Midwest Live: Ohio Friday Standouts
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Midwest live is the only June live period event hosted in Ohio and brought in teams from Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and West Virginia to the Cedar Point Sports Center. In this article I’ll break down my standouts from Friday’s action.…
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Continue ReadingMidwest live is the only June live period event hosted in Ohio and brought in teams from Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and West Virginia to the Cedar Point Sports Center. In this article I’ll break down my standouts from Friday’s action.
A prospect I really haven’t ever gotten the chance to watch before today, Tino impressed me with his new school of Lutheran West. With a quick release and an accurate outside shot, Yli-Junnila was making open shots his guards created for him. Fitting right in with the backcourt from his Prep Hoops Circuit program of Mac Basketball , it hasn’t taken long for him to settle in with his new team. I also thought he moved without the ball well and made the right pass. Most important thing for me to see from him is improved foot speed and ability to defend on the perimeter. Able to play either wing forward spot, I think small college programs should be making it a priority to recruit Yli-Junnila.
Highlights
After balling out on the national stage with team Argentina at the FIBA America U 16 championship, Kropp is back in Ohio making noise. Olentangy Liberty graduated a majority of their core that surrounded Kropp and that’s allowed him to grow into the leader of the team. Very skilled for his size, Kropp can really pass the ball from the high post. Flashing some ball-handling ability as well, Kropp hit a sweet euro-step for a layup finish. Small improvements for Kropp to be even more dominant would be keeping the ball high against smaller high school defenders in the paint. Could probably add a bucket or two a game by getting better at this skill. A top big in Ohio’s 2025 class, low to mid major programs will want to closely monitor Kropp over the next 13 months.
Hilliard Bradley is projected to be one of the top teams in central Ohio and showing their talent in Sandusky this weekend. With a deep team, Bradley has a lot of shooting and nobody shoots it better on the Jags than Bischoff. Hitting three or four 3-pointers in the second half alone, Bischoff shot his team into a victory on Friday afternoon. A small college target alongside senior Ian Abrass Ian Abrass 6’2″ | SG Hilliard Bradley | 2024 State OH and Junior Garrett Sever Garrett Sever 6’2″ | SG Hilliard Bradley | 2025 State OH at the wing guard position. With senior Cade Norris Cade Norris 6’3″ | PG Hilliard Bradley | 2024 State OH and incoming freshman Ben Mirgon Ben Mirgon 6’1″ | PG Hilliard Bradley | 2027 State OH standing out as well, this Bradley team is deep with talent. Fellow senior Duncan Spalding Duncan Spalding 6’6″ | C Hilliard Bradley | 2024 State OH also impressed with his high motor, rebounding and size in the paint.
A name that’s been hot on college coaches mind, Biddell has recently been offered by two GMAC programs in the recent weeks. Grown a couple inches since the last time I watched him and improved athletically, Biddell has clearly taken a step in his game. The lefty shot it with confidence and had some tough finishes at the basket. As a team, Mentor played up and down basketball with full court pressure and quick ball movement. Alongside Biddell I thought Ian Ioppolo Ian Ioppolo 6’6″ | PF Mentor | 2024 State OH scored the ball at a high efficiency, a prospect Division II coaches should be really focusing on this weekend. I also caught a couple new names on the Cardinals including wing shooter Ryan Calo Ryan Calo 6’3″ | SF Mentor | 2025 OH and forward Conner O’Brien Conner O’Brien 6’5″ | PF Mentor | 2024 State OH . Should be a fun season to follow for Cardinal fans.
Highlights
Maybe the standout individual performer of the day, Jackson was terrific in Garfield Heights blowout win over Detroit MLK. With great efficiency scoring the ball in a variety of ways, Jackson was attacking closeouts with dibble moves, hitting open spot-up 3-pointers and leaking out in transition for easy layups. On the defensive end, Jackson plays tough on ball defense and took a charge as well. Really impressed with Garfield Heights as a team, DeVaughn Jackson DeVaughn Jackson 6’1″ | CG Garfield Heights | 2025 State OH is a sleeper who might be playing behind some talented seniors but will be a prime breakout candidate on a senior and a guy who would start for the overwhelming majority of schools in northeast Ohio. Garfield Heights also brought in an out of state transfer who will make a big splash in our 2026 rankings when he makes his debut.