Flyin’ To The Hoop Preview

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Flyin’ To The Hoop is the biggest high school basketball event in the state of Ohio, and it tips off TONIGHT at Kettering Fairmont High School. In this article we’re going to break down the top players and teams to watch at the four-day event.
Friday 6:30 P.M. Combine Academy (NC) Vs Keystone Academy (PA)
Day one features two prep matchups with Combine and Keystone taking the floor first. Combine is led by Silas Demary Jr who is committed to USC and recently moved up to 54th in the country in the latest 247 rankings for the class of 2023. Keystone has an equally talented point guard in Dellquan Warren Dellquan Warren 6'1" | CG Spire | 2024 OH , a future Rutgers Scarlet Knight who will look to match Demary in what should be a fun up and down game.
Friday 8:15 P.M. Az Compass Prep (AZ) Vs Omnia Academy (Finland)
This is the second straight year that Omnia Academy makes the trip across the Atlantic to compete at this event. Last year they battled Cincinnati St Xavier in a tight contest. Az Compass Prep is led by Oregon commit Mookie Cook but southwest Ohio fans will be excited for the return of Rayvon Griffith to his home state. The future Cincinnati Bearcat left Taft after bringing them a state championship to play a national schedule as a senior, he returns on one of the top teams in the country.
Saturday 11:30 A.M. Beavercreek Vs Springboro (Girls)
The one girls game of the event features GWOC powerhouse programs in Beavercreek and Springboro. Springboro is 8-0 in conference play while Beavercreek is 6-2. Bryn Martin leads Springboro at 14.3 PPG which is third in the conference. Beavercreek has a balanced attack led by Charlotte Pauling and Lilli Leopard.
Saturday 1:15 P.M. Pickerington North Vs Dayton Dunbar
Two programs that were at the event last season, Pickerington North is led by 2025 guard
Arness Lawson
Arness
Lawson
6'1" | PG
Pickerington North | 2025
State
#306
Nation
OH
and 2023 wing forward
Jeff Amapps
Jeff
Amapps
6'3" | SF
Pickerington North | 2023
State
OH
. The Panthers have one of the best records in central Ohio and will look to secure a marquee out of town victory. Dayton Dunbar is led by a 2025 guard in
Bj Hatcher
Bj
Hatcher
6'1" | CG
Northmont | 2025
State
OH
and the Allen twins. This should be a fast and competitive game for the neutral fans in attendance.
Saturday 3:00 P.M. Columbus Africentric Vs CVCA
Potentially the best individual battle of the entire event will put
Dailyn Swain
Dailyn
Swain
6'7" | SF
Africentric | 2023
State
#81
Nation
OH
against
Darryn Peterson
Darryn
Peterson
6'5" | CG
Huntington Prep | 2025
#4
Nation
CA-N
. Swain is a top 150 senior in the country and committed to Xavier University, Peterson is a top 10 player in the 2025 class and holds many high major offers. This game should feature lots of points and highlights from those two players, but it could be a supporting cast member like
Cortez Freeman
Cortez
Freeman
6'2" | SG
Africentric | 2024
State
OH
that decides the game with his defensive ability and 3-point shooting.
Saturday 4:45 P.M. So Cal Academy (CA) Vs Western Reserve Academy
So Cal Academy returns to Flyin’ To The Hoop after playing in two games last year as well. Led by guards Garwey Dual, Aj Johnson and Braelon Green, So Cal has the offensive firepower to blow anybody out of the gym. They will be met by a Western Reserve squad with Trey Autry,
Damarius Owens
Damarius
Owens
6'7" | SF
Western Reserve Academy | 2024
State
#61
Nation
OH
and
Caleb Middleton
Caleb
Middleton
6'10" | PF
New Hamptonn | 2024
OH
.
Saturday 6:30 P.M. Combine Academy (NC) Vs Lutheran East
Combine plays their second game of the event against one of the top teams from northeast Ohio in Lutheran East. The Falcons are led by
Jesse McCulloch
Jesse
McCulloch
6'9" | PF
Lutheran East | 2024
State
#136
Nation
OH
,
Cody Head
Cody
Head
6'1" | CG
Lutheran East | 2023
State
OH
and Tj Crumble. While Lutheran East has taken two recent losses to northeast Ohio powers, the Falcons will be ready for this prep powerhouse in what could be a very entertaining game.
