Great Lakes Classic: Top Forwards
Northeast Ohio basketball is special for countless reasons. The magic can be boiled down to two things, though — talent and the community’s enthusiasm for the game. Because of it, there’s no other place I’d rather be on opening weekend.…
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Continue ReadingNortheast Ohio basketball is special for countless reasons. The magic can be boiled down to two things, though — talent and the community’s enthusiasm for the game.
Because of it, there’s no other place I’d rather be on opening weekend. Great Lakes Classic, a 12-game opening-weekend event at Cleveland Heights, brings together well-known recruits versus eager underdogs with a backdrop of edge-of-their seat spectators ready to lose their minds for anyone who provides a highlight.
Today, we look at mostly well-known recruits who will be remembered as the top performers from the 2019 GLC.
Christian Parker (2020) | 6-6 PF | GlenOak
stats: 24 points, 19 rebounds
Parker played on his toes all night, showing burst off the floor on in-traffic finishes, rebounds, and tipped shots. Rebounded outside of his area against an undersized Beachwood team, often extending for offensive boards. Natural scoring touch. Strong with more room to fill-out. The unsigned senior knows how to play against a zone — showing spatial awareness and passing ability. Shoots it well for a forward, hitting two of his handful of outside shot attempts.
It wasn’t a good opportunity to evaluate his defensive ability as their full-court trap led to constant 2-on-1 transition opportunities with a lonesome Parker on the back-end.
John Hugley (2020) | 6-9 C | Brush
stats: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks
John Hay just had no chance against Hugley … no chance at all. He obviously dominated at the rim, but showed continual development as a leaper off the floor. He’s quicker to the rim and now soars well above the cylinder. Hugley also shot the ball confidently. His ball has a good rotation. We’d be surprised if he’s not shooting 3-pointers for the Pittsburgh Panthers by his sophomore season. Sees the floor on post-ups and is more effective catching close to the 3-point line.
Antwone Woolfork (2022) | 6-7 C | Brush
stats: 6 points, 4 rebounds
Woolfork has tools. He’s fast/mobile with collegiate size. Terrific feet that he flashes on finishes and defense. Secure hands. Soft touch around the rim, although it hasn’t quite translated to his shot yet (struggled at the free throw line). From a skill standpoint, Woolfork made an awesome drop-down pass after a euro step.
Tyler Williams (2023) | 6-7 PF | Brush
stats: 16 points, 7 rebounds
Williams has a real nose for the ball and the athleticism to go grab it. The Brush freshman just went and got the ball off the rim time and again, recording seven rebounds in limited time. Runs the floor hard. Kept the ball high off the offensive glass. Fast athlete at 6-foot-7. His most-skilled finishes were a drop-step and creative and-one in transition where he swept the ball across his body before touching it off the glass.
Jalin Billingsley (2021) | 6-7 PF | Lutheran East
stats: 16 points, 4 rebounds
In close moments with the crowd truly buzzing, Lutheran East isolated Billingsley at the top of the key and he answered with crafty, skilled moves at 6-foot-7. He has a naturally big body ready to deal with contact without budging. He combines the size with a true handle and the ability to juke side-to-side on crossovers and gathers. Good hesitation move with short choppy steps before going one-two into a finish. Threw down a dunk despite being unbalanced. Billingsley looked like a 4-star high-major recruit during the first quarter and crunch time.
Deshaun Nettles (2020) | 6-8 PF | Cleveland Central Catholic
stats: 23 points, 18 rebounds
Nettles quickly made us forget about the at-the-rim void left by CCC’s 2019 class, going for 23 points and 18 rebounds in his first game as a senior. The powerful, mobile big was dedicated to the glass, tracking down rebounds all over the floor. Consistently went coast-to-coast as Fairview mistakenly allowed him to get all the way to the cup without much resistance. Took advantage of mismatches and never settled.
Jack Kenneally (2022) | 6-6 PF | Holy Name
stats: 6 points, 2 rebounds
Kenneally has a strong body with solid feet and the ability to run the floor. He scored by beating his man up the floor in transition, showing soft touch on the run.
Henry Raynor (2021) | 6-7 PF | St. Ignatius
stats: 25 points, 9 rebounds
Richmond Heights’ bigs brought out the best in Raynor, who displayed his entire catalog of offensive skils while holding his own on defense. He proved — once again — capable of beating forwards with quick drives or foot-work inside. The ambidextrous finisher also added a 3-point jumper. Raynor is a dexterous athlete with great hand-eye coordination. On defense, he stayed between his man and the basket to force contested shots. Fought for and often won rebounding position.
Josiah Harris (2022) | 6-7 PF | Richmond Heights
stats: 6 points, 4 rebounds
Harris wasn’t tremendously productive against Raynor. However, his physical improvements are noteworthy. He’s filling out nicely, adding lean muscle to a mobile 6-foot-7 body. Harris has always played through contact, making his physicality a major asset. The few shots he made came after impressive counter moves inside.