Early Season OCC Junior Sleeper Players
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The Ohio Capital Conference may be the most loaded conference top to bottom, with multiple teams that have state title aspirations and players that have worlds of potential. With so many amazing players littered throughout the conference, many will go…
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Continue ReadingThe Ohio Capital Conference may be the most loaded conference top to bottom, with multiple teams that have state title aspirations and players that have worlds of potential. With so many amazing players littered throughout the conference, many will go under the radar, and the players on this list are those guys. Some of these young men are the glue to their team, some are the leaders and some are the defensive heart to their team but they all are important to the success. All of these young men have different skill sets that are getting overshadowed by the number of potential stars that are in the conference playing alongside them. Coming from all over the conference, here are the early season sleeper players in the Ohio Capital Conference.
Ryan Paris Ryan Paris 6'4" | SG Hilliard Davidson | 2022 State OH – Hilliard Davidson: Playing behind two tremendously talented scorers, Paris gets overlooked but this young man can flat out ball, with only one game scoring digits on his 2020-2021 resume, he has shown he one of the most consistent players in the area. Paris is averaging a little over 10 points per game, third on his team, and has displayed a brilliant ability to shoot the basketball. He has already multiple games where he drained numerous three pointers, being able to nail them both off the dribble and in catch-and-shoot situations. Davidson has amazing athletes that can get to the rim and Paris is an important part of the offense, being key to spacing the floor. Paris is a scrappy defender who competes hard and knows how to run opposing shooters off the three-point line while contesting shots as well. An effective player on a really good team, this young man is a sneaky good prospect.
Noah Lawrence Noah Lawrence 6'0" | PG Westerville North | 2022 State OH – Westerville North: As mentioned before, Lawrence has had a couple of huge performances this season, coming up big for the Warriors in numerous games. The 6-foot guard has a smooth offensive game, with the ability to score in every facet on the offensive side of the court. He has a nice handle that allows him to get in the lane where he can finish with either hand. Lawrence can knock down mid range jump shots off the dribble with frequency and he can stretch his range to the three-point line where he sinks jumpers at a high rate. His passing gift is legit, with good vision and the skill to get the ball to open teammates. Lawrence can also throw teammates open with his passing ability. The junior is a solid point guard prospect with a good upside, one that should probably be receiving more interests from programs.
Matt Butler- Dublin Jerome: The 6-foot-5 post player for the Celtics is their rim protector and the anchor to the defense as a whole. Butler’s instincts and active hands allow him to gather steals at a high rate, he also gets on the ground and shows his hustle by diving for loose balls. Defensively in the paint, Butler does a great job at staying vertical to bother shots while having great timing to completely block them either from the weak side or directly in the face of the offensive player. Though not known for his scoring, Butler can finish around the basket with strength and power. Butler will be able to defend multiple positions at the next level and be effective in doing so.
Isaiah Bridges- Central Crossing: A long 6-foot-6 forward, Bridges is putting up just over 10 points per game and is anchoring the defense for Central Crossing. Bridges finishes around the rim with athleticism and grace, being able to dunk on opponents and shoot over the top of them with a soft touch. He can stretch the defense and shoot the ball from range, though it is not as polished as he would like. Defensively, Bridges protects the rim by deterring ball handlers from shooting over him and blocking shots when they make the mistake of shooting over him. He has an explosive jump that allows him to reach high for those blocks as well. Bridges will be an interesting prospect as his senior year approaches with his length and athletic ability.
Ethan Smith Ethan Smith 5'10" | PG Olentangy | 2022 OH – Olentangy: The 5-foot-9 guard is dynamic on the offensive end of the court, being able to do a little bit of everything. Smith can score on the perimeter, being able to knock down long range shots consistently both off the dribble and catching and shooting. He can also get to the basket and finish over taller players while taking contact. The junior shows his speed in transition, sprinting out and blowing past defenders on his way to the hoop. Smith shows toughness on defense, fighting through screens and getting into the hip of the ball handlers trying to force bad decisions for opposing guards. This young man is a player that would fit in perfectly at a smaller school with his savvy and basketball IQ.
Drew Panning Drew Panning 6'8" | C Hilliard Darby | 2022 State OH – Westland: Long, versatile with decent athleticism, Panning is an interesting prospect because he is able to put those attributes together and utilize them to be effective for his team. This young man is not a big time scorer just yet, only averaging upwards of eight points per game, but he has the skill set to expand on his offensive game. Panning has a nice looking form from deep and is able to knock those shots down, he also has a feathery touch around the rim where he can finish at a high level. He also provides inside defensive prowess for the Cougars, swatting away shots with his good timing and jumping ability while being able to keep his hands active with his length to gather steals. The 6-foot-7 Panning is a kid that is no where close to ceiling and with a skill set like his, coaches should be salivating to get him to their program.
CC Ezirim CC Ezirim 6'6" | C Jerome | 2022 State OH – Dublin Jerome: As said before, the offensive numbers will not blow anybody away, his affect on the defensive end earns him a spot on this list. The 6-foot-7 forward protects the rim for the Celtcis with his athleticism and long arm to block shots in the paint. Ezirim can also slide his feet and defend on the perimeter, using his length to disrupt passing angles and get in the sightline of shooters. He is only scoring a tick under six points per game but he is an elite finisher in the lane, usually dunking on the opponent, and he is a great rim runner in transition with his speed in the open floor being second-to-none for a kid his size. His athletic ability is off the chart and as his offense game continues to develop, Ezirim will start to become a more sought after prospect in Central Ohio.
Aiden Dring- Dublin Coffman: The glue that keeps Coffman together, Dring has played a pivotal role in the early success of his team. Playing alongside two of the best scorers in the entire OCC, Dring is still averaging over 11 points per game and his team is unbeaten when he scores in double digits. As a 6-foot guard, Dring has unusually long arms and uses those on defensive end to knock the ball away, get steals and start transition offense for his team. On offense, this young man can shoot the ball from deep frequently, Dring has a nice looking stroke and gets nice rotation on the ball. He can also get to the cup and finish strong through contact with either hand. Dring gets the Shamrocks out of stagnant moments during the game with his aggressiveness and abilities, becoming one of the better prospects in the OCC’s Central division.
*All statistics provided by 270Hoops.com