Super Bowl Champions Deserve a Ring Fit for Their Wild Personalities

Winning the Super Bowl is a great feat that many teams have accomplished over the years. It comes with many praises, a trophy, a celebration parade, and a cool ring to show off.

Over the years, many teams have customized their own rings, and I want to share with you my personal favorites that have been given to the teams, including this year’s Super Bowl Champs the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Philadelphia Eagles — Some of the highlights of this ring are the 40 diamonds featured in the words “World Champions” for the points that the team scored. There are 5 diamonds on a secret button for each of the players who scored (Cooper DeJean, Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jake Elliot). The ring also features a quote from head coach Nick Sirianni saying, “Tough. Detailed. Together.” And finally the most special feature of all, the secret button I mentioned. When the button is pressed, it extends wings on the sides of the ring and reveals another quote from Sirianni saying, “You can’t be great without the greatness of others.”

The New England Patriots — While they have earned many rings, their 6th would have to be my favorite. The ring is not as flashy or showy as the Eagles’, but the ring still has a couple cool features. The inside of the ring says, “we are all Patriots” and on the side of the ring it says, “still here”. But the star of the ring is the six Lombardi trophies that are featured on it, which no other ring has.

The Kansas City Chiefs — While they also have a few rings to choose from, I personally like their most recent one the best. The ring features 3 Lombardi trophies. It has the phrases “back-to-back” and “overtime” on it. It even opens up and reveals the game winning play written in head coach Andy Reid’s handwriting. And finally it is personalized for each player with their signatures on the inside of the ring.

Aaron Rodgers and TJ Watt proving to be challenging for Pittsburgh

Image result for Tj Watt and Aaron Rodgers

This offseason has proven to be a busy one indeed and has certainly drawn attention of the football world. Aaron Rodgers, a future hall of famer and Superbowl champion, made the decision. He decided to take his talents to Pittsburgh, PA, earlier this summer. Ever since then, it seems to be a major headache. It also causes trouble as we had predicted back in June when this news broke. Rodgers has already had a dispute with head coach Mike Tomlin. He claims to be the one who “calls the shots.” He is also having disputes with fans on the golf course over autographs. He is showing an arrogance to him, which we have not seen in a long time, if ever. Rodgers presents a difficult situation for the Pittsburgh Steelers to digest. We can make our best predictions. We will also share the news on what’s going on in the Steel City.

The situation is not favorable for the 40-year-old quarterback. The shift that Mike Tomlin, the “Standard” head coach, likes to discuss is now more of a recommendation. It is not a hardcore never adapt concept to success. The current Steeler’s culture has become more of a recommendation to a fickle standard than an outline to success. While it may seem lopsided in one direction, the Aaron show isn’t as simple as it appears. One hand will project his arrogance and unwillingness to adapt. On the other hand, he shows optimism and the ability to be an established leader for Pittsburgh in 2025. Rodgers shows no sign of giving up. This is very clear in how he could have retired after leaving the Green Bay Packers. My point overall is that Aaron Rodgers has led football teams in the past. He did so most notably against his current team. Whether or not he can do the same in 2025, we will have to wait and see.

Let’s move now to the other side of the ball. Pittsburgh icon TJ Watt has been discussing a possible trade scenario. The former Wisconsin Lineman skipped the mandatory team practice sessions. As we have discussed before, he wants to get paid rightfully being so. Division rival Myles Garrett recently signed a massive $160 Million contract over the course of 4 years. The average annual value (AAV) is astronomically high. Garrett’s contract will be the highest by a non-quarterback in NFL history. TJ Watt is a player of high caliber. He deserves a lucrative contract and will pursue it. The case in point is clear. He will search for a lucrative contract. It will have to be with whatever team is willing to give it to him. Watt wants the same price tag as Myles Garrett and will need to find a way to get it. This isn’t all doom for the Steelers. There are still signs that Watt will stay in the black and gold next season. One of these signs being teams willing to give the value Watt will entail in a trade deal. Another good sign is per CBS where the Steelers want a deal finalized before week 1 vs the Jets. What will happen with either of these juggernauts in the NFL? We will find out if we see the #90 rushing Justin Fields. We will also discover how the #8 of Rodgers performs throwing the football.

