Ohio Valley Hoops Classic (OVHC) Preview
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As the season gets close to beginning, I will be previewing some of the upcoming events throughout the year for our audience to watch. One of the more well-known events is the Ohio Valley Hoops Classic (OVHC), entering it’s 6th…
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Continue ReadingAs the season gets close to beginning, I will be previewing some of the upcoming events throughout the year for our audience to watch. One of the more well-known events is the Ohio Valley Hoops Classic (OVHC), entering it’s 6th year. Hosted by Mason High School, the OVHC features some of the better teams not just in Ohio, but in Indiana and previously Kentucky. This year’s event has plenty of talent and high profile players to watch on November 25-26. Below is a preview of the event and players to watch.
(Friday Slate)
1:00pm St. Xavier vs Hilliard Bradley– The 2022 OVHC begins with 2 traditional powers in Ohio. St. Xavier has a well coached, defensive minded team with plenty of seniors coming back. Bradley has one of the better guard duos in the state in Cade Norris Cade Norris 6'3" | PG Hilliard Bradley | 2024 State OH (Jr) and Jeb Bischoff Jeb Bischoff 6'0" | SG Hilliard Bradley | 2024 State OH (Jr) both returning. Both teams like to play a halfcourt focused offense with a focus on running sets and motion offenses. Expect a low scoring showdown in this one.
2:45pm Taft vs Harvest Prep– Taft’s 1st game as a Division II team will be against one of the top teams in Division III. The Senators lose Rayvon Griffith but return a hoist of guys including Miami (OH) commit Eian Elmer Eian Elmer 6'6" | SF Taft | 2023 State OH (Sr) and Kieran Granville-Britten Kieran Granville-Britten 6'7" | C Princeton | 2025 State OH (So). Harvest Prep brings back almost everyone from their team a season ago, including Brandon Roddy Brandon Roddy 6'1" | PG Harvest Prep | 2025 State OH (So) and seniors Nyelle Shaheed Nyelle Shaheed 6'5" | C Harvest Prep | 2023 State OH and Zyaun Hutson. The Warriors can compete with anyone regardless of division and should give Taft quite a game in the 2nd game of the day.
4:30pm Lakota East vs Delaware Hayes– East returns to the OVHC and brings an experienced and defensive program to Mason HS. A senior heavy team, East has is well coached and has plenty of depth, especially in the backcourt. Hayes debuts in the event and has one of Central Ohio’s best players in Jesse Burris Jesse Burris 6'4" | SF Delaware Hayes | 2024 State #297 Nation OH (Jr) to go along with a upperclassmen led team. Burris will be the focal point of the East defense in this opener which could be a higher scoring game.
6:15pm Dublin Jerome vs Sycamore– This matchup will likely be the game of the weekend at the event. Jerome will be one of the better teams in Columbus and is a senior heavy team led by Marshall commit Ryan Nutter Ryan Nutter 6'3" | PG Dublin Jerome | 2023 State OH (Sr) in the backcourt. Sycamore is led by 6’10 Raleigh Burgess Raleigh Burgess 6'10" | C Sycamore | 2024 State #130 Nation OH (Jr), widely considered as one of the best players in Ohio’s 2024 class and owns multiple HM offers. Jerome’s ability to contain Burgess on the block and boards, and limit turnovers against a stingy Sycamore defense will help determine if they win this early season showdown.
8:00pm Mason vs Dunbar– The Wolverines have a guard heavy team led by Antaune Allen Antaune Allen 6'2" | CG Dunbar | 2023 State OH (Sr) and Bj Hatcher Bj Hatcher 6'1" | PG Northmont | 2025 State OH (So). Mason will feature their new coach in Adam Toohey, and a slew of upperclassmen led by Ben Menker Ben Menker 6'5" | SF Mason | 2024 State OH (Jr) and Jack Ullom Jack Ullom 6'5" | SF Mason | 2023 State OH (Sr) among others. This will likely feature contrasting styles as Dunbar will look to push the pace while Mason will be more halfcourt and set focused.
(Saturday Slate)
1:00pm Georgetown vs Ponitz– The Saturday matinee will feature a great showdown between Carson Miles Carson Miles 6'0" | PG Georgetown | 2023 State OH (Sr) and Dayjuan Anderson (Sr). The G-Men were a Regional Runner Up last year and will lean on Miles to get their offense flowing. Anderson, a Wright State signee, has some seniors around him to make this Panthers team a dangerous team to watch.
2:45pm Woodward vs Tindley (IN)– Woodward will begin life after Paul McMillan IV with a showdown against out of state opponent Tindley. The Bulldogs return Ru Mills Ru Mills 6'2" | SF Cincinnati Woodward | 2024 State OH (Jr) and Kanye Moreland Kanye Moreland 5'11" | CG Cincinnati Woodward | 2023 State OH (Sr) from a season ago who both have extraordinary athleticism they bring to the table.
4:30pm Preble Shawnee vs Heritage Christian (IN)– Another great prospect showdown between Mason Shrout Mason Shrout 6'4" | SF Preble Shawnee | 2024 State OH (Jr) and Myles Colvin (Sr). Shrout is being heavily recruited at the LM level for the Arrows. Colvin is a Purdue commit and is one of the best players in the 2023 class in Indiana. Both can fill up the scoring columns in a heartbeat and will force the opposing defenses to account for them.
6:15pm Lakota West vs Brownsburg (IN)– An offensive showdown is expected between the Firebirds and Brownsburg. Lakota West has the top scorer in the GMC last year returning in Nate Dudukovich (Sr) and a group of underclassmen around him. Brownsburg brings back their top guy in Kanon Catchings (Jr) who is also a Purdue commit.
8:00pm Alter vs Olentangy Liberty– The OVHC ends with a showdown between familiar teams at Mason. Alter starts a new campaign after a State Semifinal appearance, and returns 3 starters led by Anthony Ruffolo Anthony Ruffolo 5'10" | PG Archbishop Alter | 2023 State OH (Sr). Liberty will have one of the finer underclassmen in the state in Tyler Kropp Tyler Kropp 6'8" | PF Olentangy Liberty | 2025 State OH (So) along with several senior guards to counter Alter’s experience in the backcourt.