Mid-Season News & Notes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several items to get everyone caught up with for those of you that aren't glued to Twitter. We've had several players hit 1000 career points during the first half of the season including: [player_tooltip player_id='2281186' first='Anthony' last='Mascio'], [player_tooltip player_id='2304715' first='MJ' last='Patton'], [player_tooltip player_id='2337631' first='Gavin' last='Derby'], [player_tooltip player_id='1408804' first='Ammar' last='Maxwell'], [player_tooltip player_id='1463045' first='Preston' last='Luzader'] and most recently [player_tooltip player_id='1578760' first='Parker' last='Schramm'], [player_tooltip player_id='2350688' first='Ronny' last='Griest'], [player_tooltip player_id='1851971' first='Rayden' last='Triplett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2350696' first='Riley' last='Clevenger']. These players have all had great careers thus far with three of them being only juniors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Congratulations to <strong>Morgantown High School coach Dave Tallman Jr</strong> for eclipsing 200 wins in just 9 and half seasons. Tallman has built a dynasty as quickly as one could be built in WV hoops. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also congrats to <strong>Coach Benitez Jackson of Oak Hill High School</strong> for getting his 100th win! Coach Jackson has done a remarkable coaching job there and will continue for coming years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1408521' first='Aiden' last='Davis'] of Wheeling Park has eclipsed former Wheeling Park legend Bubby Goodwin's career mark for made 3's at 203. Davis is just a junior so once he's done that new record will be set extremely high as he'll have a season and a half to add to it. Goodwin was also a standout player at nationally ranked West Liberty during his time there. (at press time Davis had hit 8 threes in a game vs Parkersburg South 2/13)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Par Mar Shootout</strong> was held last week at WV State campus. Well run event as always with great TV/streaming coverage. The event directors should be commended for adding an additional day to make it a four day event and are in serious consideration of adding a fifth. Director indicated they already had 11 teams re-up for next season's event before this years event week was over. Our goal in conjunction with <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/home">BlueChips Nation</a></strong> will be to turn this into a primo recruiting tool and gain exposure for our players. We'll have a Par Mar Shootout report out in the next few days. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/home">BlueChips Nation</a></strong>, they in conjunction with Prep Select group are hosting a very unique, Middle School Showcase on February 25th at the Bridge Sports Complex in Bridgeport WV. This we believe is the first of its kind AND, we will be there! Prep Hoops WV will be there to help evaluate all players most notably all 8th graders and we'll be adding them into the national database for future ranking consideration. We will be providing this service free to event directors and athletes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2208865' first='Cole' last='Lambert'] recently received an offer to St Vincent's College to continue his basketball career. Lambert is on an absolute roll this season lighting up nearly every gym he steps into. We'd expect many of the higher level D3's try to scoop up Lambert before his recruiting space gets crowded. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2350701' first='Mason' last='Cyran'] has received offers for a couple post grad opportunities, one at Central Pointe Post Grad Academy in Orlando Florida, the other is home state Huntington Expressions Prep in Huntington WV. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1573144' first='Maki' last='Cary'] recently received an offer from Potomac St, the state's only JUCO program. Potomac St coaches are always aggressive with in-state talent and Cary is an easy player to love when you see him play. Potomac St will likely have some in-state 2024 offers to roll out soon as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linsly School will be competing in the <strong><a href="http://bigshots.net">Big Shots </a></strong>Prep Nationals on February 23-25 in Rock Hill S.C.. If you haven't read the early season report on Linsly basketball, go back and read it to get a better understanding of what they are all about. Boasting several college recruits of all levels and from several different countries, Linsly is led by Wheeling native and former Division I coach <strong>Dave Wojcik</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Recruiting is in full swing and heating up quickly. <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/home">BlueChips Nation</a></strong> is reporting for WV that they have heard from coaches in Division I, D2, D3 and NAIA just in the month of January. Lists are being generated to help fulfill coaches recruiting needs and coaches will put on the full court recruiting press in the coming weeks with the WVSSAC Boys State Tournament being the highlight event of the spring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coaches, players, parents, we are starting to build our initial 2027 ranking list that will be released at the end of the summer. If there's players you feel we should review, evaluate or consider, DM me @scottwstrode on Twitter and let me know who to watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a recent 54 point performance, [player_tooltip player_id='1578745' first='Gavin' last='Parker Watts'] pulls slightly ahead of [player_tooltip player_id='1573144' first='Maki' last='Cary'] as WV's scoring leader in the MaxPreps statistical system. Third on that list............................[player_tooltip player_id='2340506' first='Colin' last='Cross'] of Weir High School. Cross has regularly led his team in scoring and posted several games scoring in the thirties. Coincidentally, Watts and Cary both have an offer from KCU, but both will also have (Cary already has) in state offers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://twitter.com/home">BlueChips Nation</a></strong> has confirmed there is Division I interest in Spring Mills forward [player_tooltip player_id='2208821' first='Caleb' last='Thomas']. It was to be expected, but a little later than some expected. Thomas has absolutely torched every gym he's been in since November. He'll have a serious case for player of the year in West Virginia. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://twitter.com/home">BlueChips Nation</a></strong> is also confirming recruiting buzz picking up steam around aforementioned Tolsia's [player_tooltip player_id='1578745' first='Gavin' last='Parker Watts']. Watts yet again thrilled a gym full of fans blistering nets for 54 points last week. Watts has an early offer from NAIA program Kentucky Christian University, but it sounds as though some in state D2's will be involved very soon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of this season's biggest success stories is the Midland Trail High School boys basketball program. Sitting on a 15-2 record, MT avenged an early season loss to Nicholas last week 43-40, senior [player_tooltip player_id='1578741' first='Eli' last='Campbell'] has been nothing short of dazzling for MT. Speaking of dazzling, how about the Trail's [player_tooltip player_id='2303395' first='Payton' last='Bailes'] who dropped 9 from behind the arc which ties the school record held by current teammate, yes you guessed it, [player_tooltip player_id='1578741' first='Eli' last='Campbell']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Recent Recruiting Stock Risers: [player_tooltip player_id='1309597' first='Xavier' last='Kirk'], [player_tooltip player_id='1867669' first='Cruz' last='Isaly'], [player_tooltip player_id='1851905' first='Roman' last='Kellum'], [player_tooltip player_id='1920568' first='Hayden' last='Pyles'], [player_tooltip player_id='2208851' first='Ethan' last='Blackburn']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mid-Season Favorites for March: AAAA Spring Mills, AAA Fairmont Sr., AA Bluefield, A Tucker </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->