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Central Ohio Stock Risers from the Spiece Run-n-Slam

By Zach Fleer, 05/08/17, 11:45AM EDT

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A look at the top stock risers from this past weekend's Spiece Run-n-Slam in Indiana

FORT WAYNE, Indiana -- Getting back out on the AAU scene after a much needed month of rest, 270 Hoops was able to check out many prospects from Central Ohio in a loaded field at the Spiece Run-n-Slam in Fort Wayne. 

Let's take a look at the top storylines and stock risers from this weekend's action.

Jerome Hunter Emerging as Top 50 Prospect

Arguably the top player in the entire event, Pickerington North's Jerome Hunter was outstanding in leading OH-Nova to a runner-up finish in the 17u division.

Shooting the ball at a very high level from the perimeter, Hunter was locked in and in a zone all weekend long. Able to score the ball at will from all three levels, Hunter also defended at a high level, while also clearing the glass and making crisp passes on the offensive end.

As his stock continues to heat up this AAU season, Hunter put national scouts on notice with his high-level play against some of the top talent in the Midwest. Already holding offers from several Big Ten and ACC programs, look for Hunter's recruitment to break open in the coming weeks, as we could see Big XII, Pac 12 and SEC programs get involved as the 6-foot-7 forward is emerging among the nation's elite. 

Check out highlights from Hunter's stellar weekend below.

Goodwin, Norris lead All-Ohio Red to tournament title

While they may be rivals in the high school season, Upper Arlington's Dane Goodwin and Hilliard Bradley's Braden Norris are a terrific backcourt duo on the AAU scene. AAU teammates for the last several years, the two guards who clashed in the district finals this past March put the Midwest on notice after leading All-Ohio Red to an undefeated weekend and tournament title.

While Goodwin struggled a bit to score the ball in our Saturday viewings of him, the UA sharp shooter saved his best for last in the final. The long-time Ohio State commit continues to defy the odds, finding new wrinkles to his offensive skill set when many of his doubters believe he's maxed out his abilities. An absolutely deadly offensive weapon when his shots are falling, Goodwin looks to have added additional muscle to his frame, which allowed him to score tough buckets inside, while defending well along the perimeter.

For Norris, the 5-foot-10 guard impressed with his decision making in the pick-and-roll, as he and Michigan State commit center Thomas Kithier were a terrific one-two punch all weekend. Norris, also a deadly shooter, was hot all weekend, making defenders pay from behind-the-arc. While some may think Norris doesn't pass the 'look test,' the heady point guard has continued to perform against the best of the best, as he has a tight handle and high IQ that helps make this All-Ohio Red team go.

With only one Division I offer to date, Norris' stock could really blossom this summer if he is able to continue to help lead All-Ohio Red over the best of the best in these major events. 

Top 2018 Stock Risers

Tre Williams (6'6 PF / Reynoldsburg / All-Ohio Red): Gaining confidence and momentum as a reserve big man for All-Ohio Red on the EYBL, Williams has a chance to be a late riser in the 2018 class. With a big body that looks like it's not even close to filling out yet, Williams has the type of upside and improving skill on the block that will attract the attention of Division I programs in the region. Williams was stellar in our viewings of him this weekend, showing toughness and physicality inside, while also showcasing impressive footwork inside. As Williams has adapted to the pace of the EYBL game, his performances have continued to improve, as his confidence is sky high at the moment. A kid that will come in and work hard from day one, look for Williams to garner additional Division I interest in July. 

Jelani Simmons (6'6 SG / Beechcroft / All-Ohio Black):  Much like Williams, Simmons is a player that is just scratching the surface of his potential. As he has continued to stretch out, Simmons has become more athletic and has adapted a motor, which has turned him into one of the very best rising prospects in the region. Simmons turned it on at the right time on the main court, throwing down a poster slam on a defender in a breakout performance for the Beechcroft wing. Simmons is deserving of low-major Division I attention, as he can creep up into the mid-major realm when his jump shot is falling. Look for Simmons to blow up in the  July live period. Simmons added his first offer from Fairmont State late Sunday night.