Saturday 8:15 P.M. Pace Academy (GA) Vs Chaminade Julienne
The nightcap for Saturday features Pace Academy as they return to Flyin’ To The Hoop for a second straight season, they are led by Kyle Green. Pace Academy used to have five star 2025 forward Bryson Tiller but he transferred to the Overtime Elite league. Chaminade Julienne is the favorite to win the Division II state title and they are led by
George Washington III
George
Washington III
6'3" | CG
Chaminade Julienne | 2023
State
#92
Nation
OH
, the Michigan Wolverine commit has formed a great trio with
Evan Dickey
Evan
Dickey
6'4" | SG
Chaminade-Julienne | 2023
State
OH
and Jackson Washington. Chaminade Julienne will be putting their unbeaten record on the line in this highly anticipated battle.
Sunday 11:30 A.M. Preble Shawnee Vs Dayton Oakwood
Two of the top individual players from the Miami Valley area will be going at it when 2024 wing
Mason Shrout
Mason
Shrout
6'4" | SF
Preble Shawnee | 2024
State
OH
and 2023 wing
Will Maxwell
Will
Maxwell
6'5" | SF
Oakwood | 2023
State
OH
battle it out. Shrout has been a top scorer since his freshman season and looks poised to rewrite the record books at his school. Maxwell has already broken the career points record at Oakwood and is looking for more. Maxwell is one of the top unsigned seniors in the state of Ohio and a big performance at this event could boost his recruiting interest.
Sunday 1:15 P.M. Brush Vs Cincinnati Taft
Brush just got a marquee victory over Brecksville and they now take on defending state champion Cincinnati Taft. The arcs are led by Marlon Barnes and
Tyler Williams
Tyler
Williams
6'8" | C
Brush | 2023
State
OH
but have gotten good production from the rest of their starters and have played one of the toughest schedules in the state. Taft is led by future Miami (OH) Redhawk
Eian Elmer
Eian
Elmer
6'6" | SF
Taft | 2023
State
OH
and while they’ve moved up to Division II, are still in contention for another state championship.
Sunday 3:00 P.M. Garfield Heights Vs Huber Heights Wayne
Another battle of the guards as freshman
Marcus Johnson
Marcus
Johnson
6'2" | PG
Garfield Heights | 2026
State
#33
Nation
OH
leads Garfield Heights against Murray State commit
Lawrent Rice
Lawrent
Rice
6'4" | PG
Huber Heights Wayne | 2023
State
#184
Nation
OH
and Huber Heights Wayne. Those two are far from the only stars on the court as Garfield Heights has one of the top defenses in Ohio with
Calvin Little
Calvin
Little
6'2" | PG
Garfield Heights | 2024
State
OH
and
Deandre Jones
Deandre
Jones
6'8" | PF
Garfield Heights | 2024
State
#266
Nation
OH
anchoring that side of the court. For the Warriors of Wayne, Juan Cranford Jr and
Boots Perkins
Boots
Perkins
5'11" | PG
Huber Heights Wayne | 2025
State
OH
will need to make timely shots to win the game.
Sunday 4:45 P.M. The Skills Factory (GA) Vs Akron STVM
The Skills Factory makes another trip to Ohio after playing in the Chet Mason Invitational last winter. They bring Division I recruits like Lathan Sommervile, Desmond White and Kaden Cooper. They will be met by a STVM squad that’s already beaten Sierra Canyon (CA) and went to the buzzer with Mater Dei (CA) this season. Kent State commit
Lance Hayes
Lance
Hayes
6'4" | SG
St. Vincent-St. Mary's | 2023
State
OH
is joined by unsigned seniors
Darius Stratford
Darius
Stratford
6'8" | C
St. Vincent-St. Mary's | 2023
State
OH
and
Kevin Hamilton
Kevin
Hamilton
5'8" | PG
St Vincent St Mary Hs | 2023
State
OH
.
Sunday 6:30 P.M. Huntington Prep (WV) Vs Saint Ignatius
Huntington Prep has played one of the toughest schedules in the country and it continues with two tough battles at Flyin’ To The Hoop. Huntington Prep is led by wings Maki Johnson and Dillon Tingler who will look to light up the 3-point line against one of the most talented teams in Ohio. Saint Ignatius counters with point guard
Ace Buckner
Ace
Buckner
6'1" | PG
La Lumiere | 2024
#195
Nation
IN
and stretch-4
Damon Friery
Damon
Friery
6'9" | PF
Saint Ignatius | 2025
State
#97
Nation
OH
. The Wildcats are deep with talent as shown by their blowout victory over Mentor on Sunday at the Cleveland Play By Play Classic.
