There's Something Special in Spire
Spire Institute & Academy is located in Geneva, OH, about 50 miles east of Cleveland. It is a multisport boarding school and athletic training complex. It is also a US Olympic and Paralympic training site.
Basketball-wise it had national name recognition, mostly through LaMelo Ball's year there, but it wasn't a consistent national power. That changed in 2025 when they brought in Kevin Boyle as the Director of Basketball and National High School Head Coach. He came from Montverde Academy (FL), where he'd been since 2011, and before that St. Patrick (NJ), where he won five NJSIAA titles. His résumé also includes eight national championships, eight-time National High School Coach of the Year, four-time Naismith National Coach of the Year, MaxPreps Coach of the Decade (2010-20), 25-plus NBA draft picks, four No. 1 overall picks (Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, Cade Cunningham, Cooper Flagg), 150-plus DI players.
Also coming to Spire with him were his sons Kevin Jr. and Brendan. Kevin Jr. was Montverde's associate head coach and now is in that role for the Spire National High School team. Brendan is the head coach of the Spire International team.
Last season was Spire National's one EYBL Scholastic season, and it was a strong one. They finished 13-4 overall, 11-3 in conference, second in the East behind Montverde, reached No. 1 in the ESPN SCNext Top 25 before settling at No. 4, and made it to the Final Four in the league's post-season tournament. Spire has yet to announce its National team's 2026-27 conference affiliation. It will no doubt include other very high-profile programs.
The Spire International team is joining the highly regarded Elite Prep League for the 2026-27 season.
The program is loaded with high level college prospects, as profiled below. The breakout between the two teams below is still not completely final. The Fall will provide an opportunity for the coaches to assess the best player fit amongst the two squads.
SPIRE National High School
Darrell Davis (2027) 6’1 guard (Committed to the University of Houston)– Davis is a quick, slippery lead guard who finds his way to the rim whenever he pleases and finishes with acrobatic lay-ups to get the ball by the extended arms of helping bigs. Plays club ball with Team Thrill. Video highlights PH profile
King Gibson (2027) 6’5 guard - A five-star prospect. # 7 ranked player in the nation by 247Sports nationally. # 13 ranked player in the nation by SCNext 100. Gibson is a do-it-all point guard whose ability to balance setting the table for teammates and taking over a game as a scorer lend to his basketball IQ. He is very patient in transition and picks his attacking spots well where he uses his burst and ability to split defenders to get into the lane. Gibson's controlled and measured pace on paint touches leads to smart decisions on when to create an opportunity for himself or find an open teammate. Deciding between High Major offers from Kentucky, UConn, Arkansas and LSU. Plays club ball with Team United. PH profile
Micah Gordon (2027) 5’9 point guard - Gordon is incredibly talented on the ball and had a monster EYBL season as his ball handling and isolation scoring talent was on full display. Gordon has also been rising in the national rankings as undersized guards have been some of the most impactful college players and Gordon is as talented as almost anybody in the country offensively. Plays club ball with PSA Cardinals. PH profile
Moussa Kamissoko (2027) 6’7 small forward - A transfer from Long Island Lutheran (NY), Kamissoko has a perfect blend of positional size, strength and aggression to make him an impactful rebounder, switchable defender and transition monster. I'd expect Kamissoko to make an immediate impact at the high major level and he will likely debut at #1 in the Prep Hoops Ohio rankings when the class of 2027 are next updated. Plays club ball with PSA Cardinals. PH profile
Mohamed Keita (2027) 6’8 forward (Expected arrival in October) - Keita spent the last three years developing in Spain with Barcelona's youth program, where he was highly regarded as an underrated, high-impact defensive and frontcourt piece. He was named to the All-Star Five at the L'Hospitalet International U18 Tournament. Video highlights
Charles Pur (2027) 6’8 forward - Defensively is where Pur provides the most value on the floor as he contests shots well at the rim and doesn't back down from anybody. Has received multiple D1 offers, including Kent State, East Carolina and UNC Greensboro. Plays club ball with CP3. PH profile
Marceles Duncan (2028) 6’5 small forward - Duncan is strong, tough, impactful defensively, can knock down an open shot and finish drives. His ability to create turnovers is exceptional on the defensive end of the court and his scrappiness allows him to be an elite rebounder for his height. Duncan also impresses with a soft touch around the basket on drives and finishes at a high percentage of his shots around the rim. Plays club ball with Legynds EYBL. PH profile
Jalen Parker (2028) 6’5 small forward - Parker is an efficient bucket getter who hits pull up jumpers and triples. He likes to float around the perimeter and moves well off the ball to get open for catch-and-shoot opportunities. If he gets hot, he has the ability to score in bunches. Overall, there's something deceptive about the way he gets the job done on offense. On the defensive end, he also makes his presence felt with deflections and steals. Has been offered by UNLV. PH profile
Miguel Sousa (2028) 6’11 forward (Expected arrival 9/21) - Sousa is a Portuguese big man out of the Valencia Basket academy. 2026 Defensive MVP and All-Star at the prestigious Basketball Without Borders showcase. He specializes in changing shots, anchoring the paint, and covering ground efficiently in defensive rotations.