Officials Facing Backlash Due to Money Sent to Cleveland Browns for New Stadium

Cleveland, OH – As we know, there has been an ongoing battle of whether the Cleveland Browns would be staying at their lakefront stadium, or moving, as their contract was coming to an end. 

This talk of the move was extremely controversial to the city and the fans. Some fans were really upset over the idea of the team moving to a different suburb of Cleveland and leaving the lakefront stadium. While others were excited to hear the move and hear the plans of the new stadium being built. The new stadium includes lots more parking, a dome so that more events can be held there, and so many other cool things. 

While the fans were split, it is going to be a good economic boost to the city of Brookpark, as they will get a huge income boost from this project once it is all finished. As mentioned, with a dome you can have many more options for events, and they can be held year round without having to consider the weather. Of course this means less snow game opportunities, but the new opportunities more than make up for that. 

Now as for the backlash this is receiving, the Ohio Governor, Mike DeWine, recently passed a budget that is going to allocate $600 million to the Browns for their first grant towards the build of the stadium. The issue is that using the residents’ unclaimed funds violates multiple provisions in the state and federal constitutions. So now they will be bringing this to court and there may or may not be updates soon, but I will make sure to keep you informed.

There Trouble in Atlanta During the 2024 NFL Draft and We are Just Finding Out Why

Atlanta, GA – With contracts and signings, comes trouble sometimes. Players are upset to have not been reached out to, they are upset to not get enough money, and they are upset if they believe they might be replaced. And over in Atlanta with the Atlanta Falcons, they have some unspoken issues between their new quarterbacks resurfacing.

During the last off season, veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins signed a 4 year- $180,000,000 contract with the Falcons. Cousins was previously with the Minnesota Vikings for 5 seasons as a starting quarterback, for most of that time. 

A new episode from a documentary on Netflix called “Quarterback” was premiered and Cousins shared his thoughts on the 8th overall pick in the 2024 draft from the Falcons. They selected Michael Penix Jr. who is of course a quarterback who had played for the team in the 2024-25 season after being drafted. 

Cousins shared that he was not informed that the Falcons would select a quarterback so high in the draft, but he did know that they ultimately would. Consequently, he most likely felt blindsided and upset that he signed with a team who is building up their quarterback roster. And the feeling is understandable as he probably thought he would be playing, but that is up for debate still as Penix Jr. has already begun building a relationship with the team as their quarterback. Cousins also shared that prior to the draft, if he had known their plans that he most likely would have just resigned with the Vikings.

As the 2025 season rolls around we will see how this plays out for more than just the Atlanta Falcons, as there will be many teams who still need to decide who will become their QB1 to hopefully lead them to successful seasons.

SmeeSports to Begin Streaming Select Minerva High School Games Starting in the Fall of 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Minerva, OH – SmeeSports LLC is pleased to announce that we will begin broadcasting select Minerva High School sporting events on the SmeeSports YouTube channel this Fall.

We began to consider this expansion back in April while covering Minerva Vs Alliance baseball. That was not our first time covering Minerva, as we saw the Lions numerous times throughout our coverage of Alliance and Marlington athletics (which will continue into 2025). Given this prior connection, the decision was easy when the opportunity to expand presented itself. While we do not have a clear-cut schedule, the plan is to cover a few football games with plenty of volleyball and soccer added on to round out the fall. We are open to suggestions as to which games we should cover for Minerva. Message us on our social media pages if you have a suggestion/recommendation on a game we should broadcast.

