Midwest Live: Saturday Morning 2027 Standouts

Midwest Live brought out the top teams from Ohio and in this article I'll break down the 2027 standouts from Saturday morning's action.    Maybe the top overall stock riser from the weekend, Creager had some monster performances for Patrick Henry this weekend as he was scorching the nets from long distance. Creager's ability to knock down shots well behind the 3-point line caught the defense by surprise and it seemed like he hardly ever missed with his feet set. Creager also has a stronger frame and does a nice job of creating contact by hitting the defense first before stepping back. Bowling Green and Cleveland State offered after this weekend and I'd expect more schools to get in the mix as Creager had at least 20 Division I programs at his games throughout the weekend.     Lakota West's 2027 guard superstars steal the headlines but Mamutse is a gritty wing guard who provides an elite defensive impact and can guard multiple positions. In a few possession sequence I saw Mamutse force a turnover with his defensive pressure, front a bigger player in the post and prevent a post entry and grab a defensive rebound in traffic to start the fast break. Mamutse is also a guy you can't leave wide open from downtown as he knocked down a corner 3-pointer. Sometimes when players play next to top Division I prospects at the high school level their offensive upside really breaks out at the small college level when Mamutse would be sharing the floor with guys as talented as him instead of nationally ranked prospects. Don't be surprised if he ends up better as a college scorer than anticipated!     The top OHSAA prospect in the 2027 class, Mercer is a defending state champion who willed Princeton to a win over Romulus Summit Academy on Saturday on Court 1. Mercer provided an excellent defensive impact as his pickpocket steal that led to a transition dunk helped swing momentum just before an and-1 finish helped tie the game for his team. The future Cincinnati Bearcat also had a couple mid-range buckets as his perimeter shooting is a key swing skill at the college level. Expect Princeton to draw headlines throughout the season with a stacked roster full of top talent.     I caught a tough loss for Aiken against a talented team out of Western PA but McNeill was the standout performer for the Falcons. Improving as a ball handler, McNeill looked more confident attacking closeouts and using his left hand to finish at the rim. I've always liked McNeill's 3-and-D ability on the wing and this improvement as a ball handler could help take his game to the next level. McNeill also announced he'd be joining Ohio Champion Basketball for July, giving college coaches another opportunity to see him in action this summer.     The top prospect from southeast Ohio's 2027 class, Brinager had a monster performance in a fun battle with Liberty Center in a contest featuring dynamic wing guards. Brinager plays with an elite motor on both ends of the court and his physicality on drives and rebounds allows him to dominate smaller players. While Brinager is not a consistent 3-point shooter yet, he loves the mid-range jumper and knocked down at least six shots from the 12-18 foot range in the game I saw. I think low major programs should be checking Brinager out on the MHC this July as top Division II programs have already made him a priority.

Midwest Live brought out the top teams from Ohio and in this article I'll break down the 2027 standouts from Saturday morning's action.