BERLIN, Ohio—You can’t get together a collection of some of the top teams in the talent laden state of Ohio and not find a depth of talent, both established and evolving. The 15th annual Classic in the Country featured signees / verbals with the likes of Auburn, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, as well as a couple of players with USA Basketball on their resumes and even a McDonald’s All-American named one day following the event. That list doesn’t include the wealth of signees and commitments at all levels of collegiate play and even a few others moving on to the next level in other sports. If that wasn’t enough, 2022 standout Chance Gray and some of her youthful peers were showing off with a Sunday “breakfast special”. If you have to ask who Gray is, you’re already late to the party.
None the less, with that kind of lineup, it’s no surprise that despite busy MLK weekend schedules of their own, over 100 college recruiters made it courtside in the Perry Reese Center for some of the action across three days of play. To see our game by game stat recaps and images, follow the links below.
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/classic-country-xv-day-one/ – Saturday
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/classic-country-xv-day-two/ – Sunday
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/classic-country-xv-day-three/ – Monday
In addition to great games, the Classic serves as a reminder and testament to the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coach Perry Reese Jr., the late boys coach from Hiland High School. If good basketball honors those special individuals, then the players below are just a few of the athletes who did them justice in Berlin last week.
Madison Bartley – 2020 – 6-3 – Forward – Kettering Fairmont – Effective with lots of effort at the #4…Smart, knows what she’s looking for…Agility challenges some defensive match-ups…Posts hard and understands angles down low…Can run the floor with the perimeter players…Works for rebound position…Strength will come
Fran Belibi – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – Regis Jesuit – Established elite forward…Adding more depth to her game…Much more than the “one who dunks”…Working more efficiently away from the rim…High post passing is coming…Her own mid-range pull-up is finding more consistency…Attack off the dribble is assertive and challenges defensive rotations…A physical force on the boards…Has the tools to play virtually any spot in any defensive scheme…Still improving
Makira Cook – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Mt. Notre Dame – Advancing her game over the course of the season…Attacking mentality coming with more and more confidence…Change of speed really serving her well…Producing more in traffic for herself and teammates…Consistency is evolving on the perimeter looks…Played some of her better basketball…Only going to continue advancing her game
Zia Cooke – 2019 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Toledo Rogers – Elite point guard…Quick and explosive with the ball…Becoming more and more adept at making those around her better…Playing with a greater awareness on both ends…Can create her own looks at will…Mixing up her attack…Keeping defenders guessing but also drawing a crowd…Elevates above them if needed…Choices are much more efficient and productive…Improved focus on defense is obvious, particularly on the ball
Nevaeh Dean – 2020 – 6-0 – Forward – Lakota West – Strong and solid forward…Gets out and runs the floor…Skills are there to work on the block but has the tools to play away from the rim to a degree as well…Uses body well to protect the ball going up inside…Decent form is there from the perimeter with time…Got on the glass…Had moments
Obianuju Ezeudu – 2019 – 5-11 – Forward – Raynoldsburg – Physically strong and dynamic small forward…Attacking inside…Aggressive on both ends…Great hands…Explosive with the ball…Has the instincts to improve her shot in traffic…Not afraid to play physical…Got on the glass
Sophia Fortner – 2018 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Wadsworth – Toledo signee – Smart and aggressive point guard…Utilizes strong ballhandling and passing skills to create options…Pushes the ball at every opportunity…Can make plays at speed (a rare commodity)…Handles contact well for size…Aggressive on the ball defensively…Decent vision from the weakside of the floor
Madison Greene – 2019 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Pickerington Central – Top tier point guard with an attacking mentality…Looking to hit seams and exploit careless defenders…Individual skills get her through traffic in both fullcourt and halfcourt scenarios…Sweeps the ball with authority on the catch to create space…Form and stroke are there along with range…Anticipates defensively
