DUBLIN, Ohio -- Tipping off for the final time on Sunday, the 270 Hoops Proving Grounds ended with our second 2022 showcase of the year. Team 2 nearly went perfect, winning six of eight games to capture the title. They were led by Pickerington North junior guard Corey Hudson, who won MVP honors, but had a deep cast of guys who played hard on both ends of the floor.

Joining Hudson on Team 2 was Eastmoor Academy duo Aaron Lawson and Dennis Asoro, Westland wing guard Sohn McGee, Walnut Ridge wing guard Aamir Carter and Groveport Madison point guard Marlon Elliott Jr. 

Let's take a look at some of the top performers.

Corey Hudson (6’1 PG / Pickerington North): Took home MVP honors for the event. Hudson has grown a few inches over the summer, become stronger and added more layers to his game. Strong, physical ball handler who can get places off the dribble where he’s a very talented passer and scorer. Hudson is active on defense, coming up with a handful of blocks and steals on Sunday. Set the tone with his toughness and playmaking ability. Yet another talented guard in a deeeeeeeeep backcourt for North. 

Chase Ouellette (6’6 WF / Wellington): Ouellette was the top stock rising player in the event on Sunday, as the highly skilled 6-foot-6 wing showed off his full arsenal of ability. Dominating in stretches on Sunday, Ouellette knocked down a handful of tough perimeter shots, got to the rim and finished when he wanted and put his length and athleticism on display as a rebounder. Ouellette has great positional size at the 3 and 4 spots, as he has really improved his skill set and is a true wing that will demand scholarship attention over the course of the next year. As a sophomore Ouellette played a big part in Wellington’s district title run and will look to be a matchup problem once again in Division IV.

Josh Harlan (6’0 PG / Pickerington Central): One of the most talented players in the gym. Harlan has a very strong skill set at the point guard spot, as he showed off an impressive handle and ability to change speed and pace. Harlan can finish through contact, has the ability to hit perimeter jumpers and really rose to the occasion when the game got close and big plays needed to be made. Will be expected to fill a vital role in the backcourt for Central this winter, and we think he is more than capable of doing just that.

Dennis Asoro (6’7 C / Eastmoor Academy): The biggest matchup problem in the event. No team had an answer for the physically built 6-foot-7 Asoro when he turned on his motor. That was the difference in a handful of Team 2’s six wins on Sunday, as Asoro was a physical beast on the interior, finishing through contact and putting back a few second-chance opportunities. Asoro can pass it well for his size, as he has good vision out of the post and even completed an impressive behind the back assist in transition. Asoro even showed the ability to hit size up mid-range jumpers, as his shooting touch continues to improve. For Asoro, it’s all motor, as he can really impact a game when he’s setting good screens and rolling hard to the rim. There’s not many bigs built like him in the area. 

Sohn McGee (6’5 WG / Westland): McGee is a big guard with an intriguing skill set. We really liked his ability to get to the rim off limited dribbles, while his passing ability at his size is impressive. McGee has great length, quickness and slashing ability. He could turn into quite the offensive force if he can continue to improve his outside shooting. McGee was the perfect complimentary player on the wing for the tough, physical guards that Team 2 had. Look for McGee to step up and become the next go-to player at Westland, as the Cougars could really use a standout prospect to lead them into the new decade. 

LB Towns Jr. (5’8 PG / Linden-McKinley): It’s the size of the fight in the dog. While Towns was the smallest player in stature at the event, that didn’t stop him from being one of the most productive. Towns simply knows how to score against size and length, as he was one of the top bucket getters in the event, shooting a high percentage from three and showing off nice finishing ability at the basket. Towns has an elite work ethic, loves to compete and impacts winning in a major way, as he helped power Team 1 to a late surge of three wins. Look for the 5-foot-8 junior guard to have a breakout season for Linden this winter. 

Daviyon McDonald (6’7 PF / Dublin Coffman): McDonald continues to impress us, as he was a bright spot in a tough day for Team 3. The 6-foot-7 forward is a true stretch big, as he can knock down catch and shoot jumpers on the perimeter all day long, while being an impressive athlete with a mobile, finesse game. We were most impressed with his effort on the glass, rebounding at a high level and coming up with several 50/50 balls. With Coffman losing a lot of production to graduation (i.e. Keaton Turner), look for McDonald to step up and provide some valuable impact for the Rocks. If he continues to add to his game and become more confident, McDonald will have a chance to be one of the best late blooming prospects in 2022. 

Aaron Lawson (6’1 PG / Eastmoor Academy): Tough, strong lead guard with size. Plays a complete game and loves to compete. Really impressed us with his outside shooting on Sunday, as he has clearly been working on that part of his game. Lawson is a fun, energetic kid that loves the game and will only continue to get better. It takes guys like this to win, as Lawson did whatever it took to help lead his team to the title on Sunday. Look for Lawson to really blossom this winter as he takes over the reigns of the Eastmoor Academy backcourt this year.

Ryan Paris (6’3 PG / Hilliard Davidson): Absolute sniper from three who has one of the best looking jump shots in the area. Paris has grown to a legit 6-foot-3 and looks to be a potential breakout player this year with Hilliard Davidson adding more firepower to surround him. While Paris had a solid day shooting the ball, we were most impressed with his elite effort, as he came up with a handful of 50/50 balls, was one of the event’s top rebounders and did all we could to power Team 3 on Sunday. With Davidson’s other juniors Jared Frey and Jayden Nervis likely to attract a lot of attention from opposing teams, Paris could be a guy that really changes things for the Wildcats, as he can get hot in a hurry and will buy into any role needed of him.

Atticus Schuler (6’5 WF / DeSales): Schuler has one of the smoothest games in the area, as he is a tough, gritty wing with great skill. The 6-foot-5 junior can really handle it, pass it and get to the basket. His jump shot still needs to be refined and possibly reconstructed, however, Schuler has the two-way ability and size on the wing to warrant scholarship attention. Schuler is not afraid to play physical, as he can mix it up and finish through contact, while having the ability to handle the ball against pressure. Breaking out onto the scene as a sophomore for the district champion Stallions, Schuler will look to take even more strides this year and become a go-to option for DeSales. 

Aamir Carter (6’4 WG / Walnut Ridge): Bigger wing guard with some scoring ability. Carter moves into Walnut Ridge from Beechcroft where he was a complimentary piece to a district title team. Carter will give Walnut Ridge a good boost of size and talent on the perimeter, as he can really shoot it, handle it and is an unselfish player with a love for the game. 

Marlon Elliott Jr. (6’1 PG / Groveport Madison): Made an impact with his hustle, hard work, communication and elite effort on defense. Elliott is a joy to watch, as he plays a complete game at the point guard spot. Defends the ball with a lot of passion and toughness, as he really takes pride in his game on the defensive end of the floor. True floor general that loves the game and loves to compete. Will be a guy that new Groveport coach Lamont Hampton will rely on heavily for the next two years, as you can trust Elliott to do the things needed to win games.