Live Period Primer: Circuit Teams

Ohio's circuit teams are ready for the Live Period. Much of Ohio's Division I talent resides within a select group of programs, those with the access to the top tournaments. Therefore, these five programs should be ready to go come tip-off on Friday night.   The EYBL affiliate in Ohio will take their 17s to Dallas for Session 1, while the 16U and 15U teams are heading to the Pittsburgh JamFest. Here’s a quick look at their 2019 group. All Ohio Red EYBL 17U: In our viewing of them in the Nike Cup a couple weekends back, we came away thinking Gahanna 6’3” guard Josh Corbin could have a big summer. Corbin is Red’s primary floor-stretcher with his ability to shoot with range. The springy athlete also can put it on the deck to create shots efficiently. Tre Williams, who will go to a prep school after finishing up his senior year at Reynoldsburg, looked like a man amongst boys in Columbus a couple weeks ago. After playing in Peach Jam last year, Williams should provide stability for their front-line. Javohn Garcia, DJ Dial, and Demarco Bradley Jr. make for a trio of interesting point guard prospects who all bring something different to the table. Others on the roster: Chris’seon Stringer, Alonzo Gaffney, Abba Lawal, Keshawn Heard, Brison Waller, Tanner Holden   Ohio Basketball Club is Ohio’s lone participant in the adidas Gauntlet Gold. They’ll start their season in Indianapolis this weekend and have a lot of new faces in the program. Ohio Basketball Club 17U: OBC’s 17s will get a huge boost from Christian Guess, a prototypical athlete on the wing with dynamic slashing ability. After a notable senior campaign with Shaker Heights, Guess is looking for a prep school to attend next year. Along with Guess, two Lorain prospects — Taevon Pierre-Louis and Devon Grant — are coming off of a Final Four run with the Titans. Expect Grant to be joined in the starting backcourt with Cincinnati product Greg Tribble, an explosive lead guard on the rise. Others on the roster: Jamier Fletcher, CJ Charleston, Greg Dolan, Evan Bainbridge, Coleton Landis, Milan Square, Erik Painter. Ohio Basketball Club 16U: OBC is bringing back a much more familiar team at the 2020 level, as they’ve kept most of their in-state talent intact. The Lakewood St. Edward tandem in the backcourt will likely be asked to produce more than last year. Notably, Montorie Foster took his game to another level as a sophomore while Grant Huffman is healthy heading into spring. Others on the roster: Andy Barba, Carson Ryan, Dominick Moegerle, Jashun Cobb, Luke Frazier, Evan Prater   Following an all-around strong weekend at the Storm Classic in Grand Rapids, C2K jumps on the UAA with some real momentum. Despite a Sunday morning exit, their 17s played well all weekend and are led by Andre Gordon, who received an offer from Dayton this week upon deciding to go to Huntington Prep next season. Meanwhile, C2K’s 2020 group beat The Family EYBL twice last weekend on their way to the Platinum Championship C2K Elite 17U: As mentioned, Andre Gordon is one to watch. The supremely skilled lead guard is instrumental to their offensive production. He’ll be flanked by Samari Curtis on the perimeter, an early commit to Xavier that can score at will also. C2K will need a few guys to step up and replace the production of Amari Davis and Justin Stephens this weekend, who won’t make the trip. Others on the roster: Sam Towns, William Mfum, RaHeim Moss, Brandon Haraway, Na’Elle Simmons, Jatsiel Colon C2K Elite 16U: C2K’s 16s are also led by a backcourt tandem of D-I prospects. With Hilliard Bradley’s Matt Allocco leading the team as the primary ball-handler, Zeb Jackson is asked to carry the scoring load. Also, watch out for Centerville 6’9” center Mo Njie, who looked like a bonafide Division I prospect last weekend because of his defensive impact. His raw talent is complimented by Luka Eller in the frontcourt, a 6’8” stretch forward that shoots it very well. Others on the roster: Joey Holifield, Jackson Sizemore, Jaret Griffith, Brad Colbert, VonCameron Davis, Jamir Simpson.   A pair of Ohio programs will play on the adidas Gauntlet Silver this year. Nova is sending their top 17U and 16U teams. Meanwhile, the Mid Ohio Pumas are sending their Elite teams at all three grade levels. Nova (James) 17U: This Nova group boasts a ton of upside that colleges will find themselves interested in. We got our peek at them multiple times last weekend in Grand Rapids. The long defensive wing Lunden McDay continued his ascension as a prospect. Meanwhile, 6’8” forward/center Ben Wight is one of the top 2019 post prospects in Ohio because of his fluidity, athleticism, and shooting touch. But this team runs through Westerville North's Jeremiah Keene, a poised point guard with next-level shooting ability. Others on the roster: Chris Painter, Dorrian Moultrie, Derek Van Vlerah, Terin Kinsway, Philip Alston, CJ Karsatos Nova (Alleyne) 16U: More than anyone, 6’8” center Hayden Stone burst onto the scene last weekend with his first weekend in the new outfit. The defensive-minded big thrived in every situation on that end of the floor and showed power around the basket as a scorer. Meanwhile, starters Qian Magwood and Luke Lachey went down with injuries in Nova’s first game last weekend, but Magwood is ready to go this weekend. Others on the roster: Kobe Righter, Brian Collier, AJ Mock, Chris Scott, Ethyn Kuhns, Hunter Shedenhelm, Cole Metzler Mid Ohio Pumas Elite 2019: The Pumas junior group beat Hoop Heros for the Silver Championship last weekend at the Mid Ohio Classic. This group will be one to watch for in-state programs. They’re led by Sean Marks, a high-IQ point guard from Olentangy that scores the ball with his jump shot. Lengthy shooters Brice Hill and Payton Jutte surround Marks on the perimeter. Others on the roster: Bryson Lane, Luke Ballenger, Pat Preece, Johnny Bultema  Mid Ohio Pumas Elite 2020: It’s a new look for the group that finished no. 1 in our final Grassroots Team Rankings a year ago. While they’ve lost Ohio’s top 2020 prospect, the Pumas are still big and talented. Grant Whisman appeared to be their primary scoring option and headline prospect last weekend at the Mid Ohio Classic. Meanwhile, Moeller’ Jake Younkin has an argument as the top pure shooter in Ohio’s 2020 class. Others on the roster: Jack Pugh (2021), Cameron McCreary, Chris Mayfield, Harley Day, Alex Mangold Mid Ohio Pumas Elite 2021: Talk about a good start to the season — this 2021 Pumas group has gone undefeated through two weekends. With two championships under their belt, including a win over Louisville Magic at the Bearcat Classic, they should go into Indy confident this weekend. Moeller 6’8”-6’9” center Logan Duncomb and Pick North 6’4”-6’5” forward Jack Sawyer combine for an intimidating front line. Meanwhile, AJ Mirgon looks ready run this team as the point guard. Others on the roster: Casey George, Nick Zuro, Garner Wallace, Brock Waits, Jackson Izzard, Isaiah Moore   There are various other Ohio prospects spread out across the shoe circuits, playing for non-Ohio programs. The Louisville Magic 16U group are the only team with multiple players from Ohio, as 2020 big men Jackson Ames and Zach Loveday make-up the frontcourt. Otherwise, 2019 prospects in this situation are Javin Etzler with the Indy Spiece Heat, Ben Fort on EG10, Alec Pfriem with Team Manimal, and Andre Harris on ITPS. Other than the two Magic players, Mark Wise with EG10 is the only 2020 prospect on a non-Ohio shoe sponsored team this weekend.