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Jared Sullinger Play by Play Classic: Top Performers

By Chintoo Deora, 01/24/22, 11:30AM EST

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A look at some of the top performances from the six games on Saturday

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The annual Jared Sullinger Play by Play Classic is back after being canceled last year due to covid. This event at Ohio Dominican University featured some of the best talent and prospects around Ohio. There were six games on hand which provided some great performances. 

Let’s take a quick look at the results from the games and top performances. 


Game 1: Thomas Worthington: 49     Columbus South: 42

Game 2: Harvest Prep: 74    Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy: 60

Game 3: Hilliard Bradley: 71    Africentric: 63

Game 4: Gahanna: 54   Akron Buchtel: 37

Game 5: Pickerington Central: 67    Cincinnati Taft: 56

Game 6: Heath: 55   DeSales: 50

 

Top Performers

Dailyn Swain/SG/2023/Africentric

It’s hard to go to an Africentric game and not mention Swain’s name. With his running mate Dan Wagner unavailable to play, Swain had to carry the load for his team. The junior scored all of his 17 points inside the three point arc with a variety of pull up mid range jumpers and layups. At 6 foot 8, he is able to shoot over almost anyone that guards him. Swain does a great job using quick dribbles to get his defender moving and then rises up to knock down shots. I’ve seen Africentric play three times and so far nobody has been able to slow down Swain. He will be a key piece for Africentric if they want to make a run in Division III this year. 


Darryn Peterson/Hybrid Guard/2025/Cuyahoga Valley Chrisitan Academy

Darryn Peterson gets buckets, simple as that. Darryn Peterson is also a freshman with one of the most complete scoring skill sets I have seen of any player regardless of class. He was hitting contested shot after contested shot from three point land as well as a few mid range shots. He scored 22 points and brought out almost every move in the book. On two occasions, Peterson hit his defender with a nasty hesitation move to get to the bucket and score. Almost all of his buckets were off the dribble pull ups with a defender draped all over him. His elite shot making ability is very rare for a player his age. Peterson is one of the best players in the 2025 class and will dominate Ohio for years to come.

Sean Jones/PG/2022/Gahanna

Once again Sean Jones led his team with 22 points. Once again Sean Jones hit tough shot after tough shot. Once again Sean Jones made highlight play after highlight play. But what usually goes unnoticed is his defensive ability and there is tons of it. Jones’s quickness allows him to stay with anybody on the floor. He has a great sense of when to gamble for steals and when to sit down and defend. He was a driving factor in shutting down Buchtel’s Khoi Thurmon and limiting him to only six points. Jones sits at the top of Gahanna’s very effective press and generates a lot of his points off of steals. The Mr. Ohio Basketball candidate is hoping to cut down a few nets this season. 

Rayvon Griffith/SG/2023/Cincinnati Taft

Griffith can get a bucket anytime and from anywhere on the floor. He finished with a team high 18 points and had to work for every single one of them. At 6 foot 7, Griffith can shoot over anyone and his quick first step allows him to get to his spot. The mid range is thought to be a lost art in basketball but Griffith definitely showed why it is so effective. Of his eight made field goals, four of them came from mid range pull ups. He gets going downhill toward the basket but stops on a dime to elevate over his defender. The four star prospect is a top player in D-III and will be the guy for Taft if they want to make a run. 

Devin Royal/Dual Forward/2023/Pick Central

Royal had a relatively quiet first half as Taft made it a point of emphasis to stop him. When his team needed a bucket, Royal was the go to guy. He scored 21 points and hit important shots down the stretch. On two occasions, Royal had an isolation at the free throw line and used his quickness to get downhill and drop it in. He also made two shots over a defender which sparked a late Pick Central run and an ultimate victory. Royal once again proved why he is one of the best players in the state.  

Sonny Styles/SF/2022/Pick Central

There are very few players who have the athleticism and strength that Styles’ possesses. If he catches the ball in the paint, there is little the defense can do. If you foul him, he will make his free throws and if you don’t, he will dunk on your head. He will also go and guard the best player on the opposing team. Styles capped off the game with two high flying dunks that got everyone in the gym off of their seats. He is also a game wrecker on defense and came up with three steals and two blocks. If you watched this game, you wouldn’t think that this is his second sport. The Ohio State football commit is hoping for a final four appearance before he impacts the game for Ryan Day next year. 

Joey Zalewski/SG/2023/Thomas Worthington

Almost every play for Thomas Worthigton ran through Zalewski and for good reason. The junior has a really smooth and polished offensive game. He scored a game high 19 points and did most of his damage through the post. Zalewski’s natural strength allows him to power through defenders in the post and get a bucket. He does a great job drawing the defense’s attention to his three point shot which allows Zalewski to work inside. The junior has solidified himself as the team’s go-to guy for a bucket.

Maurice McCall/Hybrid Guard/2024/Columbus South

McCall was the bright spot for a South team that looked discombobulated on offense. He led his team with 17 points and numerous assists. McCall runs the offense and is the go to scorer for South. He showed a nice array of crafty finishes around the rim along with his nice vision. The sophomore knocked in a pair of threes as well as a mid range stepback. He finds a great balance between scoring and facilitating for his team. McCall is just a sophomore and is going to only get better with time. 

Shaheem Nieves/SF/2024/Thomas Worthington 

Nieves came into the game averaging nine points per game but stepped up big time with 18 in this game. He did most of his damage inside with rim runs and transition finishes. He uses his strength and athleticism to power through contact. He even showed his range by hitting a step back three. Nieves was also very efficient and didn’t take many bad shots. His energy and effort won’t show up in the box score but it most definitely affected the game. Along with Zalewski, Nieves will lead this Thomas Worthington team.

Nyelle Shaheed/Hybrid Big/2023/Harvest Prep 

Shaheed led his team to a win with 20 points and a dominant rebounding performance. Once he catches the ball in the paint, it is very hard to stop Shaheed from scoring. He has natural strength and goes up strong with the ball to finish almost every time. Shaheed also grabbed every rebound that came off the rim and played tough defense inside in the paint. He highlights a really good junior class for Harvest Prep that can only get better. 

Tayshaun Mayfield/Traditional Big/2022/Hilliard Bradley

Mayfield did not lead his team in scoring but earned a write up solely on his defense and effort. He finished with 12 points but impacted the game in so many ways. Mayfield does all of the little things that most people don’t recognize. He dives for loose balls, takes charges, dives on the floor and most importantly rebounds. At 6 foot 3, Mayfield is a little undersized for a big but that doesn’t stop him from hustling and competing on every play. His energy and effort is infectious and carries over to his teammates. Every successful team has a player like Mayfield. He embodies what Bradley basketball is about and is the heart and soul of his team. 


Brandon McLaughlin/SF/2022/Heath

After becoming his school’s new record holder for points earlier this week, McLaughlin dropped 26 points last night. He got into early foul trouble which limited his first half production but he made up for it as he carried the load for his team. He lived at the line and scored 11 of his 26 from the charity stripe. He has a great knack for drawing contact and converts when he is fouled. He also has a refined post game that he uses well along with his 6 foot 8 frame. McLaughlin has led Heath to a 12-2 start this year and will look to add more points to his record. 

Atticus Schuler/Dual Forward/2022/DeSales

Schuler did almost all of his damage inside and used great movement to beat the opposing team’s zone. He scored 23 points and was the reason DeSales stayed in the game. He also had a double-double with 11 rebounds and controlled the glass all night. He isn’t the strongest but has nice touch around the rim and even stepped out to drain a big three late in the game. He has been the bright spot for a DeSales team that sits in the middle of the Central Catholic League and must continue to fill it up for the Stallions.

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