WEST CHESTER, Ohio—At the thanksgiving table many high school coaches are often very grateful that November basketball is almost at an end and their teams are taking the necessary (and often painful) steps to get past early season growing pains.  The third annual Journey to the Tourney provided 30 teams from Ohio and one from Indiana the chance to fine tune their games as they move towards December and the heart of the 2018 – 19 schedule.

Once again held on the campus of Lakota West High School, the early season OGBR event showcased some of the top teams and talent in the Buckeye State.  The line-up included all four defending state champions and nationally ranked individuals like recent South Carolina signee Zia Cooke and Tennessee bound Jordan Horston, both USA Basketball Gold Medalists.  The lone team from the Hoosier State, Northwestern, included two future Big 10 athletes (Michigan State / Purdue) and a roster focused on defending their own Indiana state title from last season.  There were 26 other schools and universities who had signees or verbal commitments in action, seven of which are Power Five programs. As always, Ohio offered up plenty of up and coming young talent that caught the eye of national evaluators, media and over 60 college recruiters who squeezed in a look on a busy playing weekend of their own.

Blue Star Media was on hand from the opening tip of the 19 game, three day schedule and just like our coverage from Texas a week ago, we got the opportunity to get a good look at both established and evolving talent.  Here are some of the standouts from the 2018 Journey to the Tourney.  As always, they’re in alphabetical order and represent nothing more than our thoughts on what we saw in the gym.  Yes, there were many other accomplished and established recruits on hand as well as some promising younger performances that aren’t included due to time and space.  We look forward to seeing them all play again in the future.

Destiny Bohanon – 2019 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Huber Heights Wayne– Dayton signee…Always improving…Attacking mentality comes off makes, misses and turnovers…Sees the floor on the break or out of halfcourt sets…Gets to the rim with ease…Perimeter touch and range keep opponents closing out and honest…Only going to continue to add to game

Kendall Bostic – 2020 – 6-1 – Post/Forward – Northwestern– Michigan State verbal…Size with solid build and strength…Active and aggressive…Plays with awareness…Understands angles on the block…Holds her ground…Reads on the catch…Hands…Keeps it high…Goes up hard…Handles physical play…Got on the glass…Quick outlet to trigger transition

KK Bransford – 2022 – 5-11 – Combo – Mt. Notre Dame– Established prospect already…Making plays beyond her years…Added length makes her a difficult match up…Combines athletic and basketball skills to offer a diverse attack…Can get to the rim and finish in traffic…Plays at speed in the full court…Active cutter off the ball…Plenty of effort defensively…Quick hands and feet…Not a secret and will be challenged with a target on her back

Zia Cooke – 2019 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Toledo Rogers– South Carolina signee – Tough night for the defending state champs…Still had runs…Can take over a game in streaks…Effective getting to the rim or off the pull up…Range forces defenders to close tighter…Attack is more mixed…Does defer to teammates too much on occasion…On ball defense is advanced…Quick and assertive with her hands and feet dictating to ballhandlers 

Clarissa Craig – 2021 – 6-3 – Post – Roger Bacon– Plenty of size…Frame is made for physical play…Holds her ground posting up…Reads defenders on the catch…Drop step is efficient…Active cutting block to block…Got on the boards…Impressive lateral footspeed for size defensively…Plenty of tools and potential 

Lexi Fleming – 2020 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Mercy McAuley– Wiry build and somewhat small…Solid ballskills…Looks off her passes…Makes plays…Handles contact well for size…Pushes it at opportunity…Quick release on her shot…Scrappy and feisty at both ends

Chance Gray – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard – Lakota West– Well known prospect moves to varsity…Added size is a plus…Confidence is evolving by the possession…Has added depth to her game…Touch and range are already there…Demonstrated speed with the ball in transition…Had some strong flashes…Will be some growing pains but potential will carry through

Madison Greene – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Pickerington Central– Penn State signee…Efficient and productive in an easy game…Creates looks for both herself and her teammates…Controls the game both in transition or out of sets…Hesitation and change of speed is sharper than ever…Reads defenses on penetration…Choices are refined as a senior 

Kendall Hale – 2021 – 5-10 – Wing/Guard – West Clermont– Played just one half…Had moments…Solid athleticism…Tools are there to create and improve both looks and passes…Showed some spot up range…Could be more active without the ball in her hands

