'13 OH F Nigel Hayes (Wisconsin Verbal)

[Buckskin86]

Buzzer beater: Hayes' 3-pointer lifts Whitmer over Start
By STEVE JUNGA BLADE SPORTS WRITER

Whitmer's Luke Hickey (4), Mitchell Kosier (30), Chris Reaper (20), and others mob teammate Nigel Hayes, second from right, after he made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Panthers over Start.
( THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON )

When you play basketball in Toledo and you're compared, by some, to the great Jim Jackson before you've even played your first high school game, the bar has obviously been set pretty high.

Time will tell if Whitmer freshman Nigel Hayes lives up to his lofty hype, but if his Panther debut last night was any indication, the City League's next star took his first bow in style.

With Whitmer trailing by two, the superbly talented 6-foot-6, 210-pound freshman took a pass from Dareon Jones and - despite being well defended by Start's Jeff Copeland at the top of the key - calmly netted an off-balance, buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Panthers a thrilling 61-60 CL victory that tipped off a court-storming celebration at Whitmer.

"It feels great," Hayes said of his unforgettable debut. "I wanted the ball the whole time. I was waiting for the right moment.

"I was trying to get the foul, but then I made the shot anyway. It was luck, I guess. But I'm glad I made it."

Is this what Toledo basketball fans should expect the next four years?
"Yes, sir, that's exactly what you're going to get," Hayes said.

Hayes' highlight-reel shot capped a 24-point, seven-rebound effort that also included five blocked shots.

"That last shot was devastating. We might see that kid [Hayes] in the NBA. He doesn't even know how good he is yet. When you watch him play, he doesn't take over when he could. It's because he's young. He's just a freshman, and he's so good."

Kenny Hayes, Nigel's 6-5, 240-pound junior brother, who has committed to Ohio State to play football, returned in the third quarter to give the Panthers a huge boost.

toledoblade.com --

Hayes beats the buzzer!
Whitmer edges Start 61-60
Updated: Saturday, 12 Dec 2009
Howard Chen
FOX Toledo Sports Director

TOLEDO, Ohio - Nigel Hayes is only a freshman, but he still carried Whitmer on his back with a coming-out performance that included a buzzer-beating three to beat Start.

Hayes, the younger brother of Ohio State football verbal commit Kenny Hayes, scored 24 points, none bigger than the trey at the end of the game.

Anthony Henderson had given the Spartans the 60-58 lead in the final minute. However, Hayes answered back with a leaning 3-pointer to send the Whitmer gym into a frenzy.

Hayes beats the buzzer!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S10iCVPpOcY]YouTube - Hayes hits buzzer beater to lead Whitmer[/ame]

 

[Buckin Crazy]

Whitner Alumni here (class of 09) I actually know quite a few people who know both the Hays brothers. Great guys.

Nigel is a freak, bound for the NBA. I have been hearing about this kid for quite some time. The quote in the paper says it all
"We might see that kid [Hayes] in the NBA. He doesn't even know how good he is yet."

Coach Smith is great coach as well so he is in great hands. His son is playing at Purdue fyi.

 

[OhioState001]

Thad should offer now! But if he is anything like his brother he is a buckeye lock.

 

[shiznit7]

This kid is the real deal. He was "recruited" heavily by some of the local high schools and would start pretty much anywhere. I think it would be safe to mark him down as a Buckeye if, and when, he gets an offer.

 

[bigdog3300]

When you're 14 or 15 and you're 6'6 and 210........wowza. Looks like he's going to be one athletic post for us in the future, have to imagine he'll be growing a couple inches at least and his frame can tack on quite a bit more weight.

And you won't find a better OSU recruiter than his brother, I'm liking that Toledo is supplying OSU with some bball talent lately.

 

[DZ83CK]

Isn't it a little early to be counting on this guy playing for OSU or saying he deserves a scholarship offer? There are a lot of kids who score 24 in games, even as freshmen, and there aren't many that get OSU offers ... I'm not saying he won't get an offer but it's probably going to be a while before he gets one because it's going to be a while before OSU solidifies their 2011 class, let alone 2012 & it's hard to know what they'll need and how many spots they'll have open for 2013.

 

[LitlBuck]

Isn't it a little early to be counting on this guy playing for OSU or saying he deserves a scholarship offer? There are a lot of kids who score 24 in games, even as freshmen, and there aren't many that get OSU offers ... I'm not saying he won't get an offer but it's probably going to be a while before he gets one because it's going to be a while before OSU solidifies their 2011 class, let alone 2012 & it's hard to know what they'll need and how many spots they'll have open for 2013.

You might be right but how many freshmen are 6'6" 210 pounds and are extremely athletic and have a brother who has committed to the Ohio State football program I think it is only a matter of time before he gets an offer from Ohio State. He probably will be able to play multiple positions and do you want to get in late on this kid with the possibility that he thinks you might not be interested.

 

[bigdog3300]

You might be right but how many freshmen are 6'6" 210 pounds and are extremely athletic and have a brother who has committed to the Ohio State football program I think it is only a matter of time before he gets an offer from Ohio State. He probably will be able to play multiple positions and do you want to get in late on this kid with the possibility that he thinks you might not be interested.

