Great Lakes Classic Preview
In this article:
The Great Lakes Classic will feature some of the top northeast Ohio talent going at it during the opening weekend of the Ohio high school basketball season at Cleveland Heights High School. Friday, December 1st The opening day of the…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Great Lakes Classic will feature some of the top northeast Ohio talent going at it during the opening weekend of the Ohio high school basketball season at Cleveland Heights High School.
Friday, December 1st
The opening day of the event is a standalone boys game between rivals Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights. Shaker Heights will have a younger roster after graduating some key pieces including Kellon Smith and losing guard Noah Chambers to transfer. Cleveland Heights has an impressive 2025 core led by Braylyn Irby Braylyn Irby 6'3" | SG Cleveland Heights | 2025 State OH , Carter Armstrong Carter Armstrong 6'2" | CG Cleveland Heights | 2025 State OH and Jayquan Stubbs Jayquan Stubbs 6'5" | C Cleveland Heights | 2025 State OH . The host Tigers will look to start off the season strong with a win in this rivalry battle.
Saturday, December 2nd
Prep programs ISA and Spire open up the second day of the event. ISA has formed a new squad and will take on a Spire squad headlined by Abdou Yadd Abdou Yadd 6'8" | C Spire | 2025 State #151 Nation OH and Djiby Ly Djiby Ly 6'3" | SG Spire | 2025 State OH . The second game of the day matches up Holy Name and Riverside, two programs coming off very strong seasons in 2022-23. Holy Name is led by Maxwell Bollin Maxwell Bollin 6'3" | SG Holy Name | 2025 State OH while Riverside returns Andrew Taggart Andrew Taggart 6'1" | PG Painesville Riverside | 2024 State OH . Third game of the day is University School against Maple Heights. Justin Belcher Justin Belcher 5'11" | PG University School | 2024 State OH is a top scorer for University School and coming off an impressive summer on the grassroots circuit. Maple Heights returns Dave Aniton Dave Aniton 6'7" | C Maple Heights | 2025 State OH as a big in the middle and transfer Kenyon Giles Kenyon Giles 6'0" | CG Maple Heights | 2024 State OH from Rhodes will help them replace a deep senior class that helped the Mustangs establish themselves as one of the top teams in NEO last season. The nightcap is Garfield Heights against Euclid. Garfield Heights is one of the most talented teams in the state and will look to start their campaign with a win over a Euclid squad that always has talented guards, including Myckel Davis Myckel Davis 6'2" | SG Euclid | 2024 OH who stood out at our 250 expo.
Sunday, December 3rd
The final day of the event features six games with the first action tipping off at 11:30 A.M. Shaw takes on Orange in a battle of squads looking to rebuild this season. The second game features Cleveland Central Catholic Vs Mayfield, Cleveland Central Catholic started last season strong but faded with a tough schedule, can the Ironmen regain that form this year? Mayfield comes off an impressive second place finish in the WRC and is looking to take the conference crown this winter. Benedictine takes on John Marshall in the third game of the day as the Bengals return a majority of their core from one of the younger rosters in the area last season. John Marshall opens up their season looking to improve of last year’s six-win campaign. Cornerstone Christian then takes on Glenville in what should be an intriguing battle. Quinn Kwasnaik is one of the top 3-point shooters in Ohio while Glenville has the athleticism and size to turn opponents over and score on the inside. Brush takes on Lutheran West in the penultimate game of the day. Brush has a new look squad with seniors like Aliyy King Aliyy King 6'7" | PF Brush | 2024 State OH ready to step up alongside potential breakout Junior Damari Dammons Damari Dammons 6'4" | PF Brush | 2025 State OH . Lutheran West has state title sights with Jayson Levis Jayson Levis 6'1" | CG Lutheran West | 2024 State OH and Derek Fairley Derek Fairley 6'1" | CG Lutheran West | 2024 State OH back for one final ride. Finally, Lutheran East takes on VASJ in a competitive smaller division private school battle. Lutheran East will be led by Jesse McCulloch Jesse McCulloch 6'9" | PF Lutheran East | 2024 State #136 Nation OH with other tough seniors like Ronald Taylor Ronald Taylor 6'5" | SF Lutheran East | 2024 State OH , Chauncey Brashers Chauncey Brashers 6'0" | PG Lutheran East | 2024 State OH and Anthony Bruce Anthony Bruce 5'10" | PG Lutheran East | 2024 State OH . VASJ is coming off a season where they found their stride after a 2-8 start, going 9-7 to end the season.