
A few weeks ago we published our updated statewide player rankings in several classes. In an effort to spotlight more kids and to refine our statewide rankings, we decided to take a closer look at players across the state based on their city of residence. To this end, over the next several weeks we will be publishing more detailed rankings by city. By drilling down city by city, we will be better able to more accurately determine the statewide rankings. Below you will find our initial step in the process as we highlight the top 25 players in Columbus in the classes of 2025-2028. With respect to presentation, although the names of the better players tend to appear higher on the list, we are not yet ready to rank players from 1-25. What this means is the names are listed “in no particular order.” Once we have completed this city by city project, we will be updating our statewide rankings to reflect the changes we found.
On another note, we are often asked, “How do you determine the rankings?” First and foremost, we do our best to scout not only our own events (i.e., Buckeye Prep Elite Showcases and Buckeye Prep Invitational Tournament), but we try to attend other elite showcases, camps and tournaments around the state where we’re able to evaluate the talent on hand. In addition to our own personal observations, we rely on a statewide network of top school and AAU coaches who provide us with input into their team and players as well as other team’s players. It’s important to note, you should expect changes/updates to this list as we’re able to see, evaluate and re-evaluate players on a week-to-week basis.
Over the next several weeks we will be reaching out to coaches in other major cities to begin compiling more lists. We intend to start with Cincinnati, followed by Dayton, Northeast Ohio and Toledo. If you coach one of the top teams in your area or aware of the top players in your area please reach out to us at Buckeyepreprpt@yahoo.com and provide us with your cell number. This will help us in our efforts. Also, if you see any errors in our list, please use the Comment” section of this website to provide us with more accurate information. In closing, our lists and rankings are primarily designed to recognize players for their hard work while also inspiring them to continue to work toward their dreams. We hope that parents, coaches and players keep this in mind.

