Proven commodities show off skills at GCBCA Senior Showcase (Part 1)
Some of the top players in Northeast Ohio’s Class of 2018 displayed their skills for a crowd of college coaches at the 2017 GCBCA Senior Showcase at Brecksville High on Oct. 5.
Leading that list was Strongsville’s, Omari Peek. Peek, a 6-6 combo guard was one of the most impressive players from a physical standpoint. Peek’s father played in the National Football League for the Browns and Texans, so there is a lot of athleticism in his game.
“He has a big-time build but the thing with him is you’ll have to see how his outside game is going to develop because to play at a high-level Division One he’s going to have to play the 2,” said one college coach. In a 2-on-2 drill, Peek showed off an ability to create his own shot and to defend in a two-man game.
Peek transferred to Strongsville from the Cincinnati area a year ago. At one point he was an AAU teammate of Syracuse-commit, Darius Bazley. When asked if he’d played Bazley one-on-one he said he had and had indeed beaten the highly touted Bazley. He’s currently receiving interest from Eastern Washington, Central State, Findlay and Wheeling Jesuit.
A year ago Peek averaged 18.7 points per game and 8 rebounds for Strongsville.
His new coach Joe Guilfoyel said of Peek: “He’s an unbelievable athlete at 6’6”. He’s got great quickness with his feet. Fundamentally he might need some work but he’s very coachable, a good kid, good hops.” This will be Guilfoyle’s first year coaching at who Strongville. He previously was the longtime coach at North Royalton.
Peek is expected to play the point guard spot this year, but projects out as a 2 in college. “He can shoot the 3 and defend on the perimeter,” according to Guilfoyle.
“I have a versatile game,” Peek said. “I can play inside and shoot and I can handle the ball.”
Another recruitable on display was Gilmour’s 6’6” big Declan Kirincic. A stretch 4 with a high motor he showed an ability to knock down jumpers from distance during a shoot off the pass drill, and in games did not back down from competing in the paint. At 215 pounds, Kirincic clearly has the build to play college basketball.
He’s currently getting looks from Marian University and St. Francis, both in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and both NAIA, as well as Purdue Northwest, a D-II school.
Kirincic said the showcase was a positive experience.
“It was fun to get up and down the court. There were a lot of good kids here and it’s good to play with a good group of kids,” Kirincic said.