Yeah, 24 points as a freshman is one thing......but getting 24, being 6'6 and 210, a family member playing sports at OSU, good footwork and soft hands around the hoop, etc......I don't see that often.

 

[Bill Lucas]

Yeah, 24 points as a freshman is one thing......but getting 24, being 6'6 and 210, a family member playing sports at OSU, good footwork and soft hands around the hoop, etc......I don't see that often.

Getting 24 and 7 as a freshman playing varsity in a competitive league is a HUGE thing. This guy will be on the radar all the way through high school barring serious injury or character flaws.

 

[DZ83CK]

You might be right but how many freshmen are 6'6" 210 pounds and are extremely athletic and have a brother who has committed to the Ohio State football program I think it is only a matter of time before he gets an offer from Ohio State. He probably will be able to play multiple positions and do you want to get in late on this kid with the possibility that he thinks you might not be interested.

How many brothers of BCS conference football recruits are playing high major college basketball? It's not the usual trend for one brother to pick one sport and the next another, I know, but it takes more athleticism and/or height to play major college basketball. I'm not saying Thad shouldn't recruit the kid, just that a wait-and-see approach is more prudent here, especially given all the uncertainty about what OSU needs in that class and how many rides they'll have.

I spent a little time researching the '13 class in Ohio, which Nigel is a part of, and it's actually got a pretty strong rep at this early stage as being similar in depth to the '10 class, and there was a pretty heavy indication that Tony Farmer from St. Ignatius is the top player in the state in that class. So that's probably already one guy who's a higher priority than Nigel, who I'll note is considered to be top-4 in the state in his class, but I should also note that his performances lately have not been as notable as his first.

Article on 12/19 notes Whitmer lost at home to Central Catholic 60-50, and that Nigel had 8 pts, all in a 2:20 stretch in the second quarter.
toledoblade.com --

Article on 12/23 notes Whitmer beat Fremont Ross 65-41, and Nigel must've scored fewer than 10 points in that game, as his team was "paced" by another player who scored 10. toledoblade.com --

Article on 12/24 notes Whitmer lost to DeSales 57-56. Nigel had 15 points.
toledoblade.com --

So while he had a very notable first game, he hasn't been putting up 24 every game - far from it. If indeed he's top-4 in the state in his class, he's got a pretty decent chance of OSU offering him eventually, but I think it's fair to have a wait-and-see approach here.

 

[LitlBuck]

from it. If indeed he's top-4 in the state in his class, he's got a pretty decent chance of OSU offering him eventually, but I think it's fair to have a wait-and-see approach here.

I did not say to offer the kid immediately because I don't like those really early offers anyway but I'm just saying that Ohio State hopefully is showing some interest and a offer before the beginning of his sophomore season would be appropriate. I would not count on a St. Ignatius basketball player coming to Ohio State... just sayin.

 

[Cavfan89]

I did not say to offer the kid immediately because I don't like those really early offers anyway but I'm just saying that Ohio State hopefully is showing some interest and a offer before the beginning of his sophomore season would be appropriate. I would not count on a St. Ignatius basketball player coming to Ohio State... just sayin.

Tony Farmer is at Garfield Heights, not St Ignatius.

 

[LitlBuck]

that Tony Farmer from St. Ignatius is the top player in the state in that class.

Tony Farmer is at Garfield Heights, not St Ignatius.

I was just quoting from him. You really need to tell him that or he will get everyone confused over at BN.

 

[orko]

-`

 

[buckeydoptimist]

Luke Harangody's older brother played FB at Indiana as did his father I am pretty sure. Yet he is the one turning heads in basketball.

You could look at Mike Conley Sr as producing a pretty darn good basketball player as well.

Not that it is any sure thing, but I'd have no qualms with offering a FB recruit's brother for basketball - as long as Thad feels he is worthy!

:osu:

How many brothers of BCS conference football recruits are playing high major college basketball? It's not the usual trend for one brother to pick one sport and the next another, I know, but it takes more athleticism and/or height to play major college basketball. I'm not saying Thad shouldn't recruit the kid, just that a wait-and-see approach is more prudent here, especially given all the uncertainty about what OSU needs in that class and how many rides they'll have.

I spent a little time researching the '13 class in Ohio, which Nigel is a part of, and it's actually got a pretty strong rep at this early stage as being similar in depth to the '10 class, and there was a pretty heavy indication that Tony Farmer from St. Ignatius is the top player in the state in that class. So that's probably already one guy who's a higher priority than Nigel, who I'll note is considered to be top-4 in the state in his class, but I should also note that his performances lately have not been as notable as his first.

Article on 12/19 notes Whitmer lost at home to Central Catholic 60-50, and that Nigel had 8 pts, all in a 2:20 stretch in the second quarter.
toledoblade.com --

Article on 12/23 notes Whitmer beat Fremont Ross 65-41, and Nigel must've scored fewer than 10 points in that game, as his team was "paced" by another player who scored 10. toledoblade.com --

Article on 12/24 notes Whitmer lost to DeSales 57-56. Nigel had 15 points.
toledoblade.com --

So while he had a very notable first game, he hasn't been putting up 24 every game - far from it. If indeed he's top-4 in the state in his class, he's got a pretty decent chance of OSU offering him eventually, but I think it's fair to have a wait-and-see approach here.