Top Central Ohio Incoming Freshman Part 3
A list so extraordinary, so extravagant, so full of glee that this writer had to give it you readers in part three. The class of 2024 is loaded with rising stars, great complimentary players and some future pros. All of…
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Continue ReadingA list so extraordinary, so extravagant, so full of glee that this writer had to give it you readers in part three. The class of 2024 is loaded with rising stars, great complimentary players and some future pros. All of this talent and possibly the best prospect from the class just transferred to Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, just goes to show how deep this class is at this moment. The diversity in each player’s game stands out, with each player showcasing what makes them different throughout the entire summer. Part three of this list will be the final installment, hopefully these young men will blossom into the player they can be and reach their full potential.
Samuel Johnson- Worthington Christian: Good size and great finisher in the paint, Johnson will excel as a playmaker at the high school level. A decent handle allows him to go one-on-one with the better defenders in the area, his good footwork in the post let’s him to go to work down low and punish small defenders with his understanding of taking advantage of those types of players. Johnson’s first step is faster than one would think at first glance, but it is effective in his ability to get to the rim. His long arms and good basketball instincts give him the potential to also be a rim protector in the long run. Johnson is an intriguing prospect with a good upside because of his skillset and size, some defensive tweaks and he can be a solid high school player.
Trenton Minor- Big Walnut: Minor has good size for his age with a frame that can hold more weight as he ages. His handle is good relative to his position, age and height with clever and fancy ways to finish at the basket. Minor’s size allows him to put smaller players in the post and take advantage of them. Once he improves his footwork, Minor will become a real threat in the post. A good understanding of filling the lanes on fast breaks highlights how good he is at transition offense. Defensively, Minor can slide his feet and keep his man in front of him on the perimeter. With steady improvement, Minor will be a solid prospect by the end of his high school career.
Jahari Childs- Westerville South: The lefty is another young man with a good frame that will let his body hold good size, with broad shoulders and a nice upper body. On offense, Childs is a good one-on-one player with plenty of moves he can use on defenders. He has a soft touch around the rim and his strong upper body allows him to get his shots up through contact. Childs gets to the rim with his handle and his nice first step. Defenders cannot play him too far because Childs seems to be a streaky shooter so far. His defense can and will improve with age and better knowledge of what offensive players want to do.
KJ Jones- Columbus International: In four years, this young man will be one of most talked about players not only in the Columbus City League but in the entire area. Standing at 6-foot-6, Jones is a raw athlete with so much time and so many