Garrett Tipton (6'5 SG / Bishop Hartley / VCC Nova Beard): With nearly every top Division II program in the Midwest following him this weekend, Tipton showed up and showed out in leading VCC Nova Beard to an undefeated round of pool play. Scoring at a high level, Tipton impressed as an athletic slasher, attacking the basket with reckless abandon. A terrific shooter who can kill you from mid-range and from behind-the-arc, Tipton did it all in leading VCC Nova. While Tipton was a complimentary piece to Hunter last summer, the Bishop Hartley wing has excelled in a new role in the Nova program, leading this Nova Beard team that is clicking on all cylinders. Tipton was tracked closely by West Liberty, Ashland, Ohio Dominican, Northwood and more this past weekend, as he looks to be the top Division II priority player in Central Ohio at this time. 

Lacey Watson (6'5 SG / Rock Island, IL / Elite Basketball Club): An incoming transfer to Central Ohio, Watson had himself quite the weekend for Elite Basketball Club. Watson recorded a weekend-high 50 points in a win over NW Ohio, including 44 points in the second half alone. At 6-foot-5, Watson has stellar length and athleticism, showing an ability to score from the perimeter, while possessing natural scoring ability near the rim. From our viewing, Watson is just a consistent motor away from being a really terrific player. With the physical gifts to dominate on both ends of the floor, it will be up to Watson to decide if that is the type of player he wants to be. While it was rumored Watson was going to enroll at Marion-Franklin, and then Whitehall, it remains to be seen where the 6-foot-5 wing ends up by the start of next season. Regardless, Watson will be a terrific addition no matter where he goes. 

Taevion Kinsey (6'4 SG / Eastmoor / OH-Nova): A breakout player this past high school season, Kinsey has transitioned his high level play for Eastmoor onto the AAU scene. Running with OH-Nova now, Kinsey has impressed despite playing alongside Hunter and top 100 prospect Darius Bazley this past weekend. An elite athlete at 6-foot-4, Kinsey does more than just rock the rim (which he does in a way nobody else in Ohio can, by the way). A high-IQ wing guard that can get to the rim at will, Kinsey especially impressed as a facilitator this past weekend, setting up the offense and finding open cutters in our viewings of him. A natural born leader that genuinely enjoys playing the game, Kinsey's best basketball is ahead of him, as he enjoys being coached and enjoys the process. With just one Division I offer from Stony Brook, it's only a matter of time until MAC schools become heavily involved, as well as Horizon League programs. 

Dondre Palmer (6'4 SF / Pickerington North / OH-Nova Rice): The running mate to Hunter in the high school season, Palmer gets a chance to lead his own team in the AAU season, as the 6-foot-4 wing did just that for OH-Nova Rice this past weekend. With one of the best, if not the best, motors in Ohio, Palmer never stops going, as he always finds a way to get his nose in the middle of everything on both ends of the floor. With the potential to be an elite perimeter defender at the next level, Palmer can guard smaller guards and bigger wings, while also showing offensive progression in recent months. Palmer should be a priority for Division II teams in the region, as he will be able to come in and provide valuable minutes. 

Isaiah Speelman (6'6 SF / Hilliard Bradley / OH-Nova): Giving Speelman the nickname "Mr. Production," that is all the 6-foot-6 wing continues to do. No matter what team he is on or who he is playing against, Speelman just continues to put up numbers and rack up wins as he is doing that now with OH-Nova. A skilled scorer on all three levels, Speelman has a great feel for the game, as he rarely takes a bad shot and works to get himself the easiest looks possible. One of Ohio's top scorers since the beginning of the 2014-15 season, Speelman has been no slouch on the AAU scene as well. Every Division II program in the region should be all over Speelman, as his game should translate well to that level. From an IQ standpoint, Speelman is ready to go right now.

