Regional semi and finals in Toledo

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past week I went to the Regional semifinals game in Toledo between #9 seed St. John's Jesuit and #3 Perrysburg and St. John's Jesuit won the upset 47-42 to move on to Kent State and played Garfield Heights. St. John's then would go on to shock Ohio and beat Garfield 50-38 and win the Region to move on to Dayton and the state Final 4. this article will talk about the top players from those games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["867941"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003ca href=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/cj-hornbeak-final2.jpgu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-1848118 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/cj-hornbeak-final2.jpg?w=300u0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022200u0022 /u003eu003c/au003eI went to the two regional games that St. John's played in last week and Hornbeak played phenomenally in both games. His confidence in his scoring right now is through the roof. He scored 21 against Perrysburg in the semifinals and then 26 against Garfield Heights to send the Titans down to Dayton. CJ averaged more than 20 points in the regular season and now has been playing even better in the playoffs. Hornbeak can score on all three levels. His finishing ability is extremely impressive as he can make it from very difficult angels and absorbs contact very well when finishing. He also uses his pivot foot great to create angles for himself around the rim. He does a great job of making it seem like he is going all the way to the rim and then stopping on a dime for his midrange pull-up. His three-point shot is coming off very quick with tons of confidence right now. He is a knockdown catch and shoots 3 point shooter right now. Hornbeak's defense has been outstanding. Not only is he carrying the Titans offensively but he also is tasked with guarding the other team's best player and absolutely locks them down. His on-ball pressure and ability to cut off the dribbler are great. Hornbeak isn't the biggest but shows a lot of strength when he shows the ability to switch onto multiple players. He has a high IQ as well when he shows great anticipation on defense for steals and his off-ball ability to set himself up for points off of cuts and setting up angles to come off of screens. He made Garfield's best defender foul out and also had 26 points. Against Perrysburg he scored 20 and held their best player to only 5 points. Hornbeak has led the Titans by example this year and has now led the ninth seed in NWO down to the Final 4 in Dayton. I said it in my tweet after the game and I'll say it again, I don't know what more this kid has to do. Offer him.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1705937"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003ca href=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/marcus-johnson-2.jpgu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-1848120 alignrightu0022 src=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/marcus-johnson-2.jpg?w=300u0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022200u0022 /u003eu003c/au003eJohnson's skill is no question. He has a ton of it. Listed at only 6'1 but with super long arms Johnson can flat-out score the ball. He is a high-volume shooter and scorer. He is a super tough player to stop 1 on 1 because of his handles and how shifty he is. At points when he was trying to score it seemed like the defenders were just cones to him. He has an incredible handle on the ball. His jumper is also in no question. Unlimited range with a sniper mentality. Confidence is through the roof and when he makes it the ball barely touches the rim. His shot is not the prettiest but it for sure is not broken so there is no reason to fix it. Johnson had one of the best freshman seasons in the state and I can't wait to see how he develops in his next 3 years.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1679929"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003ca href=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/jaylen-murphy-.jpgu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-1848122 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/jaylen-murphy-.jpg?w=300u0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022200u0022 /u003eu003c/au003eMurphy seems to have found a switch from the last time I saw him play. He was always a great shooter but sometimes showed timidness with himself, not the case anymore at all. This kid has a quick release on his shot and has tons of confidence in it. He is a tall and super long guard that doesn't need much of any space to get his shot off. He has unlimited range and has shown the ability to shoot the ball off the dribble, on the move, and spot-up. He has been huge for St. John's on this run as his shooting ability has opened lanes up and made the Titan's offense more dynamic. He has been putting the ball on the ground more and has shown the ability to create his shots sometimes. His defense has also improved as he has found ways to use his long arms in dribbling and passing lanes to create turnovers and steals.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Michell Michalak","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"St. John's Jesuit","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Michalak has been a critical piece for St. John's in the playoffs thus far, I don't think the Titans would be going this far without him. Michalak is St. John's biggest player and he only stands 6'4 but he has been playing like he is a seven-footer. He has guarded players bigger than him but has played stronger, he has played against players taller than him and has been more physical with them. He just simply wants it more and is outworking other posts. His fundamentals of a post have been outstanding. His box-outs have been incredible. He might not be getting the rebound but the man he is guarding for sure will not be getting the rebound. He runs the floor well and is just as solid as they come when defending the post. Michalak has made his impact with the little things for St. John's; rebounding, defense, and hustling. A tough kid that impacts winning.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1421143"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003ca href=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/deandre-jones-regional2.jpgu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-1848125 alignrightu0022 src=u0022https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/deandre-jones-regional2.jpg?w=300u0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022212u0022 /u003eu003c/au003eI am a big fan of Jones because he possesses the unteachables. He has great height, length, and athleticism. He runs like a gazelle. When he raises his hands they are already at the rim. His wingspan allows him to be a great rim protector and rebounder. When altered a ton of shots for St. John's and with his great height advantage when he was in the game the Titans simply didn't even try to attack the rim. He is a very raw talent that needs development but I believe Sonny Johnson is perfect to provide that for the 6'9 junior. Jones is a modern big as well because he can shoot the ball too. Do not leave him open because he will knock it down.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6410b8c53b170"} /-->