Regional Tournament Preview: Underrated Forward Prospects
The regional tournaments for each OHSAA division commence tonight. Each bracket will be cut from 16 to four this week, all leading to the State Tournament in Columbus. Prep Hoops Ohio will cover the action around the clock by hitting…
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Continue ReadingThe regional tournaments for each OHSAA division commence tonight. Each bracket will be cut from 16 to four this week, all leading to the State Tournament in Columbus.
Prep Hoops Ohio will cover the action around the clock by hitting almost every corner of the state with game coverage. Look for a recap that will feature top performers from all of the action this weekend, too.
Before the first games tip at 5:30, we wanted to highlight some of the lesser-known and undervalued characters who could play a major role in the regional tournament. Below are our Underrated Forward Prospects. And, if you missed it, we did this with guards yesterday.
For all of the regional semifinal match-ups in one place, check out our Twitter page. For all of the up-to-date brackets, visit the official OHSAA website.
Jadakis Mack (2020), 6’1” W, Lima Senior — Division I, Akron/Toledo
We kind of did the eyebrow-raise thing when we looked up Mack’s height. He has a presence much larger than 6’1” on the floor because of his impressive physique, leaping ability, and effort. Effort is the key to his impact. Runs the floor, can put pressure on ball-handlers with his athleticism, and creates second chance opportunities. Looks like a Division I football prospect on the hardwood.
Mason Trubisky (2019), 6’6” F, Mentor — Division I, Cleveland
Despite the name recognition that you’d think would come with his last name, Trubisky is quietly one of the most skilled forwards in his area. He can put the ball on the floor and finish or make the right pass. Goes over the shoulder to score it. More than capable outside shooter. Rebounds and defends with length. Trubisky can really play.
Grant Spicer (2019), 6’5” W, Lakota East — Division I, Cincinnati
Guys like Spicer will need to be excellent in order for Lakota East to pull-off the shocker of the season Wednesday night against Moeller. He’s capable, too, given his size at the small forward position and outside shooting capability. Good straight-line-driver with some power. Division III college programs would be more than happy to steal Spicer.
Khalil Mitcham (2019), 6’6” F/C, VASJ — Division II, Canton
Mitcham has developed into a defensive weapon around the rim while possessing the ability to score it inside and out. Protects the rim and rebounds with size. The unsigned senior stepped up in the district final, putting up 15 points and five rebounds. He can shoot it when he has time. Local colleges should be on him, even if his best ball is still a year or two away.
Trevon Wells (2019), 6’4” F/C, Cleveland Central Catholic — Division II, Bowling Green
Wells combines a guard’s feel of the game with an elite package of post moves. Knows how to get to the free throw line with pump fakes and patience in the post. Threat to shoot it when he has the space. Although he lacks height at the 5, he can defend with strength and will not be pushed around. Really solid overall player.
Taryl Davis (2019), 6’6” F, Cleveland Central Catholic — Division II, Bowling Green
If Wells provides skill, scoring, passing and all that jazz, Davis is the blue-collar rebounder and effort guy. Sets good screens and is very physical. Good touch around the basket when he has a look at the basket. Mobile enough to switch onto most guys for a possession. Don’t be surprised if CCC’s size takes them to states, despite the expectation of Columbus South being the team out of BG.
Jonathan King (2019), 6’6” F, Buchtel — Division II, Canton
The Akron Beacon Journal’s recap of Buchtel’s district final recap rightfully leads with a mention of freshman phenom Chris Livingston, who went for 31 points and 15 rebounds that night. Scroll just a bit further and you’ll see King contributed 17 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. He’s not flashy, but steady, strong, and productive. Has willingly allowed Livingston to thrive while making his impact on the boards. Colleges should be intrigued by his fluidity, size, and soft touch.
Bryan Warah (2019), 6’5” F/C, Purcell Marian — Division III, Kettering
Whenever Warah checks into the game, you know what he’s going to bring to the table — effort, rebounding, second efforts, communication, and defensive versatility. The high-academic unsigned senior hasn’t quite filled out but he has a chiseled frame. Pretty good leaper. Sets screens with purpose.
Anthony Maxie (2019), 6’4” C, Richmond Heights — Division IV, Canton
Maxie, in our view, is sneakily one of the top post prospects in the 2020 class. When you start breaking down rim protectors across Ohio, you’re hard-pressed to find many non-Division I prospect who can match Maxie’s combination of leaping ability, effort, speed, and defensive impact. His mobility in transition and in defending in space puts him over the top, too.
Aidan Reichert (2021), 6’4” F, Jackson Center — Division IV, Kettering
Reichert is one of the top sophomore prospects out of that rural Western Ohio region, currently ranked no. 69 overall in the class. Excited to see him tonight out at Kettering after being wowed by his brute strength over the summer. Physical forward with rebounding and post-scoring ability. Good ground game. Comfortable making decisions with the ball around the perimeter. Defends multiple positions, including bigs and low-usage wings.
Caden Niekamp (2019), 6’6” C, St. Henry — Division IV, Kettering
Niekamp’s performance against Minster last Tuesday was truly one of the most impressive individual games we’ve seen all season, considering the stakes and his match-up against a 6’9” scholarship center. That game ended with Niekamp on the bench, though, after falling awkwardly on a rebound attempt. It looked as though his season might be over. Yet, the Ball State football commit scored a team-high 15 points against Marion Local just a few days later.
If you’re going to take down St. Henry, you better have a style of play that can neutralize his dominance in the half-court. Niekamp can step out to shoot it, score with his back to the basket, and control the paint on defense. Tremendous feet and athleticism at 285 pounds.
Blake Reynolds (2021), 6’4” F, Columbus Grove — Division IV, Bowling Green
Reynolds is a very sound basketball player who provides ball skills and efficient scoring at the forward spot. He can defend on the perimeter or take on size in the post, recently contributing nine rebounds and three blocks in their district final to go with 11 points. Capable shooter.
Tayt Birnesser (2021), 6’2” W, Columbus Grove — Division IV, Bowling Green
Birnesser has a strong body as a small forward, allowing him to defend and rebound like a 4. His greatest skill, though, is a consistent outside shooting stroke. He’s money catch-and-shoot and he proved it against Cory-Rawson in the sectional final, connecting on a school record 10 3-pointers in one game.
Wade Sheets (2019), 6’4” W, Convoy Crestview — Division IV, Bowling Green
Crestview’s dynamic duo of forwards casts a large shadow at Crestview, and deservedly so. Sheets, though, is a great glue for this team. The strong wing sacrifices play-making responsibility by finding his buckets around the margins by way of loose balls and second chance scoring. Plays with effort on both ends. His size on the wing helps, too.
JR Lumsden (2021), 6’3” Maumee Valley — Division IV, Bowling Green
Lumsden plays alongside the no. 1 junior prospect playing OHSAA ball in Zeb Jackson. If you’re planning on double-teaming — or even triple-teaming, really — Jackson, Lumsden is a kid who can make you pay. He can knock down shots from the outside or score it in traffic with his big frame. Pretty skilled kid.
Brock Unger (2021), 6’5” F, Berne Union — Division IV, Athens
Unger brings a lot of skill and shot-making ability to the power forward spot. Expect him to become a coveted recruit in this sophomore class as programs will value the combination of rebounding ability, pick-and-pop threat, and inside scoring. Shooting the ball well this year for Columbus’s Division IV regional representative.