Step Higher Tip Off: Top Performers

The Step Higher Tip Off brought four games to Holmes High School in Covington, Kentucky and in this article we'll break down the top performers from the event.    I haven't gotten to see Evans much since an injury kept him out during the spring live period and most of June. Back at 100% for Pickerington Central, Evans wanted to remind fans that he's one of the top players in Ohio's 2027 class. Evans was getting to his spots in the mid-range and rising up over shot contests to knock down tough pull-ups. His best shot of the day came off a pull-up above the break 3-pointer. Evans also had a nasty dunk in traffic and made some plays as a helpside rim protector as the Tigers were playing without two of their forwards on Saturday. With a statement performance like that, Evans looks set to have a monster junior season. His strength allows him to overpower a lot of smaller wings who defend him.     A big time performance on both ends of the court for Joiner, he might be the best pound for pound rebounder in the state. Going hard after every loose ball, Joiner plays like he's 6'8 on the glass. I also love his aggressiveness defensively gambling for steals that usually end in a transition layup or dunk if he anticipates correctly. One of the top athletes in southwest Ohio, Joiner had some impressive above the rim finishes when he had a runway. Also knocking down a tough pull-up 3-pointer, that's something I want to see more from Joiner this year. Joiner also left a couple points at the rim and improving his touch at the basket could allow him to score an extra 4 points a night.     Princeton was locked in once again and got a comfortable victory against a McNicholas squad that should win a lot of games this winter. That type of performance is why I'm so high on Princeton this season because of their ability to turn teams over and quickly score in transition. Gill was often at the finishing end of these buckets with a couple of strong lefty finishes at the rim. Princeton also executed sets and BLOB plays to get easy looks for Gill and his teammates, the sign of a well coached team with great chemistry. Expect to hear a lot about Princeton this winter.     Lakota West is our preseason #1 team in Ohio heading into the season and they looked the part on Saturday with a dominant win over one of the best teams from Lexington. Tyson was getting after it defensively from the point of attack, making it miserable for Frederick Douglass guards to even cross half court. Tyson also knocked down a couple 3-pointers and made the right extra pass when it was there. The type of performance you'd expect from our top ranked 2027 prospect in the OHSAA.     Frederick Douglass took a tough loss but it was not for a lack of impact from Surratt at both ends of the court. One of the top athletes in the state, Surratt had four or five plays in the first half that were jaw dropping. Whether it's a transition dunk, a monster blocked shot or an acrobatic layup finish, Surratt makes plays that nobody else on the court can make. If Surratt continues to improve as a ball handler and shooter, he can be an all-conference level player at the Division I level.     Rod Wave Elite brought in local stars Taylen Kinney and [player_tooltip player_id='2842428' first='Kameron' last='Mercer'] but it was Miller who stole the show for me. A creative guard, Miller has the ability to make flashy dribble moves and passes to create for himself or his teammates. Also able to play above the rim in transition, Miller knows he can leak out after steals and rebounds because his team looks to push the pace and score before the defense can get back. Miller is already signed to George Mason and they have some talented pieces in their 2026 class to go along with their unbeaten start to the 2025-26 season.     A prospect who stood out for Brazil in various FIBA events, Alessanco has had a fast start to his career at OTE as he just produces in so many different ways. With an incredible frame, Alessanco is able to bully players in the paint to get position for rebounds. An impressive shooter, Alessanco made shots from stationary positions and moving off screens and relocating off the ball. A forward who will simply help you win college basketball games, expect high major programs to prioritize him when it's time for him to make a college decision.     One of the top prospects in the 2029 class, Johnson is going to be a player basketball fans across the country familiarize themselves with over the next few years. Johnson is an incredible vertical athlete and had some impressive above the rim finishes when he got downhill in transition. Also a knockdown shooter, Johnson made a handful of shots from the corners where he liked to spot-up or cut to the rim. It's very early in the development stage for 2029 prospects but Johnson looks like a potential top 10 prospect when the initial national rankings drop for that class.

The Step Higher Tip Off brought four games to Holmes High School in Covington, Kentucky and in this article we'll break down the top performers from the event.