This Season’s Most Consistent Performers in NEO
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The top players in Northeast, OH have been impressive to watch with their team. The level of consistency matters most. Everybody can have a good game, but at this point in the season, these are the impressive players that have…
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Continue ReadingThe top players in Northeast, OH have been impressive to watch with their team. The level of consistency matters most. Everybody can have a good game, but at this point in the season, these are the impressive players that have been consistent this year at being the best.
Lanae Riley Lanae Riley 5'11" | C Akron Hoban | 2022 State OH 6’1, Forward, Archbishop Hoban High School
has been physically dominant all year in the post. She has not had a problem getting up and down the floor. Good motor and is a leader for her team. Lanae is a player with good character. I believe that she does everything right and continues to improve her game as the year goes on. There is not a post player that has been better than this young lady in the NEO area for a couple of years. She can shoot perimeter shots and dominates in any game. Riley is committed to Middle Tennessee University and will come in and play with her continued success this year, but first, she looks to lead her team and end the season finishing what they started last year.
Mari Bickley Mari Bickley 5'10" | PG Shaker Heights Laurel | 2023 State #20 Nation OH 5’10, Guard, Laurel High School
The “Real” Mari Bickley Mari Bickley 5'10" | PG Shaker Heights Laurel | 2023 State #20 Nation OH is a special player. Her length and her activity on the court make her a player that will get hers. She is leading a young team with a lot of pieces from last year’s run gone. She has done a great job playing. Although her team record is not where it needs to be one thing being at Laurel has shown is that dedication and loyalty are within deep. Through adversity in the first half of the season, she has had a lot of expectations put on her that she is embracing.
Paige Kohler Paige Kohler 5'8" | PG Olmsted Falls | 2023 State OH 5’7, Guard, Olmstead Falls High School
The way to play “Paige” Koehler is considered one of the best players in the area. She plays basketball the right way on both ends of the floor. If you are looking for a player for the next level this young lady can come in and give you her defensive ability right now. She has an incredible work ethic with the ability to make the right play for herself or others. Kohler is an unselfish person that lets her playing ability do the talking. Having the opportunity to watch this young lady play for a few years now I don’t see why she isn’t on a lot more radars, but she is a player that brings her “A” game to practices, showcases, games and I am sure if pick up games still existed she would be a worker there. Coaches, one thing you should know about her is that she is not only talented, but she has the leadership ability to make others better and plays with no fear.
Zennia Thomas 2 Zennia Thomas 2 6'2" | CG Warrensville Heights | 2022 OH 6’2, Forward, Warrensville High School
Zennia is peaking at the right time in her high school career. She is tough to deal with in the post as she can win at the block, mid-range game, and can shoot it from the perimeter. Thomas has been confident this year with her shot-blocking ability and lateral movement. She has picked up a few offers before the season and during the season has impressed. A fun fact about “Z” is that she is one of the youngest seniors in the state. Coaches, 6’2 rebounds well, good off pick and rolls and can attack from the perimeter and finish in traffic. When it is all said and done Zennia Thomas 2 Zennia Thomas 2 6'2" | CG Warrensville Heights | 2022 OH will surprise others with the opportunity she will have.
Taylor Johnson-Matthews Taylor Johnson-Matthews 5'10" | C Brush | 2022 OH 5’8, Guard, Brush High School
Matthews is a skillful basketball player. Nails are tough to all, but I guarantee Matthews to be just as tough. She is a really good kid and a peoples person. Everyone wants a Taylor on their roster in which she defends first and offensively by nature can do what she pleases on all three levels. Size and strength at 5’8 she makes the right plays and can take over a game. The greatest thing about watching her play is that she is coachable and makes players around her better. Matthews, I would consider one of the top kid’s in the state because she doesn’t pick and choose she’s every game kid that brings something consistently. Coaches, she is on a few schools’ radar and what many should know is that she will make plays and buy into a program. Quiet kid, and does what is asked of her on any given game or practice day.
Alexa Hocevar Alexa Hocevar 6'1" | PF West Geauga | 2023 State OH 6’0, Guard/Forward, West Geauga High School
There is not another 6’0 and above player that can handle it, shoot it, and finish like Alexa Hocevar Alexa Hocevar 6'1" | PF West Geauga | 2023 State OH in the area. Hocevar is on a team that she started with and in a time where everything seems to go all wrong she has made sure to do everything in her power to make them go all right with recent big wins in the conference. She is very vocal and leads the right way with her attitude in the game. Hocevar has good length and strength with the footwork ability to get by defenders and create space. Coaches, 2023 has multiple offers and I am sure could be the right fit for any program.
Brielle “Breezy” Williams 5’5, Glenoak High School
“Breezy” is the defensive menace. She has quickness and playmaking ability with speed. Coaches, her ability to create ball pressure and force turnovers is good to watch. A New Hampshire commit could make an immediate impact defensively. She can score and does not have a problem with giving everything that she has on the court.
Grace Kingery 6’1, Guard, Northridgeville High School
Saved by “ Grace” is a saying when someone is as talented as this young lady. She plays when you want her to and when you need her to. Her length helps her on the defensive. Whether a hand is up or down she will take the shot. A player of very few words that are about business. Kingery is a special player that leads by example and plays with her head and heart. She does a great job creating space for her shot and leaves her feet to make the pass, but doesn’t make the wrong reads on passing the basketball. The level of her basketball IQ exhibits why she can play at the next level. Coaches, Kingery has an offer and will increase her stock being impressive all season and making big-time plays. She just picked up an offer from the University of Akron.
