He’s back: Grant Huffman (2020) finding way back from ankle injury

Lakewood St. Edward guard/wing Grant Huffman returned to action this past weekend. The 6’4” Huffman (2020), ranked No. 6 in the state in his class by Prep Hoops, broke his left ankle during his team’s first game and had been sidelined until returning to the court on Jan. 5 in St. Ed’s win over Akron St.Vincent-St. Mary. “It was terrible. It was probably the worst thing,” he said of missing time. “At least it wasn’t at the end of the season for playoffs when it matters.” Schools like Ohio State, West Virginia, and Penn State are in on Huffman at this point. When sidelined Huffman used the time to work on his shooting. He did that by shooting free throws from a chair, he said, and also worked on his upper body strength. It showed during the Eagles win over Shaker Heights on Jan. 7 at the Play By Play Classic when he went 8-for-8 from and scored 11 points. Huffman describes himself as “a slasher who If I have an open shot I can knock it down.” He didn’t light it up offensively in his return but made plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet but do influence the outcome of a game. He was able to deflect balls to create steals, find the open man and make an extra pass. Blanton Impressive St. Ed’s Demetrius Terry was the talk of the Cleveland prep scene after averaging 25.5 points per game in wins over Benedictine and Shaker Heights on Jan. 6 and Jan. 7. But another St. Ed player was also impressing as Eagles’ wing Devontae Blanton (2020) displayed an oh so subtle but oh so effective game in those same two contests. Blanton, 6’5” who is ranked as the No. 4 player in the state in his class by Prep Hoops, averaged 8.5 points per game in the wins.  Several of his scores came on crafty moves in the paint which he finished off with a finger roll. His unselfishness and high basketball IQ are two things that make him a desirable recruit, according to Flannery. “We have so many other scorers he doesn’t try to force it and that says a lot about him,” said Flannery. He also has the size and build to play mid to high Division I college basketball, noted Flannery. Two to keep an eye on Ranelle Arnold and Garvin Clarke are two of the more impressive guards in the Cleveland area and both are still very young. Arnold (2021), a 5’9’ guard at Warrensville Heights, has erupted on the scene. He scored 26 in a win over Lutheran East on Jan. 5 and has posted games of 19, 17, and 18 as well. Clarke, 6’0” is ranked as the No 2 player in the state by PrepHoops in the class of 2020 and is averaging 19.6 points per game. Clarke already holds offers from Buffalo, Cleveland State, Youngstown State, and Ohio State and Michigan are interested. He describes himself as a “crafty scorer” who brings effort and hard work. He’s working on improving his jump shot, including from distance, his defense. “It’s better than last year,” said Arnold, who we talked to after spotting him in the crowd at the Play By Play Classic at Baldwin Wallace University on Jan. 7.