Going to the business side of this expansion, we are in search of broadcast sponsors. Without sponsors, the number of games we can do will be limited. Minerva has a lot of great businesses that support athletics in the city. We are calling on them to become sponsors of SmeeSports. With broadcast packages starting at a base rate of $10 per game, it is a great way to promote your business without breaking the bank. To learn more about our sponsorship opportunities, contact us under the contact tab on this website or email Nathan Smee at nsmee00@gmail.com.

To wrap up this release, we want to thank Minerva’s Athletic Director, Garth Evans, for helping make this a reality. We are excited to work with him to showcase the best of Minerva athletics. This year has been a great year of growth for SmeeSports LLC. We are happy that our next piece of growth brings Minerva into the SmeeSports family.

It is time to Unleash the Beast!

Milwaukee Swinging Big in Free Agency: Will It Pay Off?

The Milwaukee Bucks are just a few years removed from an NBA championship, as they won it all in 2021. However, the organization is not in an easy position, as their star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, wants to ensure he plays with a competitive team. General Manager Jon Horst and his front office, so far in free agency, have made some intriguing moves that they hope will contribute alongside Giannis in competing for an NBA Championship.

Horst began free agency by re-signing five players from the 2024-2025 Bucks team that finished 48-34, which was good enough for the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference. Those five players are Kevin Porter Jr. (2-year deal), Bobby Portis (3-year extension), Taurean Prince (2-year deal), Jericho Sims (2-year deal), and Gary Trent Jr.(2-year deal). The most notable players brought back were Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., and Kevin Porter Jr. Trent played a crucial role for the Bucks in the postseason when they matched up against the Indiana Pacers. In Game 3, he scored 37 points, and in Game 5, he scored 33 points. Portis is the longest-tenured Buck out of the list and was on the championship team in 2021. Portis can stretch the floor as a power forward and provides consistent scoring for this Bucks offense. Porter Jr., for now, is the starting point guard for this Bucks team (we’ll explain why later), so his ball-handling and shot creation are needed, whether Horst brings in any other guards or not. Prince and Sims should both be good contributors to the rotation and provide some depth for next year’s squad. Despite bringing back five players, this Bucks team still lost quite a bit of talent from the rotation.

Next year’s team will be without Pat Connaughton, Damian Lillard, and Brook Lopez. Let’s start by getting the elephant out of the room by talking about the stunning move of releasing Damian Lillard. Many fans, when they heard about the news, were confused and wondered why. The explanation lies in the fact that the Bucks wanted to spread out Lillard’s contract over more years in order to create more cap space, so they could sign more free agents. Hence, by cutting Lillard, instead of paying him around $56 million for the next two years, they now only pay him $22 million but for 4 years. This strategic contract decision is very similar to what many NFL teams do nowadays with “void years”. These years essentially allow NFL teams to load up on talent and absorb the cap hit years down the line, when the salary cap increases due to higher league revenue (this strategy allowed the Philadelphia Eagles to field so much talent this year, despite the sheer number of players not on rookie deals). From an organizational perspective, it’s a genius move for the Bucks if the cap goes up; however, it’s unclear if their star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, was approving of this decision. The next impactful player the Bucks lost was Brook Lopez. I think most Bucks fans were actually more sentimental about this departure than the Lillard decision. Lopez was a core player on that championship team, as his three-point shooting and defensive ability made him a mismatch for any team to face. Lopez signed a 2-year, $18 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. While Bucks fans have fond memories of him in a Bucks uniform, he is 37 years old, and Father Time is slowly creeping in the rearview mirror. The last player that will not return is shooting guard Pat Connaughton. The Bucks sent him and two of their own second-round picks to the Charlotte Hornets for Vasilije Micić. Connaughton was entering the final year of his contract by picking up his $9 million player option. Given the Bucks’ limited salary cap flexibility, it made sense to trade him, as the prior season he had played the fewest minutes since joining Milwaukee. Similar to Lopez, Pat was also a rotational player for that 2021 championship team, which makes Antetokounmpo and Portis the last active players that were on that 2021 championship team. A key sign signaling to fans and Eastern Conference teams that Jon Horst and his front office are willing to make changes in order to get back to the NBA Finals.

