OHIO PREP  REPORT
by Chris Johnson, Ohio & International Editor of the HOOP SCOOP
Published on November 22, 2001

JOHNSON RANKS 'EM:  THE TOP PREP PLAYERS IN OHIO

LeBron James:  The Legend Continues to Grow
by Chris Johnson, Ohio & International Editor of the HOOP SCOOP          

                    It might be important to look at all the players who are coming and going before I start talking about the top players in Ohio.  6'7 Shawn Simpson has transferred from Cincinnati (Withrow) OH to Grove City (George Junior Republic) PA and 5'11 Luke Gibson has left Millersburg (West Holmes) OH and been reclassified as a junior at Marion (Tabor Academy) MA.  Two other big-time foreign talents have also decided against playing high school ball in Ohio - one voluntarily and the other being declared ineligible by the (OHSAA) Ohio High School Athletic Association.   I mentioned 6'10 Tiago Splitter, who is a 16-year-old Brazil phenom, in a previous report.  However, he has since decided  to sign a professional contract in Spain rather than attend Mansfield (High School) OH.  Splitter, who is a Dick Nowitzki clone, was being recruited by Ohio State, Houston, Tulane, and others, but now he is playing in Spain.   The second player actually attended Dayton (Christian) OH for the second semester last year (he did not play) before the OHSAA declared him ineligible.  I'm talking about Regis Koundjia, a 6'7 junior from Central Africa Republic who is now at the Laurinburg (Institute) NC.  Koundjia is a big-time talent and a close friend of fellow countryman Ramain Sato, who is now a sophomore at Xavier.   Actually, foreign players in Ohio will probably be a thing of the past due to new restrictions mendated by the OHSAA.  Another player affected is my #2 senior in Ohio - 6'4 Alex Carmona from Troy (H.S.) OH, who has been declared ineligible to play his final season at Troy High School.  However, Carmona, who just committed to Dayton, plans to remain in school and sit out the current season.  One other foreign import is Alveric Kandi, a 6'7 sophomore from Canada who was supposed to be at Cleveland (St. Ignatius) OH, but now is at Sharon (Kennedy Catholic) PA.  Kandi will play AAU ball with the Cleveland Basketball Club and I will continue to monitor his progress. 
                    The senior class in Ohio, as I have previously noted, is a little down.  That is proven by the fact that just four players - 6'1 Chris Quinn from Dublin (Coffman) OH to Notre Dame, 6'2 Robert Hite from Cincinnati (Winton Woods) OH to Miami-FL, 6'4 DeForrest Riley from Cincinnati (Winton Woods) OH to Penn State, and 6'10 Robert Summer from Gahanna (Lincoln) OH to Penn State - signed with schools in the so-called power conferences (ACC, SEC, Big-10, Big-12, Pac-10, Big East, and Conference USA) and only three players (Quinn, Carmona, and Hite) are good enough to be ranked among the HOOP SCOOP's top 100 seniors nationally.  So that opened the door for schools, like Dayton, which landed three of the top seven seniors in state in Carmona, 6'5 Doug Scott from Reynoldsburg (H.S.) OH, and 6'3 Logan White from Hunting Valley (University) OH, plus 6'10 James Cripe from Cincinnati (Loveland) OH, who checks in at #17; Bowling Green, which has signed two of the top eight seniors in the state in 6'4 Ron Lewis from Columbus (Brookhaven) OH and 6'3 Raheem Moss from Columbus (Brookhaven) OH; and Wright State, which has signed 6'0 Dantae Patterson from Columbus (Brookhaven) OH, who is ranked #15 in the state, and 6'5 Andrew Burleson from Wheelersburg (H.S.) OH, who is ranked #18 in the state; to clean up with many of the top players in Ohio. 
