Ohio Freshman Showcase: Team 1 Standouts

The Ohio Freshman showcase brought out some top talent in the 2029 class from Ohio, in this article we'll break down the standout performers from team 1!    Thorne made plays as a wing guard who played well off the ball dominant lead guards on his team and picked his spots well to attack. Able to attack a closeout and score, Thorne used the spin moves and extension steps to reach past the defense to score at the rim. Playing off two feet in the paint, Thorne stayed on balance and translated some of the skills we worked on during the drills portion to start the camp in a 5 on 5 setting. Thorne impressed us and will be a name to monitor down the road in central Ohio.     One of the top prospects at the camp, Fortino has an excellent blend of perimeter shooting, slashing and athletic traits that make him tough to stop as a scorer. Being able to confidently knock down open 3-pointers as well as put the ball on the floor to blow by your defender and score at the rim is a great combo for a rising freshman to have and Fortino checks both boxes. Defensively, Fortino was active by playing the passing lanes and looking to get steals. A few times Fortino forced a turnover as a one man full court press, surprising the opposition. Playing at an elite program like Saint Ignatius, you might have to wait to see Fortino at the varsity level but make no mistake, this is one of the top guards in Ohio's 2029 class.     Two things immediately pop when you watch Stewart play against players his age and that's his passing ability and physicality. Throwing some of the flashiest passes in the camp, Stewart could make a no look pass zipping through the defense and hit his teammate right in the hands. Able to make a variety of reads as a driver, it's tough to predict where Stewart wants to go with the basketball. His strong frame allows him to play through contact on both ends of the court and be physical. Another area where Stewart is advanced for his age is his pace on the ball, not always going 100 miles an hour when dribbling downhill. After getting some quality experience in June for Pickerington Central, central Ohio fans might get to see Stewart sooner rather than later at the varsity level.     Baer was efficient with the looks he took on Saturday, making the occasional play off the bounce with a couple dribble drives where he got to the paint and finished with his dominant left hand. Despite his size, Bear also had a couple putback layups as well, crashing the glass during the right moments. Name to monitor in the Toledo area from the class of 2029.     Getting to see Ford and Stewart together helped both prospects as their chemistry was obvious all afternoon. Ford is a high IQ guard who didn't force the issue and made the right pass when it was available. He also ran the floor and got a handful of transition layups by simply beating the defense to the basket. Ford and Stewart could be a dynamic guard duo for years to come for the Tigers.     One of the stronger guards in attendance, Elmer-White had a couple nice plays as a help-side defender, digging down against dribble drives. Elmer-White also knocked down a couple 3-pointers in the 5 on 5 game. A multi-sport athlete, you can tell physically that Elmer-White has an athletic frame that can translate to multiple sports.     One of the smallest players at the camp, that didn't stop Millen from getting buckets on Saturday. With some deep 3-pointers and coast to coast layup and floater finishes, Millen was making sure his presence was felt on the court despite his size. I also liked his activity on the court, just being around the action a lot. If Millen can fill out his frame, he could make a huge jump once he grows because his skill level is already extremely impressive.     One of the taller players at the camp, Binkley grabbed a ton of rebounds on both ends of the court and was a deterrent defensively due to his size and length. Still progressing as an offensive player, Binkley did knock down a 3-pointer on the wing and I'll be looking for him to continue to work on catching and finishing in traffic with other bigs on the court. I also thought Binkley played hard throughout the camp.

The Ohio Freshman showcase brought out some top talent in the 2029 class from Ohio, in this article we'll break down the standout performers from team 1!