Westerville North took control early and never siezed the lead in a 63-42 win over Linden-McKinley in the opening game of The Challenge at Pickerington a North. The Warrior backcourt of Jeremiah Keene and Julius Brown were the difference, combining for 31 points and pestering Linden's ball-handlers on defense.
It was our first time watching many of the prospects in this game, so we'll evaluate their performances and much more in our Five Takeaways.
Westerville North's sets the pace
The quick hands and anticipation of guards Julius Brown (2018) and Jeremiah Keene (2019) made dribbling look hard for Linden. Brown especially was instrumental in their defense, as the unsigned 5'11" senior picked pockets and snuck up for timely traps. Linden's lack of a reliable and confident ball-handler also didn't help.
Freshmen to watch
It was nice to finally get a look at Linden's 6'4" guard Chance Groce, one of the most highly touted 2021 prospects in Ohio. Groce played out of position as Linden's primary ball-handler for much of the game, but showed flashes of being a bucket-getter from the wing when given the opportunity. Driving to the middle of the floor, Groce creates space with fall-aways and high-rising pull-ups. Once he's able to absorb contact without fading, Groce will routinely put up 20-plus.
On the Westerville North side, 6'3" guard Camden Ledford shot the ball with confidence, mixed it up for rebounds and earned meaningful minutes in the first half.
Julius Brown as a combo guard
We've already touched on the defensive performance, where Brown truly shines. But, he was also a factor scoring the ball, dropping home 16 first half points. He plays off of Keene, where he can prioritize scoring the rock byway of catch-and-shoot triples. Brown also scooped in a couple easy ones on the break, where he protects the ball from chasing defenders in textbook style.
First look at Julian Malone
Although Malone, a 6'1" guard, is a senior, we hadn't watched him previously. Motor and athleticism stood-out in this one. He plays much bigger than his listed height, skying in for rebounds and converting tough put-backs. He looks to push the pace when he comes down with a defensive board. Strong enough to defend taller wings. Malone didn't create too many shots for himself today, as Keene and Brown handle those responsibilities for the Warriors.
First look at Phillip Alston
Alston is a 6'5" combo forward from Westerville North with an offer from Air Force. On a team that lacks height, he's asked to score in the paint and defend the rim. His verticality and strength led to emphatic rejections and physical finishes. He's definitely mobile enough to defend multiple positions and it will be interesting to see him play more on the perimeter in the summer.
