Flyin to the Hoop: Nationally ranked teams, top prospects shine in showcase

Gary Trent Jr. highlights
Prolific Prep senior and Duke commit Gary Trent Jr. was among the top prospects at the annual Premiere Health Flyin to the Hoop.

The 15th annual Premiere Health Flyin to the Hoop Boys Basketball Invitational was held over the Martin Luther King weekend at Trent Arena in Kettering, Ohio. The event, which has become one of the country’s premier boys basketball destinations, again played host to a talented cast of teams, individuals and college coaches.

Here are the highlights…

Game 1
Fairmont (Kettering, Ohio) 60, Sidney (Ohio) 51
The host Firebirds opened the event by snapping Sidney’s seven-game win streak. Kamron Drollet scored a game-high 20 points for Fairmont, which also received 15 points from Jack Hendricks and 12 from Kellan Bochenek. Sophomore sensation Andre Gordon had 17 for Sidney.

Game 2
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 70, Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 57
With four players reaching double-figures, including Trevon Duval, who had a team-high 20 points and seven assists, IMG, ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps Independent Top 10 rankings, used a 20-6 second quarter to separate from former-No. 10 Hamilton Heights. Virginia Tech commit Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 21 points for Hamilton, while Kentucky recruit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 18. Game 3
Archbishop Alter (Kettering, Ohio) 54, St. Joseph Academy (Cleveland) 36, girls
In the first girls game ever at FTTH, Alter, ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps/JJHuddle Ohio Division II poll, led the entire way. Duquesne recruit Libby Bazelak led Alter with 22 points, while Oklahoma State-recruit Braxtin Miller chipped in 19.  Bazelak also had eight rebounds and three assists. Colleen Neitzel had 11 points and seven rebounds for St. Joseph.

Game 4
Springfield (Ohio) 64, Eastmoor Academy (Columbus, Ohio) 61
The Wildcats opened up a14-point fourth quarter lead and then staved off a rally by the Warriors to win their ninth straight. Danny Davis, who hit three free throws in the final 29 seconds, led the winners with 20 points, while Michael McKay chipped in 19. Leonard Taylor added 11. Eastmoor was led by Stephan Williams and Stanley Williams who scored 17 and 14 points, respectively.

Game 5
Hilliard Bradley (Hilliard, Ohio) 43, Beavercreek (Ohio) 25
The Jaguars, ranked No. 16 in the MaxPreps/JJHuddle Ohio Big School Terrific 20 rankings, held Beavercreek to under nine points in every quarter en route to the victory. Isaiah Speelman (20 points and 15 rebounds) was dominant for Bradley. Jon Alessandro led the Beavers with eight points, 11 rebounds and two blocks

Game 6
Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) 64, Pickerington Central (Ohio) 51
The Wildcats overcame a 42-41 deficit entering the fourth quarter by outscoring the previously undefeated Tigers 23-9 over the final eight minutes. Pick Central entered ranked No. 2 in the MaxPreps/JJHuddle Ohio Big School Terrific 20 rankings. Jordan Tucker had 21 points and USC recruit Jordan Usher added 16 for Wheeler. Senior and North Carolina recruit Sterling Manley scored 11 for Pick Central. Sophomore sensation Jeremiah Francis also had 11 for the Tigers.

Game 7
Jackson (Massillon, Ohio) 58, Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.) 52
The Polar Bears, ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps/JJHuddle Ohio D-I poll, opened up an 18-5 lead on Our Savior after the first quarter and never trailed. Jackson senior and Butler recruit Kyle Young led all scorers with 26 points (and 10 rebounds). Jaret Pallotta added 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Ethan Stanislawski chipped in 10 points. Mekhi Hall led Our Savior with 12 points.

Game 8
Huntington St. Joseph Prep (Huntington, W. Va.) 91, Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio) 60
The Fighting Irish, ranked No. 4 in the MaxPreps Independent Top 10, easily handled one of Ohio’s top Division I teams and a former state champion (2015). The Warriors entered ranked No. 6 in the MaxPreps/JJHuddle Ohio Big School Terrific 20 rankings. Keyshawn Bryant scored 19 points for the Fighting Irish. Game 9
Lincoln (Gahanna, Ohio) 86, Thurgood Marshall (Dayton, Ohio) 42
Sophomore Jordan Mitchell, who has offers from Ohio State and Xavier, scored a game-high 18 points or the Lions. Senior Amir Farid led Thurgood Marshall with 10 points.

Game 10
Centerville (Ohio) 77, Cleveland Heights (Ohio) 66
Senior and West Liberty recruit Keegan Saben scored 21 points to surpass 1,000 for his career for the Elks who pulled off a mild upset. Cleveland Heights is ranked No. 14 in the MaxPreps/JJHuddle Ohio Big School Terrific 20 rankings. Sam Lash and Alec Grandin added 17 and 14 points, respectively, for unranked Centerville. Cleveland Heights was led by Yahel Hill (24 points) and Ohio State football receiver recruit Jaylen Harris (20 points).

