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Top Performers from the NEO Youth Elite Showcase

By T.J. Peatross, 10/05/16, 4:00PM EDT

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NEO's Best Show Out!

The NEO Youth Elite brand has quickly became a staple in the area and has continued to put together some of the top exposure events for student-athletes in grades 3-12.  On Tuesday afternoon, over 100 of the area's top high schoolers competed in front of regional coaches, scouts, and media outlets. The event tipped off with a series of live action drills and contests before wrapping up with a impromptu dunk contest. With official practice being right around the corner, see who stood out in the crowd.

Leonard Cottrell ('17) Garfield Heights

After going under-the-radar for the vast majority of his high school campaign, senior Leonard Cottrell appears to have found a home with the Bulldogs of Garfield Heights. The 6'4 athlete has a great frame and athleticism that allows him to get to the basket with the best of them. Not a knock down shooter, but Cottrell has a solid shooting stroke which adds a bit of an upside to the type of player he can be at the next level. Check out some of his highlights from the dunk contest via Matt Goul and Cleveland.com 

Tyler Golphin ('17) Cleveland Central Catholic

The 6'0 guard was absolutely unguardable during the 5-on-5 continuous play. Throughout the drill session, he continued to knock down shots and effortlessly get to the rim.  Golphin flourishes in these type of settings and has developed a reputation for being one of the state's elite playmakers, earning himself the nickname "Ty Crossover". His patented snatch-back move garnered a  few reactions from both his peers and fans in attendance.

Jalen Kirksey ('17) Massillon Washington

One of the surprise performances of the day came from Massillon's own Jalen Kirksey. The 6'3 wing has big-time athleticism and put together a few plays that could certainly be added to his highlight reel. Kirksey is a bit of a late bloomer and entered Tuesday as a relative unknown, but he will soon find himself on the radar of several local collegiate programs. He also displayed a solid motor and an underrated ability to find teammates in the halfcourt. 

Caden Kryz ('18) Mentor

Kryz is arguably the top underclassmen shooter in the Cleveland area. The 6'3 guard may not pass the eye test and isn't going to blow you away with his athleticism but he fills gaps and finds his spots. Kryz continued to do what he did all summer long and that's knock down open looks. 

Aaron Pate Jr. ('17) East Tech

Pate, a transfer from John Hay, was one of few prospects that I wasn't very familiar with entering Tuesday. The 6'1 wing was one of the most explosive players in attendance and he had more than a handful of high-flying and athletic finishes at the basket. With the style of play that the Scarabs are accustomed to playing, you can expect Pate and teammate Isaiah Washington to flourish as East Tech competes for yet another Senate League crown. 

Brandon Rush ('19) Warrensville Heights

Once he's in a rhythm, there aren't many players in the area who can fill it up quite like Brandon Rush. Rush started off the afternoon absolutely on fire from deep, and at one point, he strung together about 5 consecutive treys in the event's opening game. As the day went on, he didn't show any signs of cooling down. With the exit of both Yavari Hall and Brandon Peters, the sophomore guard will have a much increased role this season under Brian Swift.

Ethan Stanislawski ('18) Massillon Jackson

The Polar Bears enter the 2016-2017 widely-considered to be one of the favorites in Division One. With Ben Seaman and Jake Pallotta moving on, junior Ethan Stanislawski steps into the starting role for Coach Debevec and company. The 6'1 guard appears saw the the floor well on Tuesday and found teammates out in transition. Stanislawski will surprise fans with his athleticism and his ability to create for himself.   

Maurico Tate ('17) Lutheran East

Coming off one of his best showings to date at last month's Super 60 Combine, Maurico Tate has continued to play well since making the move to Lutheran East. The 6'1 guard combines his shifty handle with a quick burst to get by opposing defenders.  After a slow start on Tuesday, Tate's play picked up as the day went on as he caught the eye of several Division 2 programs in the area.

Miryne Thomas ('17) Cleveland Central Catholic

The top play of the afternoon and possibly the top play of the Fall came by the hands of Miryne Thomas when he put down a big-time dunk and sent a defender to the floor. Thomas' athleticism and aggression set the tempo from the opening tip. The 6'7 forward shot the ball at a high rate and connected on his attempts more times than not. While he needs to continue to get stronger, Thomas showed that he can still finish through contact at the high school level. With interest from both low-major Division One  and elite Division Two programs, Thomas hopes to take his allotted visits and make a decision before the start of his senior season.  

Brison Waller ('19) Garfield Heights

Quite possibly the most intriguing prospect in the area, Waller showed everyone in attendance on Tuesday why programs from across the country have been making their way over to Garfield Heights this Fall. The 6'8 wing consistently knocked down open shots from the perimeter and continued to show flashes of his freakish athleticism as the event went on.  As his body continues to mature, Waller will blossom into one of the state's top talents in a loaded 2019 class.

Jayrese Williams ('17) Sandusky

Williams may just be the most pure scorer that you will find at either guard spot in the 2017 class. The Sandusky product has been making his rounds across the state this Fall, recently competing in the Super 60 Combine, Coach Vic's Weekly Showcase, and the All-Ohio Slam-N-Jam.  On Tuesday, Williams proved that he can consistently be a threat from the perimeter a well as finish in the lane. Likely to go the JUCO route, he will be one of the Midwest's most coveted combo guards after his two-year stint.

Davin Zeigler ('19) Benedictine

There is no doubt that Davin Zeigler is one of the state's most promising young guards. In a 2019 class that features Jeremiah Francis, Jeremiah Keene, D.J. Dial, and others, Zeigler will soon show why his name deserves to be in the conversation. The 6'0 guard has a knack of consistently knocking down one tough shot after another. He gets great elevation on his release and is one of the better athletes at his position. Zeigler will be one of many pieces that Benedictine will have at their disposal for the next few years.   

Other Notable Performers

via Matt Goul (Cleveland.com)