Ohio 2025/2026 Summer Basketball Recap
The summer basketball season is finally over as June was a busy month seeing 2025 and 2026 prospects playing with their high school teams and then in July with their grassroots programs. This article will let you know the prospects…
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Continue ReadingThe summer basketball season is finally over as June was a busy month seeing 2025 and 2026 prospects playing with their high school teams and then in July with their grassroots programs. This article will let you know the prospects and teams who made notable strides this summer.
High Major Prospects Establish Themselves
The 2025 class has some high major talent at the top, with Darryn Peterson Darryn Peterson 6'5" | CG Huntington Prep | 2025 State #4 Nation WV ranked fourth in the country according to ESPN, the only national service with 2025 rankings. Peterson already holds offers from programs like Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana, Xavier and more. Jerry Easter II Jerry Easter II 6'5" | PG La Lumiere | 2025 #55 Nation IN is another prospect with high major attraction as he holds offers from Ohio State, UCLA, Memphis, Arizona State and more. Peterson played with CVCA in June and was with the NJ Scholars for the first July live period. Easter played with Super Friendz on the 3SSB circuit during the first live period and with the Nj Scholars for the second. Dorian Jones Dorian Jones 6'4" | SG Richmond Heights | 2025 State #61 Nation OH is another prospect who continues to make a climb, after winning a state championship in March, Jones was a standout for All Ohio Red this summer. Jones already holds offers from Ohio State, Cincinnati, Arizona State and more. Rj Greer Rj Greer 6'4" | SG Kettering Alter | 2025 State #167 Nation OH is the final prospect with multiple high major offers as he has Michigan, Florida, Cincinnati and more.
Who played up age groups?
Playing older competition is a great way to continue to challenge yourself as a prospect and some members of Ohio’s 2025 class are already getting experience at the 16 U level. The Ohio Rebels had De’Erick Barber De’Erick Barber 5'11" | PG Richmond Heights | 2025 State #268 Nation OH and Damon Friery Damon Friery 6'9" | PF Saint Ignatius | 2025 State #97 Nation OH playing up at the 16 U level, they helped lead the Ohio Rebels to an AAU national championship down in Florida. Midwest Basketball Club’s 16 U 3SSB squad had two 2025 point guards in Trey Perry Trey Perry 6'1" | PG Lakota East | 2025 State OH and Kameron Sanders Kameron Sanders 6'3" | PG Fairfield | 2025 State OH on their team.
What teams found the most success?
All Ohio Red, Midwest Basketball Club and Super Friendz played on the EYBL and 3SSB circuits and each 15 U squad was highly competitive in their leagues. Those three teams were led by players already mentioned in the high major prospects article. This section is for some under the radar teams and the first one to mention is Nova Village 15 U UA Rise. Nova’s 15 U squad won the UA Rise championship in Atlanta this July, playing excellent team defense. You’ll see a majority of players from that team ranked during the 2025 rankings update coming near the middle of August. Another team that caught my eye were the Gurus of Go. This team rolled through Adidas Gold competition and competed well against 3SSB squads in California during the final live period. Look for a couple members of this team to make their debuts in the rankings during the next update. Finally, All Ohio Select has a squad in 2025 with guards Brandon Roddy Brandon Roddy 6'1" | PG Harvest Prep | 2025 State OH (Xavier offer) and Amare Spiva Amare Spiva 6'1" | CG Pickerington Central | 2025 State OH in the backcourt with wing shooter Jekel Cotton Jekel Cotton 6'5" | SF Lima Sr | 2025 State OH alongside that duo. All Ohio Select 15 U was dominant on the NY2LA circuit this spring and summer.
2026 prospects already making a name for themselves
The 2026 class is a class I’ve briefly seen, only watching these players if they were playing up on the 15 U level or with their varsity high school squads. There’s a lot of talent in northeast Ohio as Tj Crumble and Marcus Johnson headline that part of the state. Crumble is a versatile 6’7 PF who can put it on the floor, shoot it and gaining confidence each time I watch him play. Johnson is a point guard who can score in a hurry with excellent shot-making ability from the outside. Crumble attends Lutheran East high school while Johnson attends Garfield Heights high school. Brayden Fogle is another prospect who stood out, the Lexington high school wing has an advanced frame and is explosive athletically compared to his peers. From central Ohio, Jordan Bowens looks like he’ll have a chance to play major minutes for Reynoldsburg as a 6’6 big man. Xavier McKinney will be fighting for minutes on the defending state champions but already looks ready to contribute for Pickerington Central.