Weekend Warm-Up: adidas Gauntlet Regional Qualifier (Chicago)
Before the kids head back to their high school team schedule, Chicago is hosting an adidas Gauntlet Regional Qualifier that varios Ohio programs will attend. In case you’re heading east for the weekend, we’ve put together a recruiting guide for the Ohio players in action.
17U
Ohio Basketball Club will take the floor after a month off. In their two appearances this spring, OBC 17U has posted a 2-7 record with wins over ITPS and Hoop City Elite.
The two prospects gaining stream this spring are Evan Bainbridge and Greg Tribble Jr.. Bainbridge, a 6’9” stretch forward from Stow, has received offers from James Madison, Kent State, and Northeastern this spring. Besides those three programs, he’s also on Stony Brook and Northern Kentucky radars. Visit scheduled to NKU on June 1.
As for Tribble: Ball State offered the Winton Woods 6’2” point guard last week. Tribble tells us that Northern Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Ohio State, Iowa, and Loyola Chicago are also in consistent contact with him at the moment.
Moving on, Ohio Hoopsters – Nakasian could take teams by surprise in Chicago. They’re coming off a nice weekend at the Super 16, where they were eliminated by All Ohio Red in the quarterfinals.
This team combines size with skill and carries a ton of guys 6’4” to 6’6” who can play. Garrett Denbow led that group of versatile players last Sunday by hitting step-backs and taking defenders off the dribble. The Ashland 6’5” guard/wing continues to be recruited by in-state Division II programs. Bodie Eberhart also grabbed our attention in Columbus as a skilled combo guard with size. The two-sport star from Marysville has been contacted by Ohio Dominican, Otterbein, and Ohio Northern this spring.
Within the program, Ohio Hoopsters – LBC will also present a problem to any team that underestimates them. The gritty group carries an entire roster of small college prospects who have jumped onto the Prep Hoops radar this spring.
Jaki Royal from Ripley-Union plans on attending camps at Mount Vernon Nazarene, Marietta, and Findlay if his schedule abides. Reynoldsburg 6’4”-6’5” forward Sahmi Willoughby may be two years away from being ready for college basketball. However, Willoughby has a whole package of interesting physical tools and skills. Most importantly, he’s an extremely active defensive player with good shooting touch and finishing ability. Teays Valley 6’5” power forward Maxwell Young also shows flashes of next level potential with his rebounding, strong frame, and outside shooting ability.
Ohio Reign also enters Chicago with positive momentum. They finished second in their pool at the C2K Classic.
Max Denman, a 6’4” wing who can fill it up as an outside shooter, had a game with seven 3-pointers against 2nd Chance Stars. Malone has reached out to their program about him and teammate Payton Moyer, a guard from Toledo St. John’s who is poised for a strong senior year. Those two have also talked to several D-IIIs. Meanwhile, Terrell Bryant (Toledo Springfield) and Zion Justice (Toledo St. Francis) produce on the perimeter for Ohio Reign.
16U
Ohio Basketball Club 16U has posted a 4-4 record in adidas Gauntlet Gold this spring. The big recruiting news these last couple of months was a Xavier offer for 6’4” guard Grant Huffman of St. Edward. The playmaker from NEO tells us that Notre Dame has also been talking to his high school coach Eric Flannery. Nothing is final, but Huffman is tentatively planning to visit South Bend in June. Dayton, Davidson, and West Virginia are all talking to the Huffman family also.
After a couple weekends off, the Mid Ohio Pumas Elite 2020 group will also take the floor. They have a couple new additions from within the program as Brendan Lamb and Tyler Eberhart join the Pumas top team.
As far as recruitment, this team has a ton of players looking to build momentum in June before a potentially crucial July Live Period. They’ll try to get the ball rolling at various elite camps. Grant Whisman has been invited to Miami, Wright State, Cleveland State, Liberty, and Michigan. Jake Younkin to Miami, Wright State, Liberty, Butler, and Cornell. Freshman Jack Pugh has interest from Ohio State and camp invites to Miami and Wright State. Interest from Ohio State and Belmont has also extended to Whisman; Dayton has reached out about all three.