Adrian Nelson (6'6 SF / Pickerington Central / VCC Ohio Warriors): After a breakout season in which Nelson helped lead Pickerington Central to the state semifinals, the junior wing is taking no time off on the AAU scene. A devastating matchup in the open floor, Nelson impressed with his above the rim theatrics, as he flushed down several big-time slams both in the half court and in transition. For Nelson, the biggest criticism that scouts have for his game is that he doesn't do enough outside the big dunks. However, in our viewings of him this past weekend, Nelson shot the ball at a high level, while locking up and defending well in the post and on the perimeter. Nelson is a bit of a Division II/Division I tweener right now, as consistency with his perimeter shooting and ball handling will get him to the D1 level. 

Top 2019 Stock Risers

Ben Fort (6'4 SG / Reynoldsburg / Miller Factory): While young enough to be a member of the 2020 class, Fort does not let his youth slow him down. An emerging 6-foot-4 wing with as quick of a first step as we have seen from area wings in the 2019 class, Fort was terrific in our viewing of him, going for 15 points, while scoring in a variety of ways. With great length, athleticism and upside, Fort is just scratching the surface of how good he can truly become. Fort had a few breakout performances last high school season, but look for he and Williams to become the 1-2 punch for Reynoldsburg, as both should end up as Division I prospects when it's all said and done.

Treohn Watkins (6'0 PG / South / Miller Factory): Playing off the ball primarily in our viewing of him, Watkins excelled in a backcourt with Fort and Pickerington Central guard Jeremiah Francis, who played with Miller Factory this weekend. Shooting the three at a high level, Watkins was best on the catch and shoot, making defenses pay with his limitless range. A talented ball handler that can beat defenders off the dribble and finish inside, Watkins is at his best when he's letting the flow of the game come to him and knocking down open jumpers. 

Ezra Manjon (5'8 PG / Gahanna / Miller Factory Elite): As elite of a ball handler as there is in the 2019 class, Manjon is an emerging prospect who could be a breakout player this winter. A player that we can definitely see was influenced by Kyrie Irving, Manjon plays with that type of flair and bravado, as he constantly beat defenders off the dribble with flashy dribble moves and high-level quickness. While having the ability to run an offense and perform as an effective ball handler that can dish and assist, Manjon will have to improve his decision making when going full steam to the rim, which is really the only thing standing in the way of a full-out breakout junior season.

Josh Corbin (6'3 SG / Gahanna / All-Ohio Red): With the departure of Jordan Mitchell to prep school, Josh Corbin will become 'the guy' for Gahanna, a season after leading the Lions in scoring for the season. A terrific shooter who is as good as anyone when he's in a rhythm, Corbin has added wrinkles to his skill set, including improvements in his ball handling and inside scoring, which have turned him into one of the elite wing guards in Ohio. Look for Corbin to garner additional recruiting interest in the 16u EYBL, which will lead into what should be a junior season where Corbin could be one of the leading scorers in the entire OCC. 

Javohn Garcia (6'3 PG / Pickerington Central / Pro Bound Elite): While Garcia didn't see much action at Pickerington Central as a sophomore, make no mistake, "JG" is one of the best in Central Ohio. A lengthy ball handler with a quick first step, Garcia gets into the lane and to the rim at will, as he was terrific in our viewing of him on Saturday. As Garcia continues to improve and gain confidence, look for him to excel as a junior for Pickerington Central as a breakout winter could be ahead. 

Kayin Derden (6'2 SG / DeSales / Pro Bound Elite): While other players on this list may be a few months away from a breakout season, Derden experienced just that for DeSales this past winter. While it was Derden's high-level athleticism that got him on our radar as a freshman on JV, the 6-foot-2 wing became a deadly shooter this past season, pouring in a barrage of threes for DeSales all season long. On the AAU scene, Derden is combining both of those qualities and the results have been impressive. In a backcourt that includes studs in Garcia and Northland's Will Mfum, look for Derden to get on the radar of college programs in the region this summer. 