This urgency to compete has forced the Bucks to be active in free agency, the trade market, and the NBA Draft. Using their 2nd-round pick, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Bogoljub Marković, a center from Serbia. Marković is going to be a project player, but he does have great inside and outside scoring that could translate down the line. Additionally, they signed undrafted free agent Mark Sears. Sears, who started his career at Ohio University, transferred to Alabama and developed a reputation for his great shooting and playmaking ability at the point guard position. All of these rookies won’t be significant contributors next year, but in a couple years, they could find time in the rotation. To make up for it, the Bucks acquired players via trade and free agency that can certainly make an impact immediately.

The Bucks used some of the Damian Lillard money that they saved from cutting him to swipe away Myles Turner from the rival Pacers. Turner is a stretch-four big and has great offensive ability as a center. Defensively, he’s not as talented as Lopez, but offensively, he is the more well-rounded player. The Bucks also acquired Vasilije Micić from the Hornets in the Connaughton trade mentioned above. Micić is a talented playmaker at the guard position and might see limited minutes for the Bucks. The last player that the Bucks signed was veteran shooting guard Gary Harris. Harris is known for his three-point ability and should provide some depth for a backcourt that just lost Damian Lillard.

The 2025 offseason has provided a lot of turnover for this Bucks team, and there still is time for this team to add to their roster. It also must be noted that the Hawks have the right to swap picks with the Milwaukee Bucks. Therefore, it isn’t smart for the Bucks to retool the roster and shoot for the 10th or 9th seed in the Eastern Conference. Given all of the nuance, I applaud the front office for making changes that have the chance to lead them in the right direction. Yet, just like every sport, time will tell if these moves will be vindicated.

LockedIn High School Summer League Shines in Breakout Summer for NEO Basketball

Warrensville Heights, OH- This summer has been a monumental one for the sport of basketball at the high school level. Midwest Live, a competition featuring the best basketball teams in Ohio and beyond, held at Cedar Point’s Sports Complex, broke onto the scene. Social media was flooded this past weekend with highlights, interviews, pictures, and graphics from the successful event. While this event captured headlines, other Summer leagues had great games this June. One of the mainstays over the past decade, the LockedIn High School Summer League, concluded its five-week season with North Canton Hoover taking home the crown with a 45-43 victory over Warrensville Heights.

Unpacking pool play, there were a lot of great contenders fighting for the 8 playoff spots. Pool A saw Cleveland Central Catholic go 7-0, taking the #1 seed in the group. Hoover and NDCL battled it out for the #2 seed, but the Vikings were able to get the job done with a 58-47 win over the Lions. In Pool B, Brecksville was able to take first place with a 6-1 record. The battle for second in this pool consisted of Warrensville Heights, Bedford, and Gilmour. The Lancers came in fourth with a 4-3 record. Both the Tigers and Bearcats finished with 5-2 records, but a 53-38 score saw Meechie Johnson’s Warrensville edge out Jermaine Gay’s Bedford.

Pool C was stacked with teams such as Garfield Heights, Glenville, and Hawken, who all made it to regionals. The Bulldogs took the top seed with a 6-1 record. Glenville finished in fourth with a 4-3 record, while Hawken came in fifth with a 3-4 record. Andrews Osborne Academy, with some new stars joining the squad, was able to place third with a 4-3 record. However, it was Solon who stole the show as they were able to achieve second place with a 5-2 record. Pool D saw two-time champion Lutheran West place first with a 6-1 record. Fairview Park and Padua Franciscan battled it out for second place as both squads earned a 5-2 record. However, the Warriors got the nod with a 61-52 victory on June 5th.

