Prospect reports: Eric Hanna (2019) headlines strong class at Olmsted Falls
The Olmsted Falls Bulldogs run for a Southwestern Conference championship came up short as they were edged out down the stretch by eventual champion Avon a year ago. They then lost a thriller in the tournament, falling to district champion Elyria by 2 points.
Three key pieces from that unit which went 18-5 return including honorable mention all-district guard Eric Hanna (2019), Gavin Dietrich (2019), a 6-4 stretch 4, and Braden Galaska, a do-it-all forward, who is currently playing football.
Hanna, a 6’1” guard who is getting some Division 3 interest, had a busy offseason that included working out with a personal trainer and playing AAU with a SMAC team.His AAU team beat Ohio Basketball Club, the state’s No. 1-rated AAU team in Hanna’s age group, in a game in which Hanna scored 30 during a tournament in Louisville.
What Hanna can do best is shoot the ball, according to his high school coach Chris DeLisio.
“He can really handle the ball. He understands the game, he shoots the heck out of it,” DeLisio said.
“He loves playing, plays hard,” DeLisio added.
When asked what he’d bring to a college program Hanna said: “Shooting and playing hard 100 percent of the time.”
Dietrich was a starter as a sophomore and has added about 10 pounds of muscle to his frame over the summer. He’s a heady player, an excellent passer who has also shown the ability to hit from outside. He did not play this summer as he nursed a case of shin splints, but he’s at 100 percent as the season looms.
He was still able to get in the gym and work on his skills, which included getting up plenty of shots and other drills.
Dietrich said he uses his speed in matchups with bigger players.
“I can just beat them to the hole,” said Dietrich, who said he’s also quick and agile enough to guard smaller players when he has to switch up on defense and guard a small.
“He’s kind of a late bloomer,” DeLisio said of Dietrich. “He played in middle school but he had not grown into his body. He was always kind of skinny, lanky and now he’s strong and athletic as heck. He really understands the game. For a big kid he’s such a great passer and that’s a big part of his game,” DeLisio added.
Galaska should also contribute. He’s a starting receiver on the Bulldogs’ football team.
“He’s extremely athletic, he’s skilled and he’s gonna be one of the best athletes on the floor every night,” DeLisio said.
As far as the conference race in the Southwestern Conference, DeLisio said it should come down to four or five teams “battling for the top of the conference.”
In that group, he counts Lakewood, Midview, Avon and his Olmsted Falls team. Don’t sleep on Avon Lake, which has senior point guard Jordan Ball returning.