NOE Showcase: Post Players
The forward matchups at the Northern Ohio Elite (NOE) Showcase last Saturday were easy to spot. We split up the rosters with, basically, one big per team. While there were plenty of guards operating around the arch, these four bigs jockeyed for position and fought each other for boards.
Dante’ Wheeler (2020), 6’4” F/W, Elida
Let’s start by saying that Wheeler might not play “post” in college. The 2020 prospect has about three more years until that day comes, and in that time he could become quicker laterally. If he becomes able to defend wings, Wheeler will surely play on the perimeter primarily at the next level. The reason for this wing potential are his ball skills: he always acts as the secondary ball-handler from the forward spot, good vision/awareness, and a reliable jumper.
The reason we classify Wheeler as a big currently is that he has a physicality about himself. When Wheeler drives the lane, opponents bounce off of him — a trait that he also uses on the glass. At the Showcase, Wheeler showed flashes of all these skills, but he especially impressed us with his combination of shifty driving moves, then finishing those takes off with force in the paint.
Mark Mayle (2018), 6’7” F, Malvern
For whatever reason, Mayle’s opposing bigs were allowing him to comfortably catch-and-shoot all day last Saturday. As we wrote earlier in the week, Mayle took advantage by staying hot from deep. He seems to have established himself as true stretch-4. But, particularly on defense, Mayle did act as a traditional big by operating in the low-block. While his counterparts were all smaller than him, Mayle did an excellent job of boxing out and using his forearm to check cutters away from the ball.
Drew Bench (2019), 6’5” F, Genoa
Of this foursome, Bench probably had the best day of the Showcase. First of all, Bench is a fantastic athlete who compensates for his height by running the floor hard, winning position on the block, and having a couple elusive finishing moves (e.g. the spin move gather). Regardless of those physical traits, Bench does face the reality of being a 6’5” interior presence who will likely play at the Division II level against much larger matchups. Yet, his developing mid-range jumper and off-ball placements hint towards a guy who will use his “disadvantages” to cause problems against low-block bruisers in college.
Jaiden Woodley (2018), 6’6” F, Maumee Valley Country Day
Woodley seemed to come into Lima Senior High School with a chip on his shoulder last weekend. Woodley is a soft-spoken kid at a high-academic school, but he really played like a man possessed for long stretches. While he’s still a little prone to get pushed off the block, he was out-leaping kids for rebounds and dunking on every opportunity. He’s a freaky athlete who will immediately have a defensive impact anywhere, because of his ability to move and challenge shots. Also, Woodley made a 360 dunk look easy during our Dunk Contest, which speaks to his raw athleticism.
Mark Mayle (2018), 6’7” F, Malvern
For whatever reason, Mayle’s opposing bigs were allowing him to comfortably catch-and-shoot all day last Saturday. As we wrote earlier in the week, Mayle took advantage by staying hot from deep. He seems to have established himself as true stretch-4. But, particularly on defense, Mayle did act as a traditional big by operating in the low-block. While his counterparts were all smaller than him, Mayle did an excellent job of boxing out and using his forearm to check cutters away from the ball.
Drew Bench (2019), 6’5” F, Genoa
Of this foursome, Bench probably had the best day of the Showcase. First of all, Bench is a fantastic athlete who compensates for his height by running the floor hard, winning position on the block, and having a couple elusive finishing moves (e.g. the spin move gather). Regardless of those physical traits, Bench does face the reality of being a 6’5” interior presence who will likely play at the Division II level against much larger matchups. Yet, his developing mid-range jumper and off-ball placements hint towards a guy who will use his “disadvantages” to cause problems against low-block bruisers in college.
Jaiden Woodley (2018), 6’6” F, Maumee Valley Country Day
Woodley seemed to come into Lima Senior High School with a chip on his shoulder last weekend. Woodley is a soft-spoken kid at a high-academic school, but he really played like a man possessed for long stretches. While he’s still a little prone to get pushed off the block, he was out-leaping kids for rebounds and dunking on every opportunity. He’s a freaky athlete who will immediately have a defensive impact anywhere, because of his ability to move and challenge shots. Also, Woodley made a 360 dunk look easy during our Dunk Contest, which speaks to his raw athleticism.