With these results in hand, the bracket was set. Cleveland Central Catholic took on Solon, Lutheran West faced Warrensville Heights, Brecksville got drawn up against Fairview, and Garfield Heights got North Canton Hoover. The Ironmen made a statement at the top of the bracket in the quarterfinals, getting a 63-26 victory over Solon. They would see the Tigers in the semifinals as they took care of the Longhorns 38-29. In the bottom bracket, Fairview took care of Brecksville 51-42 while Hoover outlasted a King Young-led Garfield Heights 56-50. This left Cleveland Central Catholic, Warrensville Heights, Fairview, and North Canton Hoover in the final four.

The Vikings would get a big win in the semifinals, 50-37 over Fairview, ending the Warriors’ Summer League. In the first half of the CCC Vs Warrensville game, the Ironmen controlled the game early. Coach Michael Duncan’s squad saw plenty of returners such as Mike Duncan, Donnie Driscal, and Marquis Foster. However, they did have some key figures, such as Deonte James graduated, while King Young transferred to Garfield. However, the Tigers were able to get control down the stretch in the first half. Warrensville, led by a mixture of varsity vets, underclassmen newcomers, and Lutheran East transfer Jayden Nellemsbey, was able to take control in the second half. Despite CJ Williams, Geo Hester, and Jalen Gum sitting out to rest for Midwest Live, the Tigers got the win 40-29. Nellemsbey took home player of the game honors with 10 points.

This set up a must-see championship game between Warrensville Heights and North Canton Hoover. The Tigers had the chance to win their first LockedIN Summer League in program history and on their home court, no less. As for the Vikings, they won the league back in 2021. Last season, their campaign ended in the semifinals with a loss to Bedford. The Federal League still had representation in the winners circle in 2024 with Canton McKinley taking home the crown. Similar to the semifinals of 2024, Hoover got off to a hot start. Rising junior Hunter Hershberger stole the ball and scored a transition and-one. Down 20-9, Warrensville started to get back into the game. At halftime, the Vikings led 28-22.

During the break, Chris Walker, the LockedIn High School Summer League commissioner and organizer, presented a very special award to Steve Newton. Steve, known for his work at 3rdCoastHoops, was given the ‘Industry Pioneer Award.’ The official plaque explains the award as,

“In recognition of over a decade of content innovation and unwavering commitment to growing the grassroots basketball landscape in Northeast Ohio. Your vision built the blueprint, and the industry followed.”

In the second half, Jaylen Billingslea took over as he would sink six threes. Overall, he ended the game with 20 points. Rising Freshman Marlin Jackson also provided some offense and defense for the Tigers. With a few months until preseason gets underway, Jackson has a good shot at earning some varsity minutes. In the final 90 seconds, Hoover and Warrensville were tied at 43. Rising senior Brady McCann made what would be the winning shot with around a minute left on the clock. After a few defensive stops, the Vikings would seal their second LockedIn High School Summer League title 45-43.

McCann won MVP of the championship game with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Billingslea also took home MVP honors for the second-place Tigers with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. Additionally, LockedIn made a $1000 donation to the North Canton Hoover basketball program for winning the title. This replaced the old format, which saw a scholarship handed out. The Vikings join Lutheran West and CCC as the winningest squads in competition history with two titles.

In a Summer of change and growth, LockedIn stepped up their game and remained one of the top summer leagues in the area. On top of the varsity competition, a JV group was also introduced for the first time. While LockedIN/FunGamesLive has gone away from high school tournaments during the year, they still have great middle school and underclass competitions in the Winter. One thing still remains a definite, the LockedIn High School Summer League showcases the best up-and-coming talents in NEO basketball while also doing great work giving back to the community.

