Expo News & Notes and the Rest of the Field

One nice aspect of a smaller field of participants at an event like the Expo is you can make it a point to gear coverage towards all of the participants. This article will highlight those last three that didn't fit into one of the previous articles, yet deserve the coverage as they all had excellent showings.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2457787' first='Matthew' last='DeGroff']was another player I really looked forward to watching in person. DeGroff has put himself in some great situations to succeed and made the most of those opportunities. DeGroff has a well balanced game and is the type of player who's hard to label with a position. Has enough skill to play several positions and seems to have the basketball IQ to be successful at any of them. DeGroff is strong to the bucket, true at mid-range and at times deadly from deep. Matthew plays very assertive and as aggressive as need be while being able to wear many hats at once. A true baller. </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2306371' first='Zayveous' last='Hall'] was one of the kids who many were talking about after seeing his remarkable hops and showtime dunks in between games. At a generous 5'10" Zay had superior athletic ability while at the Expo with blow-by speed and playing above the rim with finishes. Zay has an incredible chance to be one of the state's most exciting players this year. </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2243496' first='Zayden' last='Neely'] is a player I've had the pleasure of seeing more than once in AAU season and as well at the BlueChips Nation event in August and finally the Expo where he brought his lunchbox and set up shot for three and a half hours and did what Zayden does, rebound, put back, pass from the post, score from the post and play physical defense in the paint. Neely is also willing to drag his man outta the paint and burn him with a mid-range jumper. I love his energy in the post and his constant max effort. </li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">News & Notes</h2>   We loved the energy that the Wheeling University players showed while they were in the gym coaching. There were several comments about his energetic and vocal they were throughout the 3v3 and 5v5 sessions.   Great to see and talk to Bethany Bison MBB assistant Danny Zuchak there as he continues his efforts to recruit West Virginia players. Zuchak feels like the Bison program is headed in a great direction and will have the opportunity to recruit WV much more thorough in the process.   Two of the state's more respected AAU coaches were on hand and spoke with me while there. Jordan Johnston of the WV Hustle 2026 program, who's son is an emerging guard prospect and was participating, as well as WV Reign director and coach Ronnie Nuzum who's entering an unprecedented 19th year as the state's longest tenured AAU coach.   One thing I loved about the camp itinerary, the 3 on 3 session. I thought it was a great way to get guys in basketball mode and using fundamentals to start the day. It was quick moving with 10:00 on a running clock and allowed games to be uptempo despite being halfcourt.   On a recruiting note, [player_tooltip player_id='2410034' first='Phoenix' last='Sickles'] seemed to wake up some sleepy recruiting eyes and was the topic of a few recruiting conversations that day. I'd anticipate his first offer coming before his school season is over if not before.   Interestingly, shooting overall started out very cold by almost everyone there. But it seemed once the players were in 5v5 competition and maybe felt a bit more comfortable in their roles, they shot the lights out.   One fella that was in the building that I'm not sure everyone was aware of was coach Mark Kellogg who's the head coach for WVU women's basketball. Coach Kellogg's son, [player_tooltip player_id='2554051' first='Camden' last='Kellogg'] was also participating in the Expo event.   Out of state participants inclulded 2028 Masiah Davis of Middlesex CT, Matthew Jasper of Pittsburgh PA and Conner Kesler of Roncalli IN. All three had excellent showings with Kesler looking like a player to possibly get recruited early.   Kudos to the six players that traveled over 4 hours from the Coalfield region of West Virginia to be there for the event. [player_tooltip player_id='2437132' first='Jayce' last='Gum'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2243496' first='Zayden' last='Neely'] of Princeton, [player_tooltip player_id='2303401' first='Ashton' last='Arthur'] of Independence, [player_tooltip player_id='2340458' first='Marshall' last='Dorado'] of Mt. Hope, as well as [player_tooltip player_id='2243493' first='Braedy' last='Johnston'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2617677' first='Eli' last='Sexton'] from Shady Spring.   One final note, The Highlands Sports Complex is one of the nicest and well equipped facilities for an event like this. It's new, modern and spacious with real wood floors. I've been to many events there and there's nothing that compares in WV in regards to the size and room in the facility as well as in the gym with plenty of seating, space around and in between courts, not to mention immense parking and dozens of stores, restaurants and hotels within a mile of the facility. It's certainly unmatched in that region and should be the standard when folks consider building a similar facility.

One nice aspect of a smaller field of participants at an event like the Expo is you can make it a point to gear coverage towards all of the participants. This article will highlight those last three that didn't fit into one of the previous articles, yet deserve the coverage as they all had excellent showings.