2020 Hidden Gems Showcase Standouts- NBA Division

On Saturday, September 19th, Lucius Jones and his Hidden Gems program put on an impressive showcase, highlighting the top boys and girls basketball players in the state. This Saturday consisted of the best that high school boys basketball in Ohio has to offer from all grades. The junior and seniors competed against each other as the freshmen and sophomores did the same later in the day. The competitiveness of the young men was on display all afternoon long as these young men jockeyed for position not only on the court but in the rankings as well. These young men stood out amongst the rest of the talent that graced the court for the seniors and juniors that attended the showcase. [player_tooltip player_id="918966" first="Chance" last="Groce"] (2021) Linden McKinley: Smooth, efficient and does what he wants on the court was the player of the day for the class of 2021. Groce was amazing all afternoon with his scoring, he made some really good defensive plays and hit his open teammates when it was needed. Groce never got sped up on offense, getting to his spots and showing that he can score on all three levels of the court. Got to the basket whenever he wanted, made mid-range jump shots consistently and stretched the defense with his three point shooting. This young man was soaked in sweat because of how hard he plays, but you would never know by how silky his game is. [player_tooltip player_id="616810" first="Sean" last="Jones"] (2022)- Gahanna: The overall MVP of the event and possibly the best player in the state of Ohio showed up and displayed why he is seen as amongst the best and why Gahanna has a great chance of winning a state title this year. On a day where he could have just played average and have it not affect his ranking, he took this day seriously and was the closest thing to dominant. He showed strength by shrugging off defenders as he made lay-ups and by guarding at a high level, not letting his man get past him. Jones was one of the best shooters in the gym as well, hitting jumpers from 71-West range. He was also relentless in his attack of the defense, making sure they never got to rest as he stayed at the rim and knocking in floaters. [player_tooltip player_id="921760" first="Brock" last="Makrancy"] (2022)- Findlay: Another one of the best shooters to attend the Hidden Gems showcase, the player of the day for the class of 2022, this young man played tough every second he was on the court by giving up his body on defense and knocking down shot after shot on offense. Makrancy came into this showcase focused and wanting to prove he belonged with the best and he did, displaying underrated athleticism and a willingness to take and make tough shots. He hit jumpers in an array of ways as well, off the dribble, off screens, catch-and-shoot, however you want it, you got it. Eljae Deas (2022)- Gahanna: This bouncy guard showed his athleticism on Saturday, exploding to the rim numerous times, hanging in the air and getting tough finishes. His handle keeps getting better each time he steps onto a court, adding to his bag of moves that he can use on defenders. He’s calmed his game down as well, becoming more patient and allowing the game to come to him. His shooting was streaky at best on Saturday afternoon but he has an impeccable floater package, being able to get the ball high and over the long arms of big men. Deas was active on defense, staying in front of his man and being active in the passing lanes. [player_tooltip player_id="805211" first="Maurice" last="Collins"] (2021)- Thomas Worthington: The experienced guard plays on a loaded High School team so at times his talent gets overshadowed but on Saturday this guard made plays on both sides of the ball. Really quick hands on defense let him play passing lanes for steals that led to buckets in transition, his help side defense also caused problems when players decided to drive the ball, coming off of his man and taking the ball. On offense, call it a day when his feet were set and he had time to get his shot off. A nice looking shot with a high arc made it really hard for other guards to block, especially with Collins standing at 6-foot-4. This solid performance from Collins should propel him into this season with his team looking for a state championship with all the talent he is surrounded by. Amare Pedraza (2022)- Marion Harding: Someone who gave this event a little out-of-town flavor, Pedraza defended at a high level by just watching the games, it was validated when he was named the defensive player of the day in the NBA division. Most defense involves trying really hard, and Pedraza did that all afternoon using his quick feet and long arms to disrupt the man he was guarding. Great timing on blocks even standing at just around 6-foot-1, he made his imprint on every game he played in. The Marion Harding product showed that in showcases, if you are committed to defense then people will still notice and appreciate the game you bring.