Bree Hall – 2021 – 6-1 – Wing/Guard – Huber Heights Wayne – Established, elite prospect…Lots of length to go with strong skill set…Smooth and fluid off the drive…Can get to the rim but can pull up and elevate, too…Ability is there to knock down the perimeter shot as well…Size and agility make her a potential impact defender…Physical aspect of game will come as she adds strength
Nyla Hampton – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Huber Heights Wayne – Quick and athletic point…Always looking to attack…Pushes the it at every opportunity…Plenty of speed with the ball in her hands…Quick reaction on the defensive side of the ball
Naz Hillmon – 2018 – 6-2 – Forward – Gilmour Academy – Michigan signee…Continues to set work ethic bar high…Made up for a tough shooting night in multiple ways on both ends…Cutting hard off screens and without the ball…Understanding and holding position down low…Always a factor in transition even if she’s the outlet…Strong presence on the offensive glass…Willing and able to mix it up physically…Leaves it all on the floor
Gabby Hutcherson – 2020 – 6-3 – Wing/Forward – Westerville South – Known commodity…Still finding her stride after injury layoff…Smooth and fluid with lots of size…Has individual skills to challenge defenders of both size or quickness…Can slither among traffic and finish at the rim…Form is there on the shot as is the elevation to get clean looks…Size, wingspan and agility serve her well defensively as well…Limits are the ones she sets for herself
Jala Johnson – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – Notre Dame Academy – Lots of speed and quickness with the ball in her hands…Good use of hesitation and change of direction…Looking to attack the rim…Gets deep…Pull up is there…Active defender
Anyssa Jones – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Westerville South – Physically strong and athletic guard…Lefty…Good acceleration with the ball off first step…Can slash into traffic…Pull up is there…Has strength and footspeed to be an effective on ball stopper
Giuliana Marinozzi – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – Laurel – Good size on the perimeter…Has depth to her skill set…Ballhandling is there to create both shots and passes…Can get to the rim…Turns the corner hard off screens…Hesitation move gets defenders out of stance…Nice form, stroke and range…Almost too willing to give it up…Lots of promise
Kendyl Mick – 2020 – 5-8 – Guard – Sheridan – Solid skills…Plays with good instincts…First step is surprising…Can put it on the floor, but does so too much at times…Form is there…Good range and confidence…Sees the floor…Watch
Zoe Miller – 2021 – 6-1 – Post/Forward – Berlin Hiland – Size and frame…Textbook approach…Posts hard…Can hold her ground…Knows what she’s looking for…Showed off some interior passing…Lots of tools
Jada Moore – 2020 – 5-10 – Combo – Regis Jesuit – Lean and athletic…Lots of speed and quickness…First step is exceptional…Crossover comes with acceleration to leave defenders behind…Hesitation gets them out of their stance…Creates her own looks but occasionally has her mind made up without reading…Lots of hand and footspeed defensively…Just scratching the surface
Valencia Myers – 2018 – 6-3 – Post – Solon – Florida State signee…At her best she can be dominant…Could own the block…Mixed up attack with inside out play…Dropstep covers lots of ground and prevents defenders from recovering…Has to up the FG% for the looks she gets…Has the agility and strength to exploit almost any type of defender…Pulled her share of boards…Consistency is biggest challenge…Named McDonald’s All-American Tuesday
Laila Phelia – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – Mt. Notre Dame – Maturing top tier freshman…Individual skills and confidence are evolving…Looking for her own more often but still with good choices…First step is quick…Showed some range…Pull up is coming along…Elevates in the paint…Lots of tools on the defensive end of the floor
Sommer Pitzer – 2019 – 5-3- Point Guard – Westerville South – Small but effective point guard…Understands her role and commands the floor at times…Penetrates and creates both shots and passes…Set up defenders on her passing…Reads the floor and makes sound decisions…Form is there as well as a quick release
Abby Prohaska – 2018 – 5-10 – Guard – Lakota West – Notre Dame signee…Long time impact player…Standard bearer for intensity…Sets the pace for teammates and opponents…Attacking mentality lets her develop her options or improve those around her…Mid-range pull up is coming along…Made several plays in transition with strong passing…Showing an even more assertive approach on the defensive end of the floor…Makes plays start to finish
