio 2018 Prospects
It’s only right that Ohio programs were in control all weekend in Reynoldsburg at the All Ohio Super 16. Not only did a program from the Buckeye State win all of the high school age levels, we were also often represented on both benches during the Gold Championship matchups.
On a player-by-player basis, some guys really stepped up to the competition and turned some heads with their play. From Monday-Wednesday, we’re recapping those individual performances, segmented by region.
Now, finally, it’s time to focus on Southwest Ohio. Here, we’re beginning with the class of 2018 prospects.
Darweshi Hunter, 6’4” SG, All Ohio Black / Cincinnati Princeton
Hunter continues to validate himself as a scoring specialist throughout the spring. He often capitalizes on side to side ball movement in the half-court by finding lanes for straight-line drives and hitting open threes. Hunter truly scores most of his (many) points in those two ways. The shooting range can stretch a couple feet beyond the arch. The incoming senior also plays with a lot of emotion/energy.
Myles Belyeu, 6’3” W, C2K Elite / Trotwood-Madison
This C2K Elite team ran with six guys this weekend, all of which were perimeter players, besides Mark Mayle. This dynamic meant that Belyeu would be asked to play a forward-like role on the defensive end. To no surprise, Belyeu excelled in this spot.
Also, Belyeu had a couple crucial moments in what was maybe the most exciting game of the weekend against OH-NOVA (Tillman). He doesn’t shy away from the big moments, often shooting the jumper confidently. Watch the clip below for the final minutes of that game, including overtime.
— Anthony Garcia (@nthonycgarcia) May 21, 2017
Brandon Gilbert, 6’6” G/W, Club Ohio (Davenport) / Cincinnati St. Xavier
While Gilbert clearly needs to add some weight to his slender frame, he has some very interesting skills as a 6’6” perimeter player. First of all, he’s capable of handling the ball between the three-point lines. Gilbert’s catch-and-shoot ability demands the respect from the defense. Also, he uses his height to make some Eurpoean-like post moves in the post and mid-range. Essentially, he’s a versatile scorer who could come into a D-II/D-III/NAIA program with considerable upside.
Stevie Stewart, 5’11” PG, Club Ohio (Davenport) / Cincinnati Shroder
In our first opportunity to watch this Club Ohio team, Stewart really impressed us with his point guard qualities. The Shroder prospect understands the difference of when to get others involved and when to control the ball to milk clock. When it’s time to score, Stewart is a tough finisher who can absorb contact on penetration. As a passer, Stewart finds spot-up shooters and cutters when he draws attention on the dribble drive.
We continue to believe that Stewart is one of the more underrated point guard talents in the 2018 class. He should continue to raise his recruitment stock this summer.
Bryce Hunt, 6’7” W, OT Elite 2018 / Cincinnati Reading (transfer from Purcell Marian)
While Hunt told us he was disappointed in his scoring inconsistencies this weekend, we were impressed mostly with his body language and communication. Throughout a contest with OEBA Purple, Hunt was extremely engaged with teammates. While Hunt displayed winning qualities/intangibles, he also continues impressing with his athletic prowess. There’s little doubt he can defend post player, most of which are unable to matchup with his foot-speed on the other end. We’ve also noticed improvements in Hunt’s shooting mechanics.
Ryan Rose, 6’1″ G, OEBA Purple / Bethel Tipp City
Rose remained red hot from beyond the arch on Saturday. The kid is lights out on the catch-and-shoot triple. We’ve noticed that he benefits from playing with post guys who demand attention, simply because it allows Rose to probe the arch and keep his feet set. Regardless though, he’s hitting that shot at an alarmingly high level right now. Rose has truly become a game-changer with that jumper, as he often scores in bunches.
Jake McLouhglin, 6’5” W, All Ohio Red EYBL / Tri-Valley (in Southeast Ohio)
The gritty defender from Southeast Ohio seems like the perfect teammate. On this extremely talented All Ohio Red group, McLoughlin earns an immense amount of minutes by filling his role with excellence. He’s undoubtedly one of the most team-oriented players you will see in AAU basketball. Specifically, the off-ball team defense is very impactful — McLoughlin is always in the right spot, ready to help over on drives or intercept passes, while remaining displined to his individual matchup. McLoughlin also provides a lot of defensive rebounds, snagging the ball high and boxing out well. Offensively, McLoughlin routinely finds the open teammate and spaces the floor.
John Allessandro, 6’5” G/W, Shining Stars / Beavercreek
Previously in the spring and during the OHSAA postseason, Allesandro was sidelined with an apparent injury. So, this was our first time watching him in a while. According to his former AAU coach, Allesandro physically looks like a new man, as he’s bulked up and added some explosion at the rim.
Against All Ohio Red EYBL, Allesandro met the challenge with competitive play and impressive pull-ups. He does a nice job of sizing up defenders off the dribble with hesitation-like moves, where he forces guys to sink and then launches the jumper. It’s a nice half-court move that consistently produced open looks. And, again, he’s a rather athletic player who should make a Division II program very proud in the future.
Caleb South, 6’1” PG, OH-NOVA (Rice) / Bethel Tipp City
The 1,000-point club member continues to prove himself as one of the best scoring point guards in 2018. He always provides buckets, especially on this team when he’s coming off-ball often, alongside Thomas Hickman. This weekend, South’s jumper was falling, which he shoots off-the-dribble very well. While his high release is a bit unorthodox, South does shoot the ball excellently, to go along with his physical driving ability.
DeVon Baker, 6’1” PG, C2K Elite / Dayton Dunbar
The Division I prospect is not a flashy player. Baker specializes in bursting to the basket from the wing, and absolutely exploding to the basket once he gets into the paint. He routinely finishes through contact for and-ones. On these old-fashioned three-point plays, Baker doesn’t even appear phased by guys slapping at his arms when he’s airborne. Extremely strong athlete who consistently plays a team-oriented style.