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Free Girls Showcase Highlights Northeast Ohio Talent as I.C.Change Continues to Expand Its Mission
On Saturday, August 1, 2026, the I.C.Change Basketball Showcase continued its mission of creating opportunities for young student-athletes—this time by giving the young ladies of Northeast Ohio their own day to shine.
I.C.Change Basketball Showcase founder Ian Cunningham teamed up with former Villa Angela-St. Joseph standout, professional basketball player, and current local skills trainer and player-development specialist Rollie Smith to provide a completely free girls basketball showcase at The Sports Plant in Euclid, Ohio.
The event featured 18 young ladies from throughout Northeast Ohio, all coming together for one purpose: an opportunity to compete, develop, gain exposure, and showcase their abilities in front of college coaches.
Registration began at 11:00 a.m., with the showcase officially getting underway at noon. Cunningham and Smith opened the event with a brief introduction, setting the tone and reminding the athletes that the day was about much more than simply winning basketball games.
It was about effort, growth, exposure, confidence, education, and making the most of an opportunity.
With college coaches representing Junior College, USCAA, and NCAA Division III programs in attendance, the young ladies began the day with a warmup and skills-training session led by Smith before transitioning into competitive full-court games.
The event also included a College Coaches Q&A session, giving the athletes an opportunity to hear directly from coaches about recruiting, academics, expectations, and what programs look for in prospective student-athletes.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was Ms. Queen of the Court, where players competed individually and had another opportunity to demonstrate their competitiveness, confidence, and basketball ability.
The showcase was also supported by a dedicated athletic training staff led by Mr. Fahey of Cuyahoga Valley Career Center (CVCC), along with Reina Cunningham, daughter of founder Ian Cunningham. Their presence helped ensure that player health and safety remained a priority throughout the event.
Recognizing the Girls Showcase Standouts
Every athlete in the gym competed hard, and the college coaches in attendance took notice.
The effort, competitiveness, and overall talent made selecting the award recipients extremely difficult. Every young lady who stepped on the floor gave her best effort and represented herself, her family, and her school with pride.
This year’s Girls Showcase award winners included:
Ms. MVP
Julia Scales — Hawken High School, Class of 2027
Ms. Queen of the Court
Tatianna Williams — Cuyahoga CC, Class of 2027
Ms. Defensive Stopper
Bella Guidugli — Lutheran East High School, Class of 2028
Top 6 Showcase Awards
- Kasey Bolyard— Mogadore High School, 2027
- Rosalynda Jordan— Strongsville High School, 2028
- Avery Carr— UC, 2029
- Isabel Stocker— Saint John High School, 2029
- Jayleena Bauzo— John Marshall High School, 2026
- Brandi Page— Gilmour Academy, 2028
Selected participants received trophies and medals recognizing their performances throughout the showcase.
But perhaps an even greater opportunity was available beyond the awards.
A $1,000 scholarship opportunity was made available for a participating young lady who received an offer from one of the college coaches in attendance. If the student-athlete chose to pursue that opportunity, she would be eligible to submit an essay explaining how the scholarship would help her and why she should be selected for the award.
That opportunity represents exactly what I.C.Change was built around—using basketball as a platform to help create opportunities that can impact a young person’s future both athletically and academically.
Bigger Than Basketball
Northeast Ohio continues to prove that it has some of the most versatile and talented student-athletes in the state.
One college coach in attendance summed up the event by telling Cunningham:
“The I.C.Change Showcase is always a premier event. I can’t believe more people in the area don’t know about it!”
For Cunningham, comments like that reinforce why the showcase continues to exist and why keeping the event free remains so important.
The journey began in 2019, when a free boys basketball showcase was created because Cunningham saw an opportunity to help student-athletes throughout Northeast Ohio receive exposure without families having to worry about another registration fee.
The goal was simple:
Give back. Create opportunities. Help young people. Make a difference.
Years later, that mission continues to grow.
At the 2026 Boys I.C.Change Basketball Showcase, 61 young men competed in front of double-digit college coaches, once again giving under-the-radar student-athletes an opportunity to perform in front of coaches who could potentially help change the direction of their basketball and academic futures.
