Ohio’s Top 2025 Small Town Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops is helping high school basketball fans across the country get prepared for the high school basketball season by answering some burning questions in all fifty states. One question, who are the top small-town prospects in every state. We already broke down the top 2024 small town prospects, click <a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/10/ohios-top-2024-small-town-prospects/">here</a> to view that article. Small town prospects are determined to be players at OHSAA Division III or IV programs outside of major metropolitan areas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1432044"],"_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":"Many top small town prospects excel at multiple sports and Stokes is no exception. A football and basketball stud for Oak Harbor, Stokes led Oak Harbor to an unbeaten regular season this fall as the OHSAA football playoffs kick off this weekend. A big time athlete, Stokes has the size and athleticism to win jump balls on the football field and throw down slam dunks in transition on the hardwood.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1432019"],"_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":"Roberts is one of the most naturally talented prospects I've seen come out of southeast Ohio since I began covering Ohio high school basketball in 2018. His dad was an exceptional athlete at South Webster, where he son Eli attends, and eventually went on to lead the NCAA in scoring at 28 points per game at Morehead State. Morehead State became the first college program to offer Roberts last week. When watching Roberts, you see some of the natural athleticism and open court talent. Roberts had a big game against Lucasville Valley last season, scoring 24 points in a comeback effort, look for Roberts to have more of those performances this winter.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1432036"],"_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":"One of the top small town athletic programs in Ohio is Marion Local. A school that's dominated in a variety of sports, they have a record 13 OHSAA football state championships as well as three boys basketball, five volleyball and one girls basketball state title. Niekamp looks to be the next in line at Marion Local on the hardwood with his ability with the ball in his hands for his size. Look for scholarship programs to prioritize him starting next spring.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1888322"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Minford has a duo of Kayser and [player_tooltip player_id='1432013' first='Myles' last='Montgomery'] that allowed them to be one of the top Division III teams in the state last season. With another year of experience, the Falcons have even higher expectations this winter. Kayser has taken a big step this summer and has grown in confidence and as an athlete. Look for Minford to make noise outside of just southeast Ohio this winter.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1943268"],"_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":"One of the biggest prospects in Ohio's 2025 class, Wood has a lot of upside with his large frame. Already showing some ability with his back to the basket, Wood is a prospect who will play his best basketball later in his career. After a strong performance at the Toledo Top 64, dozens of college programs got early looks at what Wood could be with some development.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1432013"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"The second part of the Minford duo, Montgomery is a multi-sport athlete but in a unique way compared to most basketball studs. Montgomery scored a goal in the Falcons in their sectional championship over Warren. A prospect who has been on our radar since his freshman season, Montgomery is one of the top guards in southeast Ohio.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1935950"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Another small-town [program_tooltip program_id='2075761' first='Ohio' last='Buckets'] product, Platfoot had an excellent season on a Jackson Center squad that was one of the best in Division IV last season. I expect Platfoot to take that next step this winter and be the focal point of the team after Jackson Center graduates a talented senior class.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["1952004"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Another multi-sport athlete, Reese currently projects to be a football prospect at the next level after a strong Junior season on the gridiron and some impressive camp showings. He got onto my radar as a basketball prospect playing for Nova Village's 2025 group as a rebounder and physical presence in the paint. Whatever sport Reese chooses to play at the next level, he has the physical talent to be a difference maker.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653699780c3e3"} /-->