STORY BY STEVE HELWAGEN

STORY BY STEVE HELWAGEN
High School Basketball
SENIORS-TO-BE (CLASS OF 2007)
Trotwood-Madison’s Chris Wright
JJ Huddle’s Ohio High
Nick Falzerano/MVP,LLC
* 1. O.J. Mayo, 6-4, shooting guard, North College
Hill (SH, first nationally in senior class; HS, first
nationally) – Mayo repeated as Ohio’s Mr. Basketball
and Ohio High’s Man of the Year in boys basketball in
leading NCH to a second straight Division III state championship. He averaged 28.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.8
assists and 5 steals in earning state player of the year
honors in Division III. With over 2,000 career points
already, Mayo could threaten the state’s career scoring
record.
It has been a controversial spring for Mayo, who was
suspended from his team’s state semifinal game before
serving a 10-day school suspension. There were rumors
that Mayo might transfer to a prep school. He also played
at least one AAU event away from his regular team, the
D-One Greyhounds. And, while he was expected to once
again attend the Reebok ABCD Camp in July, there were
rumors that he might go to the Nike Camp instead.
Through it all, Mayo and D-One kept right on rolling.
They won the King James tournament in Akron in May.
“Like all superstars before him – like Michael Jordan
BOYS BASKETBALL RECRUITING
The OHSAA state championships capped the high
school basketball season in March.
Since that time, the state’s top high school basketball
prospects have been busy touring the country while playing in AAU tournaments. One of the biggest such events
was the inaugural King James Shooting Stars tournament, held April 28-30 in Akron.
As expected, the D-One Greyhounds, led by North
College Hill standouts O.J. Mayo, Billy Walker and
Keenan Ellis, won the tournament in convincing fashion.
The AAU circuit was continuing through July, when a
number of the key prospects were due to appear at the
three major national summer camps – the Nike Camp in
Indiana, the Reebok ABCD Camp in New Jersey and the
adidas Superstar Camp.
With this issue, we turn the page and drop coverage of
the outgoing senior class of 2006. That group was a starstudded collection, led by Ohio State signees Daequan
Cook and David Lighty and Michigan State signee
Raymar Morgan.
We will focus on the top prospects in the classes of
2007-10, featuring comments from
HoopScoopOnline.com Ohio recruiting editor Chris
Johnson. The players are ranked by class by Johnson
and HSO.com. We also include the most national rankings by ScoutHoops.com (SH) and
HoopScoopOnline.com (HS).
J J H U D D L E . C O M 57
High School Basketball
and LeBron James – he has had his share of distractions around him,” Johnson said. “But when he
gets on the court, he’s at ease. None of the hoopla
around him bothers him.”
As a sophomore, he helped NCH post a 27-1
record and the Division III state championship. He
averaged 27.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.0 assists
and 3.0 steals per game during the regular season.
He also shot 43 percent on three-point attempts.
Because the NBA has enacted an age restriction, Mayo may play a year of college basketball.
Three schools that are consistently mentioned are
Cincinnati, West Virginia and Kansas State,
although USC, Kentucky, Indiana and perhaps
Ohio State could also be possibilities for Mayo.
* 2. Bill Walker, 6-5, wing forward, North
College Hill (SH, seventh; HS, third) – Walker
joined Mayo as a state player of the year in
Division III after averaging 22.4 points per game.
As a sophomore, he averaged 20.1 points and 11.3
rebounds per game and shot 59 percent from the
floor as Mayo’s running mate.
Walker’s status for 2006-07 was in limbo. There
seems to be a dispute whether Walker played as a
freshman at Rose Hill (Ky.) Christian Academy in
2002-03. If the OHSAA rules that he did, Walker
could be ineligible for one or both semesters in the
coming school year.
“He is awaiting a ruling from the OHSAA as to
whether he has any eligibility left,” Johnson said.
Walker, who also runs with Mayo on D-One, figures to attend the Reebok ABCD Camp again.
* 3. Kosta Koufos, 7-1, power forward,
Canton GlenOak (SH, 15th; HS, 30th) – Born in
Greece, Koufos has grown three inches to reach 71. He also finalized his college choice in May,
when he selected Ohio State over Maryland,
Michigan, Louisville and nearby Akron.
“It’s a great atmosphere at Ohio State with great
facilities,” Koufos said. “Ohio State is a great football school but we’re also going to make it a great
basketball school. We have the support and excitement to make it great in both.”
