Mid State League- Ohio Division Players To Watch
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With some of these teams and players already on the court and others not playing yet, the Ohio division of the Mid State League has been home to some of the best players in the Central Ohio area that have…
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Continue ReadingWith some of these teams and players already on the court and others not playing yet, the Ohio division of the Mid State League has been home to some of the best players in the Central Ohio area that have already put on some really good performances. It is also home to some players that schools should have their eyes on and some young men who will catch the eyes of fans when they hit the court this season. Last season’s division runner-up, Worthington Christian (20-5) have gotten off to a 6-0 start to this year and are looking like the class of the division in 2020-2021. Buckeye Valley (14-8; 2-0 so far this year) have recently joined the Warriors in starting their season, as well as Columbus Academy (11-13; 1-0 this year) with no team in the Ohio division yet to put a loss on their record. These teams are awaiting the arrival of the 2019-2020 division champs Grandview Heights (22-5) to take their first dribbles of this season, along with the remained of the division; Wellington (18-9), Buckeye Valley (14-8), Whitehall (15-9), Columbus Academy (11-13) and the Bexley Lions (7-18). With only two teams out of nine finishing under .500, it truly shows how deep and competitive this division is, any team is capable of beating the other on any given Tuesday, Friday or Saturday. Here are the players that have already begun to build a resume this season and the players that coaches, scouts and fans alike should keep their eyes on this season.
DJ Moore DJ Moore 6'3" | PG Worthington Christian | 2021 State OH – Junior; Worthington Christian: The Liberty commit is the model of consistency and everything a coach wants in point guard. Moore is coming off a season where he averaged 15.4 points per game and through six games this year, not only has Moore led them to six wins but he is also averaging 15.7 points per game so far this year. It is no wonder Liberty got on him early, this young man shows poise in the face of pressure and does not get sped up on offense. So far he has a season high of 21 points, doing that twice in 2020-2021. Moore continues to display his skills with the ability to score on every level of the court and defend at a high level which will always make him a player to watch during the season.
Tyler Kindberg Tyler Kindberg 6'4" | SG Worthington Christian | 2021 State OH – Senior- Worthington Christian: Kindberg recently committed to Indiana Wesleyan which is the result of a solid junior year, a phenomenal summer and a hot start to this year. As a junior, Kindberg averaged just under eight points per game and this year he has increased that to 14.7 points per game in the first six games of the season with a season-high of 20 points. An excellent shooter, Kindberg can stretch the defense if left open and he can put the ball on the ground and get to the basket when he wants. Kindberg will continue to contribute at a high level to his Warrior team and prove to be worth the scholarship he gained.
Troy Scowden Troy Scowden 6'8" | C Buckeye Valley | 2022 State OH – Junior; Buckeye Valley: He only played in five games last year but he put up 14 points per game in those games with a high of 19 which proved he could score at the varsity level. Through the two games his team has played and won, Scowden is averaging 11.5 points per game, showing that last season’s scoring outputs were no fluke. This young man is more than a walking miracle, coming off a major injury and stepping back onto the court as if he has been there the entire time. Scowden is a 6-foot-7 forward that can get to the basket at will and use his size to shoot over defenders in the paint. He is a joy to watch play and an inspiration.
Dylan Thompson Dylan Thompson 6'2" | SG Buckeye Valley | 2022 State OH – Junior; Buckeye Valley: Coming off of a season where he was his team’s most consistent scorer, averaging 13 points per game in 2019-2020, Thompson has upped that to 20.5 through two games this year. The 6-foot-1 guard can create off the dribble for himself better than almost anybody in the Mid-State League, using his quick handles to create space between him and his defender then raise up and become a knock down shooter from any range on the court. Thompson has a quick release which helps him not get his shot blocked along with the determination to get to the rack and finish. Thompson leads the Ohio division in scoring so far and looks to continue that pace that he is on.
Tanner Compton- Junior; Columbus Academy: The leading returning scorer to the Vikings, Compton averaged 10.6 points per game in 2019-2020 and in his first outing this season he scored 16 points. Compton is good moving without the ball, cutting to the rim with his eyes up ready for a pass and he can finish in the paint when he gets the ball. Compton is also a good catch-and-shoot guard, only standing 5-foot-11, with a smooth release and his feet always in the perfect position. The Columbus Academy offense will continue to run through Compton this season which will lend to his scoring production raising during the season.
