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Mount Vernon Shootout: Top Performers

By Chintoo Deora, 06/14/22, 5:45PM EDT

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A look a some of the top performers from the Mount Vernon shootout

Mount Vernon, Ohio -- With the spring AAU season over, many high-level prospects can begin working with their high school teams again. In June, teams participate in shootouts and showcases hosted by different colleges. I was in attendance for the Sweet 16 Shootout hosted by Mount Vernon Nazarene University. I saw a few central Ohio teams as well as some outside the Columbus area. Below, are some prospects that stood out to me during this shootout.  


Steele Meister/2024/Newark/Hybrid Big

It was really impressive to see the improvement in Meister’s game from last season. He is quicker and faster than last year and displayed some great drives to the rim. He has great body control around the rim and got past his defender multiple times. Meister was almost impossible to stop when he got to his left side and converted a ton of drives. Along with Burkholder, Newark has a great inside-out duo that will be hard to stop in the fall. 

Peyton Frey/2023/Hilliard Davidson/Hybrid Big

Frey is one of the most skilled bigs in his class and a true leader of this Davidson team. He showed a ton of different post moves from a drop step to a right-handed hook. Frey is almost automatic inside the paint and gets post position early. Once he catches the ball deep in the paint it is almost impossible to stop him. He has also gotten more athletic from last year which helped him score inside. Frey is the clear-cut senior leader for Davidson and it is clear his teammates will look to him to be the guy.  

Logan Beaston/2023/Tiffin Columbian/Point Guard

I previously saw Beaston play AAU surrounded by a bunch of other stars so it was interesting to see how he would play as the main guy on his high school team. His combination of scoring and facilitating was impressive. He is a lights out shooter that can also create space off the bounce. Tiffin Columbian thrived when the ball was in Beaston’s hands and the offense was much more efficient. He is a very elite scorer that can do it from all three levels. 

Braylen Nash/2024/New Albany/Shooting Guard 

After playing with three seniors last year, Nash is clearly the primary option on offense for this Eagles team. A lot of sets run through him and for good reason. His quick trigger release allowed him to knock down some nice shots from long range. Nash also excels driving baseline and can finish on either side of the rim. The football background shows how athletic Nash is around the rim. It will be interesting to see how productive he can be as the main guy in the fall. 


Grant Burkholder/2023/Newark/Point Guard 

Burkholder continued to show why he is one of the top guards in all of central Ohio. He plays like a traditional point guard who runs an offense as well as anyone. He makes the right plays and the right passes which usually don’t show up in the box score. He is just a guy who impacts winning at a high level. Burkholder is also an elite shooter and connected on a ton of shots behind the arc. He is the clear leader of this Newark team and he will guide them in the upcoming season. 

Chase Boals/2024/New Albany/Traditional Big

With the modern game having everyone spaced out, it is nice to see a back-to-a-basket big every once in a while. Boals has a really advanced post-game that all starts with his patience. He waits for the offense to develop and doesn’t rush. He is a great passer and found his teammates a ton when they would cut. He makes the right pass and the correct read. He has a chance to be the interior force this New Albany team lacked last season. 


Javonte Hill/2024/Findlay/Hybrid Guard

Hill was one of the best players that I had not previously scouted and he impressed me a ton. An uber-athletic guard who can keep the ball on a string is very desirable for college coaches. He has a really great change of pace and can go slow to fast in a hurry. A quick first step allowed Hill to blow past defenders and get to the rim. He has great touch around the rim and finished with floaters and runners. He skied for a dunk and showed off his natural athleticism. 


Keslar Bates/2023/Ashland/Small Forward

Bates was the engine for this Ashland team that lost some major firepower from last season. He has nice touch around the rim and got out in transition for a few scores. Bates was good off the catch and shoot with a couple of made threes. He sparked a few good runs for Ashland that eventually led them to victory. 

Solomon Callaghan/2023/Wadsworth/Hybrid Guard

Callaghan is another guy I saw in AAU who now is the go-to for his high school team. He is really shifty and hard to stay in front of. He displayed great body control around the rim and is comfortable finishing with either hand. Callaghan makes great reads off the pick and roll where he racked up a ton of assists. He handled the pressure really well and was able to break the opposition press with ease. He has gained a ton of recruiting traction this spring and for good reason.

 

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