The verbal took some of the sting out of what
has been a hard spring for Koufos, who missed the
final month of the high school season with a broken foot. Before the injury, he averaged 24.1
points, 11.1 rebounds and 4.2 blocked shots per
game as a junior. He was a second-team All-Ohio
pick in Division I.
He has been working his way back on the AAU
circuit. He figures to return to Nike Camp in July.
“He is getting more strength and stamina and
getting back to full strength,” Johnson said. “He put
on 20 pounds after the injury. He thought it would
be good weight, but I think he realized it was not
good weight. He’s been trying to lose some of it as
he comes back.”
As a sophomore, Koufos averaged 16.5 points
and 8.0 rebounds per game.
* 4. Alex Tyus, 6-7, wing forward, Cincinnati
Harmony Community (SH, 35th; HS, 18th) –
Tyus moved in from Hazelwood (Mo.) Central. He
has hooked up with the D-One Greyhounds and
should attend Reebok ABCD.
“He was the leading scorer on the team and
they played some good prep school competition
from all over the country,” Johnson said. “With DOne, he took over the championship game at the
King James after Bill Walker went down with a leg
injury.”
58 J J H U D D L E . C O M
Tyus reportedly had offers from Cincinnati,
Missouri, Baylor, Indiana and Purdue. Memphis,
Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio State could also
get involved with Tyus.
* 5. Jon Diebler, 6-5, wing forward, Upper
Sandusky (SH, 62nd; HS, 97th) – Diebler was
one of the few returnees from Upper Sandusky’s
2005 Division II state championship team. He did
everything he could as a junior, averaging 34.8
points, 10.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 5.0 steals and
3.5 blocked shots per game. He was a first-team
All-Ohio pick.
In a Jan. 13 win over Tiffin Columbian, Diebler
scored 77 points. He was 22 of 42 from the floor
and 27 of 28 at the foul line. He also had 16
rebounds in that game.
Diebler, who should attend the Nike Camp, is
one of the leaders of the All-Ohio Red AAU team.
“He has found adjusting to being the target of
opposing teams’ defenses can be tough,” Johnson
said. “His AAU team used to have Nate Miles and,
since they lack a quality big guy, teams come after
him.”
As a sophomore, he helped lead Upper
Sandusky (27-0) to the Division II state title, scoring 32 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in the title
game win over Wooster Triway. Diebler was a second-team All-Ohio pick, averaging 25.9 points and
six rebounds a game.
He committed to Valparaiso last January, but
decommitted and picked Ohio State over Valpo,
Michigan and N.C. State in September.
* 6. Dallas Lauderdale, 6-9, center, Solon (SH,
80th; HS, 61st) – Lauderdale ended the suspense
on June 1, when he verbaled to Ohio State over
Louisville, North Carolina, Notre Dame and
Syracuse.
He averaged 21.0 points and earned first-team
All-Ohio honors in Division I as a junior. He averaged 17.5 points, 13 and 4.8 blocks rebounds per
game as a sophomore.
Lauderdale, who could attend ABCD or Nike,
has largely been without an AAU team this spring
as most of the Cleveland Titans he played with
were graduating seniors.
“He dominated most of the teams he went up
against,” Johnson said. “But he needs to step it up
against elite competition. In some games when he
faced other highly ranked players, like against
Canton McKinley, he failed to produce.”
* 7. Chris Wright, 6-7, power forward,
Trotwood-Madison (SH, 88th; HS, 99th) – Wright
earned third-team All-Ohio honors, averaging 17.0
points per game and leading Trotwood-Madison to
the Division I state final four. Wright, who averaged
15 points per game as a junior, verbaled to Dayton
in November.
“Chris still needs to keep working,” Johnson
said. “He is an incredible athlete. He could compete with Bill Walker as the best dunker – not only
in the state of Ohio, but in the country. He just
needs to develop a consistent outside shot.”
* 8. William Thomas, 6-5, point guard, East
Cleveland Shaw – Johnson on Thomas: “He is
one of the top scorers in the Cleveland area.”
Thomas was considering Michigan, Cleveland
State, Bowling Green and Toledo.
* 9. Dante Jackson, 6-4, wing forward,
Greenfield McClain – Jackson again earned firstteam All-Ohio honors in Division II after averaging
28.7 points per game. As a sophomore, Jackson
averaged 25 points, 11.7 rebounds and 6.5 assists
per game. He had 39 points in his team’s regional
semifinal loss.
