NOE Showcase: Stock-risers
Going into our Northern Ohio Elite (NOE) Showcase yesterday at Lima Senior, we had an idea of how some kids would perform. However, as always, we came in with an open mind. All of the NOE Showcase recaps will evaluate yesterday’s performances, not these prospects’ entire body of work. The body of work will be used as context; and here, in the Stock-risers section, we’re recognizing the kids who exceeded expectations.
Colby Cross (2020), 5’9” PG, Cedarville
On a team with a guard who projects to be a Division I player and other upperclassmen ball-handlers, an unfamiliar face was running the show all day. At the beginning of every offensive possession, teammates found Colby Cross, so he could set the table. Cross earned (and maintained) that trust by pushing the secondary break with the pass. While Cross has a shifty crossover, he didn’t kill the offense by putting on a dribbling exhibition. The Cedarville prospect also has three-point range.
We had no idea who Cross was coming into yesterday, and we come away assured that he can flat-out play.
Mark Mayle (2018), 6’7” F, Malvern
We’ve seen Mayle multiple times this past spring with C2K Elite; but we never saw him shoot the triple as consistently as we witnessed yesterday. We’d had previous concerns about him struggling on the block against opposing Division I players, but yesterday proved that Mayle is a true stetch-4. He seemed to come into the NOE Showcase with a clear goal of working on his jumper. He has a high-release, allowing him to shoot without much separation. Mayle seems to be developing into a serious threat to either pop or roll when he sets a screen.
Katano Moss (four years college eligibility remaining), 6’5” W, transfer from Tabernacle Baptist Christian Academy (Bahamas)
Moss registered as a walk-up entry to the NOE Showcase. His athleticism ended up stealing the show to some degree. It was the first for all us to see Moss, and he’s quite obviously a guy that Division II/Division III/NAIA programs should do quick research on. Moss didn’t show a ton with the jumper, yet still found a way to have a major impact with his slashing and leaping ability. The transfer from the Bahamas, who currently trains in Lima, is a solid rebounder also. He could be used as a small-ball 4 in certain systems.
Drew Bench (2019), 6’5” F, Genoa
Bench excelled yesterday as a post presence. Team A, which included serious perimeter talent, was able to gamble on steals around the outside, filtering everything into their rim-protector. Bench never was bullied by opposing bigs on the low-block, as he routinely out-muscled opponents for position.
The strength, competitiveness, and athleticism, also allows Bench to be a great rebounder. Once he finishes a defensive possession, he makes quick outlets and then sprints the floor — a sequence which led to a couple alley-oops from Giovanni Santiago later in the day. Bench also has a soft touch from the short-corner.
Mike Bothwell (2018), 6’3” G, Cornerstone Christian
Bothwell could’ve came into the NOE Showcase and not played very hard, and he still would’ve looked solid — he’s just that talented of a player. Yet, the former State Champion did quite the opposite. In turn, Bothwell was blowing by defenders to the rim, where he makes impressive in-air adjustments for finishes. Furthermore, on drives, he has a knack for sliding through tiny cracks in a fluid way. He’s just so fast also, which helps his on-ball defense, as he tends to guard the opposition’s best perimeter threat.
We’d also never seen Bothwell shoot his jumper so consistently. Whether it was off the dribble or after a quick skip pass, Bothwell was hitting jumper from beyond the arch with consistency.
BJ Patrick (2018), 6’2” G, Mansfield Senior
When Patrick had the ball yesterday, he was determined to score mostly. It worked out for him, as there were few occasions when he didn’t produce a good look at the basket. On those layup attempts, he was able to avoid defenders by finishing on double-clutches from odd angles. Patrick competed all day, including on the defensive end, where he produced a few sneaky skills in the backcourt. The underrated prospect continually impresses us with his defensive instincts, as he always gets a couple turnovers by coming over on the blindside of a ball-handler.
Keedrick Cunningham (2018), 6’1” G, Proctorville Fairland
It was our first time watching Cunningham since Fairland’s State Semifinal appearance. Well, his impressive showing at the Schott was no fluke. The kid can play! Cunningham’s combination of speed and elusiveness with the ball allows him to get a step on his defender almost every time. Cunningham picks his spots, but when he drives to the rack with determination, he’s finishing with the right-hand off the glass. Cunningham has a good frame, which could be credit to his football work routines also. Cunningham was also one of the select kids who always challenged transition layups, as he was often found flying towards the end-line after a block attempt.
Jaiden Woodley (2018), 6’6” F, Maumee Valley Country Day
This was quite easily the best we’d ever seen Woodley play, and it came against some very capable matchups. For example, against Mark Mayle (who holds four Division I offers), Woodley won a couple tough rebound battles. Woodley was also dunking everything once he slid past his defender or beat someone back in transition. His athleticism is unquestionable, it’s just a matter of capitalizing on those abilities. Woodley also showed an ability to touch jumpers off the glass from the angle.
