2023 stock risers from Midwest Live
Midwest Live is a great event for college coaches at every level to evaluate some of Ohio’s top talent in June. There were coaches from high major to division III and everything in between at the event today. In this…
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Continue ReadingMidwest Live is a great event for college coaches at every level to evaluate some of Ohio’s top talent in June. There were coaches from high major to division III and everything in between at the event today. In this article I’ll break down some prospects who boosted their stock with big games in front of college coaches.
Shemarion Hardy Shemarion Hardy 6'1" | PG Cleveland Heights | 2023 State OH , 5’11 PG Cleveland Heights 2023: Hardy is an interesting prospect because of his ability to create with the ball in his hands. A talented guard who can score it from the outside and attack the rack, there’s some clear talent when you watch Hardy. I’d like to see Hardy become more decisive with his dribble, as some of his creation via over-dribbling is unlikely to translate to the next level. Hardy certainly has the ability to make his game simpler and still produce.
Ryan Ioppolo Ryan Ioppolo 6'4" | SF Mentor | 2023 State OH , 6’4 SF Mentor 2023: Ioppolo has maybe boosted his stock as much as anybody this weekend, showing off some new abilities I didn’t get to see during the grassroots season. Ioppolo was breaking the press, helping bring the ball up the court and creating for himself. Dribbling was a question mark I had on Ioppolo because I didn’t really see it in April or May, but he’s got more skill by putting the ball on the floor than I thought. Ioppolo was also very efficient from the floor, knocking down shots from everywhere on the court. A prospect who came into the weekend with Division III interest is now playing his way into scholarship programs inquiring about him.
Ayden Carter Ayden Carter 6'4" | SG Fremont Ross | 2023 State OH , 6’3 SG Fremont Ross 2023: Carter is a prospect who shined for Hopson Elite on the Prep Hoops Circuit but this was my first time watching him with his high school program. Carter is a great athlete who threw down multiple dunks in each of the games his team had today. Carter is bigger and stronger than a lot of other wing guards who defend him and had maybe the highlight of the day with a poster dunk on Padua. Carter’s biggest question is the jumper, which sometimes goes in from 15 feet, but is not a threat from behind the arc. Carter’s jumper is what’s holding him back from being a Division I prospect, currently Tiffin and Lourdes have offered with many other Division II and NAIA programs closely monitoring.
Kellon Smith Kellon Smith 6'1" | CG Shaker Heights | 2023 State OH , 6’1 CG Shaker Heights 2023: Smith hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer with his team down two points to defeat Springboro. Smith was hot late, making a variety of shots from the top of the key and creating for himself. I like Smith’s length defensively and the ability to play on or off the ball. Smith is a high priority for Division III programs, but I think scholarship programs should be paying attention to Smith as well. It will be interesting to see if his play today leads to any offers.