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Class by themselves
Area's talented juniors have drawn attention of plenty of Division I teams
Friday, January 7, 2011 02:48 AM
By Steve Blackledge
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Only once every blue moon does a metropolitan area the size of Columbus produce a nationally recognized high school basketball player the caliber Northland's Jared Sullinger was from 2007 to '10.
There might not be another player like Sullinger on the horizon, but the area's foremost assessors of prep talent are forecasting that the current crop of juniors should fill seats with fans and college recruiters the next two seasons.
"I would estimate that next year anywhere from 12 to 13 kids in central Ohio are going to get Division I scholarships," said Jerry Watson, director of All-Ohio Summer Basketball. "This junior class potentially is the best class we've had in 15 years or so."
The key word is potentially. Of the aforementioned batch of prospects, only a few have distinguished themselves on their high school teams. They have, however, caught the attention of recruiters because of their size and/or skills.
Topping the list is 6-foot-8 Elijah Macon of Marion-Franklin, who recanted an oral commitment he made to West Virginia as a freshman. Ohio Prep Spotlight magazine tabs him as the No.1 junior prospect in the state.
"I like Macon's size and athletic ability," said John Stovall, editor of Ohio Prep Spotlight. "He's been somewhat inconsistent with his effort, but when he plays hard he's a heck of a talent. You don't find players with that kind of size and skill set very often."
Three Northland returnees - 6-8 Jalen Robinson, 6-8 Devon Scott and 6-3 Ke'chaun Lewis - have caught the eye of recruiters. Each has a handful of Division I scholarship offers."Northland not only is the best team in the area but the state as well, and those three are going to be in the spotlight all year," Stovall said.
One top junior prospect who has cemented his standing is 6-4 guard Matt Bingaya from Delaware.
"Matt has been highly productive ever since he cracked the lineup there," Stovall said of the left-hander who made third-team all-district last season. "Except for a couple areas that need some work, he's got a great all-around game. His biggest asset is that he just plays so hard."
Another top junior, Dublin Coffman point guard Kyle Molock, is out for the season because of a torn knee ligament. He committed to Purdue as a freshman.
What Watson likes most about this class is its height.
He cited 6-11 Eric Weisenbach of Dublin Coffman, 6-8 Stephen Walczak of Olentangy, 6-8 Allasane Kah of Walnut Ridge and 6-6 Nick Archer of Olentangy Liberty as sure-fire college recruits with high ceilings.
"Probably my favorite junior of all is Matt Rhodes of Westerville North," Watson said. "He's 6-5 and has proven that he can shoot the ball from the perimeter and take it to the rack."
By no means is the senior class shabby. Five players have signed letters of intent: 6-2 Traevon Jackson of Westerville South with Wisconsin, 6-0 Trey Burke of Northland with Michigan, 6-0 Brian Sullivan of Upper Arlington with Miami University, 5-9 Stevie Taylor of Gahanna with Ohio University and 6-8 Nate Anderson of Teays Valley with North Carolina-Wilmington. And despite being a scholarship football player, 6-5 forward Austin Traylor of Walnut Ridge indicated that he plans to walk on and play basketball at Wisconsin.
Watson and Stovall agreed that two other seniors, 6-8 Dwayne Bazemore of Walnut Ridge and 6-2 Zack Riddle of Dublin Coffman, could earn Division I scholarships with strong seasons.
"Bazemore will get an opportunity because of his size alone, and Riddle probably boosted his stock by transferring (from Watterson) because Coffman's style fits him better and with Molock out, their offense runs right through him," Stovall said. "Riddle's a good creator and he has skilled players around him."
Other senior sleepers include Upper Arlington 6-6 swingman Wes Richter and 6-3 Whetstone guard Cameron Vines.
"I don't know why more people haven't locked on to Richter," Watson said. "He can shoot, defend and get to the basket.
"Vines is the most improved player from last year to this year in central Ohio. He should get himself a scholarship, either as a low Division I or Division II. He has really come into the spotlight."
