Saturday Guard Standouts from Cleveland’s Play-By-Play Classic
Cleveland’s Play-By-Play Classic ranks near the top of the “Can’t-Miss Events” list every season. The 2019 event didn’t disappoint, with St. Vincent-St. Mary reasserting their superiority in a win over Lorain, while teams like Brush and St. Edward also impressed.…
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Continue ReadingCleveland’s Play-By-Play Classic ranks near the top of the “Can’t-Miss Events” list every season. The 2019 event didn’t disappoint, with St. Vincent-St. Mary reasserting their superiority in a win over Lorain, while teams like Brush and St. Edward also impressed. It was jam-packed with talent, ranging from D-I to D-III sleepers.
Everything a basketball junkie could’ve asked for, it was sitting right there inside Elyria Catholic Saturday and Sunday.
On a personal note, though, the Play-By-Play Classic was a bummer. I got sick in the first quarter of Saturday’s final game, Brunswick versus Olmsted Falls. Had to leave the gym immediately, it was that type of sick. And I’ve had the flu until today. Missed all of Sunday’s action.
Pretty ticked off about it.
But, hey, there were some really outstanding players in action in the first three games on Saturday. So, I’m here to tell you about the guards:
Dakota Cochran (2020), 6’2” G, Shaker Heights
Cochran’s junior season has been a pivotal moment in his arch as a prospect. He has transitioned flawlessly from Shaker’s fourth scoring option to their go-to guy in crunch time. Saturday’s win over Richmond Heights was a testament to that, where he led the team in both scoring (21 points) and rebounds (eight).
Cochran is a thick kid, in a muscular way, who maintains a high energy level throughout the entire game. He flies around to try and create turnovers in the passing lanes. Rebounds extraordinarily for someone of his height, thanks to his power. Cochran’s most translatable skill is his catch-and-shoot outside jumper, a nice compliment to his athletic ability. We think he has a chance to grab a Division II scholarship if he continues to excel on defense.
Gbolahan Adio (2020), 6’3”-6’4” G/W, Richmond Heights
Adio came out of the gates struggling. Despite once again showcasing his long, lanky build on the defensive end of the floor, his shot wasn’t falling and he entered the half with two points.
Then, Adio made five 3-pointers in the third quarter alone. Just like that, Richmond Heights was back in the game. We were impressed with his unwavering confidence and coachability when things weren’t going well. Never showed bad body language. Always played hard on defense — his length always causes deflections. Adio is also a good athlete. Finished with 21 points and four rebounds. This game was a blowout if it wasn’t for his third quarter spurt, by the way.
EJ Farmer (2021), 6’4” G, Lutheran East
A year-and-a-half into his career, Farmer has time and again proven capable of carrying the scoring load for Lutheran East. It’s exciting to imagine the type of dominance this Division I guard prospect will have on games for years to come. He’s an electrifying scorer who gives us moments like these already (video courtesy of Matt Goul of Cleveland.com):
A team-high 12 points and this buzzer-beater by @ej_farmer in Lutheran East’s 43-40 win vs. Lakewood. pic.twitter.com/yxihfmyUMQ
— Matt Goul (@mgoul) January 6, 2019
Those were three of his game-high 12 points on the night.
Farmer created impressive separation with his step-back and other crafty off-the-dribble moves. The lefty gets great lift on his jumper. Natural athlete. Wiry build, but will be special when he adds some weight to his frame as he matures. Gradually showing more of a willingness to attack and create in the lane.
Curtis Houston (2019), 6’3” G, Richmond Heights
Unsigned senior combo guard with a nice package of skills, including an improved outside jump shot. Houston hit a couple bombs with his feet set in the first half, before going quiet after the break. Also showed good footwork around the basket on drives. All in all, tallied 16 points and five rebounds.
Danny Young Jr. (2022), 6’0” PG, Shaker Heights
Quickly becoming one of our favorite young prospects to watch. His combination of speed, ball-handling, and passing ability is exciting. Finds shooters while moving at a breakneck speed towards the basket. Struggled with shot selection on Saturday, but he’s an excellent outside shooter. Needs to reel in the flashy stuff at times.