Havoc in the Heartland – 2023 Ohio Standouts
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In a weekend full of talent and good games, some players stood out over the rest. I saw games from players in 7 different states throughout the weekend, so in the first article of my new series, we look at…
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Continue ReadingIn a weekend full of talent and good games, some players stood out over the rest. I saw games from players in 7 different states throughout the weekend, so in the first article of my new series, we look at the 2023 standouts from the state of Ohio for the Havoc in the Heartland in Indianapolis. Let’s get started.
Tyson Barnes – 5’10 – PG – Emerge Elite (Springfield)
Barnes is a smaller point guard who uses his step and aggressiveness to make plays on the offensive end. He knows how to draw contact, and he always goes strong to the rim and is a smooth finisher. He is extremely confident in his shot and didn’t hesitate to shoot early on. He did seem to kind of disappear in the second half, but it was a solid first-half performance from Barnes on Saturday morning.
Zion Crowe Zion Crowe 6'4" | SG Springfield Shawnee | 2023 State OH – 6’4″ SG – Dayton Elite (Springfield Shawnee)
Crowe is a bigger shooting guard who was absolutely filling it up on Saturday night. He is incredibly aggressive with the ball in his hands, and he was fighting through contact all game. He also dominated the offensive glass and threw down a monster dunk late in the win. In addition to his play inside, he also hit a nice step-back triple to show off his range. Zion had 16 in the win, and his ability to score from all areas makes him a solid college prospect.
RJ Griffin – 6’2″ SF – Dayton Elite (Springfield Shawnee)
Griffin is a smaller wing who can really play anywhere from the one to the three. He is quick with the ball and always takes it strongly to the hole. He can also knock the outside shot. On the defensive end of the floor, Griffin came up with a couple of blocked shots and made it difficult for opponents on the inside.
Caleb Maurer Caleb Maurer 5'11" | CG Fort Loramie | 2023 State OH – 6’0″ SG – Dayton Elite (Fort Loramie)
Maurer was lights out from the outside to start the game for Dayton Elite. On 3 of their first four possessions, Maurer knocked down triples and gave his team a very quick 9-0 lead. Maurer would end the first half with 18 points, absolutely slashing the opposing defense. He has a good mid-range jumper, a great outside shot, and he isn’t afraid to get inside and compete for rebounds. He can jump out of the building, and his aggressiveness on the offensive glass gave his team many extra possessions. Watch for him to be very heavily recruited in the coming years.
Kalerrio Reaves – 5’10 – SG – Emerge Elite (Meadowdale)
Reaves is a smaller guard who lived off of his drives to the hole in this one. He is very quick with the ball in his, and he has several moves that allow him to finish over the bigger defenders with his smooth touch. He also hit a nice little mid-range jumper to show his shooting skills. Reaves was one of the big factors in getting Emerge Elite back in the game, but Gateway ended up being too much for them in the end.
Dresean Roberts Dresean Roberts 6'1" | PG Piqua | 2023 OH – 6’1 – SF – Emerge Elite (Piqua)
Roberts is a smaller, southpaw wing who is very basketball smart. He seemed to always make the right play with the ball in his hands, and he uses his good ball-handling to get to the rim. He also knows how to draw contact on his drives. Late in the game, he did start to get way too out of control, but this is something that should improve with more experience. He is a player to watch develop over the next year.
Anthony Ruffolo Anthony Ruffolo 5'10" | PG Archbishop Alter | 2023 State OH – 5’10” SG – Dayton Elite (Archbishop Alter)
Ruffolo is a smaller guard who was absolutely stroking it from the outside. He has a nice, smooth stroke from the outside, and he hit two huge triples late to help put the game away. In addition to his shooting, Ruffolo was extremely active on the glass. He attacks the offensive boards like none other, and this led to multiple putback lay-ins for him. Ruffolo has more fight than anyone, and he plays hard every second that he is on the floor. Watch for Ruffolo’s recruitment to really pick up here in a couple of months.