David Johnson (2029) 6’10 forward - Johnson is one of the most talented 2029 prospects in the country and you could easily make a case that he has the most long term upside out of any prospect in the Spire program right now. Johnson's combination of height, ball handling, shooting and quick twitch athleticism is rare for a 2029 prospect. Per Prep Hoops, he will debut in the top 10 of their national 2029 rankings coming soon. Plays club ball with NY Lightning. PH profile
Ehizogie "Zogie" Ehikhametalor (2030) 6'0 point guard - From Toronto, CAN, a 4 star level recruit. Ehikhametalor is an incredibly explosive, shifty and strong scoring point guard. He has knockdown shooting ability, great touch on pull-up jumpers, and is very efficient from beyond the arc. Plays club ball with Team Iowa United.
SPIRE International
Duan Jinxuan (2027) 6'4 shooting guard - From China, Duan played for Guizhou Menglong in the Chinese National Basketball League. He is a high-IQ, productive perimeter guard who fills the stat sheet, including making open 3s. Duan is a great personality and a true professional around the team and program. He helps makes a winning team function. His lengthy physical frame and competitive desire make him a tough defender that is able to switch onto multiple positions and defend them effectively.
Max Machum (2027) 6'3 guard - From Nova Scotia, Machum is a shifty left-handed combo guard who can handle and run the point with command, makes deep open 3s, and consistently guards at a high level. He is a great passer and communicator who takes charge as a leader. He is a tough guard who impacts winning, culture, and makes a team function. Projected to be a Low Major/High D3-High Academic recruit. 4.2 gpa PH profile
Zayson Salanoa (2027) 6'7 small forward (Committed to Louisiana-Lafayette) - From Samoa, Salanoa has strong size and versatility. He consistently contributes offensively while competing defensively against opposing forwards. Salanoa's physical tools allow him to impact the game in multiple areas. PH profile
Colton Sembower (2027) 6'4 shooting guard - Sembower already has a muscular build, and he has good length with a plus wingspan. He plays with a high motor that pairs well with his length. Sembower is a great outside shooter with good size, athleticism, and an college-ready physique. He is precise on the catch and on the move, with a great shot fake and rip drive. Colton has great touch on 7-10 foot floaters off two feet and is a great off-ball defender who anchors a defense with communication, rotation, and physical rebounding against size. Has been offered by Toledo and is receiving interest from Mercyhurst, Emory, Harvard, Princeton and Dartmouth 4.5 gpa ACT 30 On3 profile PH profile
Cornelius Stubenvoll (2027) 6'5 small forward - From Austria, Stubenvoll has one of the strongest bodies in prep basketball. He weaponizes it in his rebounding, driving hard to finish, and competing on the floor daily. He is a solid 3-point shooter who plays with an edge, gets to the basket against elite defenders. He defends and really crashes the glass. Stubenvoll is a great culture guy who impacts winning and brings a unique tenacity to his teams.
Keshav Vijaykumar (2027) 6'4 shooting guard - From Sugar Land, TX, Vijaykumar is a skilled perimeter player whose shooting ability immediately stands out. He spaces the floor effectively and consistently makes defenses pay for defensive mistakes. He also has a shifty handle, passing ability, and he competes on the glass. He understands his limitations and uses his elite shot fake and shot-making ability to get into gaps for pull-ups and make simple kickouts to his teammates. Projected to be a Low Major-High Academic recruit. Plays club ball with TJ Ford Academy. 4.1 gpa PH profile
Jakub Zablocki (2027) 7'1 center - From Poland, Zablocki who most recently played at AMW Arka Gdynia in the Polish OBL, a teenager on a first-division professional roster. Zablocki has great size and length. He protects the rim, battles on the glass, is an elite finisher against size, and is an effective screener and roller to the rim. He is also one of the best 3-point shooting bigs available in 2027. EuroBasket profile
Taymeir Holmes (2028) 6'9 power forward - From Pittsburgh, PA, Holmes is a powerful, skilled big who challenges at the rim, rebounds consistently, and has a natural ability to position on the blocks for lobs and bounce-pass finishes. Receiving interest from Syracuse, West Virginia and Providence. PH profile
Asante Phillip (2028) 6'0 point guard - From Burlington, NC, Phillip is an elite on-ball defender, powering through ball screens and hawking the ball. He is a commanding, pass-first point guard who has the ball on a string and really makes the offense function. Phillip makes open shots, runs the team, and is a great culture guy. Plays club ball with Team Loaded South. PH profile
Yizheng Yu (2028) 6'5 shooting guard - From China, Brendan Boyle describes Yu as being like their utility infielder. He can shoot, has a good body with versatile size. That makes him the solution guy as a role player in the role a coach needs at a given time.
Xavier Powell (2029) 6'3 guard - From Modesto Christian School (CA) - Powell is a great and crafty ball handler. He plays at a great pace and high IQ. He is a pass first guard who is a knock down open shooter. Coach Boyle thinks Powell will be a national Top 100 play and that he has some flashes of Ryan Nembhard in him. Nembhard is known for not being flashy, but being terrific at ball placement and timing. He reads a defense fast, manipulates with his eyes, and delivers the ball where a teammate can actually shoot it. High gpa
To accommodate college scout visits, Spire Academy holds a schedule of Fall Open Gym runs, the details of which can be found by clicking here.