"Nice to meet you Mr. Tracy"
Immediately when meeting another one of the fabulous freshmen basketball players in the Cleveland area, St. Ignatius' Deven Stover, you can't help but like him.
"The first time I met him, he called me Mr. Moody, and not Coach Moody"....Doni Moody
For all of you teenagers out there, that is called Respect. There is a lot to like and respect about him on the court as a player also.
Stover starred at Solon Middle School last season, leading the Comets to a 17-1 record and a conference championship. This season Stover will start on the JV team at St. Ignatius. One reason for Stover starting at the JV level is the fact that the St. Ignatius varsity returns most of their players from a 16-6 team last season. Doni Moody, Program Director at Score More Athletic Club (SMAC) is very high on Stover:
" Deven will have a very good JV season"....Doni Moody, SMAC Program Director
SMAC is on the rise as one of the more up and coming AAU organizations in the state of Ohio. Stover was a starter on the SMAC team that reached the finals of the Bearcat Classic in Cincinnati, and even won their pool in the King James Classic in Akron. It is this increased competition that has allowed Stover to expand his game. Last summer, he attended the prestigious Fab Frosh camp in Atlanta, Georgia, where the 150 best freshmen players in the country squared off against each other.
What makes Deven Stover worthy of being on the list of Fabulous Freshmen?
In a word? Versatility. This 6 foot 2 lefthander can be a nightmare to guard. He can take you down to the post and hit you with a polished drop step, or he can go to the wing where his smooth shooting stroke can shoot over you.
"Deven has the prettiest looking stroke in the entire class of 2016"....Doni Moody
At St. Ignatius, Stover will play at the two guard. Will it be an adjustment from playing in the post in middle school? Absolutely, but it's also an adjustment that Moody thinks Stover will handle easily, based on a few factors:
"Deven is a very hard worker, and he may be the most fundamentally sound player in the Class of 2016"
In a quote to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, St. Ignatius coach Sean O'Toole sounds pretty excited to have him:
"Deven plays with a nonstop motor. His energy is completely contagious. He's a fearless attacker. He is gifted with an incredible feel and a high IQ for the game"
Whatever so-called "weaknesses" in his game, Moody is sure it is something Stover will work on:
"Playing the wing at Ignatius, Deven will have to expand his range as a shooter, and despite being a freshman, he will have to look to be more of a leader on the court. He has great ability, and is one of those kids you will be reading a lot about over the next few years"
The kid who patterns his game after Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose sure will be tested by the St. Ignatius schedule. They play perennial basketball powers Canton McKinley, St. Edward, Cleveland Central Catholic, Columbus Northland, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Glenville, and Benedictine. His success COULD be found in his genes. His father Reggie was a star player at St. Joseph's high school in Cleveland, who later went on to play at the University of Cincinnati.
Keep an eye on Deven Stover of St. Ignatius. This freshman will make a huge mark in Cleveland area high school basketball.
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