2019 Rankings Update: Top 20 Central Ohio Prospects
Per usual in Central Ohio — one of the Midwest’s best areas in developing college basketball recruits — each player in the Top 20 will play on scholarship at the next level. Jeremiah Francis | 6-2 PG | Pickerington Central…
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Continue ReadingPer usual in Central Ohio — one of the Midwest’s best areas in developing college basketball recruits — each player in the Top 20 will play on scholarship at the next level.
Jeremiah Francis | 6-2 PG | Pickerington Central
Outside of a scrimmage at Lima Senior in November 2017, we haven’t watched Francis hoop since his 16U season with Indiana Elite because of injury — a blind-spot that makes him very hard to place in the rankings. Nonetheless, his dynamic scoring ability from all areas of the floor and command of the court still projects nicely once he’s able to return at full-health for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Ben Roderick | 6-5 SF | Olentangy Liberty
Roderick scores the ball efficiently from anywhere on the court. Capable of creating separation in very few dribbles, or none at all, whether it’s facing-up from deep or driving to the lane. He adjusts his release-point as a finisher to avoid shot-blockers — proving capable of finishing ambidextrously from either side of the basket. The unsigned senior’s return from a junior-season-ending ACL injury was the story of the year among Ohio prospects.
Javohn Garcia | 6-3 PG | Pickerington Central
Garcia continued his ascension up the 2019 ranks by becoming even more explosive and capable as an outside shooter in 2018-19. Unsigned senior whose timing on passes sets up teammates to be effective. Rangy defender with long arms who stays active in passing lanes and makes timely attempts at the basketball as on-ball defender. Terrific finisher.
Josh Corbin | 6-3 SG | Gahanna
The future Winthrop Eagle missed his entire senior season with an untimely injury. Corbin, however, had just come off a breakout 17U season with All Ohio Red where he was one of the EYBL’s most productive and efficient outside shooters. Scores his baskets either off the catch or on a one-dribble pull-up going either direction. Effective shot fake. Capable finisher above the rim. Corbin is also a very solid team defender.
Max Martz | 6-6 SF | Upper Arlington
Martz will bring scoring ability, defensive communication, and rebounding ability to Penn these next four years. He scores it very well on contested pull-ups and skilled finishes from the mid-post, even earning the reputation of going up a level in the closing minutes of a tight ball game. We believe he’s mobile enough to defend low-usage wings while being physical enough for small-ball and stretch 4s. Martz stays active when he doesn’t have the ball.
Ben Fort | 6-5 SF | Reynoldsburg
Fort has all of the physical tools to provide scoring and defense on the wing for a Division I program. We paid close attention to his motor and assertiveness as a senior – having previously been worried about his tendency to fade — and caught some encouraging signs. Fort is explosive and long enough to finish through traffic and challenge shots at the rim as a defender. Shoots it off the dribble in rhythm.
Morgan Safford | 6-4 SF | Hartley
Safford is a physical slasher who challenges shots-blockers and gets to the line on straight-line drives. Showed incredible improvement as an outside shooter over the last several months. Makes good decisions with the ball and is a willing passer. Safford provides defensive rebounding and is strong enough to defend up a position in certain cases. Plays hard.
Ben Wight | 6-8 C | Thomas Worthington
A future Ohio Univ. Bobcat, Wight has physical tools that you simply cannot teach — length, fluidity, scoring touch. While he may need to add size to his frame to reach his potential, we like Wight’s ability to run the floor and cover space as a shot-blocker. Capable of switching onto wings and guards for a possession. Slender frame.
Jacob Drees | 6-7 PF | Davidson
The Cedarville commit is a lanky, slim forward who brings a lot of skill to the table. Drees provides secondary ball-handling ability and makes the right play when he brings it up. Effective mid-post option against mismatches. Will stretch out and hit 3-pointers if you put a big on him. Drees also forces tough shots by contesting with length.
Jeremiah Keene | 6-0 PG | Westerville North
Keene will play at Lincoln Memorial with former Westerville North teammate Julius Brown. When the two were together at WNHS, Keene often played off the ball, which really allowed him to play to his strength — outside shooting. While Keene is solid in the pick-and-roll and has great speed, his quick-release and confidence from outside is the real game-changer.
Bo Myers | 6-5 SF | Logan
Myers has an expansive skill-set. First of all, the Malone commit is a confident outside shooter. The threat from outside helps him get past the first line of defense so he can get into his pull-up jumper, creative finishes on the run, and even post-up. Long and quick enough to make an impact on the defensive end. Consistently makes the right play.
Keshawn Heard | 6-7 C | Newark
Heard combines an outside shooting stroke with big-time athleticism that makes him effective around the basket. The West Georgia commit showed signs of being more assertive this season, too. Pretty skilled with his back-to-the-basket when he catches it around the block. He can pick-and-pop. Good enough athlete to reject shots and rebound inside.
CJ Karsatos | 6-8 PF | Upper Arlington
Karsatos is a skilled unsigned 4 who can face-up and make a play off the dribble. Shoots the ball pretty well and has the playing style and instinct of a guard. Adding muscle would make him a more effective rebounder and screener at the next level. Intriguing prospect, though, because of his measurables and skill.
Owen Hazelbaker | 6-7 PF | Johnstown
Hazelbaker will play his college ball at West Liberty and in him the Hilltoppers are singing a very intelligent basketball player. Enters games prepared and communicates excellently on the back-end of a defense. Hazelbaker can also score it with a blend of strength and skill from the post while also posing a threat of hitting shots from deep. Rebounds well, a component of his game that will only improve as he continues to fill out.
Philip Alston | 6-5 PF | Westerville North
An athletic 4 who runs the floor impressively, finishes through defenders, and possesses a big frame, Alston is one of Ohio’s top unsigned bigs and holds several D-II offers. He can put it on the floor for straight-line drives, yet scores most of his points on put-backs. Rebounds athletically. Alston defends up to three positions with his blend of strength and foot speed.
Derek Van Vlerah | 6-6 SF | Coffman
The unsigned senior is one of the purest athletes in the 2019 class on the wing. Not only does he fly high above the rim and finish athletically, Van Vlerah also has long arms and light feet — the tools that should make him a lock-down defender as time goes on. The high-academic prospect has a solid shooting stroke, too. Becoming more comfortable and effective in a physical game is the next step for DVV.
Luke Bartemes | 6-4 SF | Coffman
Bartemes possesses lethal outside shooting ability and a long build. When he’s not stroking 3-pointers off the catch, he can shot fake and slash to either side for a bucket. The Lincoln Memorial commit may be able to defend multiple positions because of his length and strength. Solid rebounder.
Sean Marks | 5-10 PG | Olentangy
Marks should fit in nicely with Ohio Dominican’s 3-point-friendly approach. He’s a terror on the offensive end of the floor because of his shot-making ability and deadly pull-up jumper. Marks has developed ways to score in the paint with floaters and creative off-balanced shots.
Terin Kinsway | 6-5 PF | Delaware Hayes
A former football stud with a uniquely powerful build, Kinsway opted for basketball mid-way through his high school career, eventually landing on a commitment to Indiana Tech. The combo forward has the strength of a power forward, yet plays around the arch like more of a wing. Capable of putting it on the floor and getting to the rim with his spin move. Solid outside shooter. Rebounds with a remarkable amount of effort. Good athlete.
Coleton Landis | 6-7 C | Pickerington Central
Landis uses his solid body to go inside for rebounds, shot blocks, and over the shoulder buckets. Yet, he has continually added consistency to his outside shooting stroke on the pick-and-pop. Communicates well on defense and provides help-side rim-protection. Good feet and hands.