REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio—Just when you think the scholastic basketball season has seen the sun set on 2018, there’s a gym full of top talent getting right back to work on a court just down the road.  Less than 24 hours after the final buzzer in the Ohio State tournament 80 hand selected players took part in the first annual Ohio Girls Basketball Report “Talent Show”.  The name is actually very appropriate give the highly regarded status of the Buckeye State in terms of basketball talent and respect that OGBR holds in the scholastic and club communities.

A look across the roster of names and you see current and future prospects who will make their mark both on the high school landscape and ultimately within the collegiate game.  While the 2018’s weren’t our focus this time around, there were names like Hillmon, Mikesell, Myers and Prohaska in the gym.  Among the juniors Bell, Cooke, Horston, Greene and Puisis were names any knowledgeable basketball person will recognize.  And, there were plenty of sophomores and freshmen already on the radar joining their classmates in Reynoldsburg Sunday in front of evaluators and media.

There were 26 signed or verbally committed athletes taking part including 9 from Power Five Conferences.  Just in case you doubt the work ethic of this next generation of talent, 22 players who competed in the OHSAA Tournament over the weekend went right back to work less than one day later.  While a first year event, with the “Talent Show” OGBR once again provided both the talent and organization that serves athletes, coaches, media and fans alike.  Below are quickhitters on just some of the talented players we got a good look at Sunday.

Lexi Arden – 2020 – Wing – Ironton – Combines some length and skills…Fluid and active…Good instinctual player…Tools are there to create her own looks…Works well in traffic…Shot has both range and touch…Lots of attributes to build on 

Edyn Battle – 2020 – Point Guard – Gahanna Lincoln – Aggressive and attacking guard…Looking to get to the rim…Hesitation gets defenders out of their stance…Can finish in traffic but has a pull up as well…Impressive change of speed and direction…Physical defender 

Kierstan Bell – 2019 – Wing / Guard – Canton McKinley – Two time Miss basketball already…Dynamic physically…Plays strong and aggressive with the ball in her hands…Fluid with power both in sets or out on the break…Elevates and finishes with confidence…Handles contact and can finish with defenders hanging on her…Form is there and consistency is evolving…A challenge for defensive match ups of both size or quickness…Elite with room to advance even further 

Makira Cook – 2020 – Point Guard – Mount Notre Dame – Athletic and quick with the ball in her hands…Pushing and making plays at speed…Ballhandling is sound and improves her options…Hesitation serves her well…Playing with more confidence each time we see her…Assertive defensively

Zia Cooke – 2019 – Point Guard – Toledo Rogers – Less than 24 hours off an epic state final performance…Scored at will in a variety of ways…Long ball and pull up are both getting more and more elevation…Change of speed is leaving defenders scrambling…Showing a willingness to “carry” the team…Reading the floor as efficiently as ever…Elite player who has not settled in any way 

Clarissa Criaig – 2021 – Post – Roger Bacon – Plenty of size with a solid build…Active and moves well without the ball…Makes herself an option for teammates…Drop step is effective and covers plenty of ground…Active as guards penetrate to become available…Works hard down low…Only going to continue to evolve 

Neveah Dean – 2020 – Forward – Lakota West – Shows advancement each time out…Looking fit and stronger…Can play physical and aggressive…Looking to create her own looks on the catch…Has shown a presence on the offensive glass…Adding more depth to her game 

Makayla Elmore – 2021 – Forward / Post – Hopewell Loudon – Good size and frame…Will grow even more…Interior player with impressive perimeter instincts and skills…Decent range and touch…Low release point on shot however…Runs the floor well…Good agility on both ends…More a “finesse” player right now…All the tools are there

Kyla Foster – 2021 – Guard – Canton McKinley – Smooth and fluid…Plenty of speed and quickness…Can finish in traffic…Makes herself an option in transition…Active defender

Madison Greene – 2019 – Point Guard – Pickerington Central – Led team to title Saturday night…Continued to attack Sunday…Mixes speed and direction as well as anyone…Making sound choices in transition…Can take it all the way but has a strong pull up to call upon…Quick and aggressive as an on ball defender…Sees the floor from the weakside 

Bree Hall – 2021 – Wing / Guard – Wayne – Combination of size, athleticism and skills…Already well established…Improved acceleration with the ball…Can handle contact off penetration…Form is there with time on the perimeter…Impressive length defensively…Works hard on ball

Athena Hocevar – 2021 – Wing / Guard – Gilmour Academy – Some size on the perimeter…Efficient ballhandling in place right now…Crossover is sharp…Can improve her looks and passes…Decent stroke with time…Shot fake…Has length defensively 

