3 Things Learned from the Step Higher Preseason Classic

1. Summit could be the team to beat in SW Ohio
 
The Knights made a run to the District Finals last year before losing to Tri-Village in a battle at UD Arena. The expansion of the 7 divisions might have helped the Knights in terms of giving them a better shot at repeating the feat in 2025. Playing against Oakville Prep (Canada) made it clear they haven’t missed a beat. Cayleb Walters (Sr) brought a high motor and made winning plays both with the ball and off ball. Tim Martin (Jr) showed growth in his game and provided shooting on the perimeter. At 6-foot-5, it’s clear as Martin adds to his game he will be difficult to matchup against come tournament time. The biggest takeaway was Summit’s standout freshman Max Jointer (Fr). The 6-foot-4 wing looked like a senior to be with his physical frame and was providing scoring in a variety of ways. Coach Kevin Johnson hit the jackpot getting him, and his Knights team proved they are one of SW Ohio’s best in Division V.
 
2. Arness Lawson is bound to have a big senior year
 
I’ve seen Lawson so many times in the past 3 years I didn’t think it was possible for him to impress me even more. In a game against Newport, he did just that. Lawson has always been known for his playmaking and scoring off the dribble drive. What I saw Sunday was a confident PG that will play fearless against bigger bodies and a willingness to distribute the ball and set guys up. Lawson would seemingly hover midair to get the best possible shot. Normally he would be looking to score over Newport’s Griffin Starks (So) at 6-foot-8. In transition, Lawson gave the ball up early and would attack at angles to lure the transition defense away from the basket. His basketball IQ has always been tremendous, but he is putting it all together in his final year. While Newport was missing multiple starters, it still was a baseline to how good the Panthers and Lawson can be.
 
3. Hughes could be a problem for years to come
 
We only stayed for part of this game, but Hughes has a couple of guys that give off good vibes toward futuristic potential for the Big Red. The highly touted Leshawn Hill (Fr) was as advertised in his first game with the Big Red, on a big stage. Hill played with a polished game, protecting and running the offense. Not a scoring threat in this game, Hill showed glimpses of what we could see in the future with his quickness with the ball in-hand. The addition of Sir Stirling (Jr) from Moeller should also pay dividends as the 6-foot-8 PF brings length and a legitimate post player for the Big Red. Hughes was returning much of their team from the previous year and adding Hill and Stirling helps fill some of the voids they had. With Division III being a little more open in SW Ohio this year, Hughes could sneak up on some teams this season. But next year could be a breakout year.