Looking for some big-time post Thanksgiving Day basketball? All-Ohio has you covered and then some. As the turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, yam, and apple pie wear off several of Ohio’s top teams and players will be in action this Friday at Pickerington Central High School for the All-Ohio Slam-N-Jam Hoops Preview starting at 2 p.m.
If Friday’s 40-degree temperature and chance of rain and snow aren’t enticing to you sitting out and watching the Ohio High School football playoffs, All-Ohio will be putting on a preview second to none.
The two-quarter previews are varsity only, which is a great chance to see some of Ohio’s best. Nowhere else in the state will a fan be able to see this much Ohio talent in one gym throughout the high school season, and that includes the state tournament.
The line up is as follows:
2:00 pm- Columbus Independence vs. Dayton Stivers
2:45 pm- Findlay Liberty-Benton vs. Dayton Jefferson
3:30 pm- Harvest Prep vs. Cincinnati Western Hills
4:15 pm- Columbus Eastmoor vs. Bowling Green
5:00 pm- Walnut Ridge vs. Reynoldsburg
5:45 pm- Westerville Central vs. Cincinnati Woodward
6:30 pm- Pickerington Central vs. Toledo Libbey
7:15 pm- Westerville North vs. Cincinnati Taft
8:00 pm- Dublin Coffman vs. Toledo Start
8:45 pm- Columbus Brookhaven vs. Trotwood-Madison
9:30 pm- Akron SVSM vs. Wilmington
10:15 pm- Columbus Northland vs. Cincinnati Aiken
Jerry Watson and his tireless working staff at All-Ohio have once again put together an incredible line up. Remember, last year’s event featured Columbus Northland and Cincinnati Princeton in the nightcap which was a preview of the Division I state championship game.
This year’s match ups feature some possible future confrontations that we may see in March. Initially, Columbus Northland was supposed to meet Warren Harding in final game of the night but for travel reasons the Raiders will not be able to make the event. Northland/Harding is a possible state tournament match up.
Northland, USA Today’s preseason No. 4 ranked team, will now face Cincinnati-power, Aiken and filling the Falcons spot against Dublin Coffman will be Toledo Start.
Here is a look at the 12-game basketball feast.
The day will start off with some local flavor when Columbus City League member Independence will lock up with Dayton Stivers. Independence has a very good rising sophomore in Terry Hopewell (6’6).
Grab a seat for game two as small school powers Findlay Liberty-Benton will face Dayton Jefferson. Liberty-Benton is led by Ohio-State bound senior Aaron Craft, while Jefferson will feature five-star Michigan State signee Adreian Payne (6’10) and junior Cody Latimer (6’2). Jefferson is thought be many to be Division 4’s preseason No. 1.
In game three, World Harvest Prep out of Canal Winchester will tangle with D1 Cincinnati school Western Hills. Harvest Prep will showcase many young talented players including guards Shakir Dunning (6’1/Jr.), Adam McCall (5’10/So.), and Grant Harris (6’0/So.) along with senior JQ Austin (5’8). Western Hills is thought by some to be a sleeper in the ‘Nati.
Game four will be Columbus Eastmoor and Bowling Green out of the Northwest District. Eastmoor is led by 5-foot-10 senior guard Doug Thorpe, while BG will counter with it junior dominated team led by Chauncey Orr (6’5/Jr.), Xavier Brown (5’11/Jr.), Alex Augsburger (6’6/Jr.), and watch out for freshman Vitto Brown (6’7).
Game five is a quality match up featuring two D1 Central District heavyweights in Walnut Ridge and Reynoldsburg. The ‘Ridge is led by lightning quick senior guard Jeremy Qualls (5’10), junior Austin Traylor (6’4), and Harvest Prep transfer Dwayne Basemore (6’8). Reynoldsburg will counter with senior guard duo Kevin Grey and Brandon Rushton along with inside ace Josh Albrecht.
Game six will have Westerville Central and Cincinnati Woodward. Central is led by 6-foot-6 senior Max Van Meter and 6-foot-2 guard Jourdan DeVoll, while Woodward is loaded with young talent and considered by many to be a dark horse in Cincinnati. Woodward is led by cat-quick junior guard Kadeem Palmer along with the Chancellor brothers on the interior, Jeremiah and Joshua. Keep an eye on one of the best freshman in the state in Austin Grimes of Woodward.
Game seven matches the host school (Pickerington Central) against Toledo-power, Libbey. Central will be led by senior Dominique Royal (6’5), while Libbey will counter with its junior dominated line up including Maurice Taylor, Delvin Williams, Lonacy Utley, and Milan Mabry. The Cowboys have a chance to make a run in D2.
Game eight has D1 Central District power Westerville North against most people’s favorite to win the D3 state championship in Cincinnati Taft. North is led by Dayton-bound senior Ralph Hill (6’6), and seniors Bradley Nettles and Kenny DeBoer. Taft will counter with three of the state’s top sophomores in Aldolphus Washington (6’6), Orlando Berry, and Dwayne Stafford all of which are Roger Bacon transfers. Senior Cameron and Kevin Mitchell return in the backcourt.
Game nine will be a bit of a change as Dublin Coffman will meet Toledo Start, which was originally supposed to be Cincinnati Aiken. Coffman, a favorite in the Central, will showcase Akron commit senior Michael Green and sophomore Purdue commit Kyle Molock. Start is led by D1 recruit in senior Anthony Henderson
Local power Columbus Brookhaven will lock up with Trotwood-Madison out the Dayton area in Game 10. The Bearcats are led by Bowling Green signee Craig Sealy (6’5) and Franklin Heights transfer senior Peter Kpan (6’7). Trotwood is led by Darnell Tubbs and coached by former Ohio State Buckeye, Mark Baker.
The final two games of the night will should be dynamite.
In game 11, two of Ohio’s best team in Division II will square off when defending D2 state champion Akron SVSM plays the Wilmington Hurricanes. SVSM won the state championship with a lot of sophomore playing huge minutes, and now those kids are juniors. High major recruit junior Jakarr Sampson (6’8) will lead the Irish on the interior along with junior guards Ricky Johnson Jr., Davonte Beard, and Kristian Taylor to go with sophomore wing forward Lorenzo Cugini (6’5). The Hurricanes are led by the backcourt tandem of Miami (OH) signee Quentin Rollins and Ashland signee Jordan Berlin. Both teams are top 10 in D2 by almost all accounts.
The final encounter of the night will be the team that everyone has come to see when Columbus Northland meets Cincinnati Aiken. Northland is led by Ohio State signees Jared Sullinger and JD Weatherspoon along with junior Penn State commit Trey Burke. The Vikings are loaded with D1 talent including sophomore Jordan Potts, KeChaun Lewis, Jalen Robinson (6’8), and Devon Scott (6’7). Also keep an eye on junior Jakyl Cornely. Aiken is certainly no slouch with D1 recruit junior Aaron Thomas (6’4) along with Kent State signee Kenny Knight (6’7) and one of the best young guards in the state in sophomore Willie Moore (6’3).
If this isn’t enough basketball, which it won’t be for us, Columbus Africentric will put on a high level scrimmage from 11-2 p.m. at Reynoldsburg High School before the All-Ohio event.
Teams scheduled to compete:
Columbus Africentric
Huber Heights Wayne
Dayton Dunbar
Columbus Walnut Ridge
Columbus Northland
Cincinnati Taft
Toledo Libbey
Reynoldsburg
Mansfield Senior
Canton Timken
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