Central Catholic League Sleeper Players
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In a league with only five teams, the star players are easy to recognize because they stick out like a frog on a fencepost but college programs will overlook the teammates of the star because they do not stand out.…
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Continue ReadingIn a league with only five teams, the star players are easy to recognize because they stick out like a frog on a fencepost but college programs will overlook the teammates of the star because they do not stand out. Each of these teams has at least one player on their squad that coaches and scouts are not seeing, undervaluing or just flat out missing out on. Whether they are seniors who need to be seen before season’s end or juniors looking to be mentioned among the best in the deep 2022 graduation class, these are the sleeper players in the Central Catholic League.
Noah Grayem- Senior; Bishop Watterson: Also a three-year letterman third baseman on the baseball team, Grayem plans to swing for the fences on the basketball court this season. In 2019-2020, Grayem scored just over five points per game with a 16-point season high in 14 total varsity games. He was the team’s third leading scorer in Watterson’s first game where he only scored five points but combined it with smothering defense and making smart, winning plays. Standing at 6-foot-3, Grayem can defend both guard spots consistently and give offense players fits with the way he grinds and competes on defense. Grayem is a young man who could play both sports at the next level and excel in both.
Derrick James Derrick James 5'9" | PG Canal Winchester | 2022 State OH – Junior; St. Charles: The lefty playmaker has amazing instincts to go along with quick handles that allow him to get in the paint when he wants to. “Doogie,” as he is called, has lightning quick feet and uses those feet in transition to fly past defenders into easy fast break buckets. James can also heat up from deep, showing that he can keep his team in games with his jump shot. The third leading returning scorer, James averaged just over nine points per game last season and had a season-high of 19 points. This young man also shows flashes of a brilliant passer, leading the teammate he is passing to and getting the easiest possible basket for his teammate. Even standing at 5-foot-10 (maybe), James has really good athleticism, he has an explosive jump and can get up pretty high and make defenders nervous when he comes in the lane. Coming off of a five point scoring output in the first game of the season, James is excited to carry out the rest of the year and show why he should be considered a prime prospect in the 2022 class.
Kyle Gramlich- Senior; Bishop Ready: Gramlich seems to be the product of hard work and determination meeting will and grit because the pressure he applies on defense is mind-blowing. Gramlich can be used as a one-man full court press because of his long arms and his nose for where the ball is going. He is excellent at sniffing out the ball while it’s in the air and tracking it down like an eagle hunting its prey. In man-to-man situations, Gramlich slides his feet, stays in front of the ball handler and is aggressive at the correct time which let’s his team get out in fast break situations. In the half court, he can get open and be a dead-eye shooter. His 6-foot-3 frame gives him the ability to rise up and shoot over other guards. Kyle is a player that will fly under the radar because his scoring numbers will never impress, but watching him on film will tell scouts and coaches a different story.
Dejon Donnell- Senior; Bishop Hartley: A young man that this writer is biased towards because this writer has known Donnell since he was a kid and watching his basketball maturation has been incredible. Donnell is a worker personified, always willing to put in extra work to get better and showing a passion for basketball that he has always had. DJ, as he is called, had a season average of 6.7 points per game with a season-high of 15 points. Donnell has long arms for a player that is only 6-foot, which allows him to defend at a high level and slow down opposing guards. His jump shot is reliable enough that other teams cannot sag off or leave him open. Despite every bias I have, Donnell is an exceptional player that will only get better once he steps onto a college campus.
Atticus Schuler Atticus Schuler 6'6" | PF Desales | 2022 State OH – Junior; DeSales: Standing 6-foot-6, Schuler brings a presence when he is on the court for the Stallions, providing rim protection and go-to post scoring for the best team in the Central Catholic League. As a sophomore in 2019-2020, Schuler averaged 7.4 points per game and a high of 17 in 24 total games, he gained valuable experience as a part of the DeSales team. Schuler can also stretch out the defense and keep them off balance with his deep shooting, displaying the abilities to step out and knock down three-point jump shots as well. Around the rim, he treats the basketball like a volleyball and knocks it clear to the other side but the most underrated part is that he keeps the ball inbound and gives his squad a chance to get into transition offense. Schuler is on the same team as other perennial 15-18 point per night scorers but his contribution is felt in a different way, and he can do the same thing for a college program.
*All statistics provided by 270Hoops.com*