Dalen Solomon (2018), 6’5” W, John Hay
Solomon can fly. It was hard to take your eyes off the kid, because he was absolutely electric on the drive and fastbreak. A college will definitely have an easy time falling in love with his athleticism. Questions about Solomon definitely are about his ability to impact the offense otherwise, as his jumper wasn’t falling often. Yet, he also uses that vertical and speed to contribute as a defender and rebounder.
Colby Cross (2020), 5’9” PG, Cedarville
On a team with a guard who projects to be a Division I player and other upperclassmen ball-handlers, an unfamiliar face was running the show all day. At the beginning of every offensive possession, teammates found Colby Cross, so he could set the table. Cross earned (and maintained) that trust by pushing the secondary break with the pass. While Cross has a shifty crossover, he didn’t kill the offense by putting on a dribbling exhibition. The Cedarville prospect also has three-point range.
We had no idea who Cross was coming into yesterday, and we come away assured that he can flat-out play.
Mark Mayle (2018), 6’7” F, Malvern
We’ve seen Mayle multiple times this past spring with C2K Elite; but we never saw him shoot the triple as consistently as we witnessed yesterday. We’d had previous concerns about him struggling on the block against opposing Division I players, but yesterday proved that Mayle is a true stetch-4. He seemed to come into the NOE Showcase with a clear goal of working on his jumper. He has a high-release, allowing him to shoot without much separation. Mayle seems to be developing into a serious threat to either pop or roll when he sets a screen.
Katano Moss (four years college eligibility remaining), 6’5” W, transfer from Tabernacle Baptist Christian Academy (Bahamas)
Moss registered as a walk-up entry to the NOE Showcase. His athleticism ended up stealing the show to some degree. It was the first for all us to see Moss, and he’s quite obviously a guy that Division II/Division III/NAIA programs should do quick research on. Moss didn’t show a ton with the jumper, yet still found a way to have a major impact with his slashing and leaping ability. The transfer from the Bahamas, who currently trains in Lima, is a solid rebounder also. He could be used as a small-ball 4 in certain systems.
Drew Bench (2019), 6’5” F, Genoa
Bench excelled yesterday as a post presence. Team A, which included serious perimeter talent, was able to gamble on steals around the outside, filtering everything into their rim-protector. Bench never was bullied by opposing bigs on the low-block, as he routinely out-muscled opponents for position.
The strength, competitiveness, and athleticism, also allows Bench to be a great rebounder. Once he finishes a defensive possession, he makes quick outlets and then sprints the floor — a sequence which led to a couple alley-oops from Giovanni Santiago later in the day. Bench also has a soft touch from the short-corner.
Mike Bothwell (2018), 6’3” G, Cornerstone Christian
Bothwell could’ve came into the NOE Showcase and not played very hard, and he still would’ve looked solid — he’s just that talented of a player. Yet, the former State Champion did quite the opposite. In turn, Bothwell was blowing by defenders to the rim, where he makes impressive in-air adjustments for finishes. Furthermore, on drives, he has a knack for sliding through tiny cracks in a fluid way. He’s just so fast also, which helps his on-ball defense, as he tends to guard the opposition’s best perimeter threat.
We’d also never seen Bothwell shoot his jumper so consistently. Whether it was off the dribble or after a quick skip pass, Bothwell was hitting jumper from beyond the arch with consistency.
BJ Patrick (2018), 6’2” G, Mansfield Senior
When Patrick had the ball yesterday, he was determined to score mostly. It worked out for him, as there were few occasions when he didn’t produce a good look at the basket. On those layup attempts, he was able to avoid defenders by finishing on double-clutches from odd angles. Patrick competed all day, including on the defensive end, where he produced a few sneaky skills in the backcourt. The underrated prospect continually impresses us with his defensive instincts, as he always gets a couple turnovers by coming over on the blindside of a ball-handler.
Keedrick Cunningham (2018), 6’1” G, Proctorville Fairland
It was our first time watching Cunningham since Fairland’s State Semifinal appearance. Well, his impressive showing at the Schott was no fluke. The kid can play! Cunningham’s combination of speed and elusiveness with the ball allows him to get a step on his defender almost every time. Cunningham picks his spots, but when he drives to the rack with determination, he’s finishing with the right-hand off the glass. Cunningham has a good frame, which could be credit to his football work routines also. Cunningham was also one of the select kids who always challenged transition layups, as he was often found flying towards the end-line after a block attempt.
Jaiden Woodley (2018), 6’6” F, Maumee Valley Country Day
This was quite easily the best we’d ever seen Woodley play, and it came against some very capable matchups. For example, against Mark Mayle (who holds four Division I offers), Woodley won a couple tough rebound battles. Woodley was also dunking everything once he slid past his defender or beat someone back in transition. His athleticism is unquestionable, it’s just a matter of capitalizing on those abilities. Woodley also showed an ability to touch jumpers off the glass from the angle.
Dalen Solomon (2018), 6’5” W, John Hay
Solomon can fly. It was hard to take your eyes off the kid, because he was absolutely electric on the drive and fastbreak. A college will definitely have an easy time falling in love with his athleticism. Questions about Solomon definitely are about his ability to impact the offense otherwise, as his jumper wasn’t falling often. Yet, he also uses that vertical and speed to contribute as a defender and rebounder.
