Ohio Valley Hoops Classic Preview
In this article:
The Ohio Valley Hoops Classic brings some of the top talent from Cincinnati to battle with top teams from other parts of Ohio and neighboring states. In this article, we’ll break down what fans can be excited about at Mason…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Ohio Valley Hoops Classic brings some of the top talent from Cincinnati to battle with top teams from other parts of Ohio and neighboring states. In this article, we’ll break down what fans can be excited about at Mason High School Arena.
Friday December 1st
The opening night of the event starts with Cincinnati Withrow against Crispus Attucks (IN) as Withrow looks to start their charge to the top of the CMAC. With returners like Michael Johnson Michael Johnson 6'6" | SF Cincinnati Withrow | 2024 State OH leading the way, Withrow has some intriguing talent returning against a talented out of state opponent. The second game of the day might be the top game of the entire event as Richmond Heights takes on Newport (KY) in the second game of the day. Richmond Heights is a back-to-back state champion in Division IV and added our top ranked 2026 prospect Tj Crumble. Newport has one of the top teams in Kentucky with 2026 stud Taylen Kinney Taylen Kinney 6'1" | PG Newport | 2026 State KY and James Turner James Turner 6'6" | PF Newport | 2026 State KY leading the way. Newport also has multiple 2024 transfers originally from Ohio at the guard position in DeShaun Jackson DeShaun Jackson 6'3" | PG Newport | 2024 State KY and Jabari Covington Jabari Covington 6'1" | PG Newport | 2024 State KY . The final game of the night features host Mason against Cincinnati Taft. Mason returns key seniors Ben Menker Ben Menker 6'5" | SF Mason | 2024 State OH and Matt DeBrosse Matt DeBrosse 6'0" | SG Mason | 2024 State OH and have a solid core around those two. Taft will have a new look squad after graduating some talented prospects but are hoping to show they are still at the top of the CMAC.
Saturday December 2nd
The second day of the event starts with Chaminade Julienne Vs Miami East. Miami East returns a senior guard duo of Wes Enis Wes Enis 6'2" | SG Miami East | 2024 OH and Jacob Roeth Jacob Roeth 6'1" | PG Miami East | 2024 State OH and will be state title contenders in Division III. Chaminade Julienne is coming off a final four appearance in Division II but after losing a majority of their production from last season, will be relying on Devin Rakestraw Devin Rakestraw 6'6" | PF Chaminade Julienne | 2024 State OH and David Cartwright David Cartwright 6'3" | SG Chaminade Julienne | 2025 State OH to take the next step. The second game is Sycamore Vs Lloyd Memorial (KY) as Raleigh Burgess Raleigh Burgess 6'10" | C Sycamore | 2024 State #130 Nation OH will make his return to this event after dominating against Dublin Jerome last season. Lloyd Memorial is led by EJ Walker EJ Walker 6'8" | PF Lloyd Memorial | 2025 State #116 Nation KY , who has a handful of high and mid major offers. Lakota East takes on Cincinnati St Xavier in a GMC Vs GCL showdown. Lakota East is led by Trey Perry Trey Perry 6'1" | PG Lakota East | 2025 State OH and will rely on their defensive toughness to grind out wins this year. St Xavier has a pair of talented 2025 prospects to watch in Jacob Wassler Jacob Wassler 6'10" | C St Xavier | 2025 State OH and Donovan Waleskowski Donovan Waleskowski 6'4" | SF Cincinnati St Xavier | 2025 State OH . Kettering Alter takes on Hilliard Bradley in what could be the marquee match-up of day two. Alter is led by transfer Rj Greer Rj Greer 6'4" | SG Kettering Alter | 2025 State #167 Nation OH but they also have other 2025 talent in Brady Conner Brady Conner 6'6" | SF Kettering Alter | 2025 State OH and Matt Lunne Matt Lunne 6'6" | C Kettering Alter | 2025 State OH . Hilliard Bradley is one of the top teams in Columbus with Cade Norris Cade Norris 6'3" | PG Hilliard Bradley | 2024 State OH leading a sharp shooting squad. Freshman Ben Mirgon Ben Mirgon 6'1" | PG Hilliard Bradley | 2027 State OH will be a name to watch in central Ohio as he gets his high school career underway in that game. Finally, Kings take on Preble Shawnee to end the day. Kings is another program with a strong 2025 class led by Tommy Clark Tommy Clark 6'3" | SG Kings | 2025 State OH with Myles Baker Myles Baker 6'1" | SG Kings | 2025 State OH as a prime breakout candidate next to senior Talan Noyes Talan Noyes 5'10" | PG Kings | 2024 State OH in their backcourt. Preble Shawnee will be contending for a Division III state title as Mason Shrout Mason Shrout 6'4" | SF Preble Shawnee | 2024 State OH wraps up his illustrious high school career.
Sunday December 3rd
The final day of the event has just three games but there will still be plenty of talent to see. Delaware Hayes takes on Cooper (KY) to open the day as Jesse Burris Jesse Burris 6'4" | SF Delaware Hayes | 2024 State #297 Nation OH and Landon Vanderwarker Landon Vanderwarker 6'7" | PF Delaware Hayes | 2025 State OH are one of the top duos in Ohio. Cooper is led by seniors Jashaun Pouncy Jashaun Pouncy 6'6" | PF Cooper | 2024 State KY and Tanner Murphy Tanner Murphy 6'3" | SG Cooper | 2024 State KY this season. Cincinnati Woodward takes on Rowan County (KY) in the second game of the day. Ru Mills Ru Mills 6'2" | SF Cincinnati Woodward | 2024 State OH led the CMAC Red in scoring as a Junior and is back for more this season. Brayden Mirus Brayden Mirus 6'1" | PG Rowan County | 2024 State KY will be a player to watch on Rowan County, he recently received an offer to Webster University. The event wraps up with Goshen taking on Lloyd Memorial (KY). Goshen is led by Caden Zeinner, one of the top scorers in the greater Cincinnati area. They’ll take on Lloyd Memorial, the only team to play multiple games at the Ohio Valley Hoops Classic this year.