Catara DeJarnette Catara DeJarnette 5'6" | PG Kenston | 2022 State OH 5’6, PG, Kenston High School
A point guard that leads her team in scoring and creates opportunities for others. Dejarnette is a good kid that does a good job reading defenses. She can finish at the basket and has a good mid-range jumper. Dejarnette has good footwork and does a good job of creating space allowing her to get to the basket or shoot behind the perimeter.
Kristin Chmielewski Kristin Chmielewski 6'0" | C Stow | 2022 State OH 5’11, Forward, Stow High School
Chmielewski is a Notre Dame College commit and this year has scored in every way from fashionable to unfashioned ways, but the job gets done. She is a long guard that uses her length when attacking as well as perimeter shooting over defenders. Chimielewski has a good motor and tends to be disruptive defensively. Stow is having a great year and a lot of it is due to the great person that this young lady is. Notre Dame College is getting an unselfish player that is leading her team the right way.
Jordan Weir Jordan Weir 6'5" | C Glen Oak | 2022 State OH 6’5, Center, Glenoak High School
Weir is the biggest player in Northeast, OH and with her length has an incredible shot-blocking ability. Coaches, we all know height is something you can not coach. She is a force in the post being able to draw fouls and finish well around the basket. Weir works hard rebounding and makes an impact every time she steps on the floor.
Other Players to consider and have proved themselves:
Kailey Minch Kailey Minch 5'6" | PG Eastlake North | 2023 OH 5’6, PG, North High School
A Willoughby South Transfer and two-sport athlete does damage on both the soccer field and the basketball court. She is one of the top scorers in the area mainly because she outworks her competition. She does not back down and has a high motor that keeps her going. Coaches, she has good feet and lateral movement which allows her to bring the defense consistently. Minch can shoot it from the perimeter and get by her defenders and finish or make the right play.
Abby Liber Abby Liber 5'11" | PF Avon | 2022 State OH 5’11, Forward, Avon High School
The St. Louis University commit uses her 5-11 size to cause matchup problems with other guards. She is a consistent player that plays the right way and seizes the moment with every opportunity that she has on the court. Coaches, she is committed and for all the right reasons she will continue to work this season and develop. Avon High School has not played many games this year, but as the season carries on she will continue
Lauren Yee 5’5, PG, Berea-Midpark High School
Another ball-hawking guard who makes life miserable for opposing ballhandlers. Yee is a good energy kid that makes the right plays and has great poise in the way that she plays.
Mackenzie Schultz, Guard, Strongsville High School
She has taken off as a leader for her team this year. Schultz is a high motor kid that plays every game with passion. She can score and is a great teammate making others around her better. She is a player with a great character off the floor. Coaches, Mackenzie Schultz is good for a program at the next level with how active she is on both ends of the floor and the ability she has to add so much to a college program.
Mary Meng Mary Meng 6'4" | C Midview | 2023 State OH 6’4, Forward, Midview High School
The 6-foot-4 transfer from Community Christian is not talked about enough. She has incredible length and can put the basketball on the floor. Meng has the most experience playing at the varsity level than many in the state. She can be a nightmare day in and day out for her opponents. Coaches, she has multiple offers from various programs, but the biggest thing that stands out is you can’t coach height, but she is a productive player that has shot-blocking ability.
Mahogany Cottingham Mahogany Cottingham 5'9" | CG Trinity | 2023 State OH 5’8, Guard, Trinity High School
A point guard who also is a prolific scorer. She can lock up defenders and impress with her shooting ability behind the arc as well as good feet. Leads by example when she plays and does so with few words. She has a high motor and is physical. Coaches, she can score and defend. Coaches, she is a prospective player that is a true student-athlete and has a purpose larger than herself.
Kendall Braaten 5’6, Guard, Berea-Midpark
Possessing one of the best perimeter shooting in the area, A laurel Transfer has been big for Berea-Midpark. She does a good job changing her pace on the court. A leader by action and plays hard. Coaches, she disturbs the peace for the offense and her quickstep is hard for defenders to keep up with.
Mackenzie Blackford 5’7, Guard, Solon High School
An exceptional athlete who also is a two-sport athlete that is a state-level hurdler. She is a relentless type of player. Blackford has a superior work ethic and finishes around the rim. Coaches, keep an eye on her as academically and athletically she continues to work and prove that she is one of the better players in the northeast, OH area.
Aleeona Robinson Aleeona Robinson 5'5" | PG Lutheran East | 2023 OH 5’6, Guard, Lutheran East High School
Robinson has pretty good basketball instincts off the basketball. She can shoot the basketball well. She does a good job of utilizing both hands when creating for herself or others. Robinson also is good at creating her own shot and being a strong offensive player.
Annie Watson Annie Watson 6'0" | PF ASVSM | 2022 State OH 6’0, Forward, St.Vincent St.Mary High School
Watson is the most experienced player on the lady Irish roster and by the way that she plays, you can tell. She can finish at the basket whether she is posting or pulling up in the mid-range area. Coaches, this young lady has a good work ethic and gives everything she has when on the court. She does a good job communicating and being a leader. Watson has down the fundamentals of the game and does not do too much and stays in her zone at a consistent level.