Ohio State AAU Recap

The Ohio state AAU tournament took place over the weekend at Princeton High School in suburban Cincinnati. There were some very impressive performances in all age groups throughout the event, though in the end it was Aaron Thomas and the Queen City Prophets that came away as champions at the 17-and under level.

Top Performers

Trey Burke - The lead guard for All-Ohio Red was excellent all weekend long. He is a player who is at his best when the game gets down to crunch time, and continued to make big shot after big shot all weekend long. On top of that Burke showed an excellent ability to beat his man off the dribble going right or left, and converting around the rim. Overall it was a good weekend for Burke who routinely scored close to 30 points per game without forcing many shots.

Stevie Taylor - Burke's running mate in the backcourt also had an impressive showing over the weekend. Taylor was at his best when he would go off the bounce to beat his defender and then use his slick passing and impressive court vision to make a play for a teammate. Taylor is not the strongest player by a long shot, but he did finish through contact a few times. He was streaky with his shot, but Taylor routinely was around double-figure assists, and was key in letting Burke play off the ball some in order to score.

Aaron Thomas - All weekend long Thomas continued his assent onto the national scene. His ball handling is continuing to improve, and that is allowing him to take advantage of all his natural gifts. At 6-foot-5 with long arms, Thomas can get his shot off in traffic and when contested. His athleticism makes him a terror in the open floor. Thomas was vital in Queen City's run to the championship where he scored over 20 and put the game away with his play. Defensively he still needs to learn to be a lockdown guy, but the tools are there for him on that end of the floor as well. Now a four-star prospect, Thomas showed why he is beginning to become a highly touted prospect.

Jalen Ragland - It was a tough spring at times for Ralgand, but he finally was able to get it going. In fact in the championship thriller that Queen City won over All-Ohio in overtime, Ragland was the most important player on the floor. The 6-foot-5 wing had it working from three, and really stretched the defense. Rangland had over 30 in the win, and there are too many players with his length and height that are knock down guys. He is a limited athlete, and needs to add strength, but for mid-majors looking at guys who can flat out hit shots, Ragland is going to be in demand during the month of July at that level.

Kenny Kaminski - Kaminski suited up this weekend with the All-Ohio Red 17 squad due to the fact that his usual Indiana Elite team had the weekend off. Kaminski even with a new team was effective. He is an extremely high level shooter who can also finish around the rim with his size. What is interesting about Kaminski is throughout the weekend he showed that he can be effective in ways other than just when his three ball is going down, but when the shot is off he tends to go away from those other parts of his game. As Kaminski learns to not tie his entire offensive game to the status of his jumper he will take the next step as a prospect.

Adolphus Washington - Antonio Gates is seemingly re-incarnated in the form of Washington. Unlike Gates at a similar stage, Washington knows his future is on the gridiron. The 6-foot-3 power forward clears space with his large frame, and was huge in leading All-Ohio Purple to the 16-and under championship. Washington had a double-double every time out and is a man-child down low. While his potential is limited on the basketball floor, Washington is going to be one of the most heavily recruited football prospects in the Midwest.

Devon Scott - Scott continues to grow as a prospect. The 6-foot-8 forward has long arms, solid athleticism, and a nice touch inside. He however hasn't learned how to play hard every possession and needs to focus on getting strong and playing tougher. Still with a shorthanded All-Ohio Red squad, Scott gave some good moments and showed why mid-majors are taking a long look. His frame and athleticism make him intriguing, but his inconsistency throughout the weekend did raise some questions about his game.

Deontae Hawkins: The sky is really the limit for Hawkins. He is a legitimate 6-foot-7 now with long arms, a lot of athleticism, and range that extends to the three point line. Hawkins is now locked into being a face up power forward as opposed to a small forward, but he looks to still be growing on and off the floor. He struggled at times inside with stronger players, but Hawkins runs the floor very well, has good hands, and can be a mismatch at the next level due to his shooting ability. Once he gets stronger his game is going to go to a new level.

Chris Harrison-Docks: Now running with the All-Ohio Red 16's, Harrison-Docks made a major impact. He is a flashy guard who can over dribble, but he does make things happen. Harrison-Docks loves to push the ball on the break, and his slick passing often leads to easy buckets. Also Harrison-Docks can be a solid outside shooter who is capable of getting hot when in a rhythm. He needs more time to adjust as a point guard with his new teammates, but when on the floor All-Ohio definitely played with a high level pace.

