In conjunction with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, the Ohio Girls Basketball Report (OGBR) is poised to bring some of the best high school talent in the nation to Columbus for the inaugural Classic in the City presented by U.S. Army Recruiting from Jan. 15-17 at Pickerington Central High School.
More than 25 high school girls’ basketball programs from Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Florida and Ontario, Canada are scheduled to compete in 21 games during the three-day showcase. As an NCAA certified event, the Classic in the City is expected to draw more than 75 college coaches and pundits from some of basketball’s largest media outlets and recruiting platforms.
Date: January 15-17, 2022
Location: Pickerington Central High School (300 Opportunity Way, Pickerington, OH 43147)
General Admission: $15 Adults/ $10 Students (Day Passes)
EVENT SCHEDULE
VIRTUAL SPORTS REPORT: CLASSIC IN THE CITY | THURSDAY, JAN. 13 - 10 A.M.
The OGBR introduces the Classic in the City after 17 years of supporting the Classic in the Country, a nationally recognized high school girls’ basketball showcase in Berlin, Ohio.
In addition to highlighting top teams and prospects in high school girls’ basketball, the Classic in the City will celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and commemorate those who have contributed to society through basketball. Select members of the community will be recognized throughout the showcase with a “Play for Unity,” award, honoring their commitment to making an impact on their communities and uniting people for change.
“The history and legacy of Ohio Girls Basketball Report (OGBR) is and has been rooted in creating opportunities for young ladies through basketball and honoring those who have made a difference for others,” OGBR Executive Director Tenishia Benson said. “We are thrilled to bring Classic in the City to Columbus as we have felt an overwhelming amount of support and excitement for the event and its cause. There’s no better way to honor Dr. Martin Luther King and others in our community over MLK weekend than by doing it on the biggest stage for girls basketball in Ohio.”
Top teams set to participate in the showcase include No. 4 Montverde Academy and No. 14 IMG Academy of ESPN SCNext Top 25 national rankings (12/13/21), as well as four of the top ten teams in Ohio according to MaxPreps’ December rankings: No. 2 Bishop Hartley, No. 6 Newark, No. 9 Pickerington Central and No. 10 Dublin Coffman. Top-ranked players hopeful to attend are charted below.
espnW Rankings – Class of 2022
#5 Janiah Barker | Forward | Montverde Academy (FL) | College Commitment: Georgia
#7 Chance Gray | Point Guard | Winton Woods High School (OH) | College Commitment: Oregon
#13 Grace VanSlooten | Forward | IMG Academy (FL) | College Commitment: Oregon
#31 Kailyn Gilbert | Point Guard | IMG Academy (FL) | College Commitment: Arizona
#67 Jordana Codio | Guard | Montverde Academy (FL) | College Commitment: Texas
espnW Rankings – Class of 2023
#14 Letycia Vasconcelos | Post | Montverde Academy (FL) | College Commitment: Undeclared
#43 Jasmine Brown | Guard | Example Academy (IL) | College Commitment: Undeclared
#51 Sole Williams | Guard | Princeton H.S. (OH) | College Commitment: Undeclared
espnW Rankings – Class of 2025
#1 Darianna Alexander | Guard | Purcell Marian H.S. (OH) | College Commitment: Undeclared
About the Ohio Girls Basketball Report
Recognized as the top single-state scouting service in the country and the top resource for girls basketball in Ohio, the Ohio Girls Basketball Report (OGBR) exists to provide players, parents, and coaches with the resources and information needed to be successful. For more than 20 years, OGBR has enhanced the college recruiting process by hosting showcases, camps and clinics as well as offering player recruiting dashboards and college scouting services.
To learn more about what the Greater Columbus Sports Commission does, visit the About Us page.