Bree Hall – 2021 – 5-11 – Wing – Huber Heights Wayne– Continues to offer elite moments…Exploits size and athleticism with impressive effort…Has added some strength…Mixing up her attack more…Looking to create her own looks…Gets off the floor on both the jumper or a pull up…Fluid release is there on the shot…Showed off the tools to dictate and dominate defensively…Defining herself on both ends of the floor

Lyric Harris – 2020 – 6-0 – Wing/Guard – Roger Bacon– Power game in the backcourt…Penetrates…Choices need to sharpen up a bit…Made some plays…Pull up is there…Elevates…Has promise

Jillian Hayes – 2020 – 6-1 – Wing/Guard – Loveland– Size and strength in the backcourt…Extensive length of stride…Can develop options and passes…Got into traffic again and again…Mid-range is there…Strength lets her work near the rim…Could just be scratching the surface

Claire Henson – 2022 – 6-1 – Wing/Guard – Valley View– Nice size on the perimeter…Solid ballhandling…Can penetrate…First step is sound…Active with and without the ball…Gets out in transition…Vision is there…Works on ball defensively

Jordan Horston – 2019 – 6-1 – Guard – Africentric– Tennessee signee…Added depth to her attack…Picking her spots…Can get into the paint with ease…Elevates for both shots and passes…Size and length now have more strength to challenge defenders…Passing off penetration is still among the elite…Perimeter consistency will still be key to keeping opponents honest at the next level…Physical tools make her an impact defender in any scheme

Gabby Hutcherson – 2020 – 6-2 – Wing – Westerville South– Ohio State verbal – Some added length…Build is still long and very lean…Movement is smooth and fluid but lacks efficiency…Settles at times…Tools are there to create her own looks with and without the ball…Physical assets continue to make her a potential impact player defensively…Needs to get in the middle of the action more often

Mya Jackson – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Wilmington– Seton Hall signee…Small but dynamic and quick…Change of speed and direction leaves defenders scrambling…Crossover to a step back works well…Has range on her jumper…Size is a challenge on penetration…Both pull up and floater are effective…Quick on the ball defensively 

Maliyah Johnson – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – Africentric– Nice size and build for age…Strong athleticism…Decent ballskills…Hesitation move…Got out on the break…Has some tools to work with…Assertive on ball defender

Anna Landing – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward – Beavercreek– Nice combination of size and understanding…Good skill set…Effective down low and from the perimeter…Plays patient…Runs the floor in transition…Has some depth to her game for age

Madison Layden – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward/Wing – Northwestern– Purdue verbal commit…Lots of length with a lean build…Deceptive agility for size…Works hard to make herself available and a legitimate option…Has the tools to create looks for herself or improve those of teammates…Worked well against physical defenders despite giving up some strength…Narrow base on perimeter shot…Shot fake sets up penetration…Forces defenses to react

Cotie McMahon – 2022 – 5-10 – Guard – Centerville– Solidifying herself on the recruiting radar…Athletic…Physically strong in the backcourt…Ballskills are sharp and effective…Smooth and athletic in her movement…Covers a lot of ground off the dribble…Strong with the ball…Change of speed mixed well…Left hand needs some attention…Body control is there off the drive and in traffic…Limits she faces are only her own

Zoe Miller – 2021 – 6-1 – Post/Forward – Berlin Hiland– Size with solid build…Has added to and refined her game…Efficient down low but can work away from the rim…Cuts with intent and deceptive speed…Shot fake and drive works well for her…No reservations about physical play…Consistency will need to evolve

Kyla Oldacre – 2022 – 6-5 – Post – Princeton– Size, frame and athleticism…All the physical tools are in place…Shows good agility for size and a good understanding of movement on the floor…Posts hard and holds her ground…Keeps it high on the catch…Often gives it up too quickly without reading defenders…Needs to be looking for her own options off the post entry…Effort was there on both sides of the ball…Unlimited upside 

Maliya Perry – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing – Pickerington Central– Auburn signee…Continues to keep defenders honest with range…Mixing up her attack even more and producing in multiple ways…Playing with more patience…Creating looks both off the dribble and off the cut…Much more depth to her game 

Laila Phelia – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – Mt. Notre Dame– Athletic on the perimeter…Had some moments but consistency wasn’t quite there…First step is dynamic…Gets into the paint with ease…Can get to the rim or go to a solid pull up…Gets off the floor on her shot…Creating more…All the tools to be a dynamic defender

Courtney Prenger – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward/Wing – Minster– Xavier signee – Nice length on the wing…Fluid stroke…Cuts hard…Works hard to be an option…Got on the offensive glass…Tough day finishing…Length and stride are an asset on both ends