Will Mfum (6'1 SG / Northland / Pro Bound Elite): A dunk contest legend already, Mfum is improving as an all-around basketball player on the Adidas circuit and was impressive on Saturday following a breakout weekend in Atlanta last weekend. A player that lives above the rim in the open floor, Mfum has been working hard on his ball handling in recent months, as the results were shown in several tough driving finishes at the rim in tight traffic. With an impressive athletic build, Mfum is a physical specimen on the wing, as he is able to defend both guard positions as well as bigger wings in the post. As Mfum continues to learn how to play and get accustomed to the elite level, look for him to improve his stock and become one of the best guards in Ohio in 2019.

Coleton Landis (6'6 PF / Pickerington Central / C2K Elite): Playing for the newly Under Armour sponsored program C2K Elite, Landis was terrific in our viewings of him this weekend. A thick 6-foot-6 post that can stretch the floor and knock down jumpers, Landis did just that on Saturday. Extending the floor out to 18 feet and making defenders pay, Landis was stellar in extended time on the floor after missing a lot of his sophomore season due to injury. 

Morgan Safford (6'3 SG / Bishop Hartley / C2K Elite): Arriving on the radar of Division I programs in the region, Safford has excelled on this C2K Elite team that has a talented backcourt. A wing with quality size and skill, Safford can shoot the ball at will from three, while also having the strength and athleticism to get to the rim and finish through contact. With a possible breakout season on the horizon, Safford will have a chance to attract as many coaches as possible on the Under Armour circuit with C2K this summer before what we think will be a huge winter for him. 

Top 2020 Stock Risers

Dominiq Penn (5'11 PG / Dublin Coffman / All-Ohio Red): Fresh off a freshman season in which Penn put up plenty of points, the Dublin Coffman guard is back to playing against players his own age in AAU. With that being said, Penn looks like a player who played major varsity minutes for a winning program. A devastating shooter who understands pace and matchups, Penn is as good as they come in the pick and roll, as there is really nothing you can do with him on the perimeter. Turning in an impressive tournament run to lead All-Ohio Red deep on Sunday, Penn is showing the skills that made us rank him tops among his class. 

Chris Mayfield (6'1 SF / Hilliard Bradley / All-Ohio Red): Playing for All-Ohio Red this weekend after being apart of the Mid-Ohio Pumas organization for the last few years, Mayfield was impressive off the bench, showcasing his high-level athleticism that helped him earn a starting spot for Hilliard Bradley as a freshman. A tireless worker on the glass and on the defensive perimeter, Mayfield is the type of junkyard dog that elite teams need in order to take the next step ahead. 

Marcus Johnson (6'3 SF / South / C2K Elite): A few months removed from helping lead South to its first City title in more than 25 years, Johnson is impressing on the AAU scene for C2K Elite. An elite level athlete that is as good of a dunker at 15 years old as any player we have ever seen, Johnson is using that explosiveness on both ends of the floor as a rover type wing that finds himself making plays all over. While it looks like Johnson is still learning how to play and developing a greater feel for the game, he fits in perfectly with a C2K Elite team with plenty of Central Ohio talent. This summer of development will be crucial for Johnson, who has a chance to lead South to yet another City title as the success of the Bulldogs will hinge on its x-factor sophomore wing. 

Qian Magwood (5'9 PG / Walnut Ridge / C2K Elite): Young enough to be a member of the 2021 class, Magwood is as tough as they come at the point guard position. Playing this entire last winter as a varsity starting point guard at the age of 14, Magwood has used that valuable experience to transition to a challenging level of AAU hoops. A quick ball handler and defender whose best basketball is still ahead of him, Magwood showcased his skills as a crafty finisher inside this weekend. On a Walnut Ridge team that will be led by himself and fellow AAU teammate Von Cameron Davis, the best days for this duo are still ahead.


Ben Fort

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