Link to Warrensville Heights Vs Cleveland Central Catholic Basketball: https://www.youtube.com/live/3JNqZe0btqE?si=U_CoCLvvhJnwz-2F

Link to Warrensville Heights Vs North Canton Hoover Basketball: https://www.youtube.com/live/tL2Q0bAahAA?si=7Bo5LRmZbyF9uNfB

Steelers get Jalen Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins in a trade  

Earlier today during the off season as teams prepare for training camp to take place in roughly a month. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded with the Miami Dolphins. They sent 28-year-old, five-time pro bowler Minkah Fitzpatrick back to the sunshine of Miami. In return, the black and gold brigade will get 30-year-old, seven-time pro bowler Jalen Ramsey. They will also acquire Jonnu Smith from the Miami Dolphins. Whether or not this move will work out is beyond me. Still, as a Steelers enthusiast, I can’t help but be somewhat optimistic about the trade. I hope it works out. I must say, Jalen Ramsey has the credentials of an elite cornerback in the NFL. Ramsey has played 135 games in his NFL career. Four of these were against Pittsburgh. He has totaled 24 interceptions and 267 yards. Fitzpatrick on the other hand has 106 games under his belt with 20 interceptions for over 400 yards. Some casual fans analyzing the trade may overlook the draft picks. The Steelers will get a seventh-round pick for 2027. The Dolphins have a fifth-round pick also for 2027. Jonnu Smith who is a lesser-known player in this trade, will be a good backup at TE for Pat Freiermuth. During his carrer, Smith has played in 124 games and gotten over 3,000 yards in his career. The FIU alum will leave his college state of florida and come home to his Birth state of Pennsylvania.

Everyone has a predetermined idea of what this trade means. People also have ideas about how it will affect both franchises in the future. Me personally, I would rather have Minkah but that’s my own opinion. Both the headline players in this trade are stars. Fitzpatrick has garnered himself as an icon with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, will Ramsey be the leading force to his 2nd ring and the franchises 7th Lombardi? It’s unlikely we’ll see that soon. Yet if the rumors that TJ Watt is in the works on a contract extension. Any Steelers fan would be grateful that the defense is building. At present, there are two well-known athletes in the NFL being moved around. This is one of the most popular trades this offseason. During my research of this trade and using what I already know. Here is the official prediction I will make for how the trade affected these teams.

Dan-alytics:

Pittsburgh Steelers:

Lost the trade. Only got a seventh-round pick and while notable figures like Brock Purdy have come from the seventh round. Similar to Miami this pick could either be a diamond in the rough or a complete bust. At this time, it is too hard to tell. Jalen Ramsey has made a name for himself and has mostly been used as a supporting cast member. He will take on this role for the defense. There will be no need for him to act as a leader. This is Cam Heywards, TJ Watt, and Alex Highsmith’s defense and will continue to be for the near future. Jonnu Smith will be a good backup. He will help if Pat Freiermuth ends up getting injured.

Miami Dolphins:

Won the trade. They got a fifth-round pick, which may be a diamond in the rough. This pick gets them some ground to stand on. Minkah, I believe is the better player, but we’ll see how he adapts back in the sunshine state. While they have a semi-decent defense heading into 2025.There is no doubt that Fitzpatrick will be the leader to help Miami rival others in the AFC East.

In conclusion I have one thing to say. Why Not? This isn’t the first time the city of Miami got a generational player from Pittsburgh (Dan Marino).

Rising Underclassmen Standouts to Watch for Ohio High School Baseball

Kent, OH- Over the past couple of weeks, SmeeSports has covered numerous travel baseball games through our partnership with the 965 Midwest Challenge. While we have seen a lot of the game’s top stars at the high school level, we’ve also seen some future stars in the making. Below, we take a look at a few of these prospects

Jonny Kievman: Norton High School + Clutch Elite 15U (Class of 2028)

Jonny had a lot of lofty expectations to live up to even before stepping onto the diamond at Norton. His older brother, Jordan Kievman, is committed to play baseball at Wright State for Alex Sogard. While Jordan won MAC Pitcher of the Year honors, Jonny picked up 1st team all-conference honors as a middle-infielder. While the Panthers’ season ended in the District Finals with a 3-0 loss to Hubbard, the only way for Jonny to go was up. This summer, he has more than lived up to expectations. As the starting second baseman for Clutch Elite, Jonny leads a strong infield, which includes another player mentioned in this article. Additionally, his pitching has been strong this Summer with his fastball clocking in between 78 and 83 mph. Finally, his hitting has been tremendous. At the second Kent State Invite, we saw him crush a few baseballs.