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/01/07/class-by-themselves.html?sid=101
Area's talented juniors have drawn attention of plenty of Division I teams
Friday, January 7, 2011 02:48 AM
By Steve Blackledge
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Only once every blue moon does a metropolitan area the size of Columbus produce a nationally recognized high school basketball player the caliber Northland's Jared Sullinger was from 2007 to '10.
There might not be another player like Sullinger on the horizon, but the area's foremost assessors of prep talent are forecasting that the current crop of juniors should fill seats with fans and college recruiters the next two seasons.
"I would estimate that next year anywhere from 12 to 13 kids in central Ohio are going to get Division I scholarships," said Jerry Watson, director of All-Ohio Summer Basketball. "This junior class potentially is the best class we've had in 15 years or so."
The key word is potentially. Of the aforementioned batch of prospects, only a few have distinguished themselves on their high school teams. They have, however, caught the attention of recruiters because of their size and/or skills.
Topping the list is 6-foot-8 Elijah Macon of Marion-Franklin, who recanted an oral commitment he made to West Virginia as a freshman. Ohio Prep Spotlight magazine tabs him as the No.1 junior prospect in the state.
"I like Macon's size and athletic ability," said John Stovall, editor of Ohio Prep Spotlight. "He's been somewhat inconsistent with his effort, but when he plays hard he's a heck of a talent. You don't find players with that kind of size and skill set very often."
Three Northland returnees - 6-8 Jalen Robinson, 6-8 Devon Scott and 6-3 Ke'chaun Lewis - have caught the eye of recruiters. Each has a handful of Division I scholarship offers."Northland not only is the best team in the area but the state as well, and those three are going to be in the spotlight all year," Stovall said.
One top junior prospect who has cemented his standing is 6-4 guard Matt Bingaya from Delaware.
"Matt has been highly productive ever since he cracked the lineup there," Stovall said of the left-hander who made third-team all-district last season. "Except for a couple areas that need some work, he's got a great all-around game. His biggest asset is that he just plays so hard."
Another top junior, Dublin Coffman point guard Kyle Molock, is out for the season because of a torn knee ligament. He committed to Purdue as a freshman.
What Watson likes most about this class is its height.
He cited 6-11 Eric Weisenbach of Dublin Coffman, 6-8 Stephen Walczak of Olentangy, 6-8 Allasane Kah of Walnut Ridge and 6-6 Nick Archer of Olentangy Liberty as sure-fire college recruits with high ceilings.
"Probably my favorite junior of all is Matt Rhodes of Westerville North," Watson said. "He's 6-5 and has proven that he can shoot the ball from the perimeter and take it to the rack."
By no means is the senior class shabby. Five players have signed letters of intent: 6-2 Traevon Jackson of Westerville South with Wisconsin, 6-0 Trey Burke of Northland with Michigan, 6-0 Brian Sullivan of Upper Arlington with Miami University, 5-9 Stevie Taylor of Gahanna with Ohio University and 6-8 Nate Anderson of Teays Valley with North Carolina-Wilmington. And despite being a scholarship football player, 6-5 forward Austin Traylor of Walnut Ridge indicated that he plans to walk on and play basketball at Wisconsin.
Watson and Stovall agreed that two other seniors, 6-8 Dwayne Bazemore of Walnut Ridge and 6-2 Zack Riddle of Dublin Coffman, could earn Division I scholarships with strong seasons.
"Bazemore will get an opportunity because of his size alone, and Riddle probably boosted his stock by transferring (from Watterson) because Coffman's style fits him better and with Molock out, their offense runs right through him," Stovall said. "Riddle's a good creator and he has skilled players around him."
Other senior sleepers include Upper Arlington 6-6 swingman Wes Richter and 6-3 Whetstone guard Cameron Vines.
"I don't know why more people haven't locked on to Richter," Watson said. "He can shoot, defend and get to the basket.
"Vines is the most improved player from last year to this year in central Ohio. He should get himself a scholarship, either as a low Division I or Division II. He has really come into the spotlight."
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/01/07/class-by-themselves.html?sid=101
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