Northeast Ohio’s premier athletic talent factory continued its national dominance on Thursday as SPIRE Academy celebrated one of its brightest stars and a wave of standout performances across multiple sports.Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame representative Eric Oberman presented Saniyah Hall with her 2026 Jersey Mike’s Subs Naismith Girls’ High School All-America First Team jersey during a special on-campus ceremony. The nation’s No. 1 recruit was one of just five players nationally selected to the First Team.Hall, who has committed to USC, capped a historic senior season that included:
- First Team All-America honors from both Naismith and MaxPreps
- McDonald’s All-American First Team selection
- MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game
- Greater Cleveland Sports Commission Female High School Athlete of the Year
“I wanted to grow in ways that don’t always show up in stats,” Hall said. “This experience challenged me to refine the details, stay locked in when things got uncomfortable, and lead in a way that impacts everyone around me.”A Banner Day Across Multiple SportsWhile Hall’s ceremony took center stage, SPIRE athletes earned national recognition in five different sports:
- Women’s Basketball: SPIRE finished 20-2 and earned national runner-up honors with four Division I commits.
- Men’s Basketball: King Gibson earned First Team Junior All-American honors (MaxPreps), Second Team All-EYBL Scholastic, and Naismith Honorable Mention.
- Wrestling: Jason Dube won the 2026 National High School Coaches Association national championship at 152 pounds and was named a U17 USA World Team Alternate.
- Soccer: Sammy Harvey signed with the Seattle Sounders; John Robertson competed for the U20 Turks & Caicos National Team.
- Track & Field: Multiple SPIRE athletes earned All-American honors, with Kadia Rock winning a national title in the 400m. The women’s 4x400m and 4x800m relay teams both claimed national championships.
- Swimming: Strong performances at the Eastern Prep School Championships helped the combined team finish fifth overall.
“This is what SPIRE is all about,” said SPIRE Academy CEO Steve Sanders. “One big moment for Saniyah, but so many others delivering on the national stage across every sport. That’s the culture we’re building here in Northeast Ohio.”SPIRE Academy, located on more than 800 acres in Geneva and Harpersfield Township, continues to attract top athletic talent from around the world while serving as a major regional training and competition hub.