                    The junior class is headed by the incomparable 6'7 Jr LeBron James from Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary) OH, who is widely regarded the #1 ranked player in the nation regardless of class.  HOOP SCOOP Editor & Publisher Clark Francis thinks James is the next coming of Magic Johnson, although Johnson didn't have nearly as good a jump shot.  I think James the best talent I've ever seen in the state of Ohio.  And that includes Clark Kellogg (Jerry Lucas' was before my time).  As this story is being printed, the James legend continues to grow.  The HOOP SCOOP reported earlier this year that James was playing football this fall, which surprised many people who felt he shouldn't risk injury.   Well, if St. Vincent-St. Mary wins its semi-finals game on Saturday, they will play in the state championship game (Division 4) on December 1st at 11:00 AM in either Canton, OH or Massillon, OH.  That same evening in Akron, the Irish, which are ranked #6 in the nation in basketball by USA Today, will host Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA, which is ranked #5 in the USA Today.  And my guess is they will win both games, because James is just that kind of competitor and leader.  The #2 junior is Ivan Harris, a skilled 6'8 combo forward who transferred across town this fall from Springfield (North) OH to Springfield (South) OH.  Harris is already down to two schools (Ohio State and Michigan State) and right now the Buckeyes appear to be the strong favorite.  Harris told me last week that his decision would come after the current season is completed, but the word on the street is that a decision could be forthcoming even sooner.  So stay tuned! 
                    My #3 junior is 5'7 Jr Andrew Lavender from Columbus (Brookhaven) OH, who is the subject of great debate due to his lack of size.  Granted, if this was based on NBA potential, he might not be ranked this high, but Lavender has proven for three years against his peers that he can compete at the high school and college level.  He also is a proven winner, both on his high school team and his All-Ohio AAU team.  The #4 junior is 6'4 Jr Demetrius Johnson from Warrenville Heights (H.S.) OH.   He's the younger brother of former Mr. Basketball in Ohio, Sonny Johnson, and also Julius Johnson, who is now at Miami-OH.  Demetrius has the most talent of the three, but has to learn to play hard at all times.  Next on our list are 6'6 Jr Reggie Harwell from Cleveland (St. Joseph) OH, 6'6 Jr Brandon Foust from Columbus (Brookhaven) OH, and 6'5 Jr C.J. Anderson from Cincinnati (Winton Woods) OH, all of whom are very similar in that they are very athletic, but need to work on their perimeter skills.  6'1 Jr Deauntay Scott from Cleveland (East) OH is not very well known outside Cleveland, OH, because his high school coach does not want him to play AAU ball, but some people in Northeastern Ohio think he is better than Lavender.    Just like the senior class, the junior class doesn't have much size.   However, there is one big man in the junior class - 6'11 Jr Matt Lefeld from Coldwater (H.S.) OH - who is worth watching.  Lefeld is as strong as an ox and just as tough.   He also runs the court well, but needs to work on his vertical leap and athleticism. 
                    The Class of 2004 could evolve into a special class, as four of the top 10 sophomores - 6'10 Soph Andrew Agnew from Bellaire (H.S.) OH, 7'0 Soph Seth Gorney from Vandalia (Butler) OH, 6'9 Soph Matt Terwilliger from Troy (H.S.) OH, and 6'11 Soph Drew Walker from Port Clinton (H.S.) OH - in the state are 6'9 or taller.  The battle for #1 in the class also is extremely close betweeen Agnew and 6'2 Soph James Butler from Lima (Shawnee) OH.  Despite his size, Agnew has great hands, is very mobile, and highly skilled.  Butler has been a standout since the 8th grade when he led his 14-Under AAU team to the National Championship in Orlando, FL in 2000.  Gorney is a mobile 7-footer who is comparable to former Kentucky and Villanova star Mike Bradley and 6'4 Soph Justin Orr from Cincinnati (La Salle) OH,, who is the nephew of current Seton Hall head coach Louis Orr, should grow several more inches.  One freshman who I have to mention is 6'4 man-child Jamelle Cornley from Columbus (Brookhaven) OH.  Cornley showed his skills last summer in the Developmental League at the Five-Star Basketball Camp in Pittsburgh, PA, where he was one of the best players in the league while playing against guys a year older. 

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