A look at where the Stark County-area Class of 2024 boys and girls high school basketball players will play their college ball.
Boys basketball recruits
Malvern’s J’Allen Barrino: D3 Marietta College
The first team all-state point guard and Ohio Mr. Basketball finalist will take his talents to the state’s southeast corner after leading the Hornets to a Division III regional final. Barrino averaged 18.4 points, 6.2 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 steals while shooting a ridiculous 72.9 percent from the floor as a senior.
Lake’s Chance Casenhiser: D3 University of Mount Union
Purple Raiders head coach Mike Fuline gains a kid who can fill it up. Casenhiser, a 6-foot high-motor guard, set Lake’s career points record (1,301) and led the area in scoring each of the last two seasons, averaging 24.5 and 23.2, respectively. He shot 50.4 percent from the floor, 37.4 percent from 3-point range and 83.3 percent from the foul line as a senior.
St. Thomas Aquinas’ Bronson Gilyard: D2 Lake Erie College
Speaking of kids who can fill it up, the 5-9 Gilyard set single-season Aquinas records in points (517) and 3-pointers made (67) after transferring from Dover. Gilyard averaged 22.5 points and shot 41.1 percent from 3-point range and 84.9 percent from the foul line.
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Canton South’s Julius Kimbrough: D3 John Carroll University
The 6-5 Kimbrough, fresh off a third-place finish in the Division II state track and field high jump championships, will take his versatile basketball game to University Heights. Kimbrough, who finished with 1,316 career points, averaged 16.2 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 51.2 percent from the floor in his one year with the Wildcats after transferring from Aquinas.
GlenOak’s Ja’Corey Lipkins: D2 University of Charleston
The 6-2 lefty guard, who averaged 19.3 points and 5.5 rebounds and shot 40.5 percent from 3-point range, is a tough-shot maker. He gained third team All-Ohio after leading GlenOak to a district championship and finished with 1,137 career points.
Louisville’s Hayden Nigro: D2 Walsh University
A 6-5 guard/wing, Nigro should have no problem adjusting to the physicality of the Division II college game. The lefty averaged 20.8 points on 50.5 percent shooting from the floor as a senior and finished with 1,434 career points, a Louisville record. Among Nigro’s honors were Ohio Mr. Basketball finalist, first team all-state and Repository Stark County Player of the Year.
East Canton’s Caleb Shilling: D3 Marietta College
The Pioneers get another of the area’s top players in the 6-10 Shilling, who averaged 23.0 points and 11.8 rebounds for East Canton. The second team All-Ohioan finished second in school history in points (1,248) and rebounds (867).
Green’s Jarrett Taylor: D3 University of Mount Union
It’s difficult to tell what exactly the long, 6-6 Taylor will be for the Purple Raiders because he did a little bit of everything for Green. Taylor averaged 11.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists as a senior, handling the basketball on one end and protecting the rim on the other.
Girls basketball recruits
Alliance’s Jayla Callock: D3 University of Mount Union
The versatile guard averaged 13.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.3 steals while shooting 78.8 percent from the foul line as an Aviators senior.
Jackson’s Megan Campbell: D2 Tiffin University
Second Team All-Ohio guard won player of the year for Repository Stark County, District 4 coaches association and the Federal League. The 5-10 Campbell led the league- and district-champion Polar Bears in scoring (13.0), rebounding (5.4), assists per game (4.5) and steals per game (3.5).
Massillon’s Makiya Edwards: D3 Hiram College
The 5-9 guard averaged a team-high 15.3 points to go with 8.4 rebounds per game for the 14-7 Tigers.
Marlington’s Chelsea Evanich: D2 Seton Hill University
The 5-10 forward averaged 22.3 points and 12.5 rebounds while shooting 86.6 percent from the foul line as a senior. A four-time all-county first teamer, Evanich is Marlington’s career leader in points (1,551), rebounds (1,018) and free throws made (421).
Louisville’s Brooke Haren: D2 Ursuline College
Haren, a three-time all-county first teamer, averaged 17.9 points and shot 80.8 percent from the foul line as a senior. The 5-9 guard is Louisville’s all-time leading scorer with 1,203 points.
Perry’s Bre Haynes: D2 Malone University
The 6-foot post player averaged 6.2 points and 4.9 rebounds as a senior for the Panthers.
Lake’s Serenitee Johnson: NAIA Mount Vernon Nazarene
A second-team All-Ohio guard, the 5-10 Johnson averaged team highs of 15.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.5 steals for a Lake team that won league and district championships. Johnson scored 1,070 career points and owns Lake career records for assists and steals.
Jackson’s Ashley Lahmers: D2 Malone University
The 5-9 guard was a terrific shooter for league- and district-champion Jackson. Lahmers averaged 10.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 50.9 percent from the floor and 40.2 percent from 3-point range.
Perry’s Ally Mattox: D2 Walsh University
The 5-4 guard averaged 7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds as a senior for the Panthers.
Fairless’ Zoey Steele: D3 University of Mount Union
The 5-6 guard averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.5 steals as a senior for the Falcons.
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