COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The NeXT Basketball 8th Grade Summer league kicked off this week at the Fieldhouse USA. There were 20 middle schools from the Columbus area competing on Tuesday and Thursday, and lots of talent was on display. Let’s dive into some of the top performers from the week.

Jamarcus Jones (F / Harvest Prep / 2026): Jamarcus Jones was in a league of his own on Thursday night. He has natural size and length that was hard for the Jonathan Alder defense to stop, and he and his squad coasted to a 67-21 victory. Jones had outstanding speed and control in transition, and he showed off his ability to finish with both hands. Harvest Prep put him at the top of their full court press in the first half, and he was able to corral four steals and get his team out in transition smoothly.

Cooper Craig (G / Dublin Grizzell / 2026): Cooper Craig showed great confidence on Tuesday night in Grizzell’s close 49-45 loss to Olentangy Liberty. He started the game strong with a nice looking one dribble jumper from the elbow. Craig also showed off his craftiness around the rim with multiple tough finishes, including a left handed scoop layup that got the crowd on its feet. 

Drew Hauenstein (SF / Olentangy Liberty / 2026): Drew Hauenstein had his competitiveness on display on Tuesday. He was able to finish strong on various occasions with both hands. It was very hard for the Grizzell defense to locate him because he was so active as an off ball cutter. Hauenstein also knocked down a pair of triples on the evening.

Levi Davis (G / Olentangy Berkshire / 2026): Levi Davis was the headliner of a stacked Olentangy Berkshire squad that took down Olentangy Shanahan 66-26 on Thursday night. He looked extremely comfortable with the ball in his hands all evening long, and knocked down a wing three pointer with ease. Davis has a very advanced layup package for his age, and he was able to finish with his off-hand very effectively.

Paul Wilson (PG / Harvest Prep / 2026): Paul Wilson was one of the smaller players on any of the courts this week, but that certainly did not deter him from stepping into his moments. He stepped in and knocked down a three at the top of the key to open up the game. He followed that up just a few possessions later with a triple from the corner. Wilson was not afraid to attack the paint hard, and he showed his ability to finish through contact.

Treyton Schroeder (PG / Olentangy Berkshire / 2026): Treyon Schroeder was among the best defenders at the summer league this week. He was able to make his opponent super uncomfortable and force multiple turnovers. It was evident that his team was way more comfortable when he was leading the charge on offense too. Schroeder was another small guard, but he was able to finish strong with bigger defenders guarding him.

Riku Nishikawa (PG / Dublin Davis / 2026): Risha Nishikawa led his Dublin Davis squad to a 29-24 victory over Worthingway on Tuesday night. He had outstanding control and confidence handling the ball out top. He stepped into his shots confidently and knocked down some big shots late. He is a hardnosed defender, and he gave complete effort from the opening tip until the final whistle.

Kaden Gebhardt (SF / Olentangy Shanahan / 2026): Kaden Gebhardt was the bright spot for Olentangy Shanahan in their loss to Berkshire. He worked extremely hard inside for offensive rebounds. Gebhardt had one possession where he grabbed a defensive rebound and went coast to coast and dumped it off to a teammate for a great assist.

Trey Humphrey (F / Dublin Grizzell / 2026): Trey Humphrey was one of the tallest players at the summer league, and he did a good job of using his length to his advantage. He showed tons of potential, and used some solid post moves. Humphrey was able to protect the rim pretty well in the second half for Grizzell coming up with a couple blocks.

Mason Scott (F / Dublin Davis / 2026): Mason Scott did an outstanding job in the pick and roll offense with Riku Nishikawa. He fought very hard for every offensive rebounding opportunity. Scott used his size to his advantage and did a great job of fighting for inside position on most possessions.

Trenton Kellam (F / Harvest Prep / 2026): Trenton Kellam was another one of the talented offensive guys for Harvest Prep on Thursday night. He found his spots easily in the first half, and was very comfortable with the ball coming off of screens. Kellam, like the rest of his team, was extremely active in their full court press.