One of the most intriguing prospects on display at the It Takes 5ive tournament at the University of Cincinnati is Cincinnati Princeton junior wing Jordan Sibert.
The 6-4 Sibert is one of the key players for the All-Ohio Red 16-and-under team. That team, led by Ohio State verbal commitment Jared Sullinger, needs two wins on Tuesday to claim the 16-and-under tournament title.
On Sunday, Sibert showed a huge repertoire as college coaches lined the court in the practice gymnasium two floors below UC’s Fifth Third Arena. All-Ohio Red took a 96-90 win in a pool play game. Sibert hit three key three-pointers and also showed he could take the ball to the basket with 22 points in the win.
“I would say my best thing is my aggressiveness and the way I attack the basket,” said Sibert, ranked as Ohio’s No. 4 junior by Ohio High magazine. “That may be the best part of my game. I take pride in my defense and try to be active in the passing game.”
All-Ohio Red rallied from a 17-point deficit to pull out that win.
“With this team, we have great players,” Sibert said. “The game isn’t over until it says 0:00 on the clock. We just continue to play hard.”
As Sibert left the court after that game, he showed the list of schools that had already offered him a scholarship: Xavier, Miami (Fla.), Bowling Green and Miami (Ohio). His performance at the It Takes 5ive event and other tournaments could lead other schools to follow suit.
“For the most part, I am waiting it out and just seeing what happens,” Sibert said. “I just want to see what really fits me and my family.”
Sibert discussed some of the other schools that have been in contact.
“I am also hearing from West Virginia, Ohio State, Minnesota, Tennessee and Wake Forest,” Sibert said.
Ohio State has three commitments for the 2010 class with Sullinger and wings DeShaun Thomas and Cameron Wright.
“I have not talked to them recently,” Sibert said. “I was supposed to go down there for a visit. I want to get down there and see what they have to say. Hopefully, I can move on from there.”
Sibert said it would be nice to play college basketball at OSU with Sullinger.
“That’s my big brother,” Sibert said. “We’ve talked about it a little. That would be cool.”
Xavier could have the early inside track with Sibert.
“They actually build a relationship with you outside of basketball,” Sibert said. “They actually care about me as a person. Plus, it’s close to home, too. My grandmother lives 10 minutes away from there. So it’s kind of like home for me.”
Miami (Fla.), which boasts former Lakota East standout James Dews, is also a prime choice.
“It’s Miami -- I would love to go to Miami for school,” Sibert said. “I know they have a good basketball program there. I like the way they play. It seems like a good fit for me down there.”
Sibert has stepped to the forefront at the right time.
“That comes from a lot of work in the gym,” Sibert said. “It’s from my high school coach to my brother and my dad spending time and working with me. I work out with my brothers a lot.”
Last winter, he was one of the key components on Princeton’s 18-6 team that dropped a district final to Cincinnati St. Xavier. He averaged just over 11 points per game. The Vikings figure to be tough again this coming season as Sibert will be joined by 6-7 power forward Marquis Horne (state’s No. 10 senior), guard Orlando Williams (state’s No. 12 senior) and junior forward Stefon Johnson.
But Sibert and his star-studded All-Ohio Red team still have some work to do this summer. Besides Sullinger (No. 1 junior), the team also features Dayton Jefferson center Adreian Payne (No. 2 junior), Dayton Thurgood Marshall guard Juwan Staten (No. 3 junior) and Cincinnati Northland wing J.D. Weatherspoon (No. 6 junior).
After the It Takes 5ive, All-Ohio Red will play in the AAU Super Showcase and national championship July 20-31 in Orlando.
