The CMI boasts NBA alumni such as LaMelo Ball, Isaiah Jackson, Jordan Hawkins, JT Thor, Malaki Branham, and Oscar Tshiebwe. Furthermore, there have been well over a hundred D1 players who have played in the event over the years, along with a number of viral videos. While nothing went viral from the 2024 edition, there was still some serious talent at Brush High School.

Here are a few of the top performers from the 2024 Chet Mason Invitational:

Damarius Owens, 6’7, SF, Western Reserve Academy (OH), 2024
Damarius Owens stole the show at the CMI, winning MVP of his squad’s overtime win against a super tough Fort Erie squad. Winters changed the game on both ends with his athleticism, but what was even more impressive was the fact he has developed into far more of a complete small forward. The City Rocks senior was automatic with his jumper, used his athleticism to finish over the top of people in the paint, and showed the chaos that he can potentially cause on the defensive end. Damarius is far from a finished product, but is exactly the type of skilled athlete that fits in perfectly with Shaka Smart’s system.

Tobe Ezeokafor, 6’5, SG/SF, Fort Erie International Academy (CAN), 2024
A player who I was unfamiliar with going into the event, Tobe Ezeokafor is everything that you look for out of a power wing in today’s game. He is an outstanding shooter with his feet set, can finish through contact in the paint, and utilizes his 7-foot-1 wingspan to put pressure on the rock. Still very open with his recruitment, Ezeokafor is the type of 3 and D guy that colleges are dying for in today’s game.

Marcus Johnson, 6’1, PG/SG, Garfield Heights HS (OH), 2026
Having played the night before in Columbus (two and a half hours away from Cleveland), it was a quick turnaround for Ohio’s top sophomore (and ESPN’s No. 12 player in the class of 2026). Johnson is one of the most naturally gifted scorers that the city has seen in a long time. His ability to create separation and get to his sweet spots is simply special. The fact that he only had 16 points for Cleveland’s top team surprised some because of the video game numbers he’s been putting up as of late, but that certainly hasn’t stopped just about every school in the country from putting a scholarship on the table for the lefty.

Matt Dann, 7’0, C, Fort Erie International Academy (CAN), 2025
One of the higher upside players in the event, Canadian Matt Dann certainly showed that he belonged at the CMI. A very solid athlete with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, Matt made a number of tough catches in traffic, ran the floor well, and even showed flashes of a short jumper facing up. Already holding an offer from Oregon, Dann will be a name you definitely need to follow in The Grind Session and beyond.

Royce Parham, 6’8, SF/PF, Western Reserve Academy (OH), 2026
The definition of a new age forward, Royce Parham got it done inside and out at the CMI. Showing more pop than he did in the summer, the Team Durant forward dunked everything in the paint, and showed a feathery touch facing the rack. The combination of Parham and Winters should help bolster Marquette’s front line from day one with their versatile play.

Damarion Witten, 6’4, SF/PF, Cleveland Glenville (OH), 2024
The epitome of a glue guy, Damarion Witten brought everything that you’d hope for out of a high school teammate. The long armed forward literally defended every single position at times, played with an unreal motor on both ends, and ripped the rim off at every single opportunity he had en route to MVP honors of the game. Witten is a four star football recruit headed to Ohio State and was MVP of the US Army All American Game, but is still the type of teammate that every player would love to have on their team.

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I had planned on attending the Grind Session and Overtime Elite events in Atlanta the weekend prior, but a canceled flight kept me back in Minneapolis. On the flip side, this allowed me to hit a pair of Timberwolves and then a super hyped matchup of Minnesota’s defending state champions in Park Center (currently ranked 29th in the Ballislife FAB 50 Rankings) against Totino-Grace (led by a slew of D1 prospects). Park Center ultimately won, 76-62, but both teams still remain the favorites to win state titles in their respective divisions.