Sammie Puisis – 2019 – 6-2 – Wing – Mason– Florida State signee…Added strength and confidence serving her well…Shooting well with both range and consistency…Making sharper reads on the catch…Mixing up the pull up and mid-range more to keep defenders honest…Cuts with intent…Knows what she’s looking for…Elite productivity on the wing

Tiffany Ramos – 2022 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Olentangy Liberty– Young point guard…Ballhandling is there…Good vision and down floor passing…Can penetrate and make the pass as defenders rotate…Step back is there with range…Lets it fly…Good court awareness for age

Madison Roshelle – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – Princeton– Athletic guard…Some size in the backcourt…Good speed…Impressive length of stride running the floor…Elevates on the pull up and perimeter looks…Worked for her options…Possibilities

Madison Royal-Davis – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard/Wing– Length with athleticism…Not as efficient as in the past but potential is still very obvious…Quick and agile…Got to the rim time and again…Left hand needs to develop more…Speed and quickness are major assets defensively…Potential is there to make plays…Patience

Morgan Sharps – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Newark– Miami (Ohio) signee…Versatile skill set…Smart and patient on the offensive end of the floor…Directs traffic at times from the #2…Understands spacing and how to make herself available…Spots up with impressive range and touch…Shot fake and drive keeps defenders honest…Competes

Kylee Sheppard – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – Roger Bacon– Active and versatile…Always looking to push and attack…Solid ballhandling and passing skills serve her well…Makes good choices in transition and the halfcourt…Acceleration on the catch…Step back and quick release from the perimeter…Sound decisions with the ball…Quick and assertive on ball defender

Emma Shumate – 2021 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – Newark– Young with nice length on the wing…Active player both with and without the ball…Not her most productive outing but demonstrated continuing advancement in skillset and understanding…Plenty of effort on defense…Wingspan and lateral footspeed serve her well…Keep watching

Katie Shumate – 2019 – 5-10 – Guard/Wing – Newark– Kent State signee…Impressive steps in her game…Playing with plenty of confidence…Creating her own looks off the dribble more often…Pull up is serving her well…No hesitation taking it into traffic…Cut hard looking to score…Strong boards from the backcourt

Jocelyn Tate – 2021 – 5-11 – Guard – Pickerington Central – Young guard…Plenty of speed and quickness…Some size on the perimeter…Can slash and get to the rim…Delivered some sound passing…Got on the boards from the guard spot…Active…Played with effort…Has tools…Wasn’t about the stats but more about her potential…Watch

Grace VanSlooten – 2022 – 6-2 – Forward – Toledo Notre Dame– Good size with promising skills…Lean build but agility is obvious and effective…Solid ballskills help her improve her offensive options…Reads on the catch…Has been coached…Knows what she’s looking for…Plays with patience…Very impressive and very promising

Amy Velasco – 2021 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Centerville– Assertive and scrappy…Plays with good speed and quickness…Effort puts her in the middle of plays on both ends…Not shy about contact despite size

Sakima Walker – 2020 – 6-3 – Post – Africentric– Somewhat a mystery…All the physical tools are there…Length, agility and the ability to run the floor…Has hands…Appears to just be scratching the surface…Good frame serves her well now and will work for her at the next level as well…Potential seems unlimited…Watch and see 

Hailey Weaver – 2021 – 5-11 – Wing/Forward – Solon– Wiry and athletic…Good length…Quick and fluid in all her movement…Speed and quickness are impressive for size…First step creates separation for her…Elevates on the pull up shot…Touch is there…Quickness and length serve her well defensively…Strength will need to come

Maddy Westbeld – 2020 – 6-2 – Wing/Guard – Kettering Fairmont– Setting herself apart from the crowd…Additional size and strength combine with already established skills…Range and consistency both have improved…Off penetration mixing up speed and direction more efficiently…Depth of skills is challenging defenders…Versatility she could provide is hard to find at any level 

Ivy Wolf – 2021 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Minster– Active and assertive…Sees the floor…Plays with a strong IQ and understanding for the game…Penetrates…Delivers sharp passes off the drive…Narrow base on the jumper at this point…Deceptive athletically

Bailey Zerby – 2021 – 5-7 – Guard – Bellbrook– Hard working guard…Ballhandling is there both in the halfcourt and transition…Looks to create for herself and teammates…Demonstrated some range…Cuts hard and with intent…Lots of effort