Arick is on a fast upward trajectory and continues to get better each time I watch him play. After a monster senior season with Buckeye Trail where he established the Warriors as one of the best teams in the east district with a 20 win season, Arick is playing grassroots basketball as an unsigned 2026 prospect who should be targeted by JUCO and post grad schools looking for a big. Arick has improved as an interior scorer, showing more confidence making contested catches and scoring with his back to the basket. As a rim protector, Arick has continued to improve as his frame has gotten stronger as well. A prospect who has the potential to significantly outplay his final 2026 Prep Hoops ranking, Arick will be one to monitor over the next few years.

He finished with eight points, but the icing on the cake was his impact in the final 30 seconds, when he came up with two huge blocks to help seal the game. I liked how he was able to score effectively from the dunker spot and showed a willingness to rebound, consistently finding ways to track down the ball. He set solid screens and created opportunities for teammates, and his length was evident all night, especially while protecting the rim in the zone. He also did a nice job rim running in transition, putting pressure on the defense. He has definitely improved since I saw him in the fall. While he has received some small-college recruitment interest, he would greatly benefit from a post-grad year to fine-tune his skills, get stronger, and compete against higher-level competition, which could take his game to the next level.

One of the tallest players in the OHSAA, Arick had a nice showing at the Prep Hoops Expo and screams upside with his ability to dunk, block shots and run the court. Still has a way to go in terms of playing and producing against similar sized talent but Arick is on the right track and improving each time I watch him play. I’m always more patient with bigs, especially those from small towns and Arick fits both of those categories. Long term I wouldn’t be surprised if Arick passes some players currently ranked ahead of him.

Arick is a mile long center who is just starting to scratch the surface as a prospect. His length allows him to contest shots and take away driving and passing lanes. He found the bucket in different ways and is a viable threat from the dunker spots. One of his most underrated skills is his ability to pass the basketball. Arick needs to continue to work on getting stronger and once that happens he should be able to peak as a prospect. He would greatly benefit from a postgrad situation next year which would make his transition to college a lot smoother.

A player we’ve been familiar with since the spring when he played on the Prep Hoops Circuit, Arick was tied for the tallest player in attendance at 6’10. Making a big impact defensively with his length, Arick switched onto multiple guards and either blocked or altered their shot at the rim. Offensively, Arick finished above the rim with a couple powerful dunks that helped increase the energy in the gym. The small town product continues to play at showcase events to get more reps against other similar sized players that don’t exist in the conference he plays in. While it may take some time for Arick to reach his full potential, the work ethic is there for him to keep improving.

Another small town prospect, Arick is one of the tallest players in Ohio and provides a very unique dynamic that you especially don’t see very often from a small town. Showing flashes on the Prep Hoops Circuit, Arick can block shots and get second chance points thanks to his height and length. We’ve wrote about Arick a few times and he’s sure to get interest at the college level purely off his height but his production should keep these schools interested and give him a chance to play sooner rather than later at the next level.

Arick passes the eye test when you see him. He is listed at 6’10 and has some really long arms. He moves well and has a nice second jump. This was shown with the amount of 2nd chance rebounds and points he had. Anything around the rim he was involved in. He was blocking shots and grabbing boards. He was good in the drop-off position and was able to finish the ball quick.

The tallest player I saw on Friday, it was no surprise that Arick was making his presence felt in the paint on both ends of the floor. Defensively, Arick blocked a handful of shots at the rim and while he didn’t always come up with the defensive rebound himself, he did a nice job of tipping it to one of his teammates to secure the basketball. Offensively Arick showed flashes as a rim runner and playing in the dunker spot with some easy catch and finishes and a nice layup off a BLOB. While his team fell just short after a flurry of 3-pointers by Gavin Ferguson Gavin Ferguson 5'10" | CG Maysville | 2027 OH , Arick was one of the most intriguing prospects I saw on Friday.

Speaking of intriguing bigs, Arick checks that box with a legit 6’10 frame and a wingspan that allows him to block anything in his vicinity. Continuing to add strength and being confident battling in the paint will be keys for him.

There was a good deal of intriguing, projectable size at the Queen City Clash this weekend. Among them was this 6’10” center out of Buckeye Trail High School. Arick stood out while playing with WestSide Elite 17u on Saturday afternoon. He ran the floor well, finished at the rim consistently, and swallowed up every rebound in his area. College coaches should have Arick on their radar heading into the spring and summer.