Ohio Capital Conference- Central Division Sleeper Players
The Central division of the OCC will be competitive from top to bottom and it has been realigned with teams who rely on the team concept, built on offensive balance and defensive excellence. Since schools with reputations and histories like…
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Continue ReadingThe Central division of the OCC will be competitive from top to bottom and it has been realigned with teams who rely on the team concept, built on offensive balance and defensive excellence. Since schools with reputations and histories like these have had tons of good players who were overlooked by bigger schools and turned out to be solid next level players. This crop of sleeper players include many juniors, which is possibly the deepest class in Columbus as a whole. This list shows the players that will be overlooked by most but the ones that get them will find a gem that no other school wanted.
Jared Frey Jared Frey 6'5" | SG ISA | 2022 State OH – 2022; Hilliard Davidson: The St. Charles transfer averaged close to 13 points per game last year in the Central Catholic League and he comes to the OCC as a sleeper player who is looking to be an impact player. Frey is a three-level scorer who stands at 6-foot-5 and can do-it-all on the court. Frey is a good shooter from deep and couples that with the ability to put the ball on the ground and get to the basket where he can finish through contact. He can be used as the roll/pop man in pick situations and be trusted to only set a solid screen but also nail shots with frequency. Frey is an above average defender with the ability to block and alter the shots of offensive players.
Joel Addo- 2022; Olentangy Orange: A swing guard who does all the little things that nobody notices for his team and can still make shots when called upon, nobody pays Addo attention until it is time to do something no other player wants to. Addo is a really good athlete who can block shots from the weak side and push the ball himself on the break, he can also get the ball to other playmakers with a good passing skill and pretty good anticipation. In 17 games last season, Addo only averaged 4.5 points per game but his worth will not show up on the stat sheet because the stat sheet does not show things like tipped balls or loose balls recovered and that is where his value comes from.
Aidan King- 2022; Olentangy Orange: The long, gaggly junior is a kid who controls the paint and gets overlooked because his offensive output is not eye-popping. Standing at 6-foot-6, King is a better athlete than one would think when they first look at him but he can jump high and run the floor like a deer. King only averaged 4 points per game with a season-high of 16 but he controls the glass, grabbing most of the rebounds in his vicinity. King has a soft touch around the rim and the height to get his shot off over the top of most defenders because of his long arms. Defense will carry this young man to the next level which is why he is slept on in Central Ohio, but a breakout season this year will help get his name out there
Andrew Wade Andrew Wade 6'5" | PF Olentangy Liberty | 2021 State OH – 2021; Olentangy Liberty: Wade is the only player on this list that has played an actual game this season and he has been the third best player on his team, putting up 15 points per game so far this season. He is overshadowed by the best shooter in the division and another player who is having a breakout start to his season but Wade has been the most consistent and best defender on the team. In two blowout games, Wade was able to blend in with this team and get his buckets within the flow of the offense while being the key rim protector and not anchoring a defense that has not allowed more than 54 points in a game so far this season.
Daviyon McDonald- 2022; Dublin Coffman: The 6-foot-6 shot stifling defender, McDonald can change the dynamics of a game without touching the ball with his instincts and his ability to block shots. His presence makes drivers think twice about shooting over top of him, allowing other defenders to get back to their man and make the offense reset which slows them down and gets them off rhythm. When McDonald does touch the ball on offense, he understands how to make plays for his team with unselfish lazer passes to cutters and creating for himself as well. His scoring numbers won’t be eye-popping and he may not register many blocks because drivers are deterred away from him which makes him a sleeper player but trust, this kid is just getting started with how good he could be.
Geoffrey Schoeny- 2022; Upper Arlington: A catch-and-shoot all-star, Schoeny can tire his defender out by making him chase this young man around screens all night long. He does not make plays for others with the ball in his hand but he is able to get his shot off with a quick release and high arch on his shot. This Golden Bear can also defend better than one would think with quick feet and the ability to close out on shooters, forcing them to his rim protectors or being able to block a shot by himself with sheer hustle and heart. He plays passing lanes well also, showing good basketball IQ and luring the offense in with a false sense of security so he can take advantage and start a fast break. This season for Upper Arlington should be better than last year and that is because of players like Schoeny.