Cleveland, Ohio (PRWEB) November 13, 2014
Going into the 2014-2015 high school basketball season, Mike Duncan, founder and CEO of the Ohio Basketball Club (OBC), has released his list of the top Northeast Ohio high school basketball players to watch this year.
As founder and CEO of the only Adidas-sponsored AAU boys basketball program in the state, Duncan has been developing and sending players to top Division 1 programs since the 1980s. OBC has already had two of their 2015 seniors commit with Peter Barba from Western Reserve Academy in Hudson committing to Columbia University and Devon Andrews from Lorain committing to Kent State University.
Most exciting for Duncan’s OBC program is the ongoing recruitment of VASJ forward Carlton Bragg. Bragg, a consensus top-20 player in the country, has cut his final list of schools down to the following: Kentucky, UCLA, Kansas, and Illinois.
The following Northeast Ohio residents have been named as the top basketball players to watch by OBC:
Class of 2015
Carlton Bragg
6’9” Forward
VASJ – Euclid, Ohio
Resides in Cleveland Ohio
Carlton Bragg is a consensus top-15 player in the class of 2015 as he solidified his position during this summer on the AAU circuit. Bragg has narrowed his college choices to: Kentucky, UCLA, Kansas, and Illinois.
Bragg, a 6’9” forward is known as much for his ability to shoot the ball as he is for his ferocious dunks over opponents. Bragg is a very versatile player with the ability to play the 2, 3, 4 or 5 position. The combination of Bragg’s size and his ability to step out and shoot well past NBA 3-poing-range makes him an extremely difficult matchup.
Playing against the very best competition in the country with OBC this summer, Bragg completely dominated the defensive glass, and was able to score almost at will from inside as well as outside. The speed of the game in the Adidas Gauntlet Series is much different than anything Bragg sees during the high school season. It’s closer to what players experience playing in college, as most of the players on every Adidas roster are Division 1 recruits. The way Bragg was able to excel vs. this competition has further increased his stock.
Bragg has been working out consistently and is up to 227 pounds. “ People will be very surprised when they see Carlton’s body at the start of the season”, says Duncan
Bragg’s high school coach is Babe Kwasnik (440-665-6050).
Peter Barba
6’6” Combo Guard
Western Reserve High School – Hudson, Ohio
Resides in Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Bragg’s workout partner at MAQ in Parma, Barba enters his senior season with an opportunity to score 2,000 points for his career. A highly recruited sharpshooter, Barba committed to Columbia University of the IVY League in June.
As a Junior Barba led the Pioneers is every statistical category last season while averaging over 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 4 assists, and 1 block per game. Barba hit 54% from the field, 45% from three-point-range, and 87% from the line.
Barba is a matchup nightmare for opposing teams as he can and does play all five positions on the court, while possessing the ball-handling skills of a point guard.
At 6’6” and 190 pounds, Barba is one of the best pure shooters in the country, and continues to improve his body as well as his ability to score in the paint and off the dribble.
Barba’s high school coach is Josh Humphrey (216-287-7306).
Class of 2016
Yavari Hall
6’3” Combo Guard
Warrensville Heights High School – Warrensville Heights, Ohio
Resides in Warrensville Heights, Ohio
Yavari makes Warrensville go! As a sophomore, Hall averaged 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal per game. Hall is a threat from anywhere on the court. He is just as likely to hit a three-point-shot as he is to dunk over an opponent. While playing for the OBC 16U team that finished ranked #2 in the nation, Hall was the team’s best defender. Much stronger than he was as a sophomore, Hall is certain to be on the radar of college programs.
Hall already has picked up scholarship offers from Northern Kentucky, Miami of Ohio, East Carolina and Kent State.
Halls’s high school coach is Brian Swift (216-408-9111).
Justin Slyver
6’7” Forward
Benedictine High School – Cleveland, Ohio
Resides in South Euclid, Ohio
After averaging 8 points and 6 rebounds per game last season at Brush, Slyver transferred to Benedictine High School. Slyver has good athleticism, a great touch from 17 feet and rebounds very well. Slyver is picking up college interest from Toledo and Saint Francis.
Slyver’s high school coach is Albert Wilson (216-421-2080).
And as the 2014-2015 college season begins, the following graduates of OBC’s 2014 class are gearing up to begin their freshman season in college:
- David Bell – Ohio State University – Garfield Heights HS
- Justin Bibbs - Virginia Tech
- Antonio Woods - University of Pennsylvania
- Satchel Pierce - Virginia Tech
- Victor Dorsey - Longwood – Akron Springfield
- Tysean Powell – Duquesue – Benedictine/IMG Academy
- Tony Vuyancih - John Carroll – Saint Edwards