As scrimmages in the area have officially gotten underway, we can collectively say that basketball is finally back! No one has been anticipating the start of the season more than us here at NEO Spotlight. I had the opportunity to soak in four scrimmages throughout the week, including a big-time matchup in Lorain. In what is expected to be a season filled with uncertainty, let's take a look at how the first week of preseason action panned out. 

In what was arguably the most notable matchup on this week's slate, Lorain hosted Warren Harding and St. John Jesuit out of Toledo. While football season is coming to a near close, each of the three teams in attendance were affected and would have to play without some of their key guys. With that being said, there were some players who stepped up and met the challenge.

Lorain would be without Naz Bohanon, the team's leader and returning scorer and rebounder from a year ago. Senior Jalil Little would get the Titans off to a hot start against Warren Harding, but their lack of size and depth was evident down the stretch. Anyone who has watched this Lorain team in the last few seasons know that they wouldn't go down without a fight. Their gritty and cohesive play allowed them to bounce back and finish strong after a lackluster few quarters.

With Bohanon's absence, the door was left wide open for Warren Harding big man Derek Culver. Against both Lorain and Toledo St. John, Culver was exceptional, causing a mismatch problem for both squads. St. John, quite possibly the most talented team in NW Ohio, was the only squad to go 2-0 on the day after securing close wins both squads. Juniors Houston King and Vince Williams played solid throughout their 5 quarters of play.  At 6'5, Williams has a wide frame and uses it to his advantage. An elite finisher around the rim, Williams has carried over some of the momentum he picked up this summer after an exceptional summer on the EYBL circuit. 

If they handle business come playoff time, there is a chance that Lorain and St. John could meet again in the regional semi-finals, this time at full strength.

Shawn Christian (Garfield Heights) Sr. PG

Just a few hours after signing his letter of intent to play at Cleveland State University Thursday morning, Christian and Garfield Heights hosted their first of three home scrimmages as they faced off against Wadsworth and Elyria Catholic. With virtually their entire frontcourt, the Bulldogs would be forced to rely on their senior guards for the duration of the day. In the opening quarter against Wadsworth, Christian was the beneficiary of a handful of dimes from Marreon Jackson and he caught fire early on, connecting on four consecutive triples. This hot start from Christian set the tone for the rest of the team as they would go on to win every quarter, despite missing a few key players. Arguably the top marksman in the area, the 5'11 guard isn't looking to cool off as he prepares for his final high school season. 

Derek Culver (Warren Harding) Sr. PF

On a day where his team would be matched up with two of the state's best in division one, Derek Culver was in rare from from the morning's opening tip. The 6'9 forward was the most dominant player that I had the chance to see this week, proving why he is one of the nation's best in the 2017 class. While the knock on Culver has always been his willingness to consistently compete at a high-level, that was not the case this past weekend. He was a force for the Raiders on both ends of the floor as he blocked nearly 10 shots throughout the day and put down some ferocious slams, including a ridiculous put-back jam in traffic against Lorain. Known as a elite distributor at the 4 spot, Culver showcased a much improved perimeter package as he connected on a handful of triples and high post jumpers. 

Devon Grant (Lorain) Soph. PG

If he wasn't in the conversation already, Grant has certainly put himself in contention for being one of the area's top young guards as he has proved time and time again this offseason that he can flat out make plays. After playing sparingly on varsity last season as a freshman, the Titans will need a big year from Grant as the team deals with the departure of Daviere Andrews. Grant, along with senior Octavius Wilson, stepped up to the plate on Saturday and led the offensive attack for a Lorain team that was without both Naz Bohanon and Desean Brooks. The 6'0 guard showcased a smooth handle and the ability to create his shot at the drop of a dime, knocking down a variety of shots off the bounce.     

Andre Harris (Brush) Soph. PG/WG

In Friday night's preseason action, Harris was one of the lone bright spots for Chet Mason and staff as they went against Massillon Washington and Toledo St. Francis. At 6'3, his length and athleticism allowed him to impact multiple facets of the game over the course of the scrimmage. Harris was in attack mode early on and was able to make plays off the bounce for a Brush group that struggled to find a groove offensively. While several in-state programs have found themselves intrigued by his upside, expect Harris' recruitment to heat up as he blossoms into one of the state's top underclassmen guards.

Marreon Jackson (Garfield Heights) Sr. PG

Realizing that a handful of his teammates were missing in action, Jackson took it into his hands to make sure that his squad wouldn't miss a step. The senior guard is going to be the key to Garfield's success throughout the season and Thursday was a testament to that. Jackson appeared to make a conscious effort to find teammates in their spots early on. Known primarily for his ability to shoot the ball and flashy playmaking off the bounce, Jackson's ability to lead the attack on both sides of the ball will be the difference for Garfield Heights moving forward.