The Scholastic Play by Play Classics have been staples of the high school basketball season all up and down the East Coast since the mid-90s. Founder Jeremy Treatman was one of the first to put LeBron James on center stage, showcasing him as an underclassman. From his home in Philly, to Cleveland, to Columbus, to North Carolina, and all the way in between, Treatman has held events that have offered far more NBA talent than just the King himself.
LaMelo Ball, Tyreke Evans, Kobe Bryant, Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard, OJ Mayo, Jameer Nelson, Kyle Lowry and a handful of other NBA starters have all put their talents on display at one Play By Play or another, truly showing that this is one of the nation’s premier events for fans to get an early look at guys who will soon be doing work in the League.
Now in its 27th year running events, Scholastic Play By Play Classic brought a three-game slate that had The Land rocking. All games featured top-10 ranked programs in the state, culminating with an electric matchup of Lutheran East (ranked No. 1 in Northeast Ohio regardless of class and No. 1 in state Division V poll) against host Garfield Heights (ranked No. 2 regardless of class in Northeast Ohio and No. 1 in state Division III).
Despite a massive snowstorm, the atmosphere was electric, the city came out, and ultimately it was Lutheran East who walked away with a 64-55 W in front of the sold-out crowd.
Having already examined the players with stars next to their names and numerous D-1 offers, here are a few of the under the radar prospects who stood out at the Cleveland Scholastic Play By Play Classic:
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Devontey Perkins, 6’7, PF/C, Lutheran East HS (Ohio), 2027
Every team who is contending for a state title needs a gritty big who will do the little things, and Devontey Perkins is that guy for Lutheran East. He excels playing through contact on both ends of the floor, can finish with traffic in the paint, and makes an impact despite having no plays ran for him. A high academic player, Devontey is definitely an Ohio big whose progress college coaches will want to monitor, as his 16-point, 15-rebound performance exhibited.
Bryce Irby, 6’6, SF, Lutheran East HS (Ohio), 2029
Looking towards the future, there wasn’t a freshman at the PBP with more upside than Bryce Irby. Possessing prototypical length and athleticism for a young wing, he checks all of the boxes that you look for out of a big time prospect and his game is starting to follow. Irby stepped out and hit a three, used his athleticism to provide an impact in the paint, and impacted the game with his sheer size on both ends. One of Ohio’s highest upside freshmen, Dru Joyce has already offered Irby a scholarship to Duquesne with many more to follow.
Zachariah Belcher, 6’9, C, Garfield Heights HS (Ohio), 2026
An import to the Cleveland area from Indiana, Belcher is playing his final year of high school hoops with Ohio’s reigning Mr. Basketball Marcus Johnson at Garfield Heights. The well built big man has a massive 7-foot-3 wingspan, is a solid rim protector, and has proven to be a presence on the offensive glass. While Belcher is still rough around the edges, he certainly is the type of player what you could see ascending up quickly in the transfer portal era.
Ty Harrison, 5’11, PG, Lutheran East HS (Ohio), 2027
The epitome of a glue guy, Ty Harrison is exactly the type of guard that every winning program needs regardless of level. He changes the game with his intensity on the defensive end, is a threat to get into the paint anythime that he has the rock, and shoots it well enough to keep you honest. Already having experience playing on the 3SSB circuit, the two time state champion has shown that he can compete against the nation’s finest and looks to use his winning characteristics for a third straight state title at Lutheran East.
Kye Owens, 6’8, PF/C, Euclid HS (Ohio), 2026
One of the more intriguing guys down the road, Kye Owens is another player who is just starting to put the immense pieces that he has together. The raw big man has all of the tools that you look for out of a developmental prospect with super long arms, a 3-point shot, and the agility to get out and defend all over the floor. Owens is the type of player who would greatly benefit from an extra year of hoops at the Prep level, but has all of the natural talent to start at a smaller program and then transfer up in today’s NCAA portal era.
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