Cleveland Play-By-Play: X-Factors and New Names

Stars get their ink and deservedly so — they're important. But teams need standout performances from their second, third, fourth options and beyond to win a close game. Greg Pitts of Cleveland Heights, for example, unexpectedly led Cleveland Heights in scoring last night's main event. Does Heights get that dub without Pitts' four 3-pointers? Probably not. Let's check out which other underrated guys swung games yesterday: <h4 style="text-align: center">X-Factors</h4> <h6>Austin Rayman (2021) | 5-11 SG | St. Vincent-St. Mary stats: 8 points, 3 rebounds</h6> Rayman is someone that should thrive at the Division III level in college. Defenders have trouble staying in front of him. Rayman is quick when he puts it on the floor, possesses an effective shot fake, and attacks the closeout. Consistent shooter off the bounce. Quick enough to be effective on defense. <h6><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/michael-bova/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Michael Bova</a> (2022) | 6-1 PG | St. Edward stats: 14 points</h6> Bova brought energy off the bench on a night they needed it — St. Edward was a bit sluggish coming off their home win over St. Vincent-St. Mary the night before. Proved himself as an assignment defender against a shooter by chasing his guy around screens. Hit open shots and attacked in straight-lines from the corner. Clutch reverse and-one layup. <h6><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/manny-hill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Manny Hill</a> (2020) | 5-10 PG | Cleveland Heights stats: 15 points, 3 rebounds</h6> Hill is a talented scorer with a lot of quick-twitch. Causes steals with his quickness, mostly as a sneaky off-ball defender. In terms of scoring, he's simply tough to stick with. Hill quickly changes speed and direction. Finishes tough baskets in traffic despite lacking size, often contorting himself and/or bouncing off bodies in the air. Hill also has a terrific mid-range pull-up. <h6>Greg Pitts (2020) | 6-1 SG | Cleveland Heights stats: 17 points, 7 rebounds</h6> Pitts thrives in his role as a defensive-oriented utility guard. He plays hard and was able to cause steals in passing lanes Sunday. Beats opponents to 50-50 balls. Pitts crucially made open shots, too, finishing as the team's leading scorer. Brush dared role players to beat them and Pitts did just that. If he doesn't make four 3-pointers, they likely don't earn the big win. <h6>Eric Mudd (2020) | 6-5 C | Shaker Heights stats: 10 points, 11 rebounds</h6> Mudd is a solid, physical athlete with a lean frame who plays with discipline and energy as a defensive anchor. Tracks down rebounds outside of his area. Occasionally impresses with an athletic rejection. Out-works people. <h6>Tyreek Crump (2020) | 6-1 PG | Brush stats: 8 points, 4 rebounds</h6> Crump's exit with a shoulder injury in the third quarter was a turning point in Brush's loss to Cleveland Heights. He was a trustworthy ball-handler against pressure and he provided scoring as a primary ball-handler by attacking the basket. Crump is a tall, lanky guard who changes pace well. He can bend around bodies in tight spaces. Plays with poise and doesn't turn it over often.   <h4 style="text-align: center">New Names</h4> <h6>Andrew Rinn (2021) | 6-3 SG | Revere stats: 7 points, 8 rebounds</h6> Impressive fundamentals, size, and rebounding from the guard spot. Rinn makes very sound basketball moves, including pull-back separation moves for his jumper. Shoots it well. Stocky yet athletic. Rinn intercepted a few balls thanks to his instincts. <h6>Jaiden Cox-Holloway (2022) | 6-4 PF | Euclid stats: 9 points, 4 rebounds</h6> Cox-Hollowoy is a wiry athlete who is yet to fill-out physically. He made plays around the rim. Blocked shots and took charges on one end, then finished over the shoulder on the other. Added one 3-pointer. <h6>Clayton Cunningham (2022) | 5-11 SG | Euclid stats: 18 pints, 5 rebounds</h6> Cunningham is a good shooter. He hardly touched net on several jumpers and showed good rhythm on his pull-ups. Often gets out of control by trying to be too fancy with his dribble, an area that will improve with experience. <h6>Aiden Brown (2021) | 6-5 C | Lorain stats: 8 points, 5 rebounds</h6> Brown combines an athletic frame with explosive leaping ability. He snared defensive rebounds out of the air with authority and soared for tip-backs in traffic. The highlight of the day came on his athletic alley-oop finish. On defense, he has obvious rim protection potential. Plus, he can move his feet and stay in front of face-up forwards. We watch a lot of hoops, see a lot of athletes. Brown's athleticism isn't something we see every week. He's unusual. <h6>Aaron Whitehead (2020) | 5-10 SG | Lorain stats: 16 points, 5 rebounds</h6> Athletic shooter with a slippery handle. Whiteside shooting stroke is clean and quick. It doesn't change when he's shooting it off the dribble. Has a floater. Competed on for long rebounds. <h6>Keyshawn Hall (2021) | 6-4 C | Rhodes stats: 6 points, 6 rebounds</h6> Hall is a big-bodied post player whose game hinges on power and touch. He made a handful of solid footwork moves around the rim on post-ups. Flashed ball-handling ability from the perimeter. Hall has some suddenness as an athlete. Pretty good rebounder. We'd like to see him not settle for any 3-pointers given his strength advantage on the block.