The opening night of the Buckeye Prep Invitational Tournament tipped off Friday night with 3 rounds of games being held at 2 sites.  This year, although the event was limited to only 102 teams as a result of limited court space due to COVID-19, there is no shortage of talent in this event.  On opening night at the TAD Sports Center, there were several intriguing match ups between local teams.  The biggest upset of the night might have been the Gem City Heat’s (2029) 39-32 win over the Mid-Ohio Pumas.  That Pumas team has several notable and statewide ranked players including Dallas Stewart, Ashland Hanna and Blaize Jones.  From we saw, the Heat was a little scrappier, a bit quicker and more aggressive the basket. There is a good chance these 2 teams could meet again in bracket play.

Although the final score of the 2026 All-Ohio Red vs Quality Sports games was 60-48, the game was much closer than the final score suggests, as there were several runs and lead changes in this local battle for bragging rights.  It was a very entertaining game to watch.  The All-Ohio Elite vs Miller Factory matchup (2026) was a good one as well and featured several of Columbus’ best up and coming players. For the record, the Miller Factory got the win (48-44). Coming as no surprise, the Dayton-based Team BNU 2029 rolled over All Ohio Red on Friday night with a gaudy 55-18 win.  In addition to outlining some of the night’s key match ups, below is the beginning of our tournament Star Watch List, which we intend to update every day of the event.  Stay tuned for more updates.

Photo Gallery #1

Photo Gallery #2

Landan Vanderwalker

Tyreke Ruffin

Macio Harper

Kenny LaRue

Arness Lawson

Jordan Ferguson

Antwon Pollard

Jaden Shoults

Levi Davis

Andrew Woeste

Ayden Snyder

Jamarcus Jones

Sammy Dari

Xavier Aguila

Jarin Mock

Brayden Torgrimson

Brandon Hatcher Jr.

