With only a few short weeks remaining in the 2023 travel basketball season, several of Ohio’s top 3rd grade teams were in action hoping to conclude their season on a positive note. Case in point, the #1 ranked Buckeye Prep Hoopsters continued their winning ways, as they ran their season long record to an impressive 46-8, after claiming the title at Gym Rats Run & Slam in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. To claim the gold, the Hoopsters had beat a tough Team Teague team 2 times, including a 33-14 win in the championship game.
For the weekend, Buckeye Prep was lead in scoring by Jordan Taylor (4’8″/PG/2032/Gahanna), followed by David Johnson III (4’9″/SG/2032/Worthington) and Alec Moore (4’8″/CG/2032/Pickerington, OH). Next up for Buckeye Prep is the very competitive Ballin on the Beach event in Ft. Lauderdale, FL., followed by Nike Summer Championships here in Columbus as the season finale.
In Cincinnati this past weekend, Ohio’s 3rd (Ohio Hoopsters-Monarchs), 4th (Charging Elite) and 5th (All-Ohio ) ranked teams were all in action at the Battle Royal Classic. In terms of pool play, all 3 teams finished 2-0 and advanced to the final four. In the first semifinal game, Charging Elite squeaked by Tenneesee-based-based Team Tookie (40-37), while the Monarchs won a close one against All-Ohio (48-45). According to Head Coach Chauncey Cumberlander Sr., in the championship game, the Monarchs simply “ran out of gas” on their way to a 45-27 loss.
In the title game, Julian Winner (4’8″SG/2032/Dublin, OH) led all scorers, followed by Zion Lancaster (5’2″/C/2032/Reynoldsburg, OH) and Kason Angert (4’4″/PG/2032/Springfield, OH). The Hoopsters were paced by Chancey Cumberlander Jr. (4’3″/PG/Columbus, OH). With their win in Cincinnati and their second place finish in Detroit, MI. a few weeks ago, Charging Elite has moved up to #2 in our Buckeye Prep Power Rankings. It’s also important to point out that three of the 4 final four teams are Columbus-based! Clearly, at least in the class of 2032, everything goes through the Capital City!
