Under the Radar Prospects from Saturday at the Holiday Hoopla 2024
Written by Luke Harrington
Quentin Easler | F | Bishop Hartley | 2026
The Hartley Hawks had a battle against Kettering Fairmont Friday night which ended in a resilient comeback win in OT. A player that played big minutes and didn’t show up much on the stat sheet who had a huge impact was 6’4 Junior Forward Quentin Easler. Easler has good size and knows his role: screen, rebound, defend, and crash the glass; he did all of these things at an elite level. These contributions helped free up Hartley’s elite guards, who ended up making enough plays to get a tough win. Every great team needs winners like Easler, and it looks like the Hawks have found a big contributor in the lineup. Having coached Quentin in the past, I know he’s the ultimate team player and will do anything it takes to win. Easler is a small college prospect because of his size, grittiness, and ability to hit an open shot.
John Johnson | G | Archbishop Hoban | 2027
The Hoban Knights from the Cleveland area were one of the most impressive teams on Saturday, and a big part of their squad this year is Sophomore John Johnson. Watching this kid play, you’d have no idea he was only a 2027, as his savvy and athleticism are elite for his age. The thing that stood out about Johnson in their matchup with Dublin Jerome was his three point shooting from the corner, as he hit four straight to stretch Hoban’s lead at the half to something the Celtics couldn’t recover from. The wing is also very physical (holding a D1 football offer from Kentucky), as he made several big plays in the paint as well. Johnson is one of the top sophomores I’ve seen in 2024 and could see him shooting up rankings across the state as Hoban remains undefeated on the season.
Kaden Post | F | Huber Heights Wayne | 2026
A player I had never heard of heading into the weekend that made a big impact was Wayne junior Forward Kaden Post. Wayne played with a ton of energy and has very athletic guards that can get into the paint at will, which really helped the sharp shooting Forward get open from three. Every time a guard was in the paint, they sucked in the defense, leaving Post open on numerous occasions. The 2026 prospect cashed in, hitting 5 threes in the game. He was also a force on the glass and running the floor converting several put back and run out layups. The length and skill set make Post an interesting prospect as he remains a key cog in the efficient Wayne rotation. Keep an eye on this kid the rest of the season going into AAU season.
Dylan Fox | F | Johnstown Monroe | 2026
In Johnstown Monroe’s battle with Margaretta on Saturday, Dylan Fox was the only reason the Johnnies were in the game at halftime. Margaretta dominated the first half until the 6’5 Fox went on a 12-2 run of his own hitting four straight triples. Fox has excellent size for a wing, and showed his versatility defensively and rebounding while being an elite threat from the outside. The 2026 prospect also showed a lot of passion and leadership, which clearly rubbed off on the rest of the team as the whole team’s energy seemed to pick up for the remainder of the game. With more consistency with shooting and finding other ways to impact the game, I could see the Junior having a successful college career at a small school due to his size and skill set.
Jakaris Shelton | PG | Lutheran West | 2027
Lutheran West’s roster is loaded with studs who put on a show Saturday against a very athletic Westerville South team. A kid that might have gone under the radar was sophomore point guard Jakaris Shelton. Shelton made up for his lack of size (5’7) with speed, toughness, and court vision, and made huge plays throughout the entire game. I knew this kid was a stud when he drove by a much longer guard in the second quarter and found his teammate for a big time finish in the second quarter. The Longhorns are looking to have a huge season, and it will all be led by Shelton, who is clearly the “glue guy” for this team. I learned that Shelton already has an offer from Central State after the game, and I expect the number of high level offers to increase as the year moves on into AAU season.
Bryan Vlosich | F | Lakewood St. Edward | 2026
One of the top Juniors in the state is St. Ed’s F Bryan Vlosich, who is ranked 21st on PrepHoops for 2026s. The 6’4 wing is the best shooter I saw at the Holiday Hoopla on Friday/Saturday, and his timely three point shots allowed the Eagles to complete an OT comeback win over Pickerington Central. Vlosich has a smooth stroke and a quick release that is tough to bother, and has “in the gym” range on the catch. His quickness is his best attribute, however, as a kid of his size typically doesn’t come off screens and get his feet set like he can. St. Ed’s played two games in the event, and the junior was their best player in both matchups in my opinion. I see Vlosich as a D2 prospect currently with a chance for something higher with growth and development throughout the next couple of years.