Lots of Local Talent in Upcoming College Basketball Season

Volume 1 Issue 17

With college basketball season starting next week it’s time to take a look at which local athletes have made their way to the Division 1 level on both the Men’s and Women’s side. Plenty great are playing at the D2 and D3 level. However, the D1 level is the only one with real continuity in trying to create a comprehensive list of players.

The biggest star of the bunch is undoubtably Zia Cooke. The Toledo Rogers graduate helped lead South Carolina to a National Championship last year and looks to make her case as a Player of the Year candidate. The senior is one of the highest paid female college athletes through her NIL deals. She is undoubtably the top athlete to watch this year in college basketball.

On the men’s side, two other former Rogers athletes are making a name for themselves. Da’Sean Nelson, who spent the last to years at Kilgore Junior College, is making the jump to the big time at DePaul University in the Big East Conference. His former teammate, Jamiya Neal, who spent his senior year at Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, is looking to again be a top contributor for Arizona State. Last season Neal averaged 15 minutes per game coming off the bench.

In a new uniform this year will be Zeb Jackson, who transferred to VCU from Michigan. Jackson is looking to be an instant contributor for the Rams after an up and down stint at Michigan. Jackson formerally played at Maumee Valley Country Day before palying his senior season for Montverde Academy in Florida. Also coming competing as a senior in Florida, Grace VanSlooten is looking to make an instant spalsh as a freshman at Oregon. VanSlooten played for Toledo Notre Dame before playing as a senior for IMG Academy.

These are just same names playing on big programs. There is also plenty of great talent at the mid-major level. Below are all the Northwest Ohio athletes playing division one college basketball this year.

Men’s

• Isaac Elsasser - Bowling Green State - Bowling Green

• Javin Etzler - Miami OH - Convoy Crestview

• Kalen Etzler - Ohio State - Convoy Crestview

• Cli’Ron Hornbeak - Kent State - Toledo St. Francis

• Zeb Jackson - VCU - Maumee Valley Country Day (Montverde Academy)

• Jamiya Neal - Arizona State - Toledo Rogers (Hillcrest Prep)

• Da’Sean Nelson - DePaul - Toledo Rogers

• Austin Rotroff - Duquesne - Wauseon

• Tahj Staveskie - Canisius - Sandusky (SPIRE Institute)

Women’s

• Kacee Baumhower - Wright State - Sylvania Northview

• Zia Cooke - South Carolina - Toledo Rogers

• MaKayla Elmore - Clemson - Hopewell-Loudon

• Kadie Hempfling - Bowling Green State - Ottawa-Glandorf

• Sammi Mikonowicz - Toledo - Rossford

• Kailah Johnson - Ohio - Toledo Notre Dame

• Jala Johnson - Loyola Ill. - Toledo Notre Dame

• Coutrney Prenger - Xavier - Minster

• Madison Royal-Davis - Butler - Toledo Christian

• Casey Santoro - Kent State - Bellevue

• Emily Seisel - Bowling Green State - Buckeye Central

• Olivia Sims - Valparaiso - Toledo Notre Dame

• Brooklyn Thrash - Canisius - Elmwood

• Grace VanSlooten - Oregon - Toledo Notre Dame (IMG Academy)

• Ivy Wolf - Miami OH - Minster

Leading Updates

• Phil Hoskins (Whitmer) was released by the Carolina Panthers.

• Dantez Walton (Lima/Lima Central Catholic) named to the training camp roster of the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the G-League.

• Vince Williams Jr. (Toledo/Toledo St. John’s) has been assigned to the Memphis Hustle of the G-League.

Notable Game Updates

• On October 23rd Gordi Myer (Sylvania/Northview) scored the opening goal for the Toledo Walleye in a win over the Wheeling Nailers.

• On Friday October 28th Charlie Clark (Sandusky/Perkins) took a first place in both the 500 freestyle and 1000 freestyle in Ohio State’s opening meet of the year.