Sunday 8:15 P.M. So Cal Academy (CA) Vs Centerville
The rematch everybody is waiting for, the marquee game of the weekend, So Cal Academy gets their chance at revenge against Centerville. Last season Rich Rolf went nuts and the Elks continued one of the longest winning streaks in the country with a win. With Rolf and a group of seniors gone,
Gabe Cupps
Gabe
Cupps
6'1" | PG
Centerville | 2023
State
#80
Nation
OH
has reloaded with
Jonathan Powell
Jonathan
Powell
6'5" | SG
Centerville | 2024
State
#164
Nation
OH
,
Collin O’Connor
Collin
O’Connor
6'2" | SG
Centerville | 2023
State
OH
and some great role players that defend and make shots. This will be a packed house once again to see the top ranked team in Ohio battle with a national powerhouse.
Monday 11:30 A.M. Richmond Heights Vs Fairfield
Richmond Heights has taken every challenge and passed it so far this season, now they take on the leaders of the GMC in Fairfield. Richmond Heights is led by a 2025 trio with
Dorian Jones
Dorian
Jones
6'4" | SG
Richmond Heights | 2025
State
#61
Nation
OH
,
De’Erick Barber
De’Erick
Barber
5'11" | PG
Richmond Heights | 2025
State
#268
Nation
OH
and
Demarris Winters Jr
Demarris
Winters Jr
6'3" | SG
Richmond Heights | 2025
State
OH
. Fairfield is led by one of the top unsigned 2023 guards in the state in
Deshawne Crim
Deshawne
Crim
6'2" | PG
Fairfield | 2023
State
OH
and have a pair of 2025 prospects of their own in
Gabe Clemmons
Gabe
Clemmons
6'10" | C
Fairfield | 2025
State
OH
and
Kameron Sanders
Kameron
Sanders
6'3" | SG
Lee County | 2025
State
GA
.
Monday 1:15 P.M. Lima Sr Vs Springboro
Unfortunately Springboro star
Rj Greer
Rj
Greer
6'3" | SG
Kettering Alter | 2025
State
#167
Nation
OH
is injured and will not play this weekend but Springboro has some interesting pieces like Jerome White and
Will Yates
Will
Yates
6'2" | SG
Springboro | 2024
State
OH
to try and challenge a Lima Sr squad with a lot of young talent including 2025 wing forward’s
Jagger Hutchins
Jagger
Hutchins
6'6" | PF
Lima Shawnee | 2025
State
OH
and
Jekel Cotton
Jekel
Cotton
6'6" | PF
Lima Sr | 2025
State
OH
.
Monday 3:00 P.M. Indy Cathedral (IN) Vs Pickerington Central
Another one of the top individual player matchups put Xavier Booker against
Devin Royal
Devin
Royal
6'6" | PF
Pickerington Central | 2023
State
#49
Nation
OH
in a battle of top 50 seniors in the country. Both teams are defending state champions and return core pieces from their roster. Pickerington Central will surround Royal with guys like
Gavin Headings
Gavin
Headings
6'8" | PF
Pickerington Central | 2023
State
OH
,
Juwan Turner
Juwan
Turner
5'10" | PG
Pickerington Central | 2024
State
OH
and
Amare Spiva
Amare
Spiva
6'2" | CG
Westerville Central | 2025
State
OH
as the Tigers look to get a marquee win after a tough early season schedules leaves them with four losses.
Monday 4:45 P.M. La Lumiere (IN) Vs Huntington Prep (WV)
The second game for Huntington Prep, this time against a La Lumiere squad that is loaded with high major recruits like Gus Yalden, Kaleb Glenn and Zaide Lowert. These are two of the most talented prep programs in the country and should be a great penultimate game of the event.
Monday 6:30 P.M. Lakota West @ Kettering Fairmont
The host school wraps up the event as they play host to Lakota West. The Firebirds are led by one of the top unsigned 2023 guards in
Nathan Dudukovich
Nathan
Dudukovich
6'2" | SG
Lakota West | 2023
State
OH
while Kettering Fairmont has a score by committee approach with Aden Marrero being the only Firebird in double figures scoring average on the season. This should be a tight contest as Kettering Fairmont will look to once again wrap up Flyin’ To The Hoop with a victory.