Flyin' to the Hoop: Jordan Walsh, Isaiah Collier among standouts
Dayton, Ohio – Four days at Flyin’ to the Hoop brought some of the nation’s best talent under one roof. The talent level was high, from local stars like Gabe Cupps to out of region players like Jordan Walsh and Isaiah Collier.
On3’s Jamie Shaw was on hand, and discusses the top performers.
Jordan Walsh
Walsh is a gritty competitor who exudes production. The 6-foot-7 forward seems to win every 50-50 opportunity. He is an instinctive defender, especially in the passing lanes. He quickly turns defense into offense and gets out on the break to attack the basket.
The four-star Arkansas signee needs to tighten up the jump shot; however, he is a good off-ball cutter and an aggressive, offensive rebounder. Walsh has always played with confidence and aggression, and he continues to grow to understand who he is as a player.
Walsh averaged 18.5 points, five rebounds, and 2.5 steals through his two games at Flyin’ to the Hoop.
Felix Okpara
Okpara is a fierce rim protector who makes his bones around the basket. In his Friday night contest at Flyin’ to the Hoop, the Branson (Mo.) Link Academy senior finished with 15 rebounds and five blocked shots. Cleaning up plays on the glass and being a shot-blocking threat is invaluable in today’s game.
Offensively, Okpara provides vertical spacing out of the dunker spots. While the four-star is still raw in his skill set, he knows who he is, and he goes out does that. Ohio State assistant coach Ryan Pedon was in town to watch his future four-star center.
Isaiah Collier
Collier is one of the countries premier point guards in the 2023 class. At 6-foot-2, he is strong-bodied, but what popped was his ability to create out of the pick and roll. His timing and vision for angles were impressive, executing multiple pin-point passes throughout the game.
Collier is a solid to an above-average athlete, but his pace gets him to his spots. He has also improved his jump shot, knocking down three from beyond the arc in his Flyin’ to the Hoop performance.
Collier has narrowed his current offers to a top seven, Florida State, Cincinnati, Alabama, Auburn, Southern Cal, Georgia, and UCLA. He reiterated to On3 after the game, this is not his final seven, and his recruitment is still open to new programs if they are the ‘right situation.’
Josh Reed
Production is the name of the game, and 6-foot-6 Josh Reed goes out and produces. The senior lefty is committed to Cincinnati, and head coach Wes Miller was in the crowd to watch the future Bearcat go for 27 points, five rebounds, and four assists in his Flyin’ to the Hoop appearance.
Reed carries a 7-foot-2 wingspan and a high IQ for the game. He is a good passer and quickly turns defense into offense. Versatility is his calling card; you can put a lot of different talent around him on both ends. Versatility and production is the name of the game here.
With Cincinnati’s move to the Big 12, these are the types of players they need to build with.
Jaxon Kohler
The Michigan State signee put on an offensive post clinic with touch, range, and footwork. The 6-foot-10 Kohler finished his Sunday game with 20 points and 14 rebounds on 10 of 16 shooting from the field.
He sets up a great target on the block; he gets wide and shows his hands. Once he receives the pass, Kohler has an array of up-fakes with touch over both shoulders. He can also step out and knock down the catch and shoot three, both as a floor spacer or in pick and pop situations.
Tom Izzo has a lot of success with bigs like Kohler.
Gabe Cupps
Cupps has to be one of the premier game managers in the country. Faced against Los Angeles (Calif.) So Cal Academy, one of the most talented rosters in the country, the 6-foot-1 point guard never got rattled. He handled the full-court pressure calmly, allowing his team to get into sets and ultimately win the game by ten points.
Cupps, a junior at Centerville (Ohio) High, is an early Indiana commitment. Since middle school, he has been in the spotlight when he played with Bronny James and Mikey Williams on the North Coast Blue Chip travel ball team. His ability to run a team is impressive as he got precisely where he wanted to go and got his guys into exactly what they wanted to run.