2021 Rankings Update: Top 20 NE Ohio Prospects
All 20 of the players in this article are ranked in the top 50 of Ohio’s 2021 class. In other words, 40 percent of the top 50 come from NEO. The next closest? Southern Ohio — a combination of Dayton,…
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Continue ReadingAll 20 of the players in this article are ranked in the top 50 of Ohio’s 2021 class. In other words, 40 percent of the top 50 come from NEO.
The next closest? Southern Ohio — a combination of Dayton, Cincinnati, and all of Southeast Ohio — at 26 percent.
Meechie Johnson | 6-1 G | Garfield Heights
Johnson’s shot-making ability off the bounce is second to none in Ohio’s 2021 class. He creates separation for outside jumpers while possessing blow-by speed and a killer hesitation move. Johnson, also, has a good feel and opens up passing lanes by drawing second defenders. Quick shooting release. Very quick laterally.
Malaki Branham | 6-5 SF | St. Vincent-St. Mary
Branham is a remarkably fluid 6-foot-5 wing who slivers in and out of tight spaces with the ball. Very good two-dribble pull-up from within 10-feet — he uniquely scores the ball very well from that in-between area. Branham defends the basket extremely well for his size, using bounce and a long reach to contest shots at the rim. He’s only scratching the surface on his potential.
Seth Wilson | 6-1 PG | St. Vincent-St. Mary
Wilson is a high-usage point guard with an impressive feel for the game and ability to score it from deep. Shoots with range. Wilson’s signature move is a side-step-gather dribble to the right before launching a 3-pointer. Athletic build with a filled-out frame, long arms, and large hands. Rebounds very well as a point guard. Effective in the pick-and-roll.
EJ Farmer | 6-4 SG | Lutheran East
Farmer creates space for his high-release left-handed jumper with such ease. The 2-guard showed improvement as a slasher during sophomore year, mostly finishing with floaters instead of getting all the way to the rim. Good feel. Volume scorer and a rangy defender.
Jalin Billingsley | 6-6 PF | Lutheran East
Billingsley’s combination of light feet, a big body, and ball skills are terribly enticing. He makes it look easy on the floor against high school competition, scoring effortlessly in the paint. Changes speeds off the bounce very well for a 6-foot-6 forward — making him even more of a mismatch. Has the tools to both protect the rim and finish in space.
Josh Irwin | 6-5 PF | West Geauga
Irwin is a talented mid-post weapon and master of the intangibles. A strong-frame allows him to rebound and get all the way to the cup on face-ups. Both very skilled and powerful when he catches from the elbow or shot corner. Sees the floor well and makes creative bounce passes. Aggressive shooter from beyond the arch, especially on the pick-and-pop. Avid communicator on the back-end of the defense who plays with emotion.
Jaden Hameed | 5-11 PG | VASJ
A high-IQ floor general, Hameed can both affect a game by being the leading scorer or not taking a shot for long stretches. Manages the flow of a game well. Shot-maker from beyond the arch while also possessing the frame and talent to finish inside through traffic. Moves his feet well against opposing point guards and pokes the ball out with quick hands. Poised.
Amarion Dickerson | 6-6 SF | Rhodes
Dickerson is still raw, lanky, and more potential than offensive production. He, however, took major steps forward in terms of ball skills and aggressiveness as a sophomore. Dickerson is an electric finisher who uses bounce and size to finish over the top of shot-blockers. His versatility on the defensive end is his biggest contribution currently, whether it’s blocking shots or cutting off drives to the basket.
Brenton Walker | 6-6 C | Canton McKinley
Walker looks more like a sophomore in college than a second-year high school player. Combines a muscular, solid frame with leaping ability to slam home two-handed dunks off drop-down passes and put-backs. Walker is also very mobile when it comes to running the floor or covering space in the half-court. Elite rebounder.
Kobe Johnson | 6-2 G | Canton McKinley
Johnson is a talented playmaker who can play either guard spot and has a real knack for getting to the basket. Good passer and court sense. Capable outside shooter. Elusive ball-handler who changes speeds well and slips past defenders. Finishes strong. Good athlete.
Enavell Lighty | 6-7 PF | Shaker Heights
The biggest mystery in Ohio’s 2021 class after transferring to Shaker Heights from VASJ, then not playing in any of the times we caught the Raiders this season. Lighty comes from a family with a basketball pedigree and has shown real flashes of skill and size when he plays. Lighty has ball skills and is a very impressive athlete at 6-foot-7. Don’t be surprised if he flies up recruiting boards once he stays on the floor regularly.
Ramelle Arnold | 5-11 PG | Warrensville Heights
Both with a side-to-side crossovers and changes of speeds coming down on a straight-line, Arnold can flat-out get to the basket off the dribble. He draws second defenders consistently and has shown the ability to make the right pass when help-side comes down. Low dribble and the ability to keep it alive against pressure. Quick.
Jonah Waag | 6-2 G | VASJ
Waag thrives when the game speeds up and does everything he can to ensure pace when he touches the ball, namely grabbing rebounds and sprinting down the floor with his dribble. Really effective pull-up shooter and at-the-rim finisher with a strong body. Heats up quickly as a scorer. Impact defender on the perimeter who sticks to his assignment and plays physical with guards.
Corey Tripp | 6-1 G | Medina
Tripp is a talented, efficient scorer from all three levels of the floor. Finishes creatively in traffic and avoids shot-blockers. Strong body. Shoots it well from distance. Fundamentally sound and skilled enough to take what the defense gives him. Tough defender.
Henry Raynor | 6-6 PF | St. Ignatius
Big name after big name take up a lot of space in this 2021 crop of Northeast Ohio talent. Raynor, though, might be a little under-the-radar given all of the things he can do at the 4. Very skilled face-up forward who can stretch out posts with his jumper and beat them off the dribble. Good athlete. Makes good decisions. Tough kid who isn’t afraid to rebound and finish tough baskets inside.
Jayden Ballard | 6-2 SF | Massillon
Ballard seems to be leaning towards the Power Five football recruit path. Yet, his athleticism is still an asset on the wing and transition. Causes deflections and steals. Electric finisher. In general, his speed brings a disruptive element to the game.
Luke Chicone | 5-9 PG | Mentor
Chicone is a wildly smart basketball player who finds ways to use his lack of height to his advantage and scores the ball efficiently. Avoids mistakes and turnovers better than almost any other guard in Ohio, regardless of class. Sees and delivers elite passes. Makes quick reads. Throws the defense off-balance by getting to his spots off the dribble and posing a threat as a scorer or passer.
Tae Perie | 6-0 PG | Buchtel
Perie’s outside shooting puts a lot of pressure on the defense as a primary ball-handler. Will continue to demand respect from his man from 20-plus-feet as scouting reports account for his range. Perie also shows skill as a ball-handler and slasher. Very willing passer on the drive.
Collin Albert | 5-10 G | Lutheran East
Albert’s quickness opens up his ability to score it in the lane. Finishes creatively to avoid shot-blockers at the rim. Capable outside shooter who is better when he gets down-hill. Good handle. Has the quickness to really change games as a perimeter defender.
BJ Busbee | 6-2 SF | Benedictine
Busbee scored the ball efficiently for Bendictine as a sophomore. Dangerous outside shooter off the catch who showed flashes of blowing by defenders for finishes at the rim. Good balance on his pull-up. Smart kid who doesn’t force the issue.