Midwest Live to make CPSC recruiting hotbed

Cedar Point Sports Center will become Ohio's high school basketball recruiting hub this weekend. Midwest Live, a showcase event during the June team period, hits the courts for three days at CPSC from Friday through Sunday. Teams from Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and West Virginia will be in attendance. The event will likely draw double-digit school representation from the NCAA Division I level with D-II/D-III/NAIA attendance as well, and for good reason. Four of Ohio's top six rising senior recruits are slated to be in action, based on 247Sports' composite rankings. Centerville's Jonathan Powell (Xavier commit) and Lutheran East's Jesse McCulloch (Michigan State commit) are Nos. 2 and 3 in the class. The Nos. 4 and 6 in the Ohio Class of 2024 are still uncommitted: Ottawa-Glandorf's Colin White and St. Ignatius' Ace Buckner should both be in action. Ohio's top-two Class of 2025 players are on the agenda, too. Darryn Peterson, of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, is the No. 4 player nationally according to 247Sports. Richmond Heights' Dorian Jones is No. 31 nationally and will lead his D-IV powerhouse onto the floor at CPSC. Three of the state of Michigan's top-four rising seniors are in line to attend, as well. No. 1 Durral Brooks (Grand Rapid Catholic Central) is committed to the University of Michigan, and No. 3 Tyler Ode (Saginaw Heritage) is bound for Toledo. The No. 4 rising senior in the state, Xander Wedlow (Detroit University Prep), is uncommitted. Kentucky's No. 2 rising senior and No. 2 rising junior are both on the docket, too. Trent Noah (Harlan County) is in the Class of 2024, and big center Malachi Moreno (Great Crossing) is No. 45 nationally in the Class of 2025. All those top-end recruits are just a fraction of the talent that will be on the floor at Cedar Point Sports Center. More than 100 teams are signed up to participate in the event. That includes SBC Bay Division rivals Margaretta and Willard. The Polar Bears are led by talented rising sophomores Julian Washington and Judah Keller, who were their two leading scorers as freshmen. Margaretta plays Bishop Fenwick at 2 p.m. Friday, Antwerp at 5 p.m. Friday, Badger at 11 a.m. Saturday and Milford at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Flashes' top dog is lefty scoring dynamo Max Dawson, who recently took a recruiting visit to Robert Morris. His senior classmates Cam Robinson and Isaac Robinson set up Willard to try and defend its Bay title. Willard takes on Milford at 2 p.m. Friday, Lebanon at 5 p.m. Friday, South Point at 10 a.m. Saturday and Bishop Fenwick at 1 p.m. Saturday. In addition to the Bay rivals and previously mentioned O-G, along with nearby Elyria, teams in attendance from the Northwest District include Lima Senior, Toledo Whitmer, Shelby and Lexington. Whippets rising senior Alex Bruskotter already has a bunch of Division I offers, and Minutemen rising sophomore Brayden Fogle is a high-upside D-I recruit. This will be the second year of the boys Midwest Live event at CPSC. The inaugural girls event took place over two days last week. There will be an admission price for spectators.