Bowling Green D-IV Regional Semifinals: Standout Prospects
Friday 7PM at Bowling Green State University’s Stroh Center you’ve got Pandora-Gilboa battling Crestview. Winner goes to Columbus and keeps the dream alive, while the loser does the opposite.
The two Bowling Green Regional finalists eliminated Mohawk and Maumee Valley last night in a fun night of small-town high school hoops. Prospects in every class were represented, including an NAIA signee and three to four D-I prospects. Not everyone lived up to the hype, but we’ll touch on those who made an impression in our recap of the action.
Oh, and if you’re looking for more team-oriented coverage of what’s to come in this Regional Final, we’ve got that for you too.
Drew Johnson (2018), 6’6″ W, Pandora-Gilboa
The Huntington College signee had a significant defensive impact, tallying seven rebounds and six blocks. After failing to find an offensive rhythm in the first half, Johnson focused his energy towards that end and facilitating. He took advantage of size, including getting to the rim on straight-line drives. Johnson’s ball fake frees up driving lanes.
Cooper McCullough (2018), 5’11” PG, Pandora-Gilboa
Pandora-Gilboa won the second half by 16 points and McCullough deserves a lot of the credit for coming out in attack mode. He poked away loose balls, caused havoc on the glass, drew two defenders on the drive, and 6/6 from the free throw line. McCullough also dropped in a pull-up jumper in the fourth, on his way to 10 points, two assists, and four rebounds.
Javin Etzler (2019), 6’7” W, Crestview
Etzler struggled to find his stroke tonight, although the jumper is collegiate-level as far as release and range. However, he dominated the glass, pulling in a monstrous 17 rebounds despite getting banged in the head and ankle throughout the game.
We also liked the way Etzler moved off the ball on offense. His ball fake creates separation even though his first step isn’t elite. If Crestview beats P-G on Friday and moves onto the State Tournament stage, expect the rest of Ohio to come around on what Prep Hoops Indiana has been telling you for a while now: Javin Etzler is a premiere 2019 prospect.
Drew Kline (2019), 5’9” PG, Crestview
Kline is a hidden gem in the junior class at the point guard spot. The confident lead guard can knock-down triples with his feet set and is confident in his range. Kline also takes care of the ball like a veteran and the team trusts him. Kline had a tough assignment in Zeb Jackson tonight but showed above average lateral quickness on defense. We liked him a lot and believe that D-IIIs might too.
Zeb Jackson (2020), 6’1” PG, Maumee Valley
The sophomore lead guard added his third Division I offer in the past month tonight as Duquesne extended a scholarship. He’s the hottest 2020 prospect in Ohio entering the grassroots season with C2K Elite.
His development has been as a shot-maker and passer. He’s added an interesting floater and runner off the dribble, which he attempts after drawing a stunning amount of separation. In general, the type of space he draws is frankly ridiculous. Jackson is unpredictable off the bounce, he just needs to convert open looks a bit more consistently. However, he shows enough to lead us to believe that the consistency is on the horizon. He also drew eight of Crestview’s 17 team fouls tonight, mostly around the perimeter when he was a step ahead of a defender.
AJ Johnson (2018), 6’4” W, Maumee Valley
Sure, Johnson isn’t your prototypical offensive wing. His jumper needs work and he doesn’t create off the dribble. But, he is very unselfish and loves defense. He made it tough for Crestview’s Javin Etzler to even touch the ball in the half-court for stretches of the game. His athletic length is an asset that Division IIIs should consider.
Steve Coleman (2021), 6’2” W, Maumee Valley
Most of the time toughness isn’t something you teach. And Coleman naturally has that dog in him. Competing against a Crestview frontline that went 6’7”-6’7”-6’4”, the freshman led Maumee Valley in rebounds with nine. He fearlessly crashes the offensive glass and competes in the paint like a forward. Coleman also dropped in a nice turn-around from the block to start the game, an indication of the skill he might show in the summer.