Weekend Warm-Up: GRBA National Championship
The final weekend in July is much more than just another weekend of AAU basketball.
For seniors-to-be, it’s their last time to make an impression on college coaches as a grassroots player. It’s also their last time to experience the AAU atmosphere from a player’s eye — something that can hopefully be cherished amongst the pressure of recruiting.
For families and longtime coaches, it’s often good-bye. For us guys carrying around packets on the sidelines, it’s the last opportunity to get a read on a prospect for a while. And for teams mentioned in this article, it could be your last time at Spiece. Ever!
In order to provide some semblance of a preview, here’s our Weekend Warm-Up, an article that provides context to a tournament through recruiting insight and general updates.
17U: No. 3, Nova (James)
No. 11, Dayton Metro
No. 12, All Ohio Black
No. 14, TNBA Ohio
No. 15, Ohio Reign
No. 17, Ohio Hoopsters – Nakasian
No. 20, TNBA East Black
Columbus 101, Dayton Nets, Hidden Gems Black, Hidden Gems Orange, Hidden Gems White, Hidden Gems Northwest, Nova (Morgan), Ohio Hoopsters – Columbus Kings, Ohio Hoopsters – Runnin Rebels, Ohio Varsity
16U: No. 4, Mid Ohio Pumas Black (Staib)
No. 6, Nova (Alleyne)
No. 7, Hidden Gems Black
All Ohio Black, All Ohio Phenom Academy – Dayton, Hidden Gems Orange, Hidden Gems White, Ohio Hoopsters – Jones, Ohio Hoopsters – Wofford
15U: No. 4, Ohio Hoopsters – Tillman
No. 10, Nova (Douglas)
All Ohio Black, Columbus 101, Extreme Heat 2021, Hidden Gems Black, Hidden Gems North, Hidden Gems Platinum, TNBA East Black, TNBA South
To start, Nova will have various programs in the mid-major to D-II range present throughout the weekend. Meanwhile, coaches are moving early on Hayden Stone, a 2020 6’8” center from Carey. He tells us that he’s mainly hearing from Toledo, Ohio, and Akron. Additionally, Youngstown State, Stony Brook, Urbana, Ashland, and Cedarville will follow Nova (Alleyne) this weekend, primarily for Stone.
As for Nova (Morgan), we liked what we saw from Ethan Stearns last weekend as an efficient scorer and reliable guard. Wittenberg and Capitol will definitely be out for him this weekend. Stearns also tells us that Case Western, Otterbein, Findlay, and Ohio Dominican have watched him in July.
Dayton Metro had one of the best weekends of any non-shoe-sponsored teams last weekend, going 7-1 at Brawl for the Ball. They jumped five spots in the Grassroots Team Rankings. Newcomer Bash Wieland is being tracked by D-II powers West Liberty, Bellarmine, and Hillsdale this weekend. Hillsdale, Fairmont State, and Christian Brothers have already offered him. Teammate Ethan Conley, who threw down an incredible dunk last weekend in Grand Rapids, will certainly be watched by Ashland, Grand Valley State, Salem, and Tiffin this weekend. Findlay, Trevecca Nazarene, Charleston, and Urbana are possibly coming to check him out.
A pair of shooters — Jayson Woodrich and Jaidon Lipscomb — will draw attention at Spiece for All Ohio Black. Woodrich received his first offer last weekend, from Sinclair CC. Meanwhile, Lipscomb will be watched by Stonehill, Charleston, and Lindenwood.
TNBA Ohio guard Davin Zeigler pulled Bowling Green last weekend, his first offer of July and third of the summer. Programs likely to show for him are BG, Youngstown State, Cleveland State, and finally Furman, the only school not to have offered him yet.
Ohio Hoopsters – Nakasian will look to rebound after a 2-2 weekend in Louisville. Logan 6’5” guard Bo Myers will likely be watched by West Liberty, Malone, and Bellarmine. He plans on visiting West Lib after the grassroots season and has already been offered by Malone.
Heads up that Hidden Gems Black will be without Jack Clement this weekend. He’s staying in Bellefontaine to fulfill his duties as a captain of the football team, although he has no interest to play football in college. Rather, it’s a responsibility he takes seriously. Ohio Wesleyan, Goshen, Ohio Dominican, Malone, and Findlay have communicated with him as of late.
Now, let’s transition to a couple team that we don’t have recruiting notes on, but we think are sneaky and worth your time.
For D-III programs, Ohio Varsity Shooting Stars 17U’s Deshawn Evans is a guard with a decent frame capable of shooting and handling the ball. Although the team plays zone a lot, every indication is that he’s a nice team defender. Teammate David Brown is a bit more athletic at 6’5”. The combo forward from Linden-McKinley has a high motor defensively and makes things happen by staying active on the glass.
Mid Ohio Pumas (Staib) won yet another tournament last weekend. For programs that are trickling down to watch 16U ball, this team carries some size on the perimeter with Paul Burris, a 6’5” prospect somewhere between a spot-up wing and a stretch four. Also, their 6’8” center Brandon Noel has a solid frame and can stretch out to hit jumpers with range.
For some deep cuts, 15U teams to see include Landon Tillman’s Hoopsters team, Nova, and Columbus 101, who has Chance Groce — a 6’4” wing that scores it at will and projects to the D-I level without question.