Preseason First Team All-Rural Northwest Ohio

<p>Considering<strong> team success</strong> and one’s <strong>individual influence</strong> towards winning, who will be the five faces of Rural Northwest Ohio basketball this season?</p> <h6 style="text-align: left"><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josiah-fulcher/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Josiah Fulcher</a> (2020) | 6-2 SG | Lima Senior</strong></h6> <p>The face of Northwest Ohio's most talented conference, Fulcher returns as the TAAC Player of the Year after averaging 17.1 points and 5.3 rebounds. The Bowling Green signee is an absolute headache because of his ability to efficiently score one-on-one, often against solid defense. His combination of a halfcourt game and athletic finishes in transition are back-breaking for upset-minded teams. Fulcher doubles as a lock-down perimeter defender who is willing to take charges. </p> <p>Fulcher leads a bonafide contender in Division I. Lima Senior's top players return while last season's role guys developed into star talents this offseason. Their pieces fit with a true point guard, wing scorers, athletes, and skilled forwards with height. At the end of the day, though, it's hard to imagine Lima winning it all if Fulcher isn't outstanding in those final few games of the postseason. Good news for them is that he's capable doing it!</p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-thorbahn/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Josh Thorbahn</a> (2021) | 6-5 SG | Ottoville</strong></h6> <p>A returning Division IV Third Team All-Ohioan, Thorbahn projects as a 20-point-per-game scorer over the next two seasons. He's one of the state's finest when it comes to using his outside shooting to set-up his driving. First of all, he can stroke it from all over the yard. But his ability to put it on the floor after a shot fake or jab step is also very impressive. Thorbahn combines a physical frame with a tight handle to knife into the lane.</p> <p>Ottoville is a sneaky Division IV team that should at least make a district final. Thorbahn and a healthy Ryan Suever would be one of the fiercest tandems among Northwest Ohio's D-IV teams. </p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/aj-adams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AJ Adams</a> (2021) | 6-4 SF | Findlay</strong></h6> <p>Adams, Findlay's returning scorer and rebounder, is the TRAC's best junior. He causes mismatches with his ability to score at a high-volume from the perimeter and mid-post. Adams is a remarkably active defender and rebounder. His versatility and production may power the Trojans into a no. 2 finish in the TRAC, which is tightly-packed after Lima between Findlay, St. John's, and Central.</p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ben-westrick/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ben Westrick</a> (2020) | 6-7 C | Ottawa-Glandorf</strong></h6> <p>The development of Westrick's skillset could lead to Westrick replacing 2019 graduate Owen Heigel as the go-to guy for Ottawa-Glandorf. At the least, the 6-foot-7 unsigned post player will be the defensive enforcer on one of the region's top Division III teams.</p> <p>Westrick's can score it as a spot-up shooter or through traffic. He has a face-up and back-to-the-basket game, both of which involve physical spin moves. He runs the floor and is in tremendous physical shape. His confidence is also on an upwards trajectory.</p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kalen-etzler/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kalen Etzler</a> (2021) | 6-8 PF | Convoy Crestview</strong></h6> <p>Etzler averaged 12.3 points and 6.5 rebounds on a senior-laden State Championship team last year. Now, imagine what the Ohio State commit is going to do this year with the cupboard empty in Convoy. </p> <p>We expect Etzler's numbers to be through the roof.</p> <p>A four-star talent, it's realistic to expect his efficiency as a scorer to hardly wane despite the volume increasing. Even though Etzler is sure to see double-teams, face-guarding, and box-and-ones, his quick instincts as a passer will counter those tactics. Elite rim-protector, too.</p>