Watch Out: Potential Breakout Juniors
While this past grassroots season is considered a crucial summer for junior prospects, sometimes development is more evident during high school ball. From the flashes we saw during AAU, we’re counting on nine 2019 prospects particularly to breakout in the 2017-18 season.
Ethan Collins, 6’5” G, GlenOak
Collins wasn’t able to play last season after a late transfer from Canton McKinley. But, when we saw him in the summer, Collins looked like a player that will end up on Division II recruiting boards as an upperclassman. Collins is a finesse scorer that shoots it with his feet set from deep or on the pull-up in the mid-range. He uses his size to play with his back to the basket in the high-post. Should be a strong contributor for GlenOak this season, who is a sneaky team to watch out for.
Milton Gage, 5’10” PG, Chaminade-Julienne
Gage played third wheel for one of the top backcourts in the Dayton-area last year. Since, Christian Montague and P’hariz Watkins have graduated, opening up a lot of opportunity for Gage. He’s not a physically imposing player, but he makes up for it with hustle and quickness as an on-ball and helpside defender. He should have plenty of opportunity to prove himself as a creator on the offensive end too for CJ.
Javohn Garcia, 6’3” G, Pickerington Central
Garcia didn’t have much of a role as a sophomore despite being a Division I quality prospect. Pick Central had experience at the guard spot. It’s now Garcia’s time, alongside classmate Jeremiah Francis. Garcia can create baskets for himself on the wing but he’s an intelligent and selfless enough kid to play alongside other talented Tigers. We advise Pickerington Central opponents to stay attached to Garcia when Francis or Adrian Nelson drive the lane, as he will kill teams three points at a time if they give him open looks.
Ryan Nunn, 5’11” G, Findlay
With Ryan’s older brother Kyle off campus after graduating, the younger Nunn will be the focal point for Findlay this season. Nunn has an old-school feel for the mid-range. His speed forces opposing forwards to brace themselves for at-the-rim defense by back-peddling, allowing Nunn to stop on a dime for mid-range jumpers. We’re also excited to see how Nunn fares as a distributor this season.
JaJuan “Jay” Rodgers, 6’2” PG, Springfield
Rodgers, one of two Springfield juniors to be excited about, will go through the GWOC ringer this season, as the conference is loaded with guard talent. We expect him to surprise folks against top competition, despite hardly playing a season ago, when he averaged 3.1 points. Expect that number to rise about ten points this season, as Rodgers has a good handle and pull-up jumper in the midrange. Creating for others will be crucial for his recruitment too, as he’s surrounded by plenty of talent.
Trey Syroka, 5’10” PG, Whitmer
Syroka’s body is coming along, which has been the major question mark with him during his underclassmen years, and his confidence was at an all-time high in the summer. While his outside spot-up shooting was a known commodity coming into last year, he can now convert that shot off the dribble with more consistency and he’s creating for others more effectively. He’s a much different point guard than Motlow State’s Derrick Rayford, who led the team last year, but Syroka should keep the fellow juniors involved this season.
Sam Towns, 6’6” W/F, Springfield
Over the next year and a half, Towns could go from no offers to plenty of them from the Division I level. It was a bit of a coming out party this summer with Pro Bound, and Towns will look to build on that at the high school level this year. Towns is a versatile forward and dynamic scorer. Sometimes he plays like a stetch-4 by picking and popping out for spot up looks. If you contest, Towns beats slower defenders on straight-line drives. Towns should be one of a few players contributing on the boards for Springfield too.
Jakiel Wells, 6’1” PG, Toledo St. Francis
Wells is another point guard who has shoes to fill and things to prove as far as specific skills. In the past, he’s been more of a defensive specialist who causes turnovers with instincts and quick hands. This season, Wells will not longer come off the ball and will have to prove himself as a distributor. He showed flashes of being able to do so during the grassroots season, especially in the pick-and-roll. Becoming more of a shooting threat could help the St. Francis offense this season.
Ben Wight, 6’8” F/C, Thomas Worthington
If there was any question about Wight having the offense through him this season, all of that was settled when their two best guards transferred before this season. Wight is a player we’re excited to learn more about too, but, on tape, his nimble feet, athleticism, and length makes him look like a premier rim defender. Those physical tools also allow him to be a scorer aound the basket.