For the second straight year at the Ohio State team camp, Poellnitz III was one of the top performers there. One of the most explosive guard athletes in the state, Poellnitz III missed a couple monster poster dunks that could’ve gone viral if he threw them down. Known as a slasher, Poellnitz III had a couple transition layups and loves the right to left crossover to get downhill. The 3-point shot is a key skill for Poellnitz III to master and he knocked down three triples in the win over Africentric to start the day.

Playing with a Wildcat Select 16U squad that’s headlined by athleticism, Chris’s abilities looked freakishly elite in person. He loves to play above the rim. He jumped into the frame seemingly out of nowhere on several occasions to secure offensive rebounds and or finish plays in the paint. In addition to that, he’s a solid guard who’s comfortable contributing both on and off the ball. Chris’s recruitment took root last fall after he collected a couple of Division 1 offers and should continue to snowball over the next two years.

One of the top athletes in the 2028 class from Ohio, Poellnitz III is very tough to stay in front of off the dribble. Wanting to get to his right hand whenever possible, Poellnitz III scored a majority of his points off the dribble with his right hand. Knocking down floaters and 6-12 foot pull-ups, Poellnitz III did a nice job of scoring over shot blockers. If Poellnitz III improves as a perimeter shooter and with his left hand, he’ll be even tougher to stop. One of the most naturally talented guards in Ohio’s 2028 class, Poellnitz III is a Division I target who could blow up this summer.

Poellnitz showed some great improvement from the last time I saw him play. He is growing into his own, and this shows with his confidence in his skill set. He is playing at a slower pace and sees this floor better. He is picking his spots well in the midrange. Really good at elevating and shooting off the dribble. He is still an explosive athlete, and this shows around the rim when finishing. I really like how Poellnitz is developing as a scorer.

Poellnitz is already recognized as one of the top sophomores in the state, and he just keeps getting better every time he steps on the floor. He’s an incredible athlete with advanced scoring ability at all three levels. The game is slowing down for him, and that’s when his natural talent really shines. He has the potential to dominate this event and continue to prove why he’s one of the fastest rising prospects in Ohio.

One of the most athletic players in Ohio’s 2028 class, Poellnitz III has taken a considerable leap and started dunking on players in June when he got downhill with a head of steam. Incredibly talented as a slasher, Poellnitz III is a walking paint touch off the dribble with the ability to get downhill and score the basketball. I think this winter will be a breakout season for Poellnitz III as he gets to play with Miami (OH) commit Alan Horton Alan Horton 6'9" | C St. Francis de Sales | 2026 State OH , one of the top bigs in the state. That pairing will be tough to stop even for the talented teams in the Detroit Catholic League that is loaded with Division I talent. Hoping to see Poellnitz III continue to improve the quickness of his 3-point release, he started making strides with knocking down jumpers on a more consistent basis this summer. It won’t be long before regional Division I programs are actively recruiting Poellnitz III.

Poellnitz is a really nice guard and is going to take over a lot of the ball-handling responsibilities this upcoming season. He is just getting better, and his confidence is improving. He is gaining more skill and is showing in his offensive aggressiveness. He is a tough player to stop once he gets a head of steam to the rim. He had a viral clip this weekend of a nasty poster in the halfcourt of a rip-and-drive. This is just waiting to happen when he has the ball in his hand.

One of the best individual performances I’ve seen all June was Poellnitz Vs Great Crossing as the young guard is really starting to blossom in front of our eyes. Poellnitz is getting the on ball reps this summer as the lead guard for a Toledo St Francis squad that won a regional title last season and expectations are high again next season. One of the most gifted athletes in the 2028 class, Poellnitz had a crazy dunk and simply moves at a different speed and rhythm than other guards his age. I was also impressed with the feel Poellnitz is starting to flash, with some impressive quick decision making as a passer. Expect to hear a lot more about Poellnitz over the next three years.

One of the top 2028 guards in Ohio, Poellnitz III was a walking paint touch this weekend as he was relentlessly attacking the rim and providing pressure on the defense off the dribble. Able to get around defenders in isolation or use the pick and roll to get into the paint, Poellnitz III had numerous acrobatic layups at the rim around shot contests. While Poellnitz III is right now getting above the rim for layups, I expect Poellnitz III to be throwing down dunks in traffic very soon as he still has room to physically develop. If Poellnitz III can consistently knock down the 3-point shot, he’ll be one of the most sought after prospects in Ohio’s 2028 class.

I was really impressed with Poellnitz when I saw him on the 3SSB circuit playing up last summer and he brought a spark to regional champion Toledo St Francis this winter. Poellnitz III showed the ability to make plays off the dribble and play on or off the ball. A quick-twitch athlete, Poellnitz has impressive burst and change of direction ability. A name I’ll be continuing to track, Poellnitz III had some impressive flashes in a playoff loss against Westerville North.