Game 11
St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) 64, Pickerington North (Ohio) 56
Senior and Buffalo commit Jayvon Graves had 27 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Irish, who are ranked No. 12 in the MaxPreps/JJHuddle Ohio Big School Terrific 20 rankings. Pickerington North junior Jerome Hunter (offers from Dayton, Ohio State and Xavier) also had a huge game with 29 points and 15 rebounds.

Game 12
Upper Arlington (Columbus, Ohio) 62, Garfield Heights (Ohio) 34
Junior and Ohio State commit Dane Goodwin surpassed 1,000 career points with a game-high 34 as the Golden Bears dominated the Bulldogs in a meeting of two of Ohio's top D-I teams. Upper Arlington is ranked No. 10 in the MaxPreps/JJHuddle Ohio Big School Terrific 20 rankings, while Garfield Heights is No. 11. Goodwin added 13 rebounds. Max Martz chipped in 16 points and eight rebounds for Upper Arlington, which limited Garfield Heights to eight points or less in each of the first three quarters. The Golden Bears outscored the Bulldogs 23-0 in points off turnovers. Shawn Christian scored 18 points to lead Garfield Heights.

Game 13
Huntington St. Joseph Prep (Huntington, W. Va.) 66, Prolific Prep Academy (Napa, Calif.) 64
Junior guard Rasir Bolton drained the game-winning 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds left as the Irish, ranked No. 4 in the MaxPreps Independent Top 10 rankings, completed a sweep of their FTTH games with a win over No. 5 ranked Prolific Prep. Chase Johnson and Keldon Johnson each netted 17 points to lead Huntington, while Bolton added 14. Gary Trent Jr., a Duke recruit, had a game-high 33 points for Prolific Prep. Game 14
Covington Catholic (Park Hills, Ky.) 70, Dunbar (Dayton, Ohio) 68
Dunbar missed a layup at the buzzer and Covington Catholic held on for the big win. AJ Mayer led Covington Catholic with 26 points, while 7-foot junior Jake Walter, the son of former Cincinnati Bengals tackle Joe Walter, had 11 rebounds and two blocks. Chris Jackson scored 21 points for Dunbar.

Game 15
Versailles (Ohio) 61, Tri-Village (New Madison, Ohio) 56
In a game of Ohio small school powers, the Tigers, ranked No. 5 in the MaxPreps/JJHuddle Ohio Small School Top 10 rankings, opened up an 18-10 lead after the first quarter and never trailed. Junior and Ohio State commit Justin Ahrens scored a game-high 26 points and nine rebounds for Versailles. Trace Couch scored 24 points for Tri-Village, which also got 19 from Gavin Richards.

Game 16
Prolific Prep Academy (Napa, Calif.) 100, Trotwood-Madison (Ohio) 83
Prolific Prep bounced back from its loss to Huntington Prep to hand Trotwood its first defeat. The Rams entered ranked No. 5 in Ohio in the MaxPreps/JJHuddle Terrific 20 Big School rankings. Gary Trent Jr. led Prolific Prep with 33 points, while Abu Kigab added 24. Torrey Patton scored 36 for Trotwood.

Game 17
Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) 77, Princeton (Cincinnati, Ohio) 48
Ohio State commit Darius Bazley made his season debut for the Vikings but it wasn’t enough. Bazley, a junior and former Finneytown star who had to sit out the first half of the season due to OHSAA transfer rules, had 11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. E.J. Montgomery led Wheeler with 18 points. Game 18
Roger Bacon (Cincinnati, Ohio) 74, Bethel (Tipp City, Ohio) 54
The Spartans, ranked No. 2 in the MaxPreps/JJHuddle Ohio Small School Terrific 10 rankings, snapped the Bees’ eight-game win streak. Bethel’s Caleb South (23 points) led all scorers, while Ryan Rose chipped in 15. Alec Pfriem (22 points) and Craig McGee (17) paced Roger Bacon.

Game 19
Wesley Christian (Allen, Ky.) 51, Chaminade Julienne (Dayton, Ohio) 49 (OT)
Benson Lin led Wesley with 14 points. P’Hariz Watkins led Chaminade Julienne with 19 points. Christian Montague added 18. It was the Eagles second overtime loss in three days (lost at Carroll 55-53).

Game 20
Archbishop Alter (Kettering, Ohio) 48, Middletown (Ohio) 44
The Knights overcame a 10-point deficit to beat the Middies in the event finale. Middletown scored 23 points in the second quarter, but just 21 in the other three combined. Dominic Laravie led Alter with 21 points. Cliff Snow scored 13 points for the Middies.

ALL-FLYIN TO THE HOOP TOURNAMENT TEAM
* Dane Goodwin, Jr., Upper Arlington (Ohio State)
* Kyle Young, Jr., Massillon Jackson (Butler)
* Jayvon Graves, Sr., Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (Buffalo)
* Gary Trent Jr., Sr., Prolific Prep (Duke)
* Chase Johnson, Sr., Huntington Prep (Florida)
* Keldon Johnson, Jr., Huntington Prep