Jackson spent the spring concentrating on track,
playing in limited AAU events with several teams.
He reached the state track meet in the 110- and
300-meter hurdles events.
“He had a great performance at the Pittsburgh
Jam Fest tournament, but he has been mostly MIA
because of track commitments this spring,”
Johnson said.
Jackson has offers from Michigan, Kansas State
Xavier and Dayton. He was also hoping for interest
from Ohio State and Kentucky.
* 10. Aaron Pogue, 6-8, center, Dayton
Dunbar – Pogue joined Daequan Cook in leading
Dunbar to the state final four. He averaged 15.0
points per game as a junior.
“He seems to be more motivated,” Johnson said.
“He is in better condition. Some people still think
football might be his best sport.”
* 11. Keenan Ellis, 6-11, center, North College
Hill (SH, 75th) – Ellis was suspended from the
NCH team at midseason, but remains in school
there and is expected to be back next year. As a
sophomore, he transferred from Indianapolis
Cathedral. He became eligible in January and
ended up averaging 16.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and
3.9 blocks per game for the state champs. Ellis
likes Kentucky and Indiana.
* 12. Lonnie Hayes, 5-11, combo guard,
Cincinnati Hughes – Hayes transferred from
Cincinnati Princeton and averaged 19.4 points as a
first-year varsity player as a junior.
“After spending his sophomore year on the JV at
Princeton, Hughes had a knockout spring and
summer and took a standout role at Hughes,”
Johnson said. “He has long arms and that helps
him make up for his lack of vertical bounce. That
gives him the ability to score over tallen players.”
* 13. James Davis, 6-3, shooting guard,
Columbus Linden McKinley – Johnson on Davis:
“He is an athletic combo guard who started for the
Panthers as a sophomore. He played for them in
the state final four.”
* 14. Camden Miller, 6-8, wing forward,
Wheelersburg – A growth spurt has helped Miller
become a prospect. He averaged 18.0 points per
game and earned first-team all-district honors as a
junior.
“Miller has grown nearly five inches in the past
year and a half,” Johnson said. “He is tantalizing
college coaches with his perimeter ability. He led
Wheelersburg to the state final four this past year.”
* 15. Hakim McCullar, 6-6, power forward,
Cincinnati Withrow – McCullar averaged 11.2
points and 4.5 rebounds as a junior at Withrow.
“He is a bouncy power forward with long arms,”
Johnson said. “He plays like a 6-8 or 6-9 player.
He will probably be a steal for some MAC school.”
* 16. Ronnie Steward, 5-10, point guard,
Columbus Eastmoor – Johnson on Steward: “He
has stepped up his game this spring. He is an
assist maker for Jon Diebler on the All-Ohio Red
team. He had an outstanding showing at the
Spiece AAU event in Indiana.”
* Others To Watch –Alex Kellogg, 6-7, power
forward, Columbus DeSales (son of former Ohio
State star Clark Kellogg); Troy Tabler, 6-4, shooting
guard, Cincinnati Moeller (son of former Cleveland
Indians player Pat Tabler; averaged 13.8 ppg as a
JJ Huddle’s Ohio High
PHOTOS BY NICK FALZERANO/MVP,LLC
High School Basketball
Jon Diebler
Upper Sandusky
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O.J. Mayo
North College Hill
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Dante Jackson
Greenfield McClain
Kosta Koufos
Canton GlenOak
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Bil Walker
North College Hil
Alex Kellogg
Columbus DeSales
MAYO/WALKER PHOTOS BY NICK FALZERANO/MVP,LLC
JJ Huddle’s Ohio High
J J H U D D L E . C O M 59
High School Basketball
JUNIORS-TO-BE (CLASS OF 2008)
PHOTO BY STEVE HELWAGEN
* 1. William Buford, 6-5, wing forward, Toledo
Libbey (SH, 18th nationally in junior class) –
Buford averaged 22.7 points per game and was a
first-team all-district pick in Division I.
“His poise on the
court is what stands
out,” Johnson said.
“He plays the game
like it should be
played. He is a sophomore who plays
with tremendous
poise. He never
seems to get rattled.
His critics say he
could do more individually to take a
game over.”
His top schools
include Ohio State,
William Buford
Michigan, Arizona
and Michigan State,
all of which have apparently offered. Buford, who is
part of the D-One Greyhounds AAU program, figures
to attend the Reebok ABCD Camp.
