Best of the Best: Passers
We resume our Best of the Best series with a look at the top passers in the Cincinnati area. One take away from this list is that the young men on this list are the type of players that teammates would love to play with. If you are open these players will make sure that get you the ball. And if you’re open and not paying attention, then you just might get hit in the face with the ball. And let me tell you from experience, it hurts. Bad. So here is our list of the best passers in the Cincinnati area.
Darius Bazley/ Princeton High School (2018)
While all the highlight tapes show the athletic and scoring ability, Bazley’s passing and basketball IQ can sometimes get overlooked. Standing 6’10 Darius has the ability to see over the defense which makes him a dangerous passer as well and hard to double-team. Last year the Viking senior lead the Greater Miami Conference in assist per game with 3.5.
Dashawn Lawrence/ Taft High School (2018)
The Senators have been known for having big men who are excellent at rim-running. And when you have bigs who excel at this phase of the game you must have a guard who rewards the post players for running the floor. This is what makes Lawrence the perfect floor general for Coach Bradley. This is a young man who constantly keeps his head and does a good job of using the pass to advance the ball, something that gets forgotten in today’s game. If you are a teammate of Lawrence and you are open he will find you. Lead the Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference in assist per game (7.9) and assist-to-turnover ratio (4.8/1) per the conference website.
Isaiah Payton/ Archbishop Moeller (2018)
Maybe the most under-appreciated but most important Crusader on a team loaded with talent. Payton does a good job of getting players the ball where they are most successful, which is an important skill of a good point guard. As is the case with all the young men on this list plays with great awareness and a high IQ. The Indiana Wesleyan commit lead the Greater Catholic League in assist per game at 3.4.
Ryan Reidy/ Archbishop McNicholas (2018)
A name that you may not know but will need to take note of. Reidy is a very good handler of the basketball and is a very good passer in pick and roll situations. Also, good at using his handle and quick first step to get in the lane and create easy opportunities for his teammates as well. Tied for the lead last year in the Greater Catholic League Co-Ed in assist per game with 4.4.
Giovanni Santiago/ Hughes High School (2018)
Teammates of this talented point guard love playing with him due to the fact if they are open they will receive the ball. And if they think they are not open, Santiago can still find a way to get them the ball. Giovanni plays with a bit of flair and style that makes him one of the more exciting players to watch in the state. Currently holds offers from D-I Maryland Eastern Shore along with a D-II offer from Kentucky State.