Sammie Puisis – 2019 – 6-2 – Wing – Mason – Florida State verbal…Becoming more and more active without the ball in her hands…Making herself a threat both in transition and the halfcourt…Gets out…Rage is there, as always…Getting good looks on pull up with greater elevation…Tough match up for opposition with the ability to score inside and out…Good awareness on defense…Could get a little more physical at times
Annie Roshak – 2019 – 6-0 – Forward – North Canton Hoover – Ashland verbal – Lean built forward…Has some ballskills and can create her own looks from the high post or trail spot…Works well in traffic in getting her shot off…That being said shot selection has some interesting moments…Plays with effort…Length is an asset defensively
Madison Royal-Davis – 2021 – 5-10 – Wing – Toledo Rogers – Young with some tools…Demonstrated some speed with the ball…Narrow base on shot…Ability there to attack and navigate traffic all the way to the rim…Length is a major asset defensively with wingspan
Morgan Sharps – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Newark – Miami (Ohio) verbal – Solid skills…Sound ballhandling…Form and stroke are there…Has range and quick release…Works hard to make herself an option…Makes good choices with the ball
Jacy Sheldon – 2019 – 5-8 – Combo – Dublin Coffman – Ohio State verbal…Multi-talented and grossly underrated guard…Combines skills and instincts to make herself a challenge for any defender…Range is there to keep opponents honest but ballskills let her exploit overplays…Plays with awareness in traffic off the drive…Productive scorer but very efficient passer…Step back is there with range and a quick release…Speed is much better than first impression…Physical strength will evolve with maturity
Emma Shumate – 2021 – 5-11 – Wing / Guard – Newark – Lean with length…Good ballhandling…Fluid with the ball in her hands…Can penetrate for both the finish or the pass…Narrow “compact” shot…Lots of potential and obvious promise
Katie Shumate – 2019 – 5-10 – Combo – Newark – Kent State verbal…Applies skills with length…Ability is there to develop and improve options…Mixes both speed and direction…In / out move and spin move come into play often…Pushes from make, miss and turnover…Reads the floor in the halfcourt or on the break…Vision is there…Turns the corner and gets to the rim…Can deliver off the drive…Got some three’s but consistency will have to evolve from the perimeter
Nicole Stephens – 2020 – 5-5 – Guard – Pickerington – Young guard…Solid ballskills…Looking to get to the rim…Playing with confidence…Sees the floor off the drive…Smart player…Reads defenders and rotations……Has shown stroke, form and range to keep defenders closing out
Kelsey Swihart – 2021 – 6-0 – Forward – Berlin Hiland – Young…Physical forward…Aggressive on both ends…Not afraid to go up strong in traffic…Gets on the boards…Not hesitant to mix it up physically…Got on the boards
Haley Thierry – 2012 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Laurel – Wiry and athletic point…Plenty of speed and quickness…Penetrates to score or dish…Vision and awareness…Narrow base on shot…Anticipates on the defensive end of the floor…Quick and active defender…Anticipates
Olivia Trice – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Huber Heights Wayne – Athletic and attacking guard…Lots of speed with the ball in her hands…Improves her options off the dribble…Can get to the rim or pull up as rotations come her way…Good form from the perimeter…Aggressive on ball defender
Megan Wagner – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Mason – Young guard with skills…Focused…Plays with assertiveness…Sees the floor…Reads defenders on ball and weakside…Improves options both scoring and passing…Will push it at opportunity…Good feeling for the flow of the game…Consistency from the floor will keep opponents honest…Active on ball defender herself
Hailey Weaver – 2021 – 5-10 – Wing/Guard – Solon – Length…Nice size mixes with some skills…Showed some speed with the ball…Slashed into traffic some…Will fill out…Has tools to develop
Madeline Westbeld – 2020 – 6-2 – Wing / Guard – Kettering Fairmont – Improves each time out…Combines size with strong skill set…Improves her opportunities and those around her…Sets up her passes with misdirection and “looking off”…Goes to the rim hard and uses body efficiently against contact…Delivers the ball inside versus defensive rotations…Hesitation move is getting sharper and sharper…Mid-Range pull up showing more elevation challenging defenders…Could reign in use of the dribble at points…All the tools are there
Ally Winnen – 2020 – 6-1 – Post – Elyria Catholic – Decent size…Solid build…Deceptive agility…Lefty…Works hard to be a factor…Gets out and runs the floor…Attacking mentality…Can drive from the high post…Gets on the boards
