Flyin’ To The Hoop Preview

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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.

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.

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 .

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 .

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.

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.

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.