* 2. Yancy Gates, 6-8, power forward, Cincinnati
Hughes (SH, fourth nationally in junior class; HS,
fourth) – Gates averaged 20.3 points per game as a
sophomore, up from 13.9 points and 9.1 rebounds
per game as a freshman. He lists Ohio State,
Cincinnati, Illinois, Florida and Michigan.
“He has had an outstanding spring,” Johnson said.
“He has improved his physical conditioning from last
year.”
Gates plays for the Cleveland Basketball Club AAU
team. He figures to attend the adidas Superstar
Camp.
* 3. Delvon Roe, 6-8, power forward, Lakewood
St. Edward (HS, 17th) – Roe averaged 19.3 points
per game as a sophomore, earning first-team all-district honors in Division I. He averaged 17 points as a
freshman and earned Special Mention All-Ohio honors.
“As good as he is on the court, Roe has a tremendous demeanor off the court,” Johnson said. “He will
be a college coach’s dream. Sometimes his easygoing nature belies his killer instinct. He had a 39-point
game at Spiece.”
Roe plays alongside Koufos for the King James
Shooting Stars. He could earn an invitation to the
Nike Camp.
Ohio State and Michigan have already offered.
60 J J H U D D L E . C O M
Roe listed his favorites in May as “UConn, Florida,
Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, Ohio State, Indiana,
Tennessee and Florida.”
* 4. B.J. Mullens, 7-0, center, Canal Winchester
(SH, 13th; HS, sixth) – Mullens played his first two
varsity seasons at Canal Winchester World Harvest
Prep before transferring to nearby Canal Winchester.
He averaged 17.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 6.0
blocked shots per game. He was already offered and
committed to Ohio State before he averaged 11.3
points per game in
his varsity debut season as a freshman.
He figures to again
be at the adidas
Superstar Camp.
* 5. Kenny
Frease, 6-11, center,
Massillon Perry (HS,
50th) – Johnson on
Frease: “He is a pure
low post center. He
needs to work on
improving his athleticism.”
Xavier has offered
and Ohio State has
BJ Mullens
also been involved.
* 6. Devon Moore,
6-3, point guard, Columbus Northland (HS, 81st) –
Johnson on Moore: “He has had a solid spring for the
CBC team. He plays more off the ball for his AAU
team. He plays more point guard for Northland.”
* 7. Robert Wilson, 6-5, wing forward, Cleveland
Rhodes – Johnson on Wilson: “He is a high flying
wing who has surpassed his more highly touted high
school teammate, Rayshawn Goins.”
* 8. Kyle Rudolph, 6-6, power forward,
Cincinnati Elder – Rudolph earned league player of
the year honors after averaging 15.5 points and 7.9
rebounds.
“Despite his strength and power, Rudolph can also
step out and hit the three,” Johnson said.
* 9. Rayshawn Goins, 6-5, wing forward,
Cleveland Rhodes (HS, 65th) – Johnson on Goins:
“He has great basketball skills and IQ, but he needs
to improve on his conditioning to reach his full potential.”
* 10. Walt Gibler, 6-6, power forward, Cincinnati
St. Xavier – Gibler averaged 14.9 points and 6.9
rebounds as a sophomore.
“He is similar in style to Rudolph, but not as powerful,” Johnson said. “But he is probably a slightly better
ballhandler.”
