Top Northeast Ohio Unsigned Seniors at the Midseason Mark
Recognizing player achievement is what Prep Hoops is all about. In this week’s extensive Midseason Mark series, we will go all across Ohio, identifying which players are leading the way in the 2019-20 season. We’re now in Northeast Ohio for the second…
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Continue ReadingRecognizing player achievement is what Prep Hoops is all about. In this week’s extensive Midseason Mark series, we will go all across Ohio, identifying which players are leading the way in the 2019-20 season.
We’re now in Northeast Ohio for the second day of a three-day series:
Gbolahan Adio (2020) | 6-3 SG | Richmond Heights
Adio is a well-rounded scorer with athleticism. He can stretch the floor and finish in traffic. Using his length and quickness, Adio can sit down and defend most perimeter players. He’s best in transition but has the ability to play in a structured halfcourt game, too. Arguably the best player on Ohio’s top-ranked Division IV team.
Terry Baldridge (2020) | 6-8 SF | Willard
Baldridge is a skilled, lanky senior with the mobility and ball skills to play the wing at 6-foot-8. At the high school level especially, he can provide rim protection and rebounding to go with his dynamic at-rim scoring. Reliable spot shooter. Willard is currently 10-1 and ranked No. 5 in our OHSAA D-III Power Rankings.
Peyton Bissler (2020) | 6-2 SG | West Geauga
Bissler is a handful playing without the ball. Terrific cutter who puts himself in position to catch-and-score efficiently, especially playing off junior forward Josh Irwin. Bissler is also showing more playmaking ability, averaging over three assists to go with his 19.4 points per game.
Devontae Blanton (2020) | 6-6 SF | St. Edward
Blanton is a big wing with playmaking ability. He is especially dynamic leading the break — puts pressure on the defense as a scorer from the point of attack, yet finds the open man if defenders peel off their guys to stop ball. Effective mid-range scorer with impressive touch. Provides rebounding and defensive versatility, too.
Chris Blauman (2020) | 6-3 SG | Madison
Blauman, a 4.4 GPA and 27 ACT student, reached the 1,000-point milestone on Jan. 10. He’s scoring it at a 23.1 points per game clip this season. The senior is an under-the-radar kid that can shoot the heck out of the ball. Flashes creative finishing ability. His outside shooting prowess predicates his ability to penetrate. Blauman has good positional size, too. He leads the team at 9.1 rebounds per game.
Jashun Cobb (2020) | 5-11 PG | Benedictine
Cobb is a fierce point-of-attack defender with length who can sit down and stay attached. Capable of denying away from the ball as an assignment defender, too. Consistently scoring the ball this season. Cobb has a slippery handle and scores with balance in the paint.
Arthur Fayne (2020) | 6-3 SG | Cleveland Central Catholic
Skilled two-guard with collegiate size and athleticism. Fayne’s shooting stroke is pure and he can hit from distance. If he falls to a Division III collegiate program, he will bring an athletic edge to the backcourt that could be a real difference-maker for whichever school he lands at.
CCC is currently No. 4 in our Division II Power Rankings and appears to be on a collision course with Rogers in the Bowling Green region.
Martin Lowry (2020) | 6-3 SG | Fairview
Lowry is a big combo guard who combines passing and shooting ability to be a dynamic offensive weapon. He’s one of the reasons Fairview plays fast and averages nearly 80 points per game — Lowry delivers accurate assists while playing at a dead sprint. Also creates separation with a herky-jerky side-to-side crossover. Averages a team-best 5.3 assists.
Noah Mesaros (2020) | 6-2 SG | Fairview
Mesaros does a lot of his work after receiving his pass in the corner or wing. The thick-bodied guard affects the game as a scorer and with physicality. He can catch-and-shoot or rip-through to get to the basket. Averages 14.6 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds for our No. 3 team in Division III.
Deshaun Nettles (2020) | 6-7 PF | Cleveland Central Catholic
Nettles has turned the corner in terms of physicality, toughness, and production in the paint. He utilizes a strong frame and sheer size to score inside and control the inside. Adds a layer of interior athleticism for CCC that has been the difference in several games this season. Shows hints of a jump shot that could be fine-tuned at the next level.
Check out this Nettles dunk from Tuesday night, captured by Matt Goul of Cleveland.com:
Per @3rdcoast_Newt request: Deshaun Nettles’ facial on the @kingtev1 feed, plus some D to top it off. pic.twitter.com/S5FugNyRCq
— Matt Goul (@mgoul) January 15, 2020
Christian Parker (2020) | 6-6 PF | GlenOak
Parker, thrust into a go-to scoring role as a senior, has led GlenOak to an 8-4 record. A nimble face-up big that plays on his toes, Parker can score from inside and out. Budding skill-set that continues to blossom. Rebounds by actively pursuing the ball. Parker possesses both size and speed in a straight-line.
Christian Pfeiffer (2020) | 6-8 PF | Amherst
Pfeiffer is the guy for Amherst, where he averages 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game. He is skilled, yet slight of frame. Can put the ball on the floor a little bit and has a swooping shot coming across the lane in his arsenal. Flashes the ability to stretch the floor. Uses his height to provide rebounding. Division IIIs looking for skilled bigs should make him a priority.
Quentin Richardson (2020) | 5-11 PG | Holy Name
Holy Name, 9-3 overall, is undefeated with Richardson healthy. He’s one of the top three unsigned senior point guards in Ohio. He’s a brilliant passer who can keep his dribble alive late to open up unusual drive-and-kick opportunities. Extremely effective in the fastbreak — Richardson is a blur. When the game slows down, his outside shooting puts pressure on the defense. Smartly uses his quickness to make a defensive impact.
Shammah Scott (2020) | 6-2 SG | Shaker Heights
A late-bloomer that is scoring it efficiently for the Raiders. He has become noticeably more athletic and creative as a finisher. Scott can shoot it from outside with space or pull-up from around the elbow. Offensive weapon.
Kyle Szumski (2020) | 6-2 SG | Medina
Szumski progressively adds layers to his game. One of the best pure shooters on this list but he’s also become more athletic, which allows him to defend and finish at a higher level. Ultimately, though, Szumski will provide shooting on day one at the next level. Medina is currently 9-2 with their only losses to Moeller and Shaker.
Aaron Whitehead (2020) | 5-10 SG | Lorain
Whitehead has quietly emerged as Lorain’s leading scorer this season. He can stretch the floor by shooting it a few steps beyond the 3-point arch. Also displays an elusive handle in getting to the cup, where he can kick-out or finish with touch.
Edward Wright (2020) | 6-0 PG | Elyria Catholic
Wright is a score-minded lead guard that can finish in traffic and flashes shooting ability. Uses his strong body to attack the cup and be a plus-rebounder from the point guard spot. Wright averages over 26 points and nine rebounds per game. Elyria Catholic remains in the lower half of our Division III Power Rankings with him at the helm.