Division I Columbus District Finals: Stock-Risers
Four Central Ohio programs still have a shot at the Division I State Championship: Pickerington North, Pickerington Central, Olentangy Liberty, and Newark. Here’s how we got there: Pickerington North over Thomas Worthington, 72-60 Pickerington Central over Reynoldsburg, 50-49 Olentangy Liberty…
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Continue ReadingFour Central Ohio programs still have a shot at the Division I State Championship: Pickerington North, Pickerington Central, Olentangy Liberty, and Newark.
Here’s how we got there:
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Pickerington North over Thomas Worthington, 72-60
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Pickerington Central over Reynoldsburg, 50-49
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Olentangy Liberty over Hilliard Davidson, 72-65
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Newark over Olentangy Orange, 64-53
Those four games took place Saturday at the Columbus Convention Center, setting up matchups of Pickerington North vs. Newark and Pickerington Central vs. Olentangy Liberty on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
As always, one of the Midwest’s top hotbeds for college basketball recruits gave us a look at a ton of talent during our visit. Below are our best of the best from the day’s action.
Jalen Sullinger (2021), 5’9” PG, Thomas Worthington
stats: 33 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Sullinger’s ability to create space and convert tough shots off the dribble is truly elite. The sophomore’s sweet spot is the mid-range, but he scored efficiently from the paint and hit a couple 3-pointers off the dribble, too. His leaping ability around the rim allowed him to finish over shot-blockers. Talented ball-handler. Ran the show all day for the Cards.
Jack Sawyer (2021), 6’5” F, Pickerington North
stats: 22 points, 8 rebounds
Sawyer’s combination of power and mobility has already earned him a spot in Ohio State’s football program and a top five national ranking among sophomore football prospects — the athleticism is well-documented.
Sawyer, though, is also a very instinctual basketball player. Off the defensive glass or a steal, he made the right pass in transition on time. He also shows a good feel in the half-court when he catches in the high post and faces up or looks to turn the corner.
His hedges against the pick-and-roll forced the lofted passes out of the ball-handler’s hands.
Idris Lawrence (2021), 5’10” PG, Pickerington North
stats: 12 points, 2 rebounds
Lawrence’s slashing ability is tough to contain for opposing point guards. He changes directions with speed and impressive balance. Elusive footwork around the basket — the ambidextrous finisher uses euro steps and spin moves while incorporating the backboard. His long arms help him as a passer, as he finds ways to deliver assists in congested areas. Lawrence wasn’t willing to take open jumpers.
Although many of Sullinger’s buckets came against Lawrence, they weren’t easy looks. Lawrence is a lengthy athlete at 5’10” who was there with a hand up on most of those pull-ups. Nice defender at the point of attack.
Casey George (2021), 5’9” PG, Pickerington North
stats: 11 points, 2 rebounds
George’s impact was all about being in the right place at the right time. To be clear, the positioning wasn’t by accident — George just really knows how to play. Scored a quick seven points as soon as he checked in. Those buckets came on a timely dive towards the rim, an open 3-pointer, then was rewarded for running to the rim in transition. Also picked off a couple balls on help-side defense. Draws charges, even if they weren’t called his way Saturday. Confident kid. Lot of intrigue as an off-ball point guard and secondary ball-handler.
Javohn Garcia (2019), 6’3” PG, Pickerington Central
stats: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Garcia’s command of the game as a facilitator and defender continues to impress. It almost seems like ball-handlers shouldn’t put the ball on the floor when Garcia is defending them. He simply beats guys to the spot and uses his long arms to cause turnovers several times each game. Offensively, he delivered the ball to teammates in places where they can be effective. In the fourth quarter, though, Garcia put his head down and found a way to get to the free throw line when Pick Central needed a scoring boost.
Cole Landis (2019), 6’6” F/C, Pickerington Central
stats: 11 points, 9 rebounds
Landis was tremendous around the basket offensively, whether it was sticking to it on second chance scores or sealing his defender for post-ups. The Rio Grande commit showed scoring touch over the shoulder. He has continually built up his body and Reynoldsburg had a tough time keeping him away from the ball on scrambles in the paint. He was also able to switch onto Reynoldsburg’s wings and keep up.
Ben Fort (2019), 6’5” W, Reynoldsburg
stats: 15 points, 1 rebound
None of Fort’s game-high 15 points came easy in his final game. The unsigned senior used his length to finish inside through traffic. Very fluid athlete who will only get better with time. Shot the ball well with space. Tough to get a look at his defensive progress as Reynoldsburg stayed in a zone. But, his contests at the rim coming over from help-side spoke to his athleticism.
