COLUMBUS, Ohio -- This past Saturday, 270 Hoops welcomed over 100 young men to Central Crossing High School for two separate sessions of the 2024 Prospect Camp. The coaches in attendance were helpful and knowledgeable, giving instructions and tips for the players, while putting them through drills that will translate to actual gameplay. Players were receptive to tough coaching, the theme for the day was “embracing difficulty,” as every young man will have to overcome some type of adversity on or off the court at some point. This experience for the players will be one they can look back on and take away the positive results. Below are some of the top performers from both sessions at the Prospect Camp.

Braylon McKinney ( 5’11 Point Guard / 2027 / Reynoldsburg): A big part of the winning team in session 1 this past Saturday, McKinney put his shot making on display, draining shots from all over the midrange, getting to the bucket and knocking in jumpers from behind the three-point line. McKinney did not over dribble when the ball was in his hands, being efficient with the basketball and making quick, smart decisions on offense without turning the ball over often. Although not an elite athlete, he made up for it with his strength and patience as he consistently was able to get past defenders. The sophomore used his pump fake really well too, being a shot making threat on the court allowed him to get defenders off their feet while he blew by them. Not only is his brother one of the big time prospects in Central Ohio, but the younger McKinney also showed signs of promise as well. 

Jake Saxton ( 6’0 Point Guard / 2028 / Grove City): Another huge piece to the winning team in the first session on Saturday, Saxton provided his team with a dog mentality, great court vision and sneaky athleticism for his height. The Grove City point guard used his athleticism to finish at the rim over height while his great handle of the ball allowed him to get through defensive traffic and end up at the rim. He threw some absolute heaters to his teammates, getting the ball to them in spots where they could score in easy positions, seeing things before they happen on the court. When on the fast break, he could finish by himself or dish it to a teammate, putting the defense in a bind when he was flying up the court. Saxton’s unselfish play was contagious to his teammates, everyone on the team began to share the ball. This young man has all the tools to carry a team.

Xavier Jones ( 6’3 Wing / 2028 / Westerville South): One of the young men with the most upside, not only at the camp, but in Central Ohio as a whole. This kid can do some of everything on the basketball court and showcased it all this past Saturday. He was a menace on the glass, rebounding the ball at a high level then being able to control the offensive pace of his team with his ball handling, patience in the half court and his speed in the open court. Jones weaved through every defense en route to being in the championship game where he had to be face guarded because of the way he was controlling the action. Not only did Jones get to the basket at will, he also walked into a couple three-pointers and spotted up for a few more, showing a nice jumper that defenses must respect. This young man will be one to watch in Central Ohio as the years pass on. 

Breaker Heller ( 5’10 Point Guard / 2027 / Westland): One of the best leaders over the two sessions on the day, Heller was encouraging to his teammates on and off the court and gave helping directions, boosting up others' confidence. His play on the court was electric, with his lightning quick handle of the ball and ability to get to the rim. His explosiveness with the ball and at the rim allowed him to be an excellent finisher, even through contact. Heller threw some pure dime passes to teammates for easy scores as well, displaying really good court vision and the power to see things before they happened on the court. The sophomore got sky high on a couple of blocks, showing his athleticism on the defensive end. Not only did he have some jaw dropping blocks, but his on-ball defense was tremendous as well, applying pressure to ball handlers on the perimeter and forcing mistakes from them while he was guarding. Heller has great upside and he will have plenty opportunities to show that upside this season at Westland.

Wyatt Stefan-Adams ( 6’4 Wing / 2027 / Westerville Central): Put pressure on opposing defenses during the entire live game session, being relentless with driving the basketball, drawing fouls from defenders while being a good finisher at the rim even with contact. His constant attacking of the basket put defenders in a tough position, because he has nice size and was smooth with ball his hands, he was able to both fly past players his size and get the ball up over defenders shorter than him. Stefan-Adams was a really good rebounder, always getting good position and having good timing when the ball was in the air. The wing was also an active defender both inside and out, getting deflections and tipping the ball, whether or not they resulted in turnovers, he was able to throw off offenses with his length. This sophomore made a really good impression on Saturday during the first session of the day. 

