Chet Mason Invitational: Top Performers!

The Chet Mason Invitational is an annual pilgrimage again to my hometown of Cleveland and is a “should see” occasion for anybody within the state of Ohio. Mixing Cleveland space groups with prep faculties, the sooner or later occasion at Brush Excessive College falls in the course of the NFL Playoffs, however that doesn’t cease the town from popping out and supporting. Mason had fairly the storied profession himself. He’s the final participant from the Cleveland Metropolis League (The Senate) to win Ohio Mr. Basketball, was Adriatic League MVP, and performed within the preseason with the Cavs.

The CMI boasts NBA alumni equivalent to LaMelo Ball, Isaiah Jackson, Jordan Hawkins, JT Thor, Malaki Branham, and Oscar Tshiebwe. Moreover, there have been nicely over 100 D1 gamers who’ve performed within the occasion over time, together with numerous viral movies. Whereas nothing went viral from the 2024 version, there was nonetheless some severe expertise at Brush Excessive College.

Listed here are just a few of the highest performers from the 2024 Chet Mason Invitational:

Damarius Owens, 6’7, SF, Western Reserve Academy (OH), 2024
Damarius Owens stole the present on the CMI, successful MVP of his squad’s additional time win towards a brilliant robust Fort Erie squad. Winters modified the sport on each ends along with his athleticism, however what was much more spectacular was the very fact he has developed into much more of a whole small ahead. The Metropolis Rocks senior was automated along with his jumper, used his athleticism to complete excessive of individuals within the paint, and confirmed the chaos that he can doubtlessly trigger on the defensive finish. Damarius is much from a completed product, however is precisely the kind of expert athlete that matches in completely with Shaka Good’s system.

Tobe Ezeokafor, 6’5, SG/SF, Fort Erie Worldwide Academy (CAN), 2024
A participant who I used to be unfamiliar with going into the occasion, Tobe Ezeokafor is all the things that you just search for out of an influence wing in as we speak’s recreation. He’s an impressive shooter along with his toes set, can end by contact within the paint, and makes use of his 7-foot-1 wingspan to place stress on the rock. Nonetheless very open along with his recruitment, Ezeokafor is the kind of 3 and D man that schools are dying for in as we speak’s recreation.

Marcus Johnson, 6’1, PG/SG, Garfield Heights HS (OH), 2026
Having performed the night time earlier than in Columbus (two and a half hours away from Cleveland), it was a fast turnaround for Ohio’s prime sophomore (and ESPN’s No. 12 participant within the class of 2026). Johnson is among the most naturally gifted scorers that the town has seen in a very long time. His capacity to create separation and get to his candy spots is solely particular. The truth that he solely had 16 factors for Cleveland’s prime staff stunned some due to the online game numbers he’s been placing up as of late, however that definitely hasn’t stopped nearly each college within the nation from placing a scholarship on the desk for the lefty.

Matt Dann, 7’0, C, Fort Erie Worldwide Academy (CAN), 2025
One of many increased upside gamers within the occasion, Canadian Matt Dann definitely confirmed that he belonged on the CMI. A really strong athlete with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, Matt made numerous robust catches in visitors, ran the ground nicely, and even confirmed flashes of a brief jumper dealing with up. Already holding a suggestion from Oregon, Dann shall be a reputation you positively must comply with in The Grind Session and past.

Royce Parham, 6’8, SF/PF, Western Reserve Academy (OH), 2026
The definition of a brand new age ahead, Royce Parham acquired it accomplished in and out on the CMI. Exhibiting extra pop than he did in the summertime, the Workforce Durant ahead dunked all the things within the paint, and confirmed a feathery contact dealing with the rack. The mix of Parham and Winters ought to assist bolster Marquette’s entrance line from day one with their versatile play.

Damarion Witten, 6’4, SF/PF, Cleveland Glenville (OH), 2024
The epitome of a glue man, Damarion Witten introduced all the things that you just’d hope for out of a highschool teammate. The lengthy armed ahead actually defended each single place at occasions, performed with an unreal motor on each ends, and ripped the rim off at each single alternative he had en path to MVP honors of the sport. Witten is a 4 star soccer recruit headed to Ohio State and was MVP of the US Military All American Sport, however remains to be the kind of teammate that each participant would like to have on their staff.