Columbus, Ohio-- On Saturday night, there was not a single empty seat at Eastmoor Academy as the Warriors took on the Vikings of Northland High School. Unable to deliver in front of the home crowd, Eastmoor never backed down, only losing the game by a six point margin with the final score reading 64-58.

Throughout the entire game, the pace was frantic. Both teams tried to pressure the opposing teams ball handlers and create easy transition opportunities by frequently pressing. This pace favored Northland’s lightning quick senior ball handler N’Keeley Elmore and their highly intelligent guard Devan White.

Appearing the turnover margin would decide the game, the third quarter brought the emergence of Northland’s backourt trio of White, Elmore, and sophomore Makhale Massey, who combined for 12 of the Vikings 21 third quarter points. However, on top of the typical strong scoring output from their backcourt, Northland’s forward tandem of Jason Foster and Isaiah Ingle made their mark on the game. Foster’s impact was felt much more offensively with 14 points, and Ingle’s impact was felt protecting the rim on the defensive end.

The Warriors were led by the trio of junior Julian Binford and seniors Isaiah Kelley and Gicobi Massey, who outscored the rest of the Eastmoor team 42-16. Their lack of floor spacing and half-court offensive execution were major hurdles that were needed to win this game.

Eastmoor moves to 3-4 on the year and will have a tough test attempting to bounce back against a 5-1 Upper Arlington team.

Northland moves above the .500 line and they will be in action against Westerville North in a week at Africentric.

Makhale Massey (6’3 WG/ Northland/ 2021): After a quiet first half that only saw Massey make one three-pointer, he bounced back strongly in the second half with ten points for a total of 13 on the night. His scoring output consisted of a spot up and three point shot off movement. Then showed the attacking dimension in his game by finishing on a euro step layup through contact and flashing middle on a semi-transition opportunity once Northland broke the press, finishing through contact yet again with exceptional body control. We also saw his IQ being applied on both ends of the floor tonight. He had a tremendous low usage pass off a cut to the rim for a wide open layup. He also had a phenomenal on ball possession where he forced the left-handed dominant Gicobi Massey to go right on a isolation possession late in the third quarter.

Massey did not have the most productive game, but appears to be better fit within a half-court offense at this point in his young career, and fell victim to the game flow. He is still unquestionably deserving of mid major looks and is easily Northland’s best long term prospect. With loads of potential the guard should look to improve his on ball offensive game, so he can be viewed as a secondary handler in a collegiate lineup. Make no mistake, with great size for his position he still holds major value as an off ball scoring threat.

N’Keeley Elmore (5’8 G/ Northland/ 2019): Elmore has now eclipsed the 20 point mark for the third time this season and continues to build on what has been an impressive high school career. This fast paced game was tailor made for Elmore as he could break the press untouched with his outstanding north to south speed. He can make simple decisive reads and attack the lane fearlessly in the open court. However, Elmore did play much more time off of the ball this game than I saw at Linden, but he proved to fit in perfectly in that area, attacking into the lane with a great first step and knocking down two spot up three’s where he possesses a lightning quick release of the catch. He also showed off his impressive lateral quickness and hips on the defensive end of the floor in halfcourt settings against a great ball handler in Julian Binford. Continued improvement in his decision make him an incredibly lethal two way JUCO guard.

Isaiah Kelley (6’4 F/ Eastmoor/ 2019): At 6-foot-4, the four man plays with a nonstop motor. He was mostly used as a play finisher on the offensive end of the floor and showed off some ambidextrous finishing at the rim. He showed off some handling coordination as well, making multiple straight line drive attacks in the lane where he took advantage of his stride length more than agility. Where Kelley really stood out though was on the defensive end of the floor. In particularly off ball where he was the only communicator in Eastmoor’s half-court defense that I could hear. He continued to make proper rotations both out on the perimeter and at the rim challenging shots from the weak-side of the court. The senior even flashed some switchability containing Massey in space on one possession.

Kelley’s better suited for a fast paced game where he can apply his handle and movement skills in the open court, and covert on power finishes through defenders at the rim. Defensively, he showed what may have been the best IQ I have seen from a City League player this season. His potential switchability and team defensive value should not be ignored by JUCO coaches looking for somebody who can contribute both on and off the ball.

Gicobi Massey (6’0 WG/ Eastmoor/ 2019): Massey was the leading scorer for the Warriors tonight with 18 points. The six foot southpaw guard is always in attack mode, looking for the slightest opening to burst through a hole in the defense and finish at the rim. The senior also flashed a mid-range pull up in which he had great balance on. He can make decisive reads within the flow of a half-court offensive set as well. Defensively, Massey is a willing on ball defender with above average lateral speed.

Massey has potential as a guard with solid speed and leaping ability that we saw on multiple offensive rebounds, but he needs to start driving and finishing with his off hand more. Continued comfortability with his pull up jumpshot will be a major development in his game and will allow him to keep defenders guessing to a degree. Unable to see a spot up three-point shot that would aide him as a low usage player since he has an exceptional first step, Massey has some three-and-d potential with added value as a transition handler.

Julian Binford (5’8 G/ Eastmoor/ 2020): Binford was the smallest player on the court, but arguably was the most valuable for the Warriors offensively. One of the best ball handlers you will see in Central Ohio this season, Binford has the ball on an absolute string and is a shifty change of direction handler that broke multiple double teams from Eastmoor by himself off of the dribble. Even though he did not hit any, his handling coordination was on display when he would pull up off double moves smoothly and with such ease which you will not see from many young players. The junior was not afraid to get into the lane where he can finish with either hand, but did struggle to finish through contact. The guard also knocked down a three-point shot off of movement on a baseline out of bounds set coming off a double screen where he showed tremendous balance. Defensively, Binford was an irritant on ball defender which is the best way to add value at that size. He was also an aggressive point of attack defender with active hands, coming up with numerous steals on and off the ball throughout the game in Eastmoor’s press. He flashed some playmaking ability, but would have like to seen more in that area of his game. Regardless, even though Binford is always going to be the smallest player on the court, he may be the most effective for his team throughout the season.