The boys were also given an opportunity that extended beyond basketball.
Scholarship awards were made available to participants who received an offer from a college or university coach attending the showcase. If a student-athlete received an offer, chose to pursue that opportunity, and planned to attend that institution, he could submit an essay explaining why he should be considered for a scholarship award.
The purpose was to make the showcase about more than simply being seen for one day.
I.C.Change wanted to help create opportunities that could assist a student-athlete in taking the next step both academically and athletically.
For Cunningham, that is what the showcase is truly about—creating opportunities that can extend beyond the basketball court and potentially have a lasting impact on a young person’s future.
2026 Boys Showcase Award Winners
Alumni Game MVP
Calvin Marshall – Henry Ford CC
MVP
Judah Prince-Noel — Lincoln Prep, Canada, 2026
Audra Jackson Mr. Hustle Award
Joshniel Nieves — John Marshall High School, 2026
Kyle Jackson Playmaker Award
Jadan Gill — Valley Forge High School, 2027
Eikenberry Defensive Stopper Award
Kellen Balog — Western Reserve High School, 2028
Top Showcase Award Recipients
- Darius Chappell— Garrett Morgan, 2027
- Dominic Bell— Run the Show Prep, 2025
- Payton Spencer-Jackson— Akron Firestone, 2027
- Grant Gosa— VASJ, 2027
- Avery Atkins— Lorain CC, 2026
- Jordan Campbell— Garfield Heights, 2027
- Emmanuel Steele— Canada, 2026
- Vincent Mauro— Columbus Pickerington, 2025
- Jayveon Roe— Lorain CC, 2027
- Blake Mullaly— Rootstown, 2027
- Caden Stombaugh— Abeka Homeschool, 2028
- Dereon Barber— Richmond Heights, 2028
The talent level made selecting the top performers incredibly difficult.
After reviewing film from the showcase, it became even more apparent just how many deserving players participated. Narrowing the group down to only a select number of award recipients was one of the hardest parts of the event.
That is a true testament to the level of talent that continues to attend the I.C.Change Basketball Showcase year after year.
Not everyone will leave with a trophy.
Not everyone will receive an offer that day.
But every athlete is given a legitimate opportunity to compete, be evaluated, build relationships, and be seen.
Sometimes, one opportunity can change everything.
The Next Chapter: Boys & Girls Together in 2027
“This is just the beginning,” Cunningham said.
The vision is already expanding.
On Saturday, June 5, 2027, the I.C.Change Basketball Showcase plans to bring the boys and girls events together for the first time.
The premium, invitation-only event will feature:
32 young men.
32 young women.
64 selected student-athletes.
Men’s and women’s college coaches.
One event. One mission.
The combined showcase is being designed to give both men’s and women’s college basketball coaches an opportunity to travel together and recruit talented student-athletes during the same event.
The goal is to create an atmosphere where coaches at different levels can evaluate players, connect with families, build recruiting relationships, and discover talented student-athletes who may otherwise go overlooked.
Former NBA point guard Smush Parker is also expected to return to support the showcase and continue giving back to the next generation of young athletes.
What started as a free basketball showcase for boys in Northeast Ohio in 2019 continues to evolve into something much larger.
Adding a girls showcase in 2026 was another important step.
Combining both showcases in 2027 represents the next one.
But through all of the growth, one thing will remain the same:
The mission.
It is about basketball—but it has never been only about basketball.
It is about opening doors.
It is about giving young people a platform.
It is about connecting student-athletes with college coaches.
It is about scholarships and education.
It is about mentorship, relationships, exposure, and opportunity.
Most importantly, it is about showing young people that there are individuals in their own community who are willing to invest their time, resources, and energy into helping them succeed.
The I.C.Change Basketball Showcase will continue striving to provide opportunities for young men and women who simply need someone willing to give them a chance.
From 61 boys competing in June, to 18 young ladies receiving their own showcase in August, to a planned 64-player combined boys and girls event in 2027, the vision continues to grow.
And if the first eight years are any indication, the best may still be ahead.
Exposure. Competition. Opportunity.
I.C.Change Basketball Showcase — Bigger Than Sports.
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