Gerald Doakes is a Top Available Scorer in the State of Ohio
Mt. Zion Prep played host to the Myrtle Chaffin Classic on the weekend of November 14 and featured some high-level talent from all over the country. One team that participated was Spire Academy and in their Saturday matchup against Our Family, I witnessed one of the more impressive scoring clinics since I started covering high school.
2021 guard Gerald Doakes exploded for 46 points and was scoring from every level and in every fashion. At 6-foot-2, Doakes presents solid size as a combo guard. For this Spire team he’s featured more off the ball, but Doakes has the confidence in his handle and IQ to facilitate when called upon.
In the game against Our Family he asserted himself initially from outside. Doakes gets elite lift on his jumper, which makes it impossible for opponents his size to block. It’s the type of lift a player of his size needs at the Division I level if he plans on playing the majority of possessions off the ball. Once he established himself from beyond the arc, he was more aggressive in attacking closeouts off the bounce, getting to the rim and finishing with powerful dunks through traffic.
His explosive athleticism was evident in the open floor, but when he operated in traffic it really brought light to just how high-level of an athlete he truly is. Doakes has an in-between game as well. He can operate off one or two dribbles and get into his jumper with pace and control.
Doakes has been off the scene for the past calendar year due to a transfer rule in Texas that forced Doakes to sit out after transferring from Pro Vision Academy to Yates. Before his transfer, Doakes had offers and interest from programs such as Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and SMU. After sitting out, he realized he had to get somewhere for a post-grad prep year to regain interest with Division I programs.
“Toledo and Dayton have been the two schools so far who’ve been reaching out,” Doakes told Prep Hoops. “It’s been a wonderful experience for me at Spire so far. Just getting in the gym every day and working every day. Getting right. It’s been good.”
The difference between a year ago and now with Doakes’ game is that he plays harder on both ends. A criticism that surrounded his game was that he would take possessions off and he was aware of those flaws. This season, he’s determined to put those skeptics behind him and remake himself into a commodity for Division I schools looking for a guard who can play on or off the ball and score at an alarming rate.
There was a reason power five programs were after Doakes at one point. His game translates well at the mid-major level and with continued improvement on the defensive end and his motor, I wouldn’t be surprised if low-level high-major programs begin inquiring once again.
Gerald Doakes (@DoakesGerald5) calmly killed a few Baltimore-Poly runs in the 1st half then LIT THIS MFer UP in the 2nd to lead @SPIRE_Institute to a 105-86 win at @MtZionPrep’s 2020 Myrtle Chaffin Classic
6’2” PG/Wing from Arkansas was ELECTRIC as SPIRE pulled away for the W… pic.twitter.com/Xym8Ca7hH1
— The Hustle (@TheHoopHustle) November 14, 2020