NEO Youth Elite Top Performers

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The annual Northeast Ohio Youth Elite basketball camp kicked off in Twinsburg, Ohio Saturday afternoon. Athletes from grades 3-12 took the court for scrimmages all throughout the day, with a myriad of Northeast Ohio talent showing out. I highlight some notable players from the area who stood out the most throughout the scrimmages on Saturday.</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="855927" first="Keyshawn" last="Hall"], Rhodes</strong></p> <p>The player that probably stood out the most due to pure size and domination down low was [player_tooltip player_id="855927" first="Keyshawn" last="Hall"]. He overpowered defenders and used his body well to create space and finish through tight windows near the rim. Hall has an elite handle with his size and was shooting 3-pointers at a higher rate than I’ve usually seen. His jump shot is inconsistent but he should continue to be a mismatch nightmare near the rim for Rhodes this upcoming season. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="805131" first="Brenton" last="Walker"], Canton McKinley</strong></p> <p>Walker was everywhere on the floor for his team throughout the event. He was a scoring machine inside the paint, as not many other players matched up to his physicality and sheer size down low. The 6-foot-6 forward was not only an effective scorer, but also did an exceptional job finding his teammates when he couldn’t get to the rim for a dunk or layup. </p> <p><strong>DeMar Moore Jr, Sandusky</strong></p> <p>No player showed more hustle and fought for loose balls as often as DeMar Moore Jr. did. He was a player who wasn't afraid to dive on the floor to make an extra play for his teammates. Moore is an active defender and can finish through contact well with his size as well. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="805133" first="Jaden" last="Hameed"], Warrensville Heights</strong></p> <p>The well-known shooter made his mark early on during the scrimmages. He boasted a confident jump shot where he knocked down a myriad of 3-pointers throughout the event. Hameed plays at a very fast-paced tempo and can settle for questionable mid-range shots off one or two dribbles, something that he needs to be more cautious about heading into a new program. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="919043" first="Jalen" last="Knott"], Lutheran East</strong></p> <p>One of the most physical players at the showcase, [player_tooltip player_id="919043" first="Jalen" last="Knott"] played up to his competition as he became a problem for easy buckets near the rim. He’s looked like he put on more size since the last time I saw him play last season. His outside game is still a work in progress, with Knott struggling to consistently knock down jump shots. A bigger role within the Lutheran East offense is likely for a player who mostly came off the bench a year ago. </p> <p><strong>Terrell Jewell, Garfield</strong></p> <p>Jewell impressed me with the way he was able to move without the ball in his hands. This was an effective way for him to get looks inside the paint where he was actively crashing the boards as well. <span style="font-size: 1rem;">He’s got a solid frame at his size right now but needs to work on his footwork when looking to dunk the ball cleanly. Jewell should play a solid role for the Bulldogs heading into his junior year. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="714500" first="Vernon" last="Smith"], Canton McKinley</strong></p> <p>A very athletic big man that compliments [player_tooltip player_id="805131" first="Brenton" last="Walker"] well near the rim, [player_tooltip player_id="714500" first="Vernon" last="Smith"] was able to create good looks for himself due to his size and speed. Smith was another force inside the paint, contesting shots as well as anybody on the defensive side of the ball. Solid defender when playing away from the basket as well. </p> <p><strong>Robert Palmer, Elyria Catholic</strong></p> <p>He wasn’t able to shoot the ball a lot, but Palmer found ways to contribute to the team’s success with his advanced cout vision and stellar passes upcourt. Palmer has a quick handle with the ball and gets low to the ground when driving to the basket, allowing him to finish layups past his defender. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>