Notable upcoming sophomores to watch for in Northeast Ohio

There’s plenty of talent returning throughout Northeast Ohio next season after we saw a couple of freshmen really make an impact in year one. With that in mind, here are some of the top upcoming sophomores to keep an eye out for heading into the 2020-21 high school basketball season.  Marlon BarnesMarlonBarnes6'5" | SGBrush | 2023OH, Brush We didn’t get to see a fully healthy Marlon BarnesMarlonBarnes6'5" | SGBrush | 2023OH often throughout his freshman season as he was battling injuries early on. Nonetheless, Barnes is a very skilled combo guard who displayed his outside shot throughout the playoffs in big games against Mentor and Cleveland Heights. Barnes ended his freshman year on an effective note, having more confidence in his three-point shot while improving his perimeter defense as well. He already holds an offer from Miami (FL).  Khoi ThurmonKhoiThurmon6'1" | PGCopley | 2023StateOH, Copley The 6-foot freshman had one of the best seasons for his class in year one. He finished the season averaging 16.9 points per game for his team, helping turnaround a sluggish start that translated to an impressive postseason push. Thurmon has a nice handle to his game and was a remarkable defender at such a young age, guarding opposing team’s best players quite often. Expect big things to come from the highly touted guard.  Jesse HayesJesseHayes6'7" | CPadua | 2023StateOH, Padua A very long and athletic player, Jesse HayesJesseHayes6'7" | CPadua | 2023StateOH was a tough player to contain inside the paint. The 6-foot-6 forward lived near the rim, as hardly any players in the conference can match the length of Hayes. He’s got quick feet for a player his size and challenged any defender trying to score an easy basket near him, translating to blocked shots and transition baskets the other way. Hayes will be a player to watch for not only in the North Coast League, but within Northeast Ohio as he’s poised for a breakout sophomore season.  Deshawne CrimDeshawneCrim6'0" | PGFairfield | 2023StateOH, Fairfield Deshawne CrimDeshawneCrim6'0" | PGFairfield | 2023StateOH played a crucial role in the Fairfield offense this past season. The point guard transitioned smoothly to high school basketball, as he flirted with double-digit points consistently throughout the season. The swift guard gained confidence in his jump shot and was very aggressive trying to make the next big play for his team.  Amire RobinsonAmireRobinson6'3" | SFCopley | 2023StateOH, Copley One of the toughest freshman to guard near the perimeter, Amire RobinsonAmireRobinson6'3" | SFCopley | 2023StateOH challenges defenders with his athleticism and quickness. Robinson was able to thrive in transition and he’s a playmaker that finishes well through contact at the rim. Has a very high IQ for an upcoming sophomore.  Tyler WilliamsTylerWilliams6'8" | CBrush | 2023State#147NationOH, Brush One of the most athletic players in his class, Tyler WilliamsTylerWilliams6'8" | CBrush | 2023State#147NationOH has elite size and swiftly learned how to adapt within the Arc offense throughout the year. He’s shown flashes of knocking down mid-range shots when he didn't fight for a layup near the rim and does a good job fighting for rebounds with his length. With forward John Hugley off to Pitt, expect Williams to play a significant role in Chet Mason’s offense as a sophomore.