Top 250 Expo: Southwest Ohio Prospects (Part 1)
This week, we will highlight the top players from each region of Ohio, in an effort to show love to the prospects who had memorable performances at Saturday’s Top 250 Expo.
Hunter Bode (2018), 6’7” C, Anderson
Bode turned heads more than a couple times with his high-flying rebounds and finishes. He has some upside as a player who can be effective in pick-and-roll, transition offense, and as a rim-protector.
Jonathan Mpanzu (2018), 6’3” W/F, Stebbins
Mpanzu was the unanimous 2018 MVP of the Expo, as his athleticism distinguished him from other prospects. First of all, Mpanzu was a shut-down defender on the perimeter, as he has a strong chest and quick feet. Furthermore, he may able to guard 1-4 at the NAIA level, which is where his two offers come from (Marian and Goshen). Offensively, Mpanzu shoots a high percentage in the paint and crashes the offensive glass.
Brice Hill (2019), 6’5 W, Seven Hills
Hill was one of my favorite prospects in the older group this weekend. He has tremendous size for an offensively skilled wing player. Hill’s jump shot, both on the catch and bounce, is fluid and consistent. Once he proves to be strong as a slasher, Hill could grab a scholarship. He averaged 14.5 points (42-80-38 shooting splits) as a sophomore, per Cincinnati.com.
Gregory Phelia III (2019), 6’1” G, Roger Bacon
Phelia was a playmaker in transition. He constantly looks to push the pace with the dribble and can take it coast-to-coast. Becoming more impactful in half-court offense will be the next step in Phelia’s development.
Ratez Roberts (2019), 6’2” hybrid, Sidney
Roberts walked into the Expo fresh off of a stand-out performance on the football field on Friday night. Yet, his legs looked the opposite of tired. Roberts is extremely springy and truly dominated games with offensive rebounds and shot blocking. He also hit a couple catch-and-shoot threes, but it needs to be more consistent. Regardless, his strength is athleticism, which is a talent that could allow him to defend every position on the floor at the high school level.
Bryan Warah (2019), 6’5” F, Purcell Marian
Warah is another player who made his mark on the defensive end. He’s a strong player who is a true forward. However, Warah is mobile enough to stick with ball-handlers, giving him some switching capabilities.