* Others To Watch -- Anthony McBride, 6-0, point
guard, Cincinnati Withrow (HS, 100th); Damian
Eargle, 6-8, power forward, Warren Harding; Josh
Benson, 6-8, power forward, Dayton Dunbar; Robert
Wilson, 6-4, wing forward, Cleveland Rhodes; Andrew
Parrish, 6-7, power forward, Clayton Northmont; Chris
Hudkins, 6-7, forward, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary;
Anthony Hitchens, 5-9, point guard, Chillicothe (averaged 17.4 ppg as a sophomore); Johnie Davis, 6-0,
point guard Canton McKinley; Chris Crockett, 5-9,
point guard, Columbus Academy; TeAllen Price, 6-8,
power forward, Cincinnati Woodward; Alex Sullivan,
5-9, point guard, Painesville Riverside; Kyle Caiola, 510, point guard, Parma Normandy; Damon Butler, 59, point guard, North College Hill; Troy Long, 6-0,
shooting guard, Cincinnati Woodward; Scott Stucky,
6-2, shooting guard, Dublin Coffman; Courtney Davis,
PHOTO BY STEVE HELWAGEN
junior); Christian Siakam, 6-6, power forward,
Cincinnati Hughes (Siakam still has not played due to
eligibility issues); Billy Allen, 6-5, guard, Hamilton
(averaged 17.4 points as a junior); Elijah Allen, 6-5,
wing forward, Columbus DeSales (averaged 16.4 ppg
as a junior); Daitwan Eppinger, 6-5, wing forward,
Garfield Heights; Reggie Revels, 6-4, guard,
Cincinnati Taft; Phillip Pearson, 6-1, point guard,
Toledo Libbey; J.J. Grycko, 6-9, center, Cincinnati
Moeller; Nick Winbush, 6-5, wing forward, Shaker
Heights; Brett McKnight, 6-5, power forward,
Lancaster; Terry Martin, 6-5, power forward,
Cincinnati Moeller; Mike Porrini, 6-1, point guard,
Massillon Washington; Bobby Austin, 6-2, shooting
guard, Cincinnati LaSalle; Nick Gross, 6-0, point
guard, Akron Manchester.
6-3, shooting guard, North College Hill; Brandon
Baker, 6-6, wing forward, Cincinnati Milford; Chris
Johnson, 6-4, wing forward, Columbus Brookhaven;
Chris Grimes, 6-5, power forward, Cincinnati
Woodward.
SOPHS-TO-BE (CLASS OF 2009)
* 1. Danny McElroy, 6-7, center, Cincinnati
LaSalle – Johnson on Macalroy: “He has a great
build for a freshman. To start from game one at
LaSalle in the GCL, that really says something.”
McElroy averaged 8.0 points and 4.7 rebounds as
a freshman.
* 2. Bill Edwards, 6-4, forward, Middletown –
Edwards was an honorable mention all-district pick
in Division I as a freshman, when he averaged 11.4
points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
“He promises to be the next strong player from
tradition-rich Middletown,” Johnson said. “He is the
son of former Wright State star Bill Edwards, who
is currently playing in Europe.”
* 3. Desmar Jackson, 6-3, shooting guard,
Warren JFK – Johnson on Jackson: “He is a great
athlete. He can handle it and shoot it. He plays
defense. He does everything well. He has a
chance to be one of the best prospects ever out of
JFK.”
* 4. Robert Copabianco, 6-7, power forward,
Loveland
* 5. Mike Taylor, 6-1, shooting guard, Toledo
St. John’s
* 6. Orlando Williams, 6-1, point guard,
Cincinnati Woodward
* 7. Garrick Sherman, 6-8, center, Kenton
* 8. Jeremy Duncan, 6-5, wing forward,
Cincinnati Moeller – Duncan is the brother of former Moeller standout and Xavier mainstay Josh
Duncan.
* 9. Darren Goodson, 6-4, wing forward,
Cincinnati Withrow
* 10. Sean Joplin, 6-1, combo guard, Sylvania
Southview – Joplin is the son of Toledo coach
Stan Joplin.
* Others To Watch -- Stephon Johnson, 6-5,
power forward, Cincinnati Woodward; Zach Brown,
6-2, shooting guard, Mason; Brian Wozniak, 6-5,
wing forward, Loveland; Reggie Keely, 6-6, power
forward, Solon.; Brandon Ham, 5-11, point guard,
Toledo Central Catholic; Drew McGee, 6-8, power
forward, North Ridgeville; Javon Cornley, 6-4,
power forward, Columbus Northland; Dane Kopp,
6-8, center, Newark; Robert Johnson, 6-4, wing forward, Bedford; Bryce Barnes, 5-11, point guard,
Grove City Central Crossing; Ryan Siggins, 6-4,
wing forward, Kettering Alter.
FROSH-TO-BE (CLASS OF 2010)
Here are six names to watch in the Class of
2010: Nick Kellogg, 6-2, power forward, Columbus
DeSales; Kenny Knight, 6-5, wing forward,
Cincinnati Northwest; P’shon Howard, 6-2, point
guard, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary; Cody Smith, 511, point guard, Lima Shawnee; Jared Sullinger, 64, wing forward, Columbus Northland; Kevin Gray,
5-10, point guard, Groveport Madison.
For more updates on Ohio’s top prospects and
those nationally, check out Chris Johnson’s work at
hoopscooponline.com
JJ Huddle’s Ohio High