Victor Rodriguez: Youngstown East High School + Clutch Elite 15U (Class of 2028)

When thinking of a power-hitting first baseman who also has a solid glove, a player like Victor Rodriguez comes to mind. During an 8-16 season with Youngstown East in their penultimate campaign before the merger, Rodriguez headlined the offensive talent with a .364 batting average in 20 games. That average was good enough to rank second on the team as a freshman. Beyond the average, he drove in 14 runs while hitting one home run. Finally, he had a fielding percentage of 86.4%. Rodriguez has been crushing baseballs so far this Summer for Clutch Elite. In the games we covered, his power stole the show. On top of his base hits, he also had a big triple down the left field line. While there is plenty of uncertainty about the future of the Youngstown High School’s given the merger, Rodriguez should be an easy selection to lead the joined baseball program into the next era while also wrapping up East Baseball’s legacy.

Brock Bourquin: Canton Central Catholic High School + Mashfactory Bourquin 15U (Class of 2028)

The last name Bourquin is synonymous with Stark County radio. Sam Bourquin, Brock’s distant cousin, is the ‘Voice of Stark County’ and Mount Union Football and Basketball. However, Brock is paving his own path at his cousin’s alma mater as a star baseball player. Standing at 6’0 and 180 pounds, the three-sport athlete has turned a lot of heads through one year of high school. He was a key piece of the Crusaders’ Regional Final appearance, where they lost to eventual state champions Waynedale 6-3. Heading into the second Kent State Invite of the Summer, Bourquin headlined the crop of talent. He proved why on numerous occasions en route to a championship over the #1 seed MAF Gators. In the game against Mentor, Brock climbed the ladder to make a great catch on a high throw to end an inning. He followed this up with a big triple, setting himself up as the opening run in a tight victory. He would keep up the great hitting through the championship game while also playing standout defense at first.

Benjamin Ariyajasingam: Archbishop Hoban High School + Mashfactory Bourquin 15U (Class of 2028)

With Hoban’s ace Andrew Karhoff graduated and off to Ashland, a spot in the pitching rotation has opened up. This leaves the door open for rising sophomore Ben Ariyajasingam. The 5’11, 175-pounder lists himself as a RHP and a first baseman. We saw him against the Mentor Cardinals at the second Kent State Invite as a pitcher-only, and he dominated. Through five innings of work, he didn’t allow a run en route to a 2-0 victory. He took the contact pitching approach in this game, striking out three batters. In close quarters, Ariyajasingam rose to the occasion, showcasing his great intangibles. If he can keep this up, look for him to earn a spot in Hoban’s pitching rotation for the 2026 season and beyond.

Dylan Wood: Cochoton High School + Mashfactory Bourquin 15U (Class of 2028)

Not only did Dylan Wood pitch in the second Kent State Invite semifinals and championship-earning two wins while striking out over 10 batters-he hit the game-sealing RBI double. He stepped up in a big way for Mashfactory, proving he can be elite in the clutch. While he wasn’t on the Cochocton varsity baseball roster in 2025, it would be a shock to not see him there in 2026 as a key contributor, assuming he continues to improve this Summer.