Jordan Horston – 2019 – Guard – Africentric – Well established elite guard…Ability to create off the dribble is exceptional…Change of speed comes with explosive acceleration…Side to side moves gets defenders committed and open lanes she exploits…In traffic her jump stop covers plenty of ground…The vertical gets her open and clean looks at the rim even among the bigs…Perimeter form is sound but consistency is an issue at times and needs attention…Defensively she’s both long and aggressive…Can excel in any half or fullcourt scheme

Gabby Hutcherson – 2020 – Forward  – Westerville South – Added length is there…Still very lean…Much more active without the ball…Looking to attack more off the dribble…Likes the floater in traffic off penetration…More finesse than physical…Gets out and runs the floor…Could utilize size more on both ends of the floor 

Anyssa Jones – 2020 – Guard – Westerville South – Lefty…Attacking guard…Looking to create and improve…Physically strong…Jumper is there both from perimeter and off the pull up…Making plays on both ends 

Kaydan Lawson – 2020 – Guard / Wing – Orange – Continues to evolve and develop…Tools are there with size and athleticism…Looks to create off the dribble…Can get deep into the paint…Sound and effective body control…Touch is there both mid-range and out to the arch…Could have been more assertive at times…Agility and footspeed are there to provide versatility on the defensive end 

Mickayla Perdue – 2021 – Point Guard – Springfield – Wiry build at the point…Pushes from make, miss and turnover…Makes plays at speed…Strong interior passing off the drive…Reads defensive shifts…Form and range are both there…Left hand needs to evolve a bit more…Lots of promise at the point 

Sammie Puisis – 2019 – Wing – Mason – Lost in Friday’s semifinals…Length and skills challenge defenders…Perimeter touch forces close out on the catch…Playing with more assertiveness…Showing more and more versatility in scoring options…Active with and without the ball…Gets out in transition and can be an option going long at times…Plays with effort on both ends

Madison Royal-Davis – 2021 – Guard – Toledo Rogers – Long and lean in the backcourt…Attacking with sharp individual skills…Not hesitant to take it into traffic or contact…Can elevate and adjust on shot…Body control is there…Pushes at every opportunity…Shot selection has moments…Tools are there to be strong on and off the ball defensively

Shyanne Sellers – 2021 – Guard – Aurora – Size with smooth athleticism…Fluid with the ball in her hands…Depth of skills are there…Good vision and passing skills…Reads defenders on penetration…Quick release on her shot…Makes plays 

Alexia Smith – 2020 – Guard – Africentric – Dynamic athlete…Making plays both in transition and the halfcourt…Plays with intensity…Perimeter shot is beginning to serve her well forcing close out and leading to drives…Physically strong with the ball in her hands…First step is lethal…Not shy about contact…Ballhandling is sound but needs to continue to be sharpened and refined 

Marcy Spielman – 2019 – Wing – Upper Arlington – Deceivingly aggressive…Can put it on the floor and create or improve her options…Good stroke and form given time…Sees the floor…Not hesitant to be physical…Made some plays

Taylor Strock – 2021 – Guard – Napolean – Develops options off the dribble…Aggressive with the ball in her hands…Shot fake serves her well…Pull up is efficient…Had some moments 

Nyam Thornton – 2020 – Point Guard – Africentric – Strong and aggressive at the point…Can be explosive on the attack at times…Ability is there to get deep in the paint…Can score at the rim or off the pull up…Passing is well read and crisp but risky at times…Watch 

Jocelyn Tate – 2021 – Guard – Pickerington Central – Tremendous athlete…Elevates on the attack and on the glass…First step is there…Plenty of speed with the ball in her hands…Lots of promise

Maddy Westbeld – 2020 – Wing / Forward – Kettering Fairmont – Evolving as one of the more versatile players in the class…Size and frame combine with skills to challenge defensive match ups…More and more fluid with the ball in her hands…Mixing up her attack more…Going both directions efficiently…Pull up is there both ways as well…Again showed sharp interior passing 

Skye Williams – 2021 – Guard – Teays Valley – Has refined and added to her individual skills…Can create both shots and passes…Attacks aggressively off the drive…Utilizes her body to protect the ball in traffic…Pull up is there as well as perimeter jumper…Plays with an awareness…Can over dribble at time…Assertive on ball defensively

Ivy Wolf – 2021 – Point Guard – Minster – Competitor with a good understanding of the game…Active with and without the ball…Always looking to attack…Understands defensive shifts off the drive…Digs in on the ball defensively