Jordan Potts - Potts is beginning to regain the form that made him an interesting prospect as a freshman. He is a good shooter who has hit big shots early in his high school career. Now healthy and working his way back in shape, Potts is finding his way. A big time competitor, Potts can at times let his emotions take him out of his own game, but when focused he is a combo guard who can defend and really score.

Dontonio Wingfield - Wingfield put up massive numbers as a freshman in high school playing for a weak team against bad competition, but the kid is no joke on the floor. At 6-foot-4 he isn't a point guard, but he has point guard tendencies. He is able to beat his man off the dribble going both right and left, and once in the lane he is a great passer with a feel for the game. Now he does need to be a consistent jump shooter as his future is on the wing, but in an upset win over the All-Ohio Red 15's, Wingfield was the best player on the floor and took over the second half with his play. He looks to still be growing physically, and with his understanding of the game, his future is very bright.

Charles Tucker - Better known as "Cha-Cha", Tucker has an unreal feel for how to play. In transition he always gets the ball to the middle of the floor, and then makes the right pass. In the half court he can score either going to the rim or from deep, but still it is his decision making that opens eyes the most. Tucker's father helped to school Magic Johnson, and it is obvious that his son has been taught well. The Michigan product is emerging as one of the better lead guards in the Midwest in the 2013 class.

Marc Loving - The combo forward from Toledo has been playing against older prospects for a while, and his skill level is undeniable. Loving is a great shooter in the mid-range, and also can step out beyond the three point line. He is already around 6-foot-7 and still growing. Not a great athlete, Loving is an above average athlete, and is comfortable inside or out. Loving is working to become a pure small forward, and it is coming. He still needs to add major strength, but his body has shown improvement since the high school season. Loving needs to rebound and defend better, but his skill set on the offensive end make him a very intriguing prospect going forward.

Nigel Hayes - His older brother is a defensive end commitment to Ohio State, and look for the younger Hayes to be recruited at the high-major level before it is all said and done. At 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds, Hayes is a specimen for a young prospect, and he is coming into his own. Hayes plays with a high motor all the time, and simply knows how to score around the rim. The athleticism is coming, and with more strength he could be very tough to deal with down low. Right now everything is with his right hand, so developing an adequate off hand is going to be important, but for a young interior player Hayes showed very well for himself.

Devin Williams - The 2013 forward prospects seemingly never stop in Ohio. Loving and Hayes run with All-Ohio, while Williams is with the Cincinnati Lakers. Williams has grown since the high school season and is nearly 6-foot-7 now. He has great footwork down low with his back to the basket, and has a frame to be a specimen in time. Williams needs to work on his touch around the rim as he misses too many easy buckets, but his strength and athleticism really make him tough to deal with at his age level.

Tony Farmer - As if Hayes, Loving, and Williams weren't enough, Farmer is another forward in the 2013 class in Ohio with a ton of ability. Farmer is the best athlete of the bunch and already has a man's body. He is between 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-6, and does most of his damage 15 feet and in. His perimeter game does need work, but Farmer has the athleticism and strength to be a major impact player going forward. He suited up with All-Ohio for the first time this weekend, and though he took some time to adjust, Farmer still was one of the best players on their loaded team.

Jaaron Simmons - The last point guard from the city of Dayton to run with All-Ohio turned into a top 50 prospect, Juwan Staten. Now Simmons is looking to take the same career path. A jet with the ball, Simmons can make plays in transition, and also is a capable scorer from deep and in the mid-range. Simmons needs to work on his decision making, but he has a lot of physical tools to work with.

School Lists

Since his de-commitment from Penn State, Trey Burke has heard from Baylor, Butler, Cincinnati, Cleveland State, DePaul, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Purdue, Seton Hall, USC, Wake Forest, and West Virginia. Burke visited USC last weekend.

According to Ozie Davis, the AAU coach of Aaron Thomas, Thomas has offers from Indiana, Duquesne, and Detroit. Also interest is coming from Cincinnati, DePaul, Oregon, West Virginia, Ohio State, and Clemson.

Tony Farmer says the early inertest is coming in from Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan.

At the moment Ohio State, Michigan State, and Indiana are all on top for Kenny Kaminski. In the next month Kaminski will unofficially visit Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Xavier.

Marc Loving is getting early love from Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Xavier, Central Michigan, USC, Arizona, Oregon State, Michigan State, Cincinnati, North Carolina, and UCLA.

Deontae Hawkins is hearing from Cincinnati, Dayton, Xavier, Wright State, Ohio University, and Ball State