Nolan Andrejack: Perry High School + Release Baseball Hejduk 14U (Class of 2029)

Our first rising freshman on the list looked like a seasoned vet in Release Baseball’s 12-4 victory over the H24 Longhorns in the Laurie Mendenhall Memorial Showcase semifinals. Outside of a rocky second inning that saw four runs score, he was lights out. In the first inning, he struck out the side. Out of five innings, four frames were 1-2-3 innings. His high school team-the Perry Pirates-finished the 2025 season with a 22-6 record. Having a guy like Andrejack coming up next year, they have another option to use in their rotation as they look to make 2026 another unforgettable campaign.

Johnathan Kefalos: Barberton High School + H24 Longhorns 14U (Class of 2029)

Rounding out our list is a player who has the potential to transform Barberton baseball from an 11-10 squad to a final-four contender. Johnathan Kefalos started in center field for H24 in their semifinal game against Release Baseball at the Laurie Mendenhall Memorial Showcase. He was beyond impressive in the outfield as his range spanned deep into both left center and right center. He also brought plenty of power with his bat, crushing a baseball deep into the outfield. While the Longhorns didn’t get the win, he showed plenty of talent and intangible traits. If he can continue his development, there’s a good chance that he will have a great high school career for the Magics with college ball potentially following. The future looks bright for Kefalos and for Barberton.

Overall, these seven rising stars have the makings to become the big names of tomorrow. Players like Kievman, Rodriguez, and Bourquin have already broken onto their varsity squads at Norton, East, and Canton Central. Still, they have greater aspirations for the next three years. Ariyajasingam and Wood look poised to become varsity players next season as they take the next step towards stardom. Finally, Andrejack and Kefalos have the tools to enter high school and not miss a beat en route to a varsity roster spot. All in all, the future is bright for these young men and their teammates.

To see full game footage of these players, check out our coverage of Kent State Invite II and the Laurie Mendenhall Memorial Showcase 14U tournament on the SmeeSports YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SmeeSports/streams

Were Future Stars Being Drafted in Los Angeles in the 2025 NHL Draft? Key Points from this year’s NHL Draft

Los Angeles – This past week was the anticipated 2025 NHL Draft. Sports fans, of all different sports, are nothing short of excited when draft season rolls around. The murmurs and rumblings of who will be picked first is a huge topic. 

If you follow along with the NHL, you know that the New York Islanders had the first pick in this year’s draft. The last time the Islanders had the first pick of the draft was in 2009, and they selected John Tavares who went on to become a huge franchise player for 9 years. It was no shock when the Islanders selected Matthew Schaefer to be their first pick this year. Schaefer is a phenomenal player, and at such a young age of 17, shows that skills do not need to come with age. A heart warming moment during this selection was when Schaefer put on the jersey to his new team, revealing he already had a ribbon embroidered onto the jersey for his late mother who pasted due to her battle with cancer.

Speaking of heart warming moments, there were no dry eyes in the audience when the Columbus Blue Jackets first round picks were selected. The team had Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of one of the late Gaudreau brothers Johnny, announce the picks. 10 months ago, the lives of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were ripped away from them, leaving holes in the teams they played for and their families’ lives. The brothers were murdered by a drunk driver while out for a bike ride the morning of their sister’s wedding. Meredith was overwhelmed by the love and support shown to her, not only by the Blue Jackets organization, but from the audience who chanted “Johnny” when she stepped onto the stage.

It was a big night for goaltenders as 2 were picked in the first round of this year’s draft. One being the 20th pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets with Pyotr Andreyanov. The other was the 30th pick from the San Jose Sharks with Joshua Ravensbergen. Goalies being chosen within the first round has been a little controversial for whatever reason, but it was the first time in 4 years that a goaltender was selected in the first round, let alone two of them. 

The rest of the draft went well with each team adding new assets to their teams to hopefully make them Stanley Cup contenders for this year’s upcoming 2025-26 season. Fans are excited to see what the offseason brings in contracts and free agencies being prominent and right around the corner. As always though, the big thought after the 2025 draft that is on each fans mind currently is if their team will be in the Stanley Cup Finals next year or not.