Here are a few of the top players that I’ve caught over the last two weeks:

Marcus Johnson, 6’2, PG/SG, Garfield Heights HS (OH), 2026
Considered by some to be the No. 1 freshman in the nation, I got the chance to evaluate Johnson three times over my week in Cleveland. “Baby Boy” had his best game (24 points) in a narrow loss against the state’s top ranked team (St. Edward’s) at the Chet Mason Invitational. The lefty comes from an amazing basketball lineage (father Sonny was Ohio’s Mr. Basketball and is his coach), creates a massive amount of separation with his step back jumper, and does a great job of using his shoulders to absorb contact for a young playmaker. The lefty’s showing over the weekend was enough to earn him an offer from Seton Hall, adding to six other high major programs who have already put scholarships on the table.

Tyler Williams, 6’8, PF, Brush HS (OH), 2023
One of Ohio’s more interesting unsigned seniors, Tyler Williams is the type of dude who knows his role and excels at it. He sets bone crushing screens, finishes above the rim, and uses his sheer physicality to control the glass on both ends. Williams finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds en route to being named MVP in Brush’s victory and already holds countless D1 offers.

Lucas Perusek, 6’2, PG/SG, Lakewood St. Edward’s (OH), 2023
Not only is he the leader for the top ranked team in Cleveland, but his St. Ed’s squad is also the top ranked team in Ohio’s biggest division (D1). Ranked No. 36 in the latest Ballislife FAB 50, Perusek is the glue on a St. Ed’s unit coached by Eric Flannery (who many consider to be the best coach in the state of Ohio). The super gritty guard is a big-time athlete (38 inch vertical), can lock down on either guard spot, and is outstanding finishing through contact. Perusek is still wide open with his recruitment as well.

TJ Crumble, 6’8, PF, Lutheran East HS (OH), 2026
The epitome of a new age power forward in today’s game, TJ Crumble got it done inside and out at the Chet Mason Invitational. One of Ohio’s truly elite players in the class of 2026, Crumble has been ranked in the top 25 nationally by many services. He dropped 19 pts via an array of post ups, quick moves off the bounce, and deep jumpers. Already holding offers from the likes of Missouri, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, LSU, and a host of others, Crumble is a name you will want to remember in the class of 2026 nationally.

Jackson Fowlkes, 6’4, SG, Park Center HS (MN), 2024
One of Minnesota’s fastest rising players, Jackson Fowlkes had a really nice week for Park Center. The intriguing shooting guard is a serious on ball defender who can shoot it from deep and finish off the bounce with limited dribbles. Fowlkes has already been on campus at numerous D1’s for visits.

Isaiah Johnson-Arigu, 6’7, SF, Totino Grace (MN), 2024
Another one of the faster rising players in Minnesota over the past year, Isaiah Johnson-Arigu transferred to defending champion Totino Grace and hasn’t looked back. Owning a 7-foot wingspan, he offers a ton of versatility defensively, is interesting as a creator, and is a skilled cutter. Johnson-Arigu picked up five D1 offers since the evaluation period started and will assuredly add plenty more.

Darius Davis, 5’11, PG, Maple Heights HS (OH), 2023
In one of the biggest upsets in the city of Cleveland this year, Darius Davis paced Brush to an upset over perennial power Garfield Heights. The diminutive guard showed no fear going into the paint, hit a number of deep jumpers, and created a number of turnovers on the defensive end. Davis is the catalyst to an emerging Maple Heights squad that has won 11 straight games in Cleveland’s toughest conference.

Cody Head, 6’3, PG, Lutheran East (OH), 2023
In what was certainly a bit of a rivalry game for Cody, the senior blew up against his former high school. The unsigned senior PG dropped 18 points and 10 assists in a win over Shaker Heights en route to being named MVP of the game at The Chet Mason Invitational. The bouncy playmaker owns an explosive first step, has his head on a swivel, and is the catalyst for Ohio’s No. 1 ranked team in D3.

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