Dayton Team Camp: New Names and Team Notes
After watching several hours of basketball at the University of Dayton team camp this weekend, we wanted to share a few team-driven thoughts while mentioning prospects who are new to the Prep Hoops radar. In case you missed it we…
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Continue ReadingAfter watching several hours of basketball at the University of Dayton team camp this weekend, we wanted to share a few team-driven thoughts while mentioning prospects who are new to the Prep Hoops radar.
In case you missed it we wrote about 2020, 2021, and 2022/2023‘s top performers from the event.
For this article we will begin with teams that either surprised or impressed us.
Alter
Early signs are that Alter will be one of the top Division II teams in Southwest Ohio, in a tier with Thurgood, Trotwood, and Woodward. Their offense is inverted with their bigs — 6-foot-8 Conor Stolly and 6-foot-6 Jacob Conner — hanging out on the outside while their guards — namely Brady Uhl and Jack Smith — constantly look to attack an empty paint. All four of those players have varying levels of college potential, by the way, and they all play hard. Great offensive chemistry, too.
Smith, Stolly, and Uhl were last season’s top three scorers for Alter, combining to average 33.3 points per game. As a team, they only averaged 58.3 points, so they didn’t lose a ton in that area. Conner, a sophomore, didn’t play varsity ball last season.
Alter is committed to the 2-3 zone defensively, never coming out of it when I watched them on three different occasions. While Stolly changed shots at the rim, he will definitely need help on the defensive glass and that’s my biggest question with them going forward.
Lima Senior
Lima Senior will enter every Three Rivers Athletic Conference game as favorites next season. That’s not to say they’re definitely going undefeated in conference, that’s tough to do. But, they’ll be the favorite each night. Why? For one: talent. Josiah Fulcher, Jamir Simpson, Jadakis Mack, Khalil Luster, Jourdyn Rawlins, and Camren Miles all return. We’re talking about a regional finalist from a year ago that returns mostly everyone. Watch out.
Pickerington Central
Don’t write off the Tigers just because they don’t have a high-major recruit in their senior class or a wealth of depth. They played this weekend without Garner Wallace, who is expected to be their leading scorer, and Tahleik Walker, yet competed with some of Ohio’s top programs.
Senior Conner Maciag showed an improved ability to create in the halfcourt. Walker and Wallace provide poise and defensive versatility. They have incoming freshmen who can play right away. Finally, Elhadji Thiam can block shots and get out and run the break with those guards as a 6-foot-6 forward.
At the end of the day, their viability will probably depend on senior guards Maciag and Walker … that’s a good combo! Pickerington Central is our “better than people might expect” team after this weekend.
Cincinnati Woodward
Woodward won three games last year but could compete for a Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference and regional championship next season. That’s what happens when you add Paul McMillan, who averaged 24.7 points with a 4.0-1.9 assist-turnover ratio as a freshman at Hughes. What McMillan brings in poise, IQ, defensive and scoring ability pulls everything together for Woodward. Junior guard Aaron Davis II and senior 6-foot-7 center Davion Mace are key pieces, too.
These three prospects showed collegiate potential in Dayton, our first time seeing each play in-person.
Kaden Fuhrmann (2020) | 6-3 SG | Lakota East
Furhmann sports a Hillsdale offer, which tells us two things. First, he can play. Second, he has good grades and test scores. So we were excited to watch him.
His scoring package involved a lot of one or two dribble pull-ups, which he was comfortable shooting going left or right. Fuhrmann’s offensive game is efficient and he’s a good shooter. Pretty quick off the dribble and was able to draw fouls attacking the basket. Moves well laterally and stayed in front of guys.
Tom House (2022) | 6-5 SF | Centerville
We’d never heard of House and were surprised to learn he was just a sophomore because of his size and confidence. Mostly impressed with House’s shooting ability. Good athlete. There should be opportunity for playing time in Centerville’s backcourt and House should earn some of those minutes.
Davion Mace (2020) | 6-7 C | Cincinnati Woodward
Mace is a gifted athlete with an impressive build. Explosive off the ground and the physical tools to be an impactful shot-blocker. Runs the floor well. Pretty raw in terms of skill but should benefit from McMillan being in the fold creating shots for him.