New Names from the Top 250 Expo
Finding new players, I think, is the best part about the Top 250 Expo. The question of, “Did you find anybody new?” is one I ask myself on the way home from every event, really. Thankfully a lot of talented players we hadn’t yet evaluated rolled through those doors in Pickerington on Sunday; here are the best of those players.
Tae’Von Bush (2021), 6’3” G/W, Westerville Central
Bush is a raw, athletic wing with a capable handle that allows him to create space on the outside. Although his outside shot was inconsistent and he was almost too aggressive as a scorer, Bush proved that he has the physical tools of a prototypical wing scorer and defender. His twitchy quickness, length, and size allow him to defend the one through three. Looking forward to seeing if he can crack Central’s varsity lineup or team, given all of their 2018 departures.
Ethan DeWese (2020), 6’4” F/C, Rossford
Simply put, DeWese is a shooter with size and good length. DeWese used the pick and pop to create looks for himself and was pretty consistent hitting that spot-jumper all day. He will likely need to defend the five as far as quickness is concerned but should do it effectively in the Northern Buckeye Conference for Rossford.
Myles Garrett (2021), 6’2” W/F, Reynoldsburg
Garrett is a power player who is most effective as a rebounder and finisher but has game that extends beyond the arch. The undersized combo forward has a little wiggle that is used to create space for his outside jumper. Although he didn’t drop 22-footers consistently, Garrett crashed the glass with power and effort leading to several put-backs. Plays bully-ball on the drive.
CamRon Gaston (2021), 5’7” PG, Rossford
In either his first or second game, Gaston didn’t start, instead checking in at the 10-minute mark. With his team struggling to find offensive cohesion, the unassuming point guard from Rossford came in and ignited their ball movement immediately. Gaston showed tremendous skill in getting to the cup mixed with the awareness of shot-blockers, leading to sneaky assists in the lane. Gaston also has a quick-release jumper that extends a couple feet beyond the arch.
Jack Kolar (2019), 6’2” G, CHCA
His 46-percent 3-point shooting percentage as a junior was a strong indicator of his best skill. Kolar didn’t disappoint Sunday, showing excellent balance and shooting mechanics whenever he got space. If his feet are set, forget about it — it’s going in. But we also liked Kolar’s pull-up jumper in that his shooting fundamentals were consistent even off motion. He carries a 3.7 GPA and scored a 27 on the ACT.
Andrew Petkac (2021), 6’5” C, Berea Midpark
Petkac uses size and a high basketball IQ to make an impact in the paint. A plodding big, Petkac excuses his matchup out of the paint with box-outs, often clearing the way for someone else to grab a board. His shooting touch was inconsistent, but he can bury an opponent for easy looks. Improving his mobility, though, will be the challenge for Petkac, a kid who clearly knows how to play the game.
Jeremy Sanchez (2019), 6’1” PG, North Ridgeville
Tremendous crossovers led to easy points for the North Ridgeville senior. He got to the rim in a hurry by getting defenders off-balance on the attack, often finishing with a finger-roll off the glass. Sanchez keeps a low-dribble while changing direction and showed good court sense in the lane. The ever-elusive slasher didn’t settle for many jumpers, so we’re not sure of his capability from deep. He carries a 3.3 GPA and didn’t indicate his ACT score on the registration sheet.