The Challenge: Top Upperclassmen Performers
On Saturday, we hung out with a notebook at Pickerington North for five games of high-level Columbus basketball. To recap, we’ve put together a two-part series looking at the top performances from The Challenge.
Julius Brown (2018), 5’10” PG, Westerville North
Brown’s 16-point first half was a great way to start the day. He surprised us a bit with his effectiveness away from the ball, as teammate Jeremiah Keene played as the primary ball-handler. Brown used his extra energy to disrupt Linden’s ball-handlers with aggressive defense and burn them without the spot-up jumper.
Brown remains unsigned. He has received offers from Anderson, Kentucky State, Ohio Dominican, and Urbana. The 5’10” lead guard can defend for 94-feet with his quickness and the jumper gets more consistent every time we catch up with Brown.
Julian Malone (2018), 6’1” G, Westerville North
Malone is an athletic off-ball guard who impacts the game with athleticism and hustle. He was one of Westerville North’s top rebounders, often flying in from the weakside for second chance opportunities. While he pushed in transition after defense boards, Malone needs to work on ball-handling in a half-court setting. Regardless, he’s a solid small college prospect.
Morgan Safford (2019), 6’4” G, Bishop Hartley
Safford is athletic, long, a three-level scorer, and, apparently, a very good defender. Safford made plays in the passing lanes, showing impressive anticipation in Hartley’s trap. He turned a couple interceptions into fast-break dunks, even bending the rim on one occasion with a powerful flush. Safford was also confident with his pull-up jumper in the mid-range, dropping a couple clutch ones in the fourth during their loss to Groveport.
Curtis Jacobs (2018), 6’2” G, Groveport
The lefty’s high-arching stroke was money on Saturday. Jacobs was so impressive as a 3-point shooter with his college-ready range. He’s a wiry 6’2” two-guard that would be a fit at the Division III or NAIA level. Jacobs finished the game with 16 points on 5/8 shooting from the field and added two from the free throw line.
Antwon Hampton (2018), 6’2” PG, Groveport
Hampton keyed Groveport’s success over Bishop Hartley by resisting Bellarmine commit Garrett Tipton’s attempt to bully him on the post-up. Even though Hampton yielded three inches to Tipton, he was able to force him into tough fade-aways and even poked away a couple entry passes. Hampton has a strong chest.
Until the fourth quarter, Hampton scored most of his game-high 18 points on gritty takes to the basket. But, as Hartley was roaring back, Hampton even drilled home a couple 3-pointers.
Isaiah Speelman (2018), 6’6” W, Hilliard Bradley (Cedarville signee)
Speelman’s presence on the block set the table for the Bradley blow-out win. Spinning baseline and fading away for jumpers, Speelman hung a quick six points on the board. From there, he opened it up and knocked down triples, even outscoring the entire Northland team 17-14 in the first half. Cedarville University got a steal.
Manning “Tre” Baumgardner III (2018), 6’0” PG, Africentric (Minnesota State signee)
Baumgardner’s 27-point thrashing of Upper Arlington’s backcourt was the most impressive performance all day at Pick North. His stop-and-start style at the top of the key combined with a pick left UA scratching their head as Baumgarnder flew in for layups or popped threes. He flipped the game into Africentric’s favor when he decided to be more aggressive as a scorer in the second half, capping off regulation with a last second triple to send it to overtime.
Jelani Simmons (2018), 6’6” W, Beechcroft (Youngstown State signee)
So, we have Simmons at #20 in the senior class. Looking at it after Saturday, there’s at least three players he should be ranked higher than. Simmons’ improved jump shot combined with elusive finishing abilities made him a handful for Jerome Hunter.
Teon Jennings (2018), 6’1” hybrid, Beechcroft
An expected playoff run for Beechcroft should benefit the four unsigned senior prospects they rely on. Because on any given night, one of the four can have a stretch like Jennings did in the first half. Jennings was routinely dropping in quick-release triples after the defense collapsed on Simmons. He’s also a big-bodied kid that can frustrate forwards when they put it on the floor.