Kevin Reeves- Junior; Columbus Academy: Reeves is the second leading returning scorer on a Viking team that has won the only game they have played so far this season. The 6-foot-6 Reeves put up 7.2 points per game last season, including a 16-point performance, and in his first game this season he scored 13 points and controlled the glass for Columbus Academy. Reeves will be huge for a team that finished 11-13 last year and would have easily been over .500 if the ball bounced a different way. He can set the tone defensively with his rim protection and his ability to guard multiple positions. Reeves will be a player to watch because of his defensive prowess along with the strides he has made on offense.
Royal Sibley Royal Sibley 6'6" | PF Whitehall | 2021 State OH – Senior; Whitehall: The 6-foot-7 Sibley is one of the most versatile players in the entire Mid-State League. Sibley has a slender frame but is plenty strong enough to finish at the rim through contact, with really good body control and a soft touch to drop shots in. He has increased his range and can hit shots from the perimeter on a consistent basis. Defensively, Sibley uses his long arms to block shots inside and he can step out to the perimeter to defend guards as well, getting steals and beginning fast breaks. Sibley’s 11.6 points per game were second on his team last season and he will increase that this season because of the development he has made over the summer/fall seasons.
Kievon Wiggins- Senior; Whitehall: Leading the Rams in scoring last season, averaging a tick below 13 points per game, the 6-foot-4 Wiggins looks to repeat his performance from 2019-2020 and help carry his team to more than the respectable 15 wins they had. This kid is an impressive athlete, being able to finish at the rim with great body control and an amazingly soft touch to go with getting english on the ball so it spins in. He is a streaky shooter that is not afraid to pull up from deep. Defensively, Wiggins uses his quick feet to stay in front of the ball handler and long arms to gather steals and play the passing lanes to get out on fast breaks. Wiggins can also make plays for himself and others by getting into the lane and while running the pick-and-roll fairly well, making him someone to keep an eye on during this season.
Chase Ouellette- Junior; Wellington: After an impressive summer, Ouellette will try to carry those improvements into this season after putting up 8.6 points per game while playing 23 games and gaining valuable experience. The 6-foot-6 swingman is a reliable shot maker from all over the court that uses his length to cause problems for defenders. One thing he does that is understated; when he runs to the rim on fast breaks he keeps the ball above his head from the catch to the finish, making sure it does not get blocked. Ouellette can become a good team defender with his ability to rotate and contest shots anywhere on the court. His sharpshooting combined with a bigger role on the offense this year, Ouellette’s numbers have a chance to be eye-popping.
Marcus Stewart Marcus Stewart 6'2" | SG The Wellington School | 2021 State OH – Senior; Wellington: He is the leading returning scorer from last year, 11.7 points per game, which includes a 27-point game and being a key part to the 18 wins Wellington tallied in 2019-2020. A long-armed lefty who can flat out stroke it, with a smooth release and the ability to shoot over the defense as well. Stewart has a college-ready type of body, broad shoulders and big hands. On defense, this young man is a menace with his ability to get in the ball handler’s hip and not allow his man to go anywhere. After an 18-win season last year, Stewart’s game has gotten better and will take on the majority of the offensive load which will allow scoring to rise and more colleges calling his phone.
Aiden Leslie- Junior; Grandview Heights: Coming back as the most experienced player from a team that lost upward of seven seniors, Leslie will lean on the situations the team and himself went through last year and lead this team to whatever success it will have. The 6-foot-1 combo guard averaged just above 6 points per outing in his 22 games in 2019-2020, but he showed that he could carry the scoring burden with a season-high 22-points. Leslie is a left-handed player who gets to the rim off-the-dribble as well as shoot the ball at a high rate from deep. As Leslie penetrates the defense he keeps his head up to find open players on the perimeter and his big men who are around him. Leslie will be asked to lead this team and use what he knows to get them back to where Grandview Heights wants to go.
Cade Phillips- Senior; Bexley: Playing behind the division’s leading scorer in 2019-2020, Phillips averaged 7.4 points per game. Phillips was there to help stretch out the floor and make the defense pay for leaving him open. Coaches and scouts will be watching him to see if he can put up the numbers that his counterpart did last season as the offense will be built around him. Phillps also shows the grit that a leader needs, diving for loose balls and getting offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive for his team. Cade needs to take what he learned last year and apply them so the Lions can improve and be better than a seven win team.
*All statistics provided by 270Hoops.com*