KABC Titans Shootout: Saturday Ohio/Indiana Standouts
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The KABC Titans shootout brought almost a dozen teams from Ohio and a handful from Indiana to compete in the first June live period event in Shelbyville, Kentucky. In this article, I’ll break down the Ohio and Indiana standouts I…
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Continue ReadingThe KABC Titans shootout brought almost a dozen teams from Ohio and a handful from Indiana to compete in the first June live period event in Shelbyville, Kentucky. In this article, I’ll break down the Ohio and Indiana standouts I saw on Saturday.
Wanye went back and forth with a team from Indiana (who will have a standout later in the article) and unfortunately came up a little bit short. It wasn’t because of a lack of effort from Cranford who has elite touch and hit some really tough shots throughout the game. One of the few prospects in Ohio gaining scholarship interest in both football and basketball, Cranford has a pair of offers in each sport from a variety of Division II and NAIA programs. With his size, strength and shooting ability, it’s easy to see why Cranford is being coveted in both sports. Expect Wayne to once again be one of the top teams in the GWOC with Cranford and Boots Perkins Boots Perkins 5’11” | PG Huber Heights Wayne | 2025 State OH leading the Wayne train.
Highlights
Probably the biggest Ohio riser all weekend, Mahaffey has taken his game to a new level and impacted winning in a variety of ways for a Moeller squad that won the 32 team Friday/Saturday bracket. An athletic wing who has taken a big jump since the last time I saw him in the early spring. Mahaffey makes the right pass and his most impactful assist was an alley-oop to Kingston Land Kingston Land 6’9″ | PF Moeller | 2025 State #209 Nation OH for a slam dunk to take the lead with just under 10 seconds left in their final four battle. Mahaffey then won the game in overtime on a driving layup to the rim. A big-time stock riser, Mahaffey had some Division I coaches interested in him, with the bloodlines of talent and the rapid improvement, it’ll be interesting to follow his recruitment over the next month and beyond.
Another key piece towards Moeller’s title run was Noah George Noah George 6’5″ | C Moeller | 2024 State OH , a senior who found himself at the right place at the right time for easy buckets in both games I saw of Moeller this weekend. A big who clearly knows how to play, George moves well without the ball and takes care of it when relied upon in the offense. Also spacing the floor and hitting a couple jumpers when he was left alone, George is a well-rounded offensive player. Expect George to play a big role for Moeller as a senior and attract small college looks.
A new name for me from Lakota East, I was really impressed with Smyers in their comeback victory over Preble Shawnee in the elite 8 round of the bracket. Smyers has a funky game as the lefty likes using his right hand on floaters and touch shots from the 5-8 foot range at the rim. Able to attack a closeout and finish at the rim, he has some intriguing ball-handling ability for a guy his size. Also showed the ability to knock down an open jumper, Smyers was a pleasant surprise when watching Clint Adkins squad. The Thunderhawks are going to be led by rising Junior Point Guard Trey Perry Trey Perry 6’1″ | PG Lakota East | 2025 State OH , but Smyers and Derek Jackson Derek Jackson 6’6″ | PF Lakota East | 2024 State OH is an intriguing forward duo for them to work with this winter.
Hesse was a skilled wing who hit open shots and played within the offense for a Providence (IN) squad that got a come from behind victory over Wayne to advance to the elite 8 of their bracket. I also thought Hesse was a solid athlete with a body that can fill out. As a team, Providence was disciplined on defense and took care of the basketball, a recipe for success in summer basketball.
Highlights
Maybe the top prospects at the event, Haralson was dominating for a loaded Fishers squad on Saturday. With the talent gap between the teams, it would’ve been easy for Haralson to try and dominate the ball and shoot over and over again, instead Haralson played within the flow of the offense and got open looks for his teammates and picked his spots well. With an efficient shooting game from the floor and his usual tough defense, Fishers cruised to advance in their bracket. With the amount of complimentary pieces they have, look for Fishers to potentially win the whole thing on Sunday afternoon.