Khani Thomas-2026

Deon Johnson-2027

Maurice Hamrick Jr.-2028

Deloni Pughsley-2029
Names in Red Denotes Current Profile (Click to View)
Class 2026 | Class 2027 | Class 2028 | Class 2029 |
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Khani Thomas/PF/Groveport | Deon Johnson/WF/Columbus | Maurice Hamrick Jr./PG/Hilliard | Deloni Pughsley/PG/Columbus |
Jaden Shoults/SG/Columbus | Ben Mirgon/CG/Hilliard | Gabriel Tucker/PG/Reynoldsburg | Dallas Stewart/CG/Pickerington |
Brody Fields/SG/Teays Valley | Tony Cornett III/WF/Columbus | Xavier Jones/PG/Westerville | Gabe Stumph/2029/Columbus |
Jordin Bowins/C/Reynoldsburg | Keon Bonner/PF/Westerville | Mekhi Roddy/SG/Columbus | Ashland Hanna/CG/Lewis Center |
Levi Davis/PG/Olentangy | Luca Filia/CG/Westerville | Nysean Pollard/SG/Columbus | Antonio Williams/PF/Pickerington |
Treyton Schroeder/PG/Lewis Center | Landon Evans/WF/Columbus | Malachi Washington/SG/Groveport | Tyson Cornette/PG/Columbus |
Alex Campanelli/PG/Gahanna | Luke Mitchell/CG/UA | Evan Allgood/SG/WF/Pickerington | Steve Blackmon/PG/Reynoldsburg |
Darek Whitfield/PG/Gahanna | TJ Ward/PF/Whitehall | Kypton Norris/PG/Hilliard | Quincy Balcomb-Prichard/CG/Gahanna |
Jason Bates Jr. /PG/Pickerington | Carter Myers/WF/Columbus | Ethan Stewart/PF/Columbus | Brandon Youngblood/PG/Columbus |
Cole Nungester/W/PF/Ashville | Michael Daniels/PG/Groveport | Grant Patterson/Columbus | AJ Stumph/CG/Big Walnut |
Gabe Schmidt/CG/Dublin | Charlie Freiberger/PG/UA | Paxton Federer/SG/Big Walnut | Mike Sellers Jr/WF/Columbus |
Tejaun Barbour/SG/Columbus | Jeffery Reynolds/C/Columbus | Jaden Reed-Davis/G/Hilliard | Blaize Jones/SG/Pickerington |
London Sears/SG/New Albany | Carson Scholl/SG/WF/Columbus | Jackson Rollins/CG/Pickerington | Maxwell Davis/PG/Columbus |
Titus O’Neal/WF/Pickerington | Eli Stumph/WF/Johnstown | Winfield Garrett IV/WF/New Albany | Tyler Postell/PG/Columbus |
Elijah McCree/PG/Westerville | Amir Clark/PG/Columbus | Elijah Smith/CG/Pickerington | Roman Perryman/WF/Gahanna |
Cole Nagalae/PF/Gahanna | Brice Wells/C/Columbus | Parker Barr/PG/New Albany | Justin Martin/PF/Pickerington |
Hilton Benardo/C/Gahanna | Albert Moore/CG/Columbus | Brody Booth/SG/Columbus | Trey Delany/CG/Columbus |
Derron Gray/PF/Columbus | Caden Ivery/SG/Columbus | Mark Pinkston/PG/Gahanna | Conner Chainey/CG/Columbus |
Xavier McKinney/WF/Pickerington | Thai Davis/SG/Columbus | Anderson Felix/Hilliard | XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX |
Jahki Calloway/Columbus | Jackson Bowers/C/PF/Big Walnut | Jordan Wagner/G/Groveport | XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX |
Jason Singleton/WF/New Albany | Andrew Brooks/SG/Mansfield | Maxwell Davis/Columbus | XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX |
Diaunte James/PG/Canal Winchester | Antwon Pollard/SG//Columbus | Tyler Johnson/CG/Whitehall | XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX |
Aaven Snyder/PG/Pickerington | Jack Schuler/C/Columbus | Will Meyers/2028/Big Walnut | XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX |
MC Walker/WF/Westerville | Wyatt Adams/WF/Columbus | Carson (LNU)/C/Zanesville | XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX |
London Sears/SG/New Albany | Ramone Perez/PF/Licking Heights | XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX | XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX |
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Next Up/Additional Evaluation Required
Player/Class/City | Player/Class/City | Player/Class/City | Player/Class/City |
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Brealand Heller/2027/Columbus | Jayce Fisher/2030/Columbus | Kevin Smith/2027/Pickerington | Jordan Sanders/2027/Pickerington |
Rush Anstine /2031/Westerville | Marquice Anderson/2031/Columbus | Zander Pughsley/2031/Columbus | Landon Miller/2031/Dublin |
Chauncey Cumberlander/2033/Columbus | Kevin Smith/2027/Pickerington | Rondale Parsons/20?/Columbus | Tekoah Thykeo/2030/Columbus |
Lee Debro/2030/Pickerington | Tanner Kellte/2027/Ashville | Ashton Spiva/2030/Columbus | Rashard Perry/2028/Columbus |
Pharoahe Zaire/2027/Columbus | Luke Barnt/2027/New Albany | Jayden Morrison/2027/Teays Valley | Jack Schuler/2027/New Albany |
Jack Shaker/PG/2031/Powell | Derrick Perryman/2031/Gahanna | Elliott Tratuner/PG/2031/New Albany | Will Graves/2027/UA |
Jase Owens/2032/Columbus | Jedi Haynes-Lee/2032/Columbus | Rush Anstine/WF/2031 | Beckett Conrad/2032/Dublin |
King Kendrick/2026/Columbus | Braylon Lopez/2026/Olentangy | Carmine Liannirino/2032/Columbus | Declan Hardy/2031/Columbus |
Isaiah Jones/2032/Columbus | Quinn Schweiter/2027/Columbus | David Johnson III/2032/Dublin | Grayson Bates/PG/2031 |
Xavier Agulia/PG/Lewis Center | Jaxon West/2028/Big Walnut | Casey Brickner/SG/Galloway | Gavin Dennis/PG/2031 |
Xavier Rogers/PG/Worthington | Tai Perkins/2025/Westerville | Zion Robinson/2026/Pickerington | Jordan Taylor/2032/Gahanna |
Kaiden Graves/2032/Columbus | Carter Watson/2032/Reynoldsburg | Jaden Tonyemba/PG/Columbus | Antonio Jones Jr./2031/Columbus |
Nolan Moore/WF/2031/Blacklick | John Sumner/C/2031/Worthington | Robert Sumner/C/2031/Worthington | Kyle Darfus/PG/2031/Lancaster |
Chris Blalock/WF/2031/Pickerington | Caleb Towns/PG/2033/Columbus | Joshua Towns/WF/2032/Columbus | Kallen Parker/PG/2031/Columbus |
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