Step Higher Tip Off: 2026 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Step Higher Tip Off brought two days of action to Holmes High School in Covington, in this article I'll discuss the 2026 standouts from Sunday at the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2222935"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673ba32457ee7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The biggest stock riser of the day, Martin played his best game I've seen from him on Sunday. A wing who has always possessed intriguing physical tools and the ability to make shots from the perimeter, it seemed to all click for Martin on Sunday. He caught fire in the second half and made three straight 3-pointers to help Summit Country Day erase a deficit and earn a hard-fought victory. Martin also made some toughness plays that are a key area of focus for him. I think Martin could be a breakout prospect in the Cincinnati area this winter if the continues to play with the confidence he showed today.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2245774"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673ba32457f4c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Spire was dominant in a win over Flyght Academy and I could've picked a handful of players to spotlight (Sean Register was a 2025 standout) but I went with Williams. His overall activity on both ends of the court was impressive. Defensively, Williams forced a handful of turnovers with pressure and overall activity. He quickly turned defense into offense and made the simple reads for easy baskets. When you force turnovers, play fast and decisive and don't care who scores the basketball, you give yourself the chance to blow out an opponent like what Spire did on Sunday. Great overall team effort that is a stepping stone for tougher challenges that are coming soon for their team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"George Nasir","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Oakville Prep","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673ba32457fea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A Canadian Prep school made the trip to Kentucky to compete and Nasir was their standout on Sunday. A super athletic wing guard, Nasir was playing above the rim on numerous occasions. Oakville Prep struggled to score in the half-court so any opportunity they had to run, they took advantage of. Nasir also hit some tough shots that kept his team in the game before falling short at the buzzer. It'll be interesting to see where Nasir's recruitment ends up, this summer will be key for him to gain exposure with college coaches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2638499"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673ba32458034"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A big body in the paint, Taylor brought physicality to the court for Dayton Dunbar on Sunday. Scoring multiple times in the post, Taylor had a strength advantage over most opposing bigs and used his body weight to spin off defenders for reverse layups and get putback layups. Dayton Dunbar was missing some key pieces on Sunday but could once again challenge for a city league title in Dayton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1864641"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673ba32458075"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McDaniels reclassified to 2026 with his move to Huntington Prep and was a standout in the nightcap of the event. A big time shooter, McDaniels can make it rain from way downtown even with a hand in his face or a hard closeout. McDaniels does well playing off high volume guards who can draw defense into the paint and then quickly kick it out for a 3-point shot for McDaniels with his feet set. McDaniels also looked a little more explosive athletically than he was during the summer, he had a nice two footed slam dunk off a great feed by a teammate. It'll be interesting to see where his recruitment shakes up with this new reclass and playing for Huntington Prep after he left the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->