Choosing a college is one of the most difficult and meaningful decisions of anybody’s life.
It’s even more burdensome when a sport is attached, as the factors multiply considerably.
Unless you’re Phoenix Glassnor. The Warren, Mich., native made up his mind in sixth grade. He was going to be a Toledo Rocket.
“It was the first school to get my recruitment going, and once I touched campus, it felt like home,” the 5-foot-11, 170-pound point guard said.
Why UT? A chance encounter.
Glassnor had a friendly relationship with Ryan Rollins and was shooting hoops on a side basket at Dakota High School when Tod Kowalczyk made a visit. The Toledo coach introduced himself to Glassnor, who became a Rocket fan for life.
“I looked up to Ryan as a young kid,” Glassnor said. “I just saw how he flourished and ended up making it to the league from Toledo.”
In June, Glassnor made his affection for Toledo official by committing to the Rockets. Reynoldsburg’s Toby Nwokolo joined Glassnor a few days later in a busy month for Kowalczyk and Co.
“They’ve been really active in Ohio’s 2025 class,” said TJ Peatross, who runs an Ohio scouting service. “Per usual, I think they do a really good job recruiting within the state.”
The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Nwokolo is the 12th-ranked player in Ohio and the No. 62 power forward in the country. He’s been overshadowed on a team that includes four Division I recruits and injuries have hampered his development.
The biggest asset for Nwokolo is superior athleticism. His size and length aid on offense, but they are especially noticeable when he’s active on defense. Nwokolo can guard multiple positions and act as a secondary rim protector.
He had offers from Ohio, Kent State, Miami, Eastern Michigan, and Purdue Fort Wayne.
Prep Hoops Ohio called Nwokolo the most improved player in the state during the past six to eight months.
“He’s just a junkyard dog,” Peatross said. “Strong, kind of undersized but showed the ability to really shoot it, which I think is what intrigued a lot of people. Really good frame for a high school kid. I think he’s got a ton of upside, especially within [Toledo’s] system.”
Athleticism is Glassnor’s specialty. He has won state championships in basketball and football at powerhouse De La Salle. He’s a two-time all-state basketball selection, averaging 21 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.8 steals per game last season.
More than anything, Glassnor is a scorer. His quickness and shooting are visible on film, as is impressive body control at the rim. Glassnor is a maestro off the dribble and shoots at a high percentage from 3, two traits that garner attention from Toledo’s coaches.
“It wasn’t too tough with Toledo because they were the main people keeping an eye on me and staying in touch,” said Glassnor, who had offers from Bowling Green, Ohio, Western Michigan, and Central Michigan. “They showed a lot of interest. I just felt like that was the right thing. There was no reason to wait and lead other schools on because I wanted to go to Toledo. They win the most, so I wanted to come right in and win.”
Luke Harrington, who covers Midwest recruiting for Bleacher Prospect, tweeted at the Midwest Live camp last week, “The best player on the floor is CLEARLY De La Salle G Pheonix Glassnor. Glassnor is incredibly physical for his size, has great burst, and excellent ability to create space off the bounce.”
“It’s been nice to see a lot of colleges, especially the MAC, be more active this June recruiting high school kids,” Peatross said. “Obviously with the transfer portal, high school prospects have taken a bit of a backseat. But when the NCAA implemented these live periods a few years ago, I think it really gave college coaches a chance to see kids with their high school teams.”
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