Archie’s prized Hoosiers’ recruit shines at Flyin’

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Jerome Hunter might have been the one that got away from the University of Dayton. That’s because he followed former Flyers coach Archie Miller to Indiana.

A high-flying 6-foot-7 forward, Hunter put a game-high 23 points, five rebounds, three steals and a block on Princeton in North’s 51-38 win during Saturday’s 16th Annual Premier Health Flyin’ to the Hoop at Fairmont’s Trent Arena.

That was enough to give him the edge over Princeton’s equally sought-after Darius Bazley. The 6-9 forward had 12 points, 14 rebounds, two blocks and an assist but couldn’t prevent the Vikings (10-1) from absorbing their first loss.

Hunter initially was offered by Miller when he was still at UD. When Miller left for the Big Ten Bloomington campus, Hunter followed.

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Bazley initially was a coveted trio of Ohio-bred recruits to verbally commit to Thad Matta at Ohio State. When Matta resigned last summer, first Dane Goodwin of Upper Arlington decommitted from OSU and signed with Notre Dame. Bazley followed suit, de-committing from the Buckeyes and signing with Syracuse.

Versailles senior Justin Ahrens was the only one of the three to sign with OSU, although he, too, had de-committed.

Princeton’s Darius Bazley. Pickerington North defeated Princeton 51-38 in the 16th annual Premier Health Flyin’ to the Hoop at Fairmont’s Trent Arena in Kettering on Sat., Jan. 13, 2018. MARC PENDLETON / STAFF

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• Hilliard Bradley reluctantly informed Flyin’ president Eric Horstman that school administration ruled they would not be allowed to travel to Kettering because of the winter snow and ice storm that hit on Friday afternoon. Horstman had a backup plan of Belmont filling Bradley’s spot against Spire Academy. That, too, unraveled, when district officials ruled the Bison couldn’t play because there was no school on Friday.

Instead of six games on Saturday, that game was scraped and there were five. Six more games are scheduled for Sunday and Monday.

“We had 3,500 people in here Friday and it was a blizzard,” Horstman said. “We sold out (Saturday). There’s a gap in time, but not a gap in talent or enthusiasm. We’re still going forward.”

16th ANNUAL PREMIER HEALTH FLYIN’ TO THE HOOP

At Fairmont’s Trent Arena, Kettering

Friday’s results

Spire Institute (Ohio) 80, Fairmont 70

Findlay Prep (Nev.) 50, Huntington Prep (W.Va.) 48

Saturday’s games

Springboro girls 57, Tippecanoe 38

Xenia 67, Olentangy Liberty 60

Pickerington North 51, Princeton 38

McEachern (Ga.) vs. Trotwood-Madison, 6:30 p.m.

IMG Academy (Fla.) vs. Prolific Prep (Calif.), 8:15 p.m.

Sunday’s games

Mountain Mission (Va.) vs. Miamisburg, 11:30 a.m.

Sidney vs. Versailles, 1:15 p.m.

Fairland vs. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, 3 p.m.

Covington Catholic (Ky.) vs. Middletown, 4:45 p.m.

Prolific Prep (Calif.) vs. Garfield Heights, 6:30 p.m.

Cleveland Heights vs. Springfield, 8:15 p.m.

Monday’s games

Franklin Monroe vs. Minster, 11:30 a.m.

Fort Loramie vs. Thurgood Marshall, 1:15 p.m.

Pickerington Central vs. McEachern (Ga.), 3 p.m.

Lyndhurst Brush vs. Cin. Hughes, 4:45 p.m.

La Lumiere (Ind.) vs. Aspire Academy (Ky.), 6:30 p.m.

Upper Arlington vs. Wayne, 8:15 p.m.

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