Bill Hensley Run n Slam: Underrated 2018 Prospects
The first day of recap coverage from the Bill Hensley Run n Slam in Fort Wayne will fill you in on top performances from the 2018 class. Of which there were plenty!
Here, in the “underrated” article, you’ll find eight players who we believe are being overlooked. The eight players below range from Division I to Division III prospects. But, what all of these players have in common is that they’re underrated.
Jake McLoughlin, 6’5” W, All Ohio Red EYBL / Tri-Valley
Although McLoughlin isn’t asked to score in double digits or anything, few players fill their role as thoroughly as McLoughlin. His consistency in fighting for loose balls and making himself available when ball-handlers were in tough spots speaks to McLoughlin’s mentality. He’s always focused on making the correct play. Also, McLoughlin can play sit down and play some defense, as he continually impressed when defending Division I prospects.
Thomas Hickman, 6’2” PG, OH-NOVA Rice / Westerville Central
We will continue telling you, the readers, about Hickman’s outstanding performances if he simply keeps it up. This weekend, we noticed his level of awareness on the defensive side. When defending the other point guard at the top of the key, Hickman is always twitching his head around to look for screens and talk to teammates. He also is showing great anticipation on passes, including a beautiful lob from half-court.
One of the best Division II point guard prospects in Ohio.
Caleb South, 5’11” PG, OH-NOVA Rice / Bethel Tipp City
While South continues to impress in a true point guard role, he’s also showing versatility this summer when Hickman is in the game alongside him. In these moments, South uses his strength and low center of gravity to receive the ball in ideal spots for a quick score. South consistently finishes through contact at the rim, often converting from weird angles. Crashed the offensive boards, too.
Myles Belyeu, 6’3” W, C2K Elite / Trotwood Madison
Belyeu will be be an absolute steal at the Division II level. Every time C2K needed stops, Belyeu would come off the bench and guard whoever was hot, including centers. Belyeu defended bigs for Trotwood last season too, which seemed like a fluke at the time. However, he is one of the strongest 6’3” kids you’ll see this summer — combine the strength with his effort, and Belyeu is effective down there on defense. Needs to work on the jump shot, but he gets to the rim rather easily for high-percentage shots in the paint.
Dylan Swingle, 6’10” C, C2K Elite / Bainbridge Paint Valley
Swingle is underrated in the sense that he doesn’t have more than three scholarship offers. According to Verbal Commits, Duquense, Akron, and West Virginia have offered, one of which came in 2015.
He’s one of the top centers in Ohio, as he wins the block consistently by pushing others off it. Swingle is more of an offensive player, who has impressive touch on the elbow jumper and right hook. We have real concerns about his ability to contest shots, as players converted hook shots against him consistently. He doesn’t get off the ground very high to defend shots. Regardless, Swingle is a surefire Division I player, due to his offensive talent.
Tyjaun Childers, 6’8” F/C, VCC Ohio Warriors / Whitehall-Yearling
Childers sat out an entire game on Saturday, because of a nagging pain in his lower body. Then, boom, he was back in action two hours later. Not only did he play through the pain at sub-100 percent, Childers was muscling kids around while doing it. Childers wasn’t super effective, but when you have a 6’8” kid with that body who is tough, that’s about all we need to know. Would be shocked if he doesn’t receive more offers this summer, as his assistant coach told us that Childers has been phenomenal so far this spring.
BJ Patrick, 6’2” G, VCC Ohio Warriors / Mansfield Senior
With Guy Schmidt absent, Patrick logged a lot of minutes at point guard on Saturday. Because Patrick scores primarily during the winter months, his abilty as a facilitator this summer is important, given his size. He showed maturity, as he often created passing angles with his eyes and positioning. Patrick also has a nice floater in the lane, another important element for a 6’2” prospect.
Justin Curtis, 6’4” G, VCC Ohio Warriors / Walnut Ride (transferring from Columbus East)
Curtis is about a bucket. Flat-out. The reigning leading-scorer in the Columbus City League, according to Zach Fleer, put the ball into the basket from all three levels. From the outside, his feet don’t have to be set for him to be effective. Curtis scored in the mid-range on one-foot floaters, leaning jumpers, and normal pull-ups. He’s also efficient around the rim.
Furthermore, Curtis showed that he may be able to come into a program as a true combo guard. His passing ability, especially in transition, impressed us. When Curtis had the ball on the break, his teammates ran the lanes convinced that he’d give it up, which led to at least one alley-oop to Adrian Nelson.