adidas It Takes 5IVE Classic

CINCINNATI- With games ranging across ten different courts throughout the day, it was a 16-under match up between All Ohio and the North Carolina Raptors Select that created the most buzz at the adidas It Takes 5IVE Classic. Multiple players displayed their 'A' game, including Jordan Sibert.

Explosive, smooth and talented, Sibert dazzled a horde of coaches on the baseline with his inspired play. Scoring 22 points for All Ohio in its 97-91 victory, Sibert presented Rivals.com with a top five school list, but expect a number of other schools to try to work their way onto his list.

Tennessee and Xavier (offer) are at the top of his list with Sibert being high on the way both teams play. West Virginia, Miami (offer) and Ohio State round out the list. Expect offers from the other three schools.

Sibert's backcourt mate Juwan Staten was also impress with his relentless attacking of the rim and court vision. Staten, who is a four-star 2010 prospect as is Sibert, scored 22 points as well and commented on the status of his commitment to Dayton.

"I'm pretty much content where I am right now, but I've heard rumors that Coach Gregory might not be there when I get there," said Staten. "If that is the case, then I'll definitely look somewhere else.

"But to me it's not about going to a big school or big conference. It's about going someplace where you know you are going to get better."

As usual Ohio State commitment Jared Sullinger provided the interior scoring for All Ohio with his bruising style of play. In Carlos Boozer type fashion, Sullinger racked up a game high 25 points.

Adreian Payne contributed eight points in the win, but his greatest contributions come on the glass and as a shot blocker. Oozing with potential, Payne already has offers from local schools but will soon have a much longer list of offers. As of now, he has offers from Xavier, Cincinnati, Ohio State and Dayton. Florida, Miami, West Virginia, Wake Forest and Virginia are also involved.

The Raptors also had inspired play by several of its players. 2011 guard prospect Bishop Daniels was simply sensational with his 23 point effort. Fluid with the ball and then surprisingly explosive, Daniels scored both from deep and at the rim. His highlight play was a baseline dunk on Sullinger.

Daniels is already hearing from Wake Forest, Clemson, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Cincinnati and Baylor.

Also supplying scoring punch from the perimeter for the Raptors, Emanuel Chapman put up 15 points in the loss.

Athletic forward Melvin Tabb scored 12 for the Raptors while valiantly battling Sullinger on the defensive end.

Five-star watch

Derrick Favors had a good day in the gym, but wasn't quite as dominant as the Atlanta Celtics needed him to be in an upset loss to All Ohio Force. Not necessarily Favors' fault, however, since he produces positive results nearly every time he touches the ball in good position. He just didn't get the touches that a player of his caliber should get.

Dayton commitment Matt Kavanaugh also deserves praise for his physical play against Favors. Aggressive on both ends, Kavanough occupied Favors defensively and relentlessly banged with Favors when defending him while Allen Roberts, Zach Brown and Ryan Siggins played inspired basketball on the perimeter for All Ohio Force.

Back to Favors. The most impressive aspect to his game is that he simply makes shots in a similar vein to Michael Beasley. Degree of difficulty and flair is meaningless to Favors. He works to get position without the ball and then scores with a quick release jump hook or a physical move where he attacks the body of the defense. His ability to go get balls off the offensive glass is impressive as well.

2010 five-star prospect Dominique Ferguson has the length and ball handling skills of a high level hybrid forward, but more importantly on Sunday he displayed a consistent effort level that produced positive plays on both ends of the court. Now if Ferguson develops the ability to consistently score the basketball, he joins the category of elite forwards in his class.

Jon Hood, Kentucky's other five-star commitment, scored the ball off the dribble, especially when going left into his pull up jumper. Hood also looked better defensively then he has looked at previous events.

Josh Smith simply had a block party during his two games with Seattle Rotary Select. Easily in double figures for blocks over the course of the two games, Smith was quick off his feet to go along with impeccable timing. Best of all is that he corrals most of his blocks in his big time hands.

And in Kevin Love fashion, Smith hooked up a number of streaking guards with length of the court outlet passes. Whereas Love typically utilizes a monster chest pass, Smith's specialty is a one handed baseball pass.

2010 five-star prospect Joshua Hairston did what he always does, score inside and make hustle plays, for DC Assault's 16-under squad. Hairston also addressed the speculation that a commitment to Duke is just a matter of time.

"That is a rumor as of right now," Hairston said. "I have five schools that I'm interested in and they are all equal. They're Virginia, Virginia Tech, Georgetown, Ohio State and Duke."

Hairston does plan to have a decision by the beginning of his junior season.

Impressive performers

Casey Prather displayed why he is a candidate for five-star status. The athletic small forward is great in transition and around the basket. Sunday night he also dropped a three-pointer and then put the ball on the floor and knocked down a couple midrange pull up jumpers. If he solidifies his outside stroke, then is stock soars.

You can't underestimate the value of players who can score the basketball, and that ability to score highlights DeAndre Kane's game. Set for a year of prep school likely at Hargrave Military, Kane scored in bunches while also using his wiry 6-foot-5 frame to make plays defensively.

He is presently hearing from Pittsburgh, Memphis and Texas A&M.

43hoops has an impressive interior tandem in Wisconsin commitment Mike Bruesewitz and Chris Halvorsen. In a win over the Nashville Celtics, Bruesewitz went for 20 points and Halvorsen scored 18 points.

Both players play with impressive motors and basketball IQs. Bruesewitz knocked down jumpers, handled the ball and finished some tough shots on drives to the basket.

Halvorsen, who is presently being under recruited, attacked the basket for numerous dunks, was big on the glass and showed an ability to defend on the perimeter. He presently has offers from Pacific, North Dakota, South Dakota State and Montana, but don't be surprised if his recruitment explodes this month once the coaches see him.

One more school list

Four-star 2010 point guard Tyler Thornton is looking at Duke, North Carolina State, Georgetown (offer), Virginia (offer), Wake Forest, Texas, Miami, Villanova, Clemson and Florida amongst others.

Head coaches

Pittsburgh, South Florida, St. John's, West Virginia, Baylor, Cincinnati, Wisconsin, UCLA, Louisville, Arizona, Purdue, Stanford, Indiana, Kansas State, Missouri, Texas A&M, Texas, Virginia Tech, Arkansas, Xavier and Dayton were all represented by their head coach.