OHSAA State Tournament

[Globetrotter]

Over the last three days I have had the chance to catch a hole bunch of HS games at the state tournament. There were about a dozen D1 players there with three for sure headed to the MAC and 2 more that are still without schollies but should have some come later. I unfortunately missed the one that has been linked to us the best.
Stevie Taylor from Gahanna Lincoln.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruit ... ylor-72624
He is probably a bit too small at 5-9 and with a 5-5 guard already in the backcourt but he is listed amongst our players.

A brief overview of who was there and who stood out, in order of the best I saw to the worst.....keep in mind it was just a small snapshot of each players overall game.

Ryan Bass-Dunbar 5-9, Oakland
The best player in the tournament IMO. He was great on stop and pops off the dribble and could dunk very easily. Was very hard to cover against two great guards for Benedictine. He will be very good for Oakland next year.

Adriean Payne-Jefferson Township 6-10, Michigan State
I think he was disciplined because he did not start the first game. Was clearly head and shoulders above everyone on the court. Ran the floor incredibly well for a big man and rebounded and scored with ease. A decent outside shot that was not needed all that much becaue his team was so good.

Nick Harney-Benedictine 6-7, ?
Was the most interesting prospect of the weekend in terms of our needs and his ability. Very athletic big who played above the rim. Very thin so he might need some time to develop and wasn't real great at anything. Reminds me alot of what I think of DaVon Haynes. Raw big man who can contribute on a ton of levels but will never be a stud at anything. A Mawel Soler type guy who can run the floor, get steals, get blocks get rebounds and put backs etc. He led his team in scoring for the game mostly off of putbacks and crisp passes from his guards

Josh Egner-Jackson 6-6, Akron
Sported a mohawk and came across as if he might be trouble in the lockerroom. Was very fluid on the floor and had the most explosive dunk of the weekend. He made me appreciate how good Scott Thomas was in HS because he had a similar game and size but Scott was able to handle the ball a great deal more and was a much better outside shooter. Egner was more of an inside threat but could take it outside. He will be a nice complimentary piece for Akron though.

Derek Jackson-Benedictine 6-1, Central Michigan
Did a lot of things good and had the most ridiculous dunk of the weekend on a bad alleyoop that he one handed and dunked in one fluid motion.

Cameron Wrght-Benedictine 6-5, Pitt
Was very average in the game I saw him play. Head 2 guys on his own team outplay him. His athleticism and ballhandling ability were evident but he certainly did not take over the game.

Geron Johnson-Dunbar 6-3, ?
Played very well in both games leading Dunbar in the championship game. He was good at just about everything but not great in anything. Reminded me of a guy Greg Avery from Newark 2 years ago but didn't do as much as Avery.

Mark Henniger-Jackson 6-7, Kent
Looks like a good big man who can run the floor well. Didn't flash any offensive moves but really didn't have to as his team outsized their opponents and were up by 3

Griffin McKenzie-Moeller 6-9 Xavier
Very average and did not do much of anything in the game I saw him. Was neutralized by Jackson's two big men.

Ryan Hicks-Port Clinton 6-6, ?
Was just OK and looked unathletic against a very athletic Dunbar team. probably too small to be additive to what we need.

[Class of 61]

In an earlier article about Benedictine, the PD mentioned that Harney might need a JC location first... not sure if it's for the reason you said re: slender build etc. or whether it's grade related...

Either way, we are in dire need to replace THREE big men at one time, not an easy task.

[falconfan1]

globetrotter- excellent report! Thanks for the eyewitness evaluations.

As 61 says Harney is likely a JC player and Geron Johnson (pretty explosive fellow) from Dunbar will also be a JC player.

Go Falcons!

[Globetrotter]

Thanks for the updates guys. Any idea who we are targeting with those last two scholarships?