Ohio 2020 Rankings Update: Northeast Ohio Guards
Throughout this week, we’re covering the entire 2020 class segmented by areas in the state. We began with Southeast and Northwest Ohio yesterday. Today, we’ve moved into Northeast Ohio. Central tomorrow, followed by Dayton and Cincinnati this weekend. Considering the high…
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Continue ReadingThroughout this week, we’re covering the entire 2020 class segmented by areas in the state.
We began with Southeast and Northwest Ohio yesterday. Today, we’ve moved into Northeast Ohio. Central tomorrow, followed by Dayton and Cincinnati this weekend.
Considering the high school season’s imminence, it makes sense to compare players to guys they’ll compete with in the coming months. All the while, keep in mind that we want to focus mostly on the non-Division I prospects, instead bringing awareness to lesser-known recruits.
(#4) Garvin Clarke, 6’0” PG, Euclid
Clarke is the top ranked point guard in the state after another full grassroots season of evaluation. His inherit point guard qualities — lead by awareness of time and score/game management, ball skills, and leadership — have been complimented by an increasingly consistent outside jumper. Too often against non-circuit competition, he was able to hit those jumpers without contest or finish over less athletic competition. So, our one critique is that we’re not positive he can score at ease against mid-major/high-major competition. He’s endlessly skilled, though, with elite defensive quickness.
(#15) Montorie Foster, 6’1” PG, St. Edward
Foster is the only player in the top 15 without a scholarship offer. His lack of size, maybe, could be the concern for colleges. Maybe people aren’t convinced of his shooting ability. Who knows? We love his feel for the game and athleticism — components that allow him to thrive at the one or two. Foster also takes pride on winning his matchup on the defensive side. He has super quick feet, hips, and hands on defense. Very consistent.
(#61) Simon Blair, 5’9” PG, South Central
Blair proved himself among the state’s best this AAU season and was once again a top performer from this season’s Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo. His ability to penetrate and poise once he’s in the lane stands out. When he looks to score, which is becoming more common, Blair has the important mid-range jump shot option. He finishes cleverly and with ambidexterity. Proving himself as a capable defender of taller players could land him a D-II or NAIA offer, otherwise every D-III program in Ohio would like Blair.
(#62) Gbolahan Adio, 6’3” G/W, Richmond Heights
Adio’s development as a fluid ball-handler who can create space off the dribble and finish in traffic gives a lot of hope for his next progression as a player. He has the tools there to become a three-level scorer, but his assertiveness and shooting touch isn’t consistent yet. Regardless, we’re keeping a close eye on Adio as a potential booming stock-riser over the next year. If he doesn’t meet his potential in the near future, maybe it’ll come down the line when he’s in college, too.
(#67) Jordan Jackson, 6’4” G, Lorain
This will be the last high school season where Jackson will enjoy the luxury of playing with the 2019 combo of Devon Grant and Taevon Pierre-Louis at Lorain. He’s been able to be a wing who plays three positions and makes hustle plays throughout games. Yet, we still think of Jackson as a wing guard at the next level. He has shown hints of ball-handling and playmaking ability as an underclassman. Now is the time, though, to begin producing from the wing consistently.
(#125) Kyle Szumski, 6’2” G, Medina
Szumski provides size and shooting on the wing. We haven’t picked up on a lot of nuance in his game. But a consistent shooter who can matchup physically with opposing wings guards qualifies Szumski as a D-III prospect to track. Plays offense efficiently.
(#127) Lawson Nash, 5’10” PG, St. Edward
Nash surprised us in July with SMAC Primetime as their back-up point guard. The two-sport prospect (football) consistently made good decisions in transition and the halfcourt. Nash is a willing and skilled passer. Shoots the ball pretty well from the outside but mostly uses a stout football frame to attack the basket. He’s also a sound team defender.