Prospect Spotlight: Cleveland Horton (2018)
The city of Baltimore is known for breeding tough, hard-nosed basketball players from a young age. Baltimore Polytechnic Institute’s Cleveland Horton is one that fits that mold.
In order to be claimed as one of the top teams in the state of Maryland, you have to have a team full of tough guys on the roster. The Engineers had plenty to go around last season as they won their first state championship in program history. Head coach Sam Brand and the rest of the coaching staff have done a tremendous job in establishing a winning culture that started well before their championship run. It finally flourished last season and guys like Horton will look to defend their title next season.
The Engineers were led by the 2017 PrepHoops Baltimore Player of the Year Dre Perry, but players like Horton, Demetrius Mims, and Rahim Ali all played crucial roles to their championship run. Horton was more of the tenacious perimeter defender. Offensively, finishing around the rim was his biggest strength whether it was it be in transition or taking his man off the dribble in the halfcourt.
This summer, Horton is a key ingredient for Cecil Kirks’ 17U team. They are 14-6 so far this summer. November is still a ways down the road, but it can sneak up on everyone and Horton wants to be sure to polish up on his weaknesses. Horton told PrepHoops that improving his three-point and mid-range shot is his top priority. While he is capable from both areas, creating consistency is something that can help him become a huge threat to opponents each game.
Horton is especially effective in pick-and-roll sets. He doesn’t often look to settle for jumpers, rather he attacks the big man who is hedging and looks to turn the corner and get into the paint. The floater is often said to be one of the hardest shots in basketball, but Horton displays soft touch with the ability to measure the contesting big before he even jumps to contest his shot.
Radford and UCF are two school that have been showing interest in Horton recently, along with others. He currently hold 0 offers at the moment, though.
The most important priority in his college search is picking a school where the team acts as if they’re family and the certainty that the coaching staff will stay for his duration of time as a player at the respective school. When asked what the 3.5 student would bring to a college program, “Winning. A winning mentality,” Horton said.