Jamauri Benson

Name Height/Position Class City Evaluation Notes
Tyreke Ruffin 5’10″/PG 2026 Columbus Good size for his position, physical athletic guard who get to cup & finishes
Antwon Pollard 5’10″/WF 2027 Columbus Long, athletic & finishes well near the basket.  Solid court vision, willing passer
Kenny LaRue 5’4″/PG 2026 Hilliard Quick, shifty PG, solid handle, has floater. Scored 11 point in opening game
Jaden Shoults 5’5″/CG 2026 Columbus Skilled combo guard who can score at 3 levels.  Hit 3 treys and scored 13 points in opening game
Sammy Dari 5’7″/SG 2027 Strongsville Skilled, shoots with range, solid defender.  Scored 12 points in opening game
Caleb Anthony 5’4″/PG 2026 Columbus Rebounds well for his position, can get buckets, motor, quick, led team in scoring w/14 points
Jamarcus Jones 5’8″/WF 2026 Columbus Solid frame, athletic, strong to the cup, scored 11 points in opening game
Landan Vanderwalker 6’5″/PF 2025 Delaware Good size, strong, can stretch the defense, finishes at a high rate, defends guards, soft touch, prospect
Drew Woeste 5’0″/WF 2029 Dayton Elite scorer, motor, led team in scoring on opening night
Levi Davis 5’8″/CG 2026 Columbus Skilled, fluid, athletic, scored 21 points in opening night
Ayden Snyder 5’5″/PG 2026 Pickerington Standout Performer
Jarin Mock 5’9″/WF 2026 Columbus Standout Performer
Xavier Aguila 5’6″/PG 2026 Lewis Center Standout Performer
Chibuzor Iwu 4’11″/SG 2028 Dayton Standout Performer
Jamauri Benson 4’9″/CG 2029 Dayton Standout Performer
Teaunn Hunter 6’1″/SG 2025 Huber Heights Standout Performer
Brayden Torgrimson 6’3″/C 2025 Columbus Standout Performer
Arness Lawson 5’10″/PG 2025 Columbus Standout Performer
Macio Harper 6’1″/CG 2025 Columbus Standout Performer
Jordan Ferguson 6’2″/CF 2024 Fostoria Athletic, motor, scores well in the paint
Brandon Hatcher Jr. 5’11″/PG 2025 Dayton Standout Performer
Aiden Gallogly 6’0″/PG 2024 Columbus Standout Performer
Evangelos Verginis 5’9″/WF 2026 Wadsworth Strong to the cup, has mid range game, finishes at a high rate, makes tough shots
Sam Greer 6’3″/C 2026 Uniontown Big, soft hands, passes out of post well, rebounds
Jace Opoku 5’0″/PG 2029 Grand Rapids, MI Dynamic, highly skilled PG with excellent feel for the game, handle and ability to score the rock
Steve Blackmon 4’9″/PG 2029 Columbus, OH Skilled PG who can both score and make plays.  Saw him master the drive and dish game
Luke Holtzapfel 4’11″/SG 2029 Edgewood, KY Standout Performer
Mason O’Connor 4’8″/PG 2029 Grand Rapids, MI Standout performer, scored 15 points in game we watched
Jayden Carlton 5’10/CG 2026 Hudson, OH Excellent shooter with range, hit multiple treys
Jordan Bowman 6’2″/PF 2026 Reynoldsburgh, OH Good size, athletic, solid big to big passes, does great to cup.
Demarcus Adams 6’1″/PF/C 2026 Canal Winchester Good size, soft touch, strong, physical, rebounds and finishes well
Trey Perry 5’10″/PG 2025 Middletown, OH Skilled, athletic PG who goes strong to the cup. Can score the rock
Mykell Murphy 6’1″/C/PF 2025 Columbus, OH Athletic, physical, scores well in the low post, can handle rock in open court, passes well
Julius Spradling 5’9″/PG 2025 Sidney, OH Standout Performer
Nate Miles 6’2″/SG 2026 Toledo, OH Standout Performer
Karter Green 5’3″/PF 2029 Canton, OH Standout Performer
Brody Denny 5’4″/PG 2027 Dayton, OH Dynamic, scrappy & skilled PG. Tough as nails, 3-level scorer who also makes plays
Xavier Ratica 5’11″/PF 2027 Cincinnati, OH Good size, great low post scorer, runs the floor well & rebounds at a high rate
Braylon Taylor 5’3″/PG 2027 Grand Rapids, MI Standout Performer
Jordan Taylor 4’2″/PG 2023 Gahanna, OH Quick PG, defends well, developing skill set
David Johnson III 4’3″/PG 2023 Worthington, OH Can score the ball, developing skill set
Carter Watson 4’3″/PG 2023 Reynoldsburg, OH Tough, solid on ball defender
Mandden Robinson 4’10″/PG 2029 Cincinnati, OH Standout performer, scored 11 points in a game we watched
Nathan Judy Unknown 2026 Hudson, OH Standout Performer
Colton Clevenger 4’5″/PG 2029 Lewisburg, OH Highly skilled, can shoot with range, great court vision and passing skills, confident
Jayden Davis 5’2″/WF 2029 Dayton, OH Size, physical, gets to cup, scores
William Peagler Jr 4’9″/PG 2029 Trotwood, OH Highly skilled PG, with solid court vision and passing skills. Shoots ball well
Lonnell Berry 5’0″/WF 2029 Dayton, OH Made All-Tournament Team
Kamron Mercer 5’7″/WF 2027 Cincinnati, OH Standout Performer

Chibuzer Iwu

Teaunn Hunter

Aiden Gallogly

Sam Greer

Evangelos Verginis

Mykell Murphy

Jordan Bowans

Trey Perry

Cam Elwer

Mack Hieber

Amari Addy

Cole Albers

Shawn Foster

Kahlen Orwig

Demarus Adams

Carson Alderman

Brady Bowman

Xavier Ratica

Maurice Hamrick Jr.

Jace Ricardo

Isaiah Lamp

Braylon Taylor

Julius Spradling

Steve Blackmon

Wren Sheets

Name Unknown

Lincoln Creager

Kamron Mercer

Jordan Taylor

David Johnson III

Colton Clevenger

Andrew Woeste

Jayden Davis

Carter Watson