Early Season Central Ohio Junior Standouts Pt. 2
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As alluded to in part one, the class of 2023 is filled with talent (the reason for the part two) and it is loaded with prospects that can be productive at all levels of college. The junior class in the…
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Continue ReadingAs alluded to in part one, the class of 2023 is filled with talent (the reason for the part two) and it is loaded with prospects that can be productive at all levels of college. The junior class in the Central Ohio area, for the most part, are experienced players with tons of big moments in close games under their belts. There is not too much left to be said about this class, so here is the second part of the top junior prospects in the Central Ohio area so far this season.
Carsyn Crouch- Granville: Averaging over 14 points per game so far for the Blue Aces, Crouch is a constant threat to put the ball in the hoop. This young man is a true three-level scorer, he is a nice catch-and-shoot player with a quick release and smooth looking form. Crouch can get to the basket in the half court with a nice first step and finishing ability at the rim, he can score in the post occasionally. His pull-up jumper is also money, getting to his spot and raising up over his defender. The junior is also a nice passer in the open court, hitting teammates in stride for easy layups. The 6-foot-2 guard also uses his quickness to defend, staying in front of defenders and causing issues for opposing guards. His talent is undeniable on the offensive side of the court, using his intelligence and craftiness to score at will, college coaches need to take notice of this young man.
Reece Huber- Heath: Leading the Bulldogs in scoring, Huber has been steady and reliable all season long, he has yet to score in single digits and is averaging upwards of 15 points per game. He has an elite first step with the ball in his hands and is able to get in the lane where he can finish with a pull-up jumper or he can get to the rim and finish. Huber displays athleticism and nice ball handling skills in the open court as well, with nice moves to get past defenders without committing offensive fouls. The 6-foot-3 guard also competes on the defensive side of the court, doing a good job rotating and contesting shots while not getting beat often in man-to-man situations. Huber will be able to translate to the next level with his length and athletic ability along with his shooting ability that has shown to be top notch at the early part of this year.
Brandon McLaughlin Brandon McLaughlin 6'8" | C Heath | 2022 State OH – Heath: The 6-foot-7 rim protector for the Bulldogs can also put the ball in the bucket. McLaughlin has the ability to get a stop on defense, usually a blocked shot, then bring the ball up the court and make a play for himself to score which is a rare commodity in basketball. In the half court, McLaughlin uses his handle to create space that he does not necessarily need to shoot over his defender. He shows that he can consistently knock down jumpers from the mid-range and even stretch it out the three-point line every now and then. Defensively, McLaughlin uses every inch of that frame to block shots while keeping the ball inbounds and not fouling. The junior also deters drivers from bringing it in his area, allowing his guards to get back to their man and ruin offensive possessions for teams. McLaughlin should be a higher priority for teams than he is now, he is long, athletic and versatile on both ends of the court.
Tanner Compton- Columbus Academy: One of the better athletes in the Ohio division of the Mid-State League, this young man uses his athletic ability to defend and his craftiness and basketball IQ to score on the offensive side. On the defensive end, Compton plays the ball in the air like a defensive back and comes up with highlight reel steals while being able to turn that into offense and finish at the rim in transition. Compton can also score the basketball, averaging 13.6 points per game so far this season and he gets it done inside-out. He can shoot the ball very well, with a high arc on his shot and a quick release to go along with it. Compton can also get to the basket and finish with contact while getting the ball over the top of taller defenders at his 6-foot height. As a prospect, this junior should be on the radar of any smaller school in the area because of his intelligence and defensive prowess.
Troy Scowden Troy Scowden 6'8" | C Buckeye Valley | 2022 State OH – Buckeye Valley: Consistent and efficient are the words that come to mind when watching Scowden play, he is able to do a little bit of everything on the court and does it without forcing anything. Scowden can shoot the ball from the deep and bring other big men out to him, while also being an exceptional passer from the post and showing great vision. The 6-foot-7 forward sets really good screens with a strong base and then being able to roll to the rim. On defense, Scowden plays hard and defends the rim with physicality and toughness. He does a good job at contesting shots at the rim and making drivers think twice when they’re going to the rim. Scowden is an intriguing prospect, with his length to bother shots on the defensive end and his passing ability as a big man, some schools should be looking into him as a future player.
Henry Brandt- Bexley: Far and away the top offensive option for the Lions, Brandt is putting up just over 16 points per game and has shown an ability to knock down deep jump shots consistently. The 6-foot-2 guard plays off the ball and exerts energy while tiring out defenders by running around the court and through screens to get open where he can catch and shoot the ball with accuracy. The Bexley junior is consistent as the only source of offense, being at the top of every team’s scouting list and still being able to produce at a high rate. Brandt can be a tremendous small school prospect because of his shooting and defensive grittiness. The Lions are on pace for a pretty decent season and it is fueled by the shooting and play making of this young man.
Dylan Thompson Dylan Thompson 6'2" | SG Buckeye Valley | 2022 State OH – Buckeye Valley: A pure bucket shooter, Thompson is able to shoot teams out of games with his quick trigger. He can shoot it off the catch by running around the court and getting open or he does it off the dribble with a quick first step and the ability to get to his spot on the court to raise up and knock down jumpers. This junior is money from mid-range and deep as well. Thompson is a flat out warrior on defense, drawing charges on ball handlers and using his active hands to cause issues for the offense. He is able to get his team into transition where he shows off his passing skills and hits teammates with darts. The 6-foot-1 guard can get it done on both ends of the court and has been a prospect since the beginning of his high school career.
Ayden Parsons Ayden Parsons 6'1" | PG Worthington Kilbourne | 2022 State OH – Worthington Kilbourne: Able to explode at any given moment, Parsons can get it done on both ends of the floor. Parson is part of a really good team that has three players averaging in double figures, he is one of them, putting up 12 points per game. Parson has had a game in which he recorded five steals, showing instincts and awareness on defense along with the toughness to stick his nose in there to disrupt things. On offense, Parsons can shoot the ball from deep well and he can put the ball on the floor and get to the cup where he finishes pretty well too. The 6-foot guard will really continue to blossom into his own but for now, he is a really nice prospect that can run the show for a team.
Tysen Boze- Dublin Scioto: This will be short because he has only played a few games, but he standout wide receiver has translated well to the basketball court by scoring over 20 points per game so far this season. The 6-foot-4 combo guard uses his athletic ability to not only score on offense but he is able to crash the glass like a madman. Boze gets to the rim really well and can finish with both hands and can knock down pull up jumpers consistently. If this young man chooses the basketball path, he will be a productive player at the next level.