On Point Scouting exclusive by Dave Monaco
The Tuesday night thriller between Fort Erie International Academy (FEIA) and United Scholastic Academy (USA) did not disappoint. The heavyweight OSBA matchup was back and forth for the entirety of the game, but Fort Erie used a strong start to prevail in overtime by a score of 99-93. From poster dunks to clutch shots, this game had it all and is a testament to the level of competition in Canadian high school basketball.
Without further ado, here are OPS’ 5 Standout Players
Fort Erie International Academy (FEIA) Record: 6-2
Jaden Clayton, #3, 6’1 PG (2022)
The speedy PG had a fantastic game. Clayton’s performance showcased why he can be a successful facilitator at the next level, consistently making good decisions with the ball in his hands. Clayton showed great poise when pressured with the ball, hit the weak side shake repetitively as a pick and roll ball handler and did a good job finishing at the rim in and around bigger defenders. Clayton’s clutch free throw shooting down the stretch, going a perfect 6/6 in the last minute of overtime, sealed the victory for Fort Erie. He made spot-up threes using his legs to release the ball at the top of his jump, finishing with 17 pts for the game.
Leonard Miller #11, 6’10 Wing, (2022)
Maybe this wasn’t the game many expected to see from him, but he was nonetheless a standout performer for Fort Erie finishing with 36 pts. While he has already done a lot in the first part of the season to raise his profile, Miller showed continued improvement in his pick and roll reads. His progression coming off ball screens from attacking rim to hitting the weak side shake is now automatic. Miller used his length and speed at the top of Fort Erie’s zone to disrupt USA’s rhythm, especially in the 3rd quarter. He struggled with his pull-up jump shot from all over the court, but had a myriad of highlight plays. None were bigger than the and-1 basket that tied the game, sending it to overtime. Miller’s late game heroics further illustrate why he is a top rank prospect in the country and in serious consideration as an NBA draft pick this very year.
United Scholastic Academy (USA) Record 9-2
Ose Okojie, #1, 6’6 Wing (2022)
Although he ended up on the losing side of the game, Ose Okojie (#1, USA), was excellent from start to finish. Okojie showcased his ability to space the floor with his shooting, his willingness to extend and finish through contact and his defensive versatility. He finished with a game-high 37 points but more than his scoring, he set the tone for his team with his intensity and focus. Okojie’s energy on both ends had a major impact throughout the game. He was arguably the best player on the floor for the entirety of the game as he was the main offensive engine and guarded FEIA’s Leonard Miller for big stretches of the game.
Efeosa Oliogu, #8, 6’5 Wing (2025)
Oliogu shot the ball well from deep and displayed his high offensive IQ on numerous possessions by his movement off the ball against FEIA’s zone defence. Oliogu did a very good job reading the defense and attacked the gaps to create an offensive advantage for USA. He did struggle a bit finding his spots to be aggressive on offence in the middle part of the contest and struggled containing the ball in middle ball-screen defence. He finished with 15 pts.
Vasean Allette, #0, 6’3 Guard (2023)
Allete came alive in crunch time and had some acrobatic finishes at the rim late in the game. He made use of a nice stack action to get shots off early on in the game and clearly made it a challenge to defend FEIA ball-handlers in PnR situations. His toughness and tenacity on both ends were crucial to USA’s valiant effort. As always, his shot selection is one of the main indicators of the level of performance of his team. He finished with 18 pts.