Samajey Andrews ( 6’6 Forward / 2028 / Westland): Truly a raw athlete that will get so much better as under Westland head coach Joel Jackson, Andrews was a load to handle during the first session. While he wasn’t the best finisher at the rim, especially for his size, he got enough looks at it and made enough of them that those mistakes won’t be there once the season begins. When he had his moments to post up, he did show patience on the block, not forcing his shots. His bounce, athleticism and size allowed him to be a menace on the glass though, rebounding everything in his vicinity, skying up and grabbing the ball while it was at its highest point. He was physical on both ends, taking contact on offense and not being moved on the block defensively. Andrews also had numerous chase down blocks in the session, showing his speed in the opening court and how freakishly athletic he was. The freshman has one of the highest ceilings in the area for his class, something his head coach will love to utilize this season. 

Caden Ivery ( 6’2 Wing / 2027 / Columbus Academy): A versatile athlete that can really change a game when his motor is running hot, and he showed that as his motor was turned on most of the day this past Saturday. Defensively, his length on the perimeter bothered other guards and his quickness disrupted players his size. On offense, Ivery was able to run the offense for his team at times, setting up teammates for nice passes and being able to find his way to the rim off the dribble. The sophomore was explosive around the rim and finished with athleticism at the basket. As a lengthy wing, Ivery looked excellent when he turned it on, he displayed a reliable handle of the ball, good decision making and excellent athleticism. 

Caleb Ervin ( 6’1 Shooting Guard / 2027 / Gahanna Lincoln): One of the hardest workers in the opening session, from the drill work to the live game period, Ervin worked and got better as the morning session progressed on. He was a physical rebounder, looking to get in the mix with others, grabbing boards on both ends of the court. The young man had a nose for the basketball, always being around loose balls on each end and being able to scoop them up and get his team out on the break. A reliable shooter from deep, not only hitting shots from three, but they were deep triples. Ervin was also a strong driver of the basketball, he didn’t shy away from anything and created contact from defenders to get to the free throw line. A solid showing from the Lion, one that he hopes to continue to build from once the regular season comes around. 

Jace O’Daniel ( 6’3 Wing / 2027 / Hilliard Bradley): An amazing athlete that can do some of everything on the court. The lefty showed that he can run the offense, defend the ball inside and on the perimeter while still being efficient with his scoring. Jace was a versatile piece of the winning team during the live play period of session 1 on Saturday. His reliable jumper helped space out the floor for drivers, and made him a threat from basically anywhere on the court when he caught the ball. O’Daniel also showed that he was relentless in his attacking of the basket, using his slim frame to get through the defense and finish at the hoop despite traffic on the way there. He also rebounded at a high level, using his good timing and jumping ability to sky for boards over other players. The sophomore made an impression at the prospect camp last season and did the same thing this year. 

Thomas Cochran ( 6’6 Guard / 2027 / Dublin Coffman): The key cog to the championship game in the second session, Cochran was dominant the entire time. He matched his length with versatility on both ends of the court. On the defensive end, he was able to protect the rim, altering shots and blocking others. Offensively, Cochran was a beast in the paint area. The sophomore created space using his footwork and hit shots on both sides of the basket but excelled on the left side of the court. Whenever his team needed a bucket, they looked to him and cleared out the area so he could operate. He was a willing passer out of the post and could hit cutters or shooters with perfect passes to create easy shots for them. In his team's first game of the day, Cochran was put in at the point guard spot and ran the show for his squad, showing amazing handling coordination in the open floor and the ability to make next level passes on the move. Cochran is a high level shooter from three with scholarship level size and versatility. The best part of watching him was that he had an unstoppable motor, playing hard throughout drills and the live gameplay. Coffman has a steal with this kid. 

Keaton Webb ( 6’3 Wing / 2027 / Fairfield Union): The players that came from a football game and still pulled up to work hold a special place in our minds, and Webb not only did that, but he came after a football game and was one of the hardest workers in either session. He took three charges during game play, which is something that almost no one does at a camp, showing his willingness to put his body on the line for his team. He was also one of the best players in the post during session 2, putting defenders in a blender on the block and scoring with relative ease whenever he got the ball there. He showed patience and good touch around the basket, while being a willing and smart passer from the block. His free throw in sudden death overtime advanced his team to the semi-finals, putting his clutch shooting on display. Webb showed toughness, basketball IQ and the ability to put the ball in the bucket the entire second session, something he can carry into his sophomore season at Fairfield Union. 

Keon Bonner ( 6’5 Forward / 2027 / Centennial): An impressive looking athlete that played hard and made plays for himself and his team. On the break, he moved with a mix of grace and power, flying by defenders and getting to the rim where he could finish with contact. His strength also helped him create space in halfcourt situations, where he was a dog in the post and showed that could stretch the defense and knock down shots from behind the three-point line as well. He did a lot of his work without the ball in his hands, constantly cutting and moving around on the court to get open. Bonner will be a key piece to a talented Centennial team that looks to have its best season in years with their blend of experience and young athleticism.

