Ohio Valley Hoops Classic: 2025 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Ohio Valley Hoops Classic was a great event to begin the 2025 high school basketball season. Teams from across southwest Ohio and a few out of area teams battled it out in Mason, Ohio. In this article I'll spotlight the 2025 standouts from Friday's action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1285295"],"_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-674e0e48198c6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With one of his future college coaches watching Perry put together a dominant offensive performance shooting 10/17 from the field with six assists and no turnovers. One of the best point guards in Ohio, Perry has a strong natural feel for the game after being the leader of the Thunderhawks since his Sophomore season. Perry was living in the mid-range and got some friendly rolls on contested shots with his soft touch. Defensively, Perry was active with three steals and a couple of those immediately turned into layups for his team. Expect to hear a lot about Perry this season as he looks to lead Lakota East to the top of the GMC. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2569380"],"_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-674e0e4819961"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A new name for me, Akindele was red hot from 3-point range going 4/6 in the win for Lakota East. A strong player, Akindele has an excellent frame that looks like a free safety in football. His quick first step also allowed him to get by the initial defender with ease. I was impressed with the efficiency Akindele played with and he looks like a strong small college prospect from the wing guard position if he continues to shoot the ball with this confidence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2323147"],"_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-674e0e48199d5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gentile was getting busy early in the game with some incredible long-distance shots off movement. Not afraid to fire them up at the rim, Gentile shot 4/8 from 3-point range. As the top scoring option on his team, defenses were throwing two bodies at Gentile to try and stop him and he started doing a nice job of hitting his teammates on the block in positions to score at the rim. Already with a handful of small college interest, Gentile will be one of the most productive players in the GWOC this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1888353"],"_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-674e0e4819a46"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A prospect who has continued to grow literally and figuratively over the past year, Imade is becoming more confident around the basket by asserting his size and length. Always been able to space the floor when left open from 3, I thought Imade did a nicer job of ducking in to receive entry passes for looks in the paint. A few times Imade hit a baseline cut for an easy layup in this game. Also able to put it on the floor and attack a closeout, Imade is a versatile offensive player. If Imade continues to show this upward trajectory, he'll be a stock riser as a senior.</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":"Silas Williams","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Colonial (FL)","_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-674e0e4819b38"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A Florida team came up to Cincinnati and played in both days of the event and got a 72-65 win to open up their time in Ohio. I was impressed with Williams and his ability to make plays off the bounce. A bigger lead guard, Williams was able to use his burst and size to shoot and pass over shorter guard defenders. With a lot of ability on the ball, Williams could hit step-back jumpers and play above the rim in transition. A prospect to watch in Florida this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2677126"],"_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-674e0e4819ba9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Richmond Heights ran Kettering Alter out the gym in a battle of defending state champions. Emory made an impact offensively with the confidence to let it fly from downtown without hesitation. Another area where Richmond Heights thrived was pushing the ball in transition after defensive rebounds or steals and Emory had a couple leakout layups where he got behind the defense. Emory's best sequence of the day came when he got a steal and kicked it to a shooter who missed, Emory got the offensive rebound and the ball was swung back to him where he hit a 3-pointer. A name to watch as Richmond Heights will play a small ball style of play all season after graduating their size in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1432020"],"_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-674e0e4819c26"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Winters will grab headlines for his tremendous shooting ability on the perimeter and while he made shots from 3-point range on Friday evening, I thought his defense was actually his most valuable part of the game. Winters was in the right position as a help-side defender numerous times and also rotated quickly onto 3-point shooters and contesting layups at the rim. He helped hold Alter to 5-22 from 3-point range and 32% from the field overall. When Richmond Heights defends at a high level, they will be very tough to beat this season,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->