Flyin' to The Hoop 2022 Standouts

After a year layoff due to Covid, the 19^th Annual Premier Health “Flyin’ To The Hoop” tipped off at Trent Arena on January 14^th 2022. 4 Days and 19 Games later, the fans walked away saying; “I can’t wait for next year!” The heavily anticipated event lived up to (and exceeded) expectations while showcasing some of the top teams/players in the country. Here are the players who stood out the most…

Rich Rolf (Centerville): Unsigned

29 Points (11/15 FG) (7/10 3PT), 12 Rebounds (7 Offensive) & 4 Assists

In a performance that will be remembered for years to come; Rich Rolf continuously brought the heavily “Pro-Centerville” crowd to their feet. With big shot after big shot and timely play after timely play, Rolf put the Elk’s on his back en-route to a 62-52 victory over "Top 10 Nationally Ranked" Southern California Academy in front of the sold-out crowd at Trent Arena. Rich Rolf did a phenomenal job of moving without the basketball and finding the holes within the SCA defense. The 6’7 Forward showed that he is not only an elite shooter, but also rebounds at a high level, can defend multiple positions and has a high basketball I.Q. Prior to the game we had him highlighted as a potential “X-factor”, but we never could’ve imagined he would perform this way.

Jordan Walsh (Link Academy) ESPN #10 in 2022: Signed with Arkansas

18.5 PPG- 61% FG

Elite Effort & Intensity is the trademark of Jordan Walsh. Watching him play you can’t help but notice that he’s in on every 50/50 ball, he’s the first person to dive on the floor for a loose ball and one of the main players crashing the boards after a miss on either end of the court. I’ve often argued that playing hard (having a motor) is more pre-requisite than skill if you want to be an elite player and when watching Walsh play it’s definitely the first thing that you notice. Jordan Walsh is unselfish, makes the right plays on the offensive end and is a tenacious defender. The depth and ability of Link Academy’s team doesn’t require him to score a bunch of points but it’s no secret that he has can score at will against anybody in the country.

Vs. ISA: 19 Points (8/13 FG), 6 Rebounds, 2 Assists & 3 Steals

Vs. Huntington Prep 18 Points (6/10 FG), 4 Rebounds, 4 Assists & 2 Steals

Rayvon Griffith (Taft) ESPN #59 in 2023: Top 10 (Alabama, Arizona St. Cincinnati, Kansas, Louisville, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, UCLA)

28 Points (10/22 FG) (4/10 3PT) & 7 Rebounds

Rayvon Griffith put Taft on his back in their matchup against Flyght Academy. He showcased himself as a 3-level scorer who competed on every play. With elite size & skillset it was tough for anyone to stay in front of him. It’s easy to see why he is regarded as one of the top prospects in the country. Multiple members of the coaching staff for University of Cincinnati were in attendance to watch the state’s highest ranked prospect in the 2023 class and he didn’t disappoint.

Josh Reed (Pace Academy) Signed with Cincinnati

27 Points (13/21 FG), 5 Rebounds, 4 Assists & 3 Blocks in 21 minutes

University of Cincinnati basketball fans in attendance were surely excited about the future of their program after watching Josh Reed play at Flyin’ to The Hoop. Reed would have certainly been our leading scorer for the year if Coach Sharman White played him in the 4^th quarter, but there was no need as they were ahead by 30 in the 3^rd Period. Josh Reed got to the basket at will, finished at the rim through contact and played with tons of effort & energy while he was on the floor. The future Bearcat was an efficient and effective leader for the young Pace Academy squad.

Sencire Harris (St. Vincent-St. Mary’s) Signed with Illinois

25 Points (11/21 FG) and 8 Rebounds

Illinois has a strong recruiting class coming into Champaign next year between Sencire Harris, Jayden Epps & Ty Rodgers. Harris put on a show for St. Vincent-St. Mary’s in their win over Fairfield. He started off "on fire" with 15 Points (7/11 shooting), 6 rebounds and one block in the first half. Sencire is one of the most electrifying players in the country and provided highlight after highlight for the crowd in attendance. Sencire has a smooth game, finishes shots that should only work in video games and can score with the best of them.