Xavier Prince (2019), 6’3” G/W, Reynoldsburg
stats: 9 points, 7 rebounds
Prince is an active wing who can apply defensive pressure and score the ball. Defends a couple different positions around the perimeter. Converted clutch free throws. Prince also slashes with success. Most impressive, though, is the effort — several of his boards came on loose ball rebounds.
Nick Nakasian (2019), 6’3” G/W, Olentangy Liberty
stats: 16 points, 3 rebounds
Carnegie Mellon stole one in Nakasian, he can play at a Division II level.
Nakasian had an efficient game, finding his points within the offense. He can drive hard right or left and uses a strong frame to handle contact on finishes. The right-hander finished around length with the left on a few occasions. Continues to be a weapon as an outside shooter, despite having his shooting hand wrapped with medical tape.
Ben Roderick (2019), 6’5” W, Olentangy Liberty
stats: 29 points, 5 rebounds
Roderick is a scoring machine. Shoots it from way outside. Handles the ball very well, which allows him to score off the dribble from the wing. Roderick dazzled with his ability to elude defenders in transition with behind-the-back moves and euro steps. Big-time performance from the unsigned lefty.
Henry Hinkle (2021), 5’10” PG, Olentangy Liberty
stats: 16 points, 1 rebound
Hinkle provided immediate scoring off the bench in the first half, scoring two quick 3-pointers and eight first half points. From there, Hinkle cleverly used the threat of his outside shot to pump fake and get into the lane. Consistently drove past the first line of defense and showed an ability to kick-out to shooters in traffic.
Jacob Drees (2019), 6’7” W, Davdison
stats: 33 points, 5 rebounds
Drees has stretched out another inch, standing what appears to be a legitimate 6’7”. He drilled six 3-pointers and hit shots from a step beyond the college 3-point line a few times. The added size showed itself on post-ups, where Drees is patient as a scorer. Uses jump stops and footwork inside to finish against tough defense.
The Cedarville commit is also versatile defensively. We were surprised he wasn’t asked to defend Roderick more often, as it seemed Drees’s length disrupted him in the half-court.
Christian Gillilan (2019), 6’7” G, Davidson
stats: 10 points, 4 rebounds
Gillilan impressed us with his activity on the glass, defensive effort, and ability to put the ball on the floor. While size and outside shooting are the unsigned senior’s strengths, he has more to his game than those specialities. Pretty fluid athlete for his size. Long limbs.
Nik Brannon (2019), 6’4” W, Olentangy Orange
stats: 10 points, 5 rebounds
Brannon made a strong first impression on us with his combination of physical tools and outside shooting ability off the catch. Strong frame and he plays very hard. Will enter the college level with experience defending up because of Orange’s size problem — he’s their center on defense. Brannon can both straight-line-drive and hit open jumpers.
Bryson Lane (2019), 5’8” PG, Olentangy Orange
stats: 21 points, 5 assists
The future Battling Bishop’s ability to quickly change directions and get to the basket is tremendous. Lot of side-to-side crossover moves which demanded a second defender, peeling guys off his teammates. When he wasn’t driving and kicking, Lane was either scoring at the basket or hitting transition triples. Great shooting mechanics. Lane can finish through contact at his size by jumping right into the defender’s chest.
Lane is also very quick laterally on defense and was able to draw a charge in a one-on-one defensive situation by beating his man to the spot.
Drew Ballinger (2021), 6’2” G, Newark
stats: 20 points, 4 rebounds
The Orange-Newark game was evenly played, making Ballinger’s six 3-pointers the difference. The lefty hit four triples in the first quarter alone and was nearly automatic throughout. It was the game of his young life. Ballinger also has solid size on the wing and showed shades of being able to provide secondary ball-handling.
Keshawn Heard (2019), 6’7” C, Newark
stats: 14 points, 11 rebounds
We’ve never seen Heard play a game as aggressively as he did on Saturday night. He demanded the ball in the post by sealing defenders. The West Georgia commit executed quick post-up moves once he caught, taking advantage of his size differential against Orange. Heard also hit a triple on a pick-and-pop, which he’s very capable of.
Heard turned ball-handlers away from the basket, forcing kick-outs and blocking layup attempts. Truly controlled the defensive glass.
Kade Bafford (2021), 6’0” PG, Newark
stats: 5 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists
Bafford didn’t show up in the scoring column until late in the fourth quarter. Instead, the sophomore played quarterback most of the game — finding the right matchup and delivering the ball to that spot. Good recognition and court sense. Capable athlete. Didn’t have to show it tonight but Bafford is also a good outside shooter.