Circle City Shootout: Prep Hoops Ohio First and Second Team All Tournament
There was a countless amount of Ohio prospects in Indianapolis for the Circle City Shootout this weekend who currently project from low-major to Division III players. Here, we'll recognize the top ten players, based solely on their performance on Saturday and Sunday.
There are plenty of other prospects who deserve recognition, and they'll receive it in other recaps this week. However, these ten guys separated from the pack.
Side note: Positions are less important in the grassroots season. We saw a lot of five-guard lineups in Indy. Therefore, these are who we truly believe are the top 10 prospects from the event, not necessarily the best two “centers.” Hence, exactly half of these guys could spend time at point guard in college.
Notes: The Santiago-Brewton backcourt for Team One Phenoms is a frightening sight for opponents. They're both excellent point guard options, but simultaneously bring different skills to the table (Santiago is an excellent passer who can shoot it but prefers to facilitate. Brewton scores very quickly, including having 16 points in the final 2:30 of a comeback victory on Sunday.)
Burge showed his ability as a combo guard, often slowing the tempo down. He can be both 
physical or finesse when driving, pending on the defensive look.
Shumate arguably had the best weekend of any Ohio prospect. Although he had the best jumper we saw, he's not a shooting specialist necessarily. He told PHO that he's working on finishing around the cup, and he did a lot of that, showcasing his
athleticism.
Anderson was simply the best post prospect we saw. He's a throwback, in the sense that he operates with his back to the basket, which isn't ideal for typical AAU ball. However, the soft hands, shooting touch, and agility give Anderson a ton of upside.
Notes: Heath, who holds an offer from West Virginia State, controlled the tempo (see here). Also, very few turnovers from Heath, as he's able to scoot around talented guards as he initiates the offense. Underrated three-point shooter.
Hickman has taken huge strides from last summer. Everything is just faster now. Hickman has not only matured as an athlete, he's mentally more developed. We like him attacking the rim, but his pull-up jumper is a nice option also.
Both McLaughlin and Peek are skilled wings. Either one is likely to grab a rebound and create instant offense on the other end. Peek is more of a transition threat, but showed some effective finesse moves in the mid-range, including the one-foot fadeaway. McLaughlin is a serious threat in the half-court, mainly. The Southeast Ohio prospect has a sweet jumper, while also being athletic enough to finish on drives.
Janowksi is a threat from anywhere on the court. He surprises teams early in games, as 
they lay-off him and he swishes through an open three. Also, he's not a soft stretch-4 option. The kid can take contact inside, including when battling for rebounds.
Prep Hoops Ohio First Team
PG: Giovani Santiago (2018), 6'1”, Team One Phenoms / Cincinnati Hughes
G: Dominic “DJ” Brewton (2018), 6'3”, Team One Phenoms / Mt. Healthy
G: Jordan Burge (2018), 6'3”, Another Level / Lutheran East
W/F: JT Shumate (2018), 6'6”, OH-NOVA Rice / Columbus Newark
C: James Anderson (2018), 6'9”, Ohio Elite Purple / Troy Christian
Notes: The Santiago-Brewton backcourt for Team One Phenoms is a frightening sight for opponents. They're both excellent point guard options, but simultaneously bring different skills to the table (Santiago is an excellent passer who can shoot it but prefers to facilitate. Brewton scores very quickly, including having 16 points in the final 2:30 of a comeback victory on Sunday.)
Burge showed his ability as a combo guard, often slowing the tempo down. He can be both physical or finesse when driving, pending on the defensive look.
Shumate arguably had the best weekend of any Ohio prospect. Although he had the best jumper we saw, he's not a shooting specialist necessarily. He told PHO that he's working on finishing around the cup, and he did a lot of that, showcasing his
athleticism.
Anderson was simply the best post prospect we saw. He's a throwback, in the sense that he operates with his back to the basket, which isn't ideal for typical AAU ball. However, the soft hands, shooting touch, and agility give Anderson a ton of upside.
Prep Hoops Ohio Second Team
PG: Alex Heath (2018), 5'9”, Another Level / Cleveland Central Catholic
PG: Thomas Hickman (2018), 6'2”, OH-NOVA Rice / Westerville Central
W: Eric McLaughlin (2018), 6'5”, Hidden Gems Black / Lynchburg Clay
W: Omari Peek (2018), 6'6”, Club Ohio - Pierce / Strongsville
F: Mark Janowski (2018), 6'7”, Northwest Ohio Basketball Club / Lima Central Catholic
Notes: Heath, who holds an offer from West Virginia State, controlled the tempo (see here). Also, very few turnovers from Heath, as he's able to scoot around talented guards as he initiates the offense. Underrated three-point shooter.
Hickman has taken huge strides from last summer. Everything is just faster now. Hickman has not only matured as an athlete, he's mentally more developed. We like him attacking the rim, but his pull-up jumper is a nice option also.
Both McLaughlin and Peek are skilled wings. Either one is likely to grab a rebound and create instant offense on the other end. Peek is more of a transition threat, but showed some effective finesse moves in the mid-range, including the one-foot fadeaway. McLaughlin is a serious threat in the half-court, mainly. The Southeast Ohio prospect has a sweet jumper, while also being athletic enough to finish on drives.
Janowksi is a threat from anywhere on the court. He surprises teams early in games, as they lay-off him and he swishes through an open three. Also, he's not a soft stretch-4 option. The kid can take contact inside, including when battling for rebounds. 
