Senior Guards with Something to Prove
Reasons a player lands in the Something to Prove series: playing time/opportunity in past seasons doesn’t match their potential, they’re coming off injury, or there’s a lack of college recruitment despite talent.
None of those reasons include being a poor player, because nobody here is bad at basketball. However, these kids should attack senior year with a chip on their shoulder, and here’s why.
Soul Hines, 6’4” G, Harvest Prep
Hines has experienced no lack of team success with Harvest Prep, going all the way to the State Semifinals last year while averaged 10.0 PPG and shooting splits of 45-41-82. But with 2018 graduate CJ Penha off to Taylor Univ., Hines is going from third option to secondary scorer for the Warriors. That will mean less open shot and therefore require more shot creation for the senior. Also, Hines is still awaiting the right college program.
Dallas Patrick, 6’2” G, The Wellington School
This one is about college recruitment. Patrick scored a team-high 16.4 PPG last year after they lost collegiate talent from their State Runner-Up 2016-17 team. So, he has proven a capable scorer, both off the bounce and as a spot-up shooter.
However, we believe, Patrick has always been underrated as a prospect. A wiry 6’2”, Patrick’s physique is suited for the 1, but he’s more of a scorer. With even less talent surrounding him at The Wellington School next year, showing an ability to elevate players around him — a guy like sophomore Marcus Stewart specifically — would go a long way.
Demetrius Terry, 6’1” G, St. Edward
After last season’s outburst as St. Edward’s super sixth man, Terry didn’t have the recruiting breakout we expected coming into the summer. However, colleges will have another opportunity to see him thrive within their college-style motion offense, where Terry seems to be most comfortable. Last season, he was best at attacking a spaced floor, where all off-ball teammates occupied help-side’s attention with constant motion.
Chris Painter, 5’11” G, St. Vincent-St. Mary
Painter is criminally underrated as a prospect, in our opinion. The main reason might be playing time. He was STVM’s third guard last season, coming off the bench and scoring 6.2 PPG. He also played the backup point guard role with Nova (James) this summer.
Yet, Painter has elite speed, yielding production as a ball-handler and help-side defender. His lateral quickness and solid stature allows him to be an excellent on-ball defender also. Painter has a proven in-between game, shooting 69 percent on 2-pointers last season. There’s a chance he ends up as a D-III steal but Painter seems capable of at least playing NAIA ball in our eyes.
We actually think he could be a D-II utility guard. With a track record of checking-in and play full-speed immediately, he’s clearly capable of accepting a secondary role. Also, STVM players are super well-coached — Painter, a true sixth man scorer type, shot above 50 percent and had a positive assist/turnover ratio last season.
Alex Dotson, 6’4” PG, Purcell Marian
Very specifically, Dotson needs to be more efficient. We know he is a premier athlete capable of getting to the rim. But his shooting splits were 36-15-66 last season with a negative assist/turnover ratio. Numbers aren’t everything, and Dotson is a high-character kid with size who does well in the classroom. But colleges want a point guard with decision-making prowess and a capable outside shot at the next level. We truly like his upside and off-court attributes, but Dotson needs to prove capable in those fundamental areas.
JaJuan Rodgers, 6’2” G, Pickerington Central (Springfield transfer)
Rodgers missed 16 games for Springfield last season because of injury. And we’re assuming that a late-summer transfer across the state will force him to miss half of his senior season also. Rodgers, a primary ball-handler with ball-dominant tendencies, needs to show an ability to play alongside good players in whatever playing time he’s allowed. Finding efficient ways to get to his pull-up and score off the ball would be a huge step forward.
Tehree Horn, 6’2” G, Southview
Southview’s senior-laden team surprised the state with their one-loss 2017-18 season. Now, Horn will likely be their primary scoring option after he was asked to fit in last season. Horn is excellent on the secondary break off a rebound and he can facilitate offense. But scoring in the halfcourt when everybody knows it’s coming could be a challenge, yet that role could be the combo guard’s destiny at a small college program down the line.