Top Ohio performers from Made Hoops Midwest Mania

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I went to the Spooky Nook complex in Hamilton, Ohio last weekend to catch Midwest Mania, in this article I'll break down the top performers from the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1827697"],"_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-67fd71af36062"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Washington had the performance of the weekend by exploding for 40 points against Indiana Elite on Saturday. An incredible perimeter shooting display, Washington has made his release even quicker and is shooting the ball with a ton of confidence. Washington did an excellent job of moving without the basketball and his teammates gave him passes that were on time and on target to fire away from long range. As an athlete Washington had a few eye-popping plays including a chase down block off the backboard and a couple impressive transition slam dunks. While Washington has been a priority for mid major programs for well over a year, he might get some high major interest if this type of performance continues.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2458387"],"_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-67fd71af36101"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I have to give a lot of props to Ohio Champion 17 U as they went 4-0 on the weekend beating three Made Hoops Circuit teams and a Pro 16 team as well. I caught one of their Saturday games where Jones was an x-factor with his athleticism on both ends of the court. I was really impressed with Jones ability to get to the paint and how he was changing speeds and directions off the dribble and being tough to stay in front. His athleticism changes the game on both ends due to his ability to make an impact defensively either on the ball or as a help side defender and also push the pace in transition to either score himself at the rim or draw in defenders so a shooter can take advantage from 3-point range. I was impressed with Ohio Champion 17 U as a group while Jones was the most intriguing prospect from their team and should get some more Division I looks during live periods.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1708701"],"_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-67fd71af36157"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='2076317' first='Midwest' last='Basketball Club 3SSB'] ran through two EYBL teams on Sunday and Smith has continues to improve on both ends of the court. I thought Smith was aggressive in the paint and made a couple contested shots he wouldn't have in previous years on the grassroots circuit. Making shots at the rim with both hands, Smith could extend for scoop finishes or use his left hand on touch shots around the rim. Playing above the rim when he gets a head of steam, Smith had a couple nasty dunks this weekend. As a cutter, Smith also made himself available along the baseline to catch and finish shots in traffic and make something out of nothing. One of the top stretch forwards in the Midwest, Smith is showing why a handful of high major programs pursued him heavily and why he's a potential local impact recruit for Jake Diebler and the Ohio State Buckeyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2140535"],"_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-67fd71af361a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The best game I saw all weekend was between Phenom United and Team Herro in a 16 U showdown. Mack-Russell stood out athletically as he was throwing down some crazy alley-oop dunks in transition and finishing at the rim at an extremely high level. Even with other high major athletes on the court, Mack-Russell can finish above and through them off two feet as he's such an impressive power athlete from the wing position. If Mack-Russell takes the next step as a 3-point shooter he will rise up national rankings boards where he's cracked the top 100 in ON3's rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2712642"],"_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-67fd71af3620c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A thrilling overtime game between [program_tooltip program_id='2076317' first='Midwest' last='Basketball Club 3SSB'] and [program_tooltip program_id='2320052' first='All' last='Ohio Red'] EYBL saw Keely simply will his team to victory. The versatile wing was playing harder than anybody else on the court and made play after play to finish off an incredible comeback. Keely's most impressive play of the game came when he drove right down the middle of the court and threw down a nasty slam dunk right in front of me. I also thought Keely shot the ball with more confidence than I've ever seen from him. After not making three 3-pointers in any game during his sophomore season at Centerville, I had Keely down for three 3-pointers on Saturday evening with two of them coming off the dribble. Really loud performance to end Saturday night and make Keely the biggest stock riser of the entire weekend in my eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->