Toledo Fall League: Top Players, Part 1

<p> The Toledo Fall League, which is in its 3rd year, allows some of the best talent in Northwest Ohio to come together prior to the start of the High School season, the popularity of the league has grown immensely. In its inaugural year, they netted 8 teams, and it grew to 12 teams this year. They have partnered with Spy Report and Lourdes University to produce an excellent platform for players to play on a college campus, which is a terrific venue to produce some really high-quality basketball in the area. If you get a chance, get over to Lourdes University and watch some really good talent over the next few weeks. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/POW-e1632924552373.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1282538 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/POW-e1632924552373-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="135" height="135" /></a></p> <p><strong>Jake Bishop - 2023 - SG - Team Duke Blue</strong></p> <p>One player in particular stole the show, Jake Bishop (plays on the Duke Blue team) from Findlay HS. I have seen great shooting before, but this young man put on a shooting clinic in the 2nd game his Duke Blue team, who went 2-0 for the day with a point differential of 40. Bishop has unlimited range, his jump shot is a work of art, you can tell he has put the work in. I stopped counting after he had 30 pts, I am told by several coaches that he had 40+ in their win. He has a shooter mentality — on several occasions, he came down just over half-court and shot the ball with such confidence that anyone watching him would cringe at the distance as another one of his 3’s would hit the bottom of the net. His team has a plethora of talent on this 8 man roster. Look for Bishop to continue his hot shooting, I’m positive this will not be my last article on him. His recruitment is unknown.  </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Logan.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1287007 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Logan-e1632145314469-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="142" height="142" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="867930" first="Logan" last="Beaston"] - 2023 - SG - Team Green</strong></p> <p>Week two produced some spectacular play again, we will highlight [player_tooltip player_id="867930" first="Logan" last="Beaston"] the 6’4 guard out of Tiffin Columbian. He plays on the Green team who currently sits in 6th place after week two with a 2-2 record. Beaston has a great feel for the game and keeps opponents off-balance all day. He has a really good handle that allows him to get to the rim at will, he also possesses a deadly jump shot. His signature spin move in the paint is a go-to move that was indefensible all day long. His range is noteworthy as defenders had to learn the hard way as they played him to guard the drive, he would pull up from 3pt range and beyond just to get their attention. The 2023 stud has a 3.93 GPA and is currently getting recruited by the following programs such as Northern Iowa, Belmont, Valpo, Mount Vernon, Findlay, and Ashland. Look for this list to grow as he continues his high level of play. Tiffin Columbian will be a tough out this season with [player_tooltip player_id="867930" first="Logan" last="Beaston"] and Bryce Burns, they are two of the best players in the Sandusky Bay Conference.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Sean-Craig-e1632760655427.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1293313 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Sean-Craig-e1632760655427-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="154" height="154" /></a><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="809616" first="Sean" last="Craig"] - 2022 - PF - Team Gray</strong></p> <p>Week three, we focused on three players that stood out for one reason or another, the first player we will look at is no stranger to the spotlight. Craig is one of the premier players in Northwest Ohio and this fall his game looks like it is in primetime form. His fadeaway is still the purest in the game and he is getting to the rim at will. In the second half of their second game, Craig took over and was the best player on the floor.</p> <p>I like his leadership aspect, he is playing with different players and he is being a true leader with his guidance and experience, his gray team was undefeated heading into week three, and dropped both games this week but look for Craig to continue to lead his teammates into the Fall League playoffs and look for his Northview team to make an impact as well. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Kannon-1-crop-2420x1589-1632762668.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1293642 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Kannon-1-crop-2420x1589-1632762668-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="171" height="112" /></a></p> <p><strong>Kannon Klusmeyer - 2022 - SF - Team Duke Blue</strong></p> <p>Klusmeyer has been the focus of a lot of programs lately after his AAU season, on Sunday his Duke Blue team which features Jake Bishop is the only undefeated team left in the league as they went 2-0 to run their record to 6-0 at the halfway point. In their second game of the day vs a talented Team White which featured players such as Jacob Meyer and Kenny Biggs, Klusmeyer put on a display of shooting, rebounding, and defense that has had College Coaches really impressed. During a stretch of a close game Klusmeyer took over, from rebounding with strong outlet passes for easy layups to defending the paint to his signature spin move to score as well. He consistently came up with the right play to help Team Duke Blue pull away as he lead them to another victory and to keep them undefeated as he posted a 15 point 8 rebound performance. Klusmeyer is a strong kid who can play positionless basketball, his size would indicate a possible post player, but he has all the tools to play anywhere on the floor, he can play on the wing, he can handle the ball, he can post up because of his size and great IQ to make the right play. On the defensive end, he is long and has great footwork as he altered and blocked shots as opponents tried to attack the rim. Klusmeyer is drawing a lot of collegiate interest and its easy to see why. There were D2, D3, and NAIA programs there to watch their team play. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Isaiah-e1632764527696.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1293660 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Isaiah-e1632764527696-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="168" height="168" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1225067" first="Isaiah" last="Brenneman"] - 2024 - SG - Team Yellow</strong></p> <p> Get to know the name, the 6’3 SG out of Toledo Central Catholic held his own on Sunday. In the first game of the day on Sunday the Super Soph put up 16 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assist only to follow it up it a 14-point, 16-rebound 7-assist performance. He is a strong guard who consistently got in the lane to score or make plays for his teammates, his ability to rebound the ball and take it the distance is a skill that will only get better, he proved he could play at this level when he had breakout performances in the State Tournament last season. He has a high basketball IQ and it was on display on Sunday, although his team lost both contests, he was impressive from his ability to drive the basketball, his willingness to make on target, on-time passes to his leadership ability. His game is truly mature beyond his years, look for him to make a splash on the High School scene this winter. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Romel-e1632865663263.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1296082 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Romel-e1632865663263-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="177" height="177" /></a><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="922595" first="Romel" last="Hightower"] - 2023 - SF - Team Red</strong></p> <p>Hightower is another standout in the Toledo Fall League, The 6’5 lefty SG did it all for Team Red, from rebounding to using his length to block shots, to scoring at will for his team. Hightower, a two sport athlete, who has a high ceiling with a relentless motor, I was impressed with how calm he plays the game, he doesn’t get sped up, he lets the game come to him. He will be a force to deal with in the City League, playing for Toledo Scott. Look for him to push for City League Player of the Year, he is a Talent! </p>