Neko Tuff ( 5’10 Point Guard / 2027 / Columbus South): His last name describes the way that he plays the game, Neko is a truly tough guard. Tough minded, physically tough and tough to defend as well, as he was a relentless attacker of the basket and was one of the better players through contact in either session. He was one of the only guards that looked for and created contact in the open court, using his strength and athleticism to still get the ball in the basket despite the contact. Defensively, he flashed his quick hands as he took the ball from ball handlers numerous times and led his team on the break where he could finish himself or pass it to a teammate for an easy score. With so many seniors leaving from the City League runner-ups, Tuff should have the ball in his hands and a huge responsibility for the Bulldogs this season, he could be one of the names we’re talking about as a top guard in the City League come January. 

Owan Mburugu ( 6’4 Forward / 2027 / Northland): Super athletic and a quick jumper that controlled the paint with how he changed the shots of others and helped his teammates on the defensive end. Mburugu was excellent as the help side defenders, even coming over and blocking some shots from that position. He owned the glass, especially defensive rebounds, getting good position and having great timing to go get the ball in the air. When he got the rebound, he showed that he had a capable handle of the ball to push it up the court and finish at the rim himself. Mburugu has a strong skill set, as he can really handle the ball at his size and is evolving into a knockdown shooter. Even with the loss of King Kendrick, Northland still has a load of talent and this sophomore looks to be an important piece to the Viking puzzle this upcoming season. 

Luca Filia ( 5’11 Point Guard / 2028 / Olentangy Berlin): Despite not finishing the afternoon due to an injury in his final game, Filia was his usual confident and poised self with the ball in his hands. He played with pace, knowing when to speed up and slow down on offense, keeping the defense off balance. The freshman walked a fine line of scoring on his own and getting his teammates easy scores. When he decided to score he did so by blowing by defenders and getting to the basket with a soft touch around the basket or knocking down jumpers at an efficient level. Filia moves like silk on the break, seeming to glide past the defense on his way to the rim. He is one of the more polished players in his class in the area. 

Ruben Dejanson ( 6'2 Forward / 2028 / Pickerington Central): A part of the winning team in session two, Dejanson showed potential as a tremendous defender and shot maker as well. On offense, he nailed shots around the bucket with a soft touch at the basket and good range that can make the defense respect his jumper. Defensively, Dejanson was physical and tough, not letting his man get anything easy and contesting everything in his area. He stayed attached to ball handlers' hips and made them over dribble and forced some turnovers. His defensive effort and energy helped his team as they wore down a little bit, being the one to spark his team on that end of the court.  

Drew Lavender ( 5’10 Point Guard / 2028 / Olentangy Berlin): One of the best passers in the second session, Lavender showed great decision making with the ball in his hands and displayed really good court vision, hitting teammates in stride on outlet passes and getting the ball to cutters in the right spot where they can easily finish around the basket. His extremely quick handle of the basketball helped him keep defenders off balance and allowed him to get by them to create for himself and his teammates. Lavender showed that he could also defend really well, staying in front of his man and forcing them to take tough shots over him. The freshman was able to make a ton of plays for his team and some for himself as well, showing that Olentangy Berlin will have a bit of Brookhaven flavor, with his father, the legendary Andrew Lavender, leaving a legacy as one of the greatest players in Columbus basketball history. 

Makai Ross ( 6’2 Wing / 2027 / Westerville Central): His energy was infectious and was felt during the entire second session. Whether it was drill work or the live game action, Ross was high energy all the time, giving his all on the court and not backing down from any challenge that was in front of him. Also, on the offensive side of the court, Ross was a tremendous shot maker and was able to not only get his shot off in different ways but he was also able to create shots for his team as well. The sophomore nailed in shots off the dribble, off the catch and off of screens as well. This versatile young man wants a pivotal role on the Westerville Central basketball team this year and this was a good first step to doing that. 

Luke Muhlenkamp (6'2 Forward / 2028 / Dublin Coffman): Another key member to the session 2 championship team, Muhlenkamp was a physical beast around the rim. The Coffman freshman was a relentless finisher underneath and one of the better rebounders in the entire event. In an event where players sometimes tried to do things outside their range of abilities, Muhlenkamp stuck to his strengths and gave his team an interior advantage that other squads just did not have. We love players with high motors and Muhlenkamp certainly has a great one. Coffman has a lot to look forward to with Cochran and Muhlenkamp among their top young players.