Isaiah Collier (Wheeler) ESPN #15 in 2023: Top 7 (Auburn, Cincinnati, Florida State, Alabama, Georgia, UCLA, University of Southern California)

23 Points (8/16 FG), 6 Rebounds, 3 Assists & 2 Steals

I have gone on record as saying; “Isaiah Collier is the best TRUE Point Guard in the Class of 2023!” He added to my confidence in that statement with his performance at Flyin’ to The Hoop. If you look at the box score you will see that he had a very good game, but that piece of paper doesn’t tell the full story. There’s a metric that I track which doesn’t show up on the official stats, “SBA” or “Should've Been an Assist!” Collier registered 6 “SBA’s” on beautiful passes that left everyone in the arena asking two questions; 1) How did he see that? And 2) How did he make that pass? Isaiah Collier’s court vision, basketball I.Q. and facilitating ability would make him a top prospect in and of itself; but when you add in the fact that he can give you 20+ points any time he wants and plays lock down defense on the opposing teams best player, he transcends into that ELITE conversation.

Mike Sharavjamts  (International Sports Academy) ESPN #100 in 2022: Signed with Dayton

Vs. Link Academy 16 Points & 4 Rebounds

Vs. Shaker Heights 19 Points (8/11 FG), 4 Rebounds, 3 Assists & 2 Blocks

Affectionally known as “Mongolian Mike”; Sharavjamts gave the Dayton area crowd a preview of what he will bring to UD Arena next season. In his game against the powerful Link Academy he was hampered with foul trouble but it was clearly evident ISA is a different team with him on the floor. He was able to compete against the “5 star” talent of Link and showed he is without a doubt a high-level college prospect. Against Shaker Heights he demonstrated his ability to positively impact the game in many different ways. He is a competitor who makes great decisions with the ball in his hands and has a high basketball I.Q. It’s tough to defend Sharavjamts because he scores at 3 levels, has great court vision, scores off the bounce, plays the “right way” and consistently gives elite effort. He has a chance to be a special player in Anthony Grant’s system over the next few years.

Jaxon Kohler (Southern California Academy) ESPN #40 in 2022: Signed with Michigan State

Vs. Centerville 13 Points & 5 Rebounds

Vs. Massillon Jackson 20 Points & 14 Rebounds

Jaxon Kohler is the most skilled big man in the country. He has a diverse skillset that allows him to be a matchup problem for opposing defenders. His footwork is textbook and truly a work of art. One of the things that often goes under-reported is his defensive ability. Kohler has superb quickness & lateral agility which allows him to switch and stay in front of perimeter players. He can also defend other teams “Bigs” and utilizes his athleticism/timing to block or redirect shots. Post Play, Rebounding, Three Level Scoring, Defending… Jaxon Kohler checks all of the “Elite Big-Man Boxes.”  Watching him play, you have to appreciate his game and I know the Spartan fans in East Lansing are patiently awaiting his arrival.

Dailyn Swain (Columbus Africentric)

16 Points (6/13 FG) 9 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 2 Blocks & 1 Steal

Dailyn Swain is an intriguing prospect. At 6’6+ he has the ability to defend multiple positions, runs the floor and can push the point/run the show when needed. He gets to the basket and finishes above the rim at will. Against Oakwood he had a rough shooting outing which is an area of opportunity for growth but what stood out to me was his ability to lock in and get to free-throw line vs. settling for jumpers in an effort to get going. Swain is regarded as one of the top 2023 prospects in Ohio and he clearly has the tools to back it up.

Rylee Sagester (Tri-Village) Committed to Marshall

18 Points, 5 Assists, 2 Rebounds & 2 Steals

Rylee Sagester is one of the best shooters in the country who’s in range the second she checks into the game. Sagester demonstrated elite ball-handling skills as she ran the show for Tri-Village. Her high basketball I.Q. was consistently on display as she made the right reads, put her teammates in positions for success and orchestrated the offense to near perfection. Her offensive impact was paired with a defensive tenacity and energy that made it tough for Bellbrook’s guards. She was instrumental in a 30-point win over the previously undefeated Bellbrook Golden Eagles, the #4 team in Ohio’s Division 1. After the game she told me she has been going to Flyin’ to The Hoop for years and dreamt of the opportunity to play here as a kid. Dreams come true and she made the most of her opportunity. Coach Tony Kemper and Marshall fans are getting an elite ball player in the fall of 2023.