• On October 28th Chad Johnson (North Robinson/Colonel Crawford) finished 13th at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships for Iowa State.

• On October 29th Emily Vining (Toledo/Notre Dame) finished 8th at the MAC Cross Country Championship for Toledo.

• On October 29th Mhalicki Bronson (Defiance) finished 8th at the MAC Cross Country Championship for Miami OH.

• On October 29th Tyler Perkins (Norwalk/St. Paul) had 5 punts for 223 yards in an Iowa State loss to Oklahoma.

Interesting Reads

• High school girls basketball: 9 players to watch in 2022-23 season

• Battle-tested: Which area football playoff qualifiers played the toughest schedules?

• Recruiting violation leads to Haney's 4-game suspension at Central Catholic

• Southview girls jell to win school's first NLL soccer title

• Never forget the impact of high school heroes on youth

• Mets free-agent outlook: The rotation needs arms. Is Chris Bassitt still a fit?

• Monroeville coach Snook gets 300th win, Eagles advance to district final

• Bowling Green football running back Terion Stewart hints at return - The Toledo Blade

• North Central football's historic season ends in OHSAA playoffs

• Fall harvest: Ottawa Hills reaps athletic success this season

Top CC Times of the Week

Just For Fun

Every Northwest Ohio Athlete to Play in the CFL

• Nate Holley - Whitmer - 2019 - Calgary Stampeders (2019 Rookie of the Year)

• Jalil Carter - Toledo St. John’s - 2012-14 - Toronto Argonauts (2012 Grey Cup Champ)

• Trevor Harris - Marion Pleasant - 2011-Pres. - Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Redblacks, Edmonton Eskimos & Montreal Alouettes - (2012 & 2016 Grey Cup Champ, 2016 All-Star)

• Mel Long Jr. - Toledo Scott - 2001 - BC Lions

• JoJuan Armour - Toledo Central Catholic - 2004-09 - BC Lions, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, & Calgary Stampeders (2008 Grey Cup Champion, 1997 & 1998 Defensive Player of the Year)

• Richard Glover - Lima Senior - 1994 - Saskatchewan Roughriders & Edmonton Eskimos

• Rod Achter - Oregon Clay - 1984 - Ottawa Roughriders

• Jerry Blanton - Toledo DeVilbiss - 1978 - Hamilton Tiger-Cats

• Brad Cousino - Toledo Central Catholic - 1978 - Toronto Argonauts

• Pat Donley - Toledo Waite - 1977 - Hamilton Tiger-Cats

• Evan Jolitz - St. Marys Memorial - 1975-76 - Calgary Stampeders

• Marty Huff - Toledo St. Francis - 1973 - Edmonton Eskimos

• John Saunders - Toledo Macomber - 1973 - Edmonton Eskimos

• Danny Houston - Toledo Rogers - 1969 - Montreal Alouettes

• Rich Hackley - Toledo Scott - 1969 - Saskatchewan Roughriders

• Ed Bettridge - Sandusky - 1965 - Edmonton Eskimos

• Joe Tiller - Toledo Rogers - 1964 - Calgary Stampeders

• James Thibert - Toledo Central Catholic - 1964 - Edmonton Eskimos

• Ellison Kelly - Sandusky - 1960-72 - Hamilton Tiger-Cats & Toronto Argonauts (4x All-Star, 3x Grey Cup Champion, CFL Hall of Famer)

• Tom McHough - Toledo Central Catholic - 1954 - Ottawa Roughriders

• Jim Root - Toledo Libbey - 1954 - Ottawa Roughriders

• Gerry Palmer - Toledo Libbey - 1952-54 - Winnipeg Blue Bombers, BC Lions

• Tony Momsen - Toledo Libbey - 1953 - Calgary Stampeders

• Bill Gregus - Toledo Waite - 1950 - Hamilton Tiger-Cats