Top Central Ohio Incoming Freshman Part 2
To paraphrase the great Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (known to many as Lil’ Wayne), “fresh on campus are all of these hoopers, range too long, teachers put away your rulers.” The incoming freshmen are truly talented , they all have…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingTo paraphrase the great Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (known to many as Lil’ Wayne), “fresh on campus are all of these hoopers, range too long, teachers put away your rulers.” The incoming freshmen are truly talented , they all have distinct skill sets and the understanding of the game that some of these kids have shown over the summer and into the fall is tremendous. Coming into high school will be different, specifically this year, for all these young men as they had to deal with a global pandemic and a slower development process in the spring. Despite those struggles, with basketball season getting in full swing these freshmen look to impact their schools and teams in one way or another.
Jack Lamb- Big Walnut: Lamb is built sturdy in his upper body which helps him absorb the contact that comes along with the game. This young man is fundamentally sound and patient on offense, utilizing the basic triple threat position and making plays off of that. Lamb is tenacious on defense, not giving up easy buckets and sliding his feet to stay in front of his man. Showed excellent footwork in the paint after driving the ball and searching for a shot, Lamb can also finish in the paint very well. He can stretch a defense and shoot with range and he is a pretty good passer. Lamb displayed over the summer that he is a good building block for Big Walnut and will carry the team into the near future.
Maurice McCall- Columbus South: This kid may have the most immediate impact to a team and is one of the brightest stars in this class, McCall can do-it-all from the guard spot. A smart decision maker with the ability to score in different ways, the Bulldogs have a gem coming into their gym this fall. McCall does not get sped up when he is controlling the offense, then he uses his size to bully around smaller guards. McCall can make plays for others and himself, showing good vision and being able to shoot with consistency. With the culture that coach Spears has created at South High School, this kid will fit right in and will be able to contribute at a high level from game one.
Ibrahim Soumah- Centennial: The long-armed, natural athlete showed good instincts all summer with the ability to defend multiple positions. Soumah has a quick release that can make him a dangerous catch-and-shoot type of player, especially with the guard play the Stars already have. A smooth handle allows this young man to get into the lane and lets his athleticism take over. Soumah is an above average rebounder at the guard spot and can use his long arms to become a better than average shot blocking guard. Centennial lost one of the best players in the Columbus City League, Travonne Jackson Travonne Jackson 6'5" | PG Olympus Prep | 2022 NLG , to a transfer and Soumah can be a cog that helps this team get back to their winning ways.
Reid Luffler- St. Charles: In the words of the esteemed battle rapper Hollow Da Don, Reid can “levitate and let it fly,” and he can do that with unlimited range on the court. Luffler is a scrappy offensive player even though his shooting is great, doing everything he can do to get free. Luffler’s motor does not stop, running through screens and moving all over the court just to get free for jumpers. Reid can nail any shot on the court, which will be important to a team that wants to shoot the ball. His quick release makes it so that his shot doesn’t get blocked often despite him not being the biggest player on the court.
Dallas Tucker- Westerville Central: A small and fearless guard with a lightning quick first step that lets him get into the paint with relative ease with the ability to hit floaters over taller players. His hesitation move is great and that helps him a great deal with his offensive package in transition. Tucker plays patiently enough to get to his spot on the court whenever he wants and his range is good enough that he can rise up and hit shots all over the court. Tucker is the future of this school, his leadership skills along with his playing ability bodes well for his future at Westerville Central.
Juwan Turner- Pickerington Central: This young man is going to be an absolute star at the end of his high school career, if he was a stock, I’d advise fans to buy early on this kid. Turner can do it all from either guard spot, he has good enough vision and ball handling to run the point and can flat out score at all three levels well enough to be a shooting guard. He can defend at a high level, using his strength and quick feet to lock up offensive players. Turner makes sound decisions when the ball is in his hand, knowing when to get his teammates involved and when to take over by scoring. A great finisher when he gets in the paint, Turner can bully his way in the paint or blow by defenders if needed. Pickerington Central will never waste this type of talent so expect to hear his name as a player to be reckoned with as soon as next season.
Eyon Robinson- Westerville North: Rangy, with a nice handle and he is calm with the ball in his hands, Robinson has blossomed over the summer. The most impressive thing about Robinson is how he keeps the basketball above his head as he drives so it does not get knocked down from his hand. This young man plays amazing defense without fouling on the perimeter and is long enough to contest shots at the rim and be a good rim protector. Robinson has a good enough jump shot to become a pick-and-pop type of forward and he is a silky finisher at the rim. Westerville North has a young building block and in a couple of seasons, Robinson could be in the running for best big in the area.