Devin Royal (Pickerington Central)

27 Points (7/13 FG), 6 Rebounds & 2 Assists

Devin Royal is a special basketball player. When watching him play, the first thing that comes to my mind is “Swiss Army Knife!” The 6’6+ Forward can battle on the block on both ends of the floor, stretches the floor with shooting capabilities and scores efficiently off the bounce. Royal’s ability to defend 1-5 at the High School level gives Pickerington Central a unique advantage. Devin Royal is one of the top recruits in Ohio’s loaded 2023 class and I suspect he will start to climb in the national rankings/conversation in the next few months.

Christian Harmon (Akron Buchtel)

25 Points (10/11 FG) (5/5 3PT) & 7 Rebounds

The 6’5 2023 Forward made a name for himself at Flyin’ to The Hoop 2022! There were multiple great shooting performances, but none statistically measured up to Christian Harmon’s vs. Dayton Dunbar. It didn’t matter if Harmon was closely guarded or not, he was in a zone and his heroic effort sealed the victory for Buchtel. There's no shortage of Division 1 prospects in Ohio's 2023 class and Christian Harmon is making a strong case for inclusion in the collective.

Will Maxwell (Oakwood)

19 Points (8/15 FG), 6 Rebounds & 2 Assists

“The game within the game!” It was great to see All-Ohio Red teammates; Will Maxwell & Dailyn Swain, battle it out at Flyin’ to The Hoop. The 2023 Class in Ohio is extremely talented and one player who isn’t mentioned enough is Will Maxwell. He’s athletic, plays with a high motor and scores efficiently. He has positional size, is a capable defender and continues to improve his jump shot. Maxwell is a strong finisher who attacks the rim and finishes with both hands at, around and above the rim. If you’re not careful, he will dunk on you! I’m looking forward to seeing him continue to grow and develop, he’s definitely a player to watch moving forward.

Honorable Mention:

Omaha Biliew (Link Academy) Trey Greene (Link Academy) Julian Phillips (Link Academy) Felix Okpara (Link Academy) Tarris Reed Jr. (Link Academy) Cruz Davis (Huntington Prep) Gabe Cupps (Centerville) Tom House (Centerville) Amaree Abram (Southern California Academy) Vincent Iwuchukwu (Southern California Academy) Dok Muordar (Huntington Prep) Maki Johnson (Huntington Prep) Abdulla Amzil (Omnia) Magnus Entenmann (ISA) Grgur Brcic (ISA) Daniel Young (Shaker Heights) Jerry Saunders (Pickerington North) Lawrent Rice (Wayne) Carter Jackson (St. Ignatius) Calvin Little (St. Ignatius) CJ Yarian (St. Ignatius) Jon Effertz (St. Ignatius) Klarius Amir (Wheeler) Brandon Hatcher Jr (Dunbar) Antuane Allen (Dunbar) Darian Leslie (Dunbar) Marcel Boyce Jr. (Buchtel) Khoi Thurman (Buchtel) Rasheem Biles (Pickerington Central) Alex Styles (Pickerington Central) Jyles Bandoin (Garfield Heights) Jacob Pleiman (Botkins) Carter Pleiman (Botkins) Jameson Meyer (Botkins) Justin Finkbine (Tri-Village) Sean Jones (Gahanna Lincoln) Elmore James (Brush) Ramar Pryor (St. Vincent-St. Mary’s) Logan Woods (Fairfield) Kollin Tolbert (Fairfield) Megan Downing (Tri-Village) Torie Richards (Tri-Village) Morgan Hunt (Tri-Village) Dan Wagner (Africentric) Preston Steele (Africentric) Jack Epley (Oakwood) Keon Wright (Oakwood) Bryson Tiiller (Pace) Kyle Green Jr. (Pace) LJ Moore (Pace) Delmar Blanton (Trotwood Madison) Timothy Carpenter (Trotwood Madison) Mekhi Elmore (Taft) Allen Lattimore (Flyght Academy) Antony McComb (Flyght Academy) Paul McMillan IV (Woodward) Louie Semona (St. Xavier) Eemil Yalaho (Omnia) Gezim Bajrami (Omnia)