Top performers from Hall of Fame Hardwood Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hall of Fame Hardwood Classic featured six games featuring mostly Akron/Canton area teams with the event hosted at Massillon Washington High School. In this article we'll break down the top performers from the day of action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2300367"],"_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_0_evaluation":"After falling behind early to Dalton, Canton South made an impressive run in the second quarter and never looked back. The play of Kimbrough and fellow senior Poochie Snyder were key difference makers in the win. Kimbrough is an athletic wing who had a powerful dunk, made a couple mid-range shots and scored at the rim. I liked his activity in the paint and aggressiveness on Saturday.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Nathan Bernhard","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Ashland","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Ashland has a nice 2026 trio and while Bernhard's future lies on the gridiron, I was impressed with him on the hardwood for the Arrows. With his strong frame, Bernhard can power through defenders in the paint with his physicality and finish in the paint through contact. I was impressed with the control Bernhard showed when attacking the basket, mostly using two foot finishes. Also, a capable shooter from the outside knocking down a wing 3-pointer. Ashland has a nice core to build around and play a fast, fun style of basketball to watch.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["2300372"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"As a team, North Canton Hoover played a very disciplined style of basketball that relies on sharing the basketball and player movement off the ball. I thought Braucher was the perfect player to spotlight with his ability to score in transition off impact defensive plays. Whether it was jumping a passing lane for a steal or taking a charge, Braucher was giving Archbishop Hoban fits on the defensive end. Also able to shoot it off the catch and make shots, Braucher made winning plays in a variety of ways. Playing lots of 2025 and 2027 talent, North Canton Hoover will be a team to watch next season in the Federal League.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1346364"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"In what was the most hyped-up game of the day, GlenOak got a signature victory over Mentor in a fast-paced game that featured a lot of highlights and standout performers. This up-tempo style fit what Lipkins wants to do and he stuffed the stat sheet with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Able to use his athleticism and burst in transition, Lipkins got a handful of layups on the fast break. As a shooter, Lipkins hit some off the catch shots when they fell to him but was inconsistent off the bounce with pull-ups. With Lipkins athleticism and ability to play on or off the ball, he's one of northeast Ohio's top guards in the senior class. Low Major, Division II and NAIA programs that play with a fast tempo should look at Lipkins. In addition to Lipkins, I was very impressed with [player_tooltip player_id='2300373' first='Reese' last='Zerger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2300383' first='Issa' last='White'] from GlenOak, two players that will be key in their push for a Federal League title.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1373984"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Despite the loss, Ioppolo had a monster week with 30 points in a win over Medina on Friday and I believe 35 points on Saturday against GlenOak. Improving as an athlete with a big-time slam dunk and showing impressive stamina to play a full court pressure defense and play almost every minute of game action. What Ioppolo is known for is his perimeter shooting ability and he can light it up from downtown when he has space. With the performances Ioppolo is having, he could be the next Findlay Oiler to make an immediate impact in the GMAC.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["2300384"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"The final game of the night saw the host Massillon Washington grind out a gritty victory over Walsh Jesuit. Thigpen was fantastic in the first half with transition buckets, an and-1 finish and some rhythm pull-ups. Held in check for a majority of the second half, Thigpen iced the game with two free throws with 12 seconds left. [player_tooltip player_id='2419928' first='Chris' last='Knight'] also had a big time for the Tigers as his 3-pointer with around 40 seconds left gave Massillon the lead back. With a majority of their roster being football first kids, it was nice to see the state champs on the gridiron have so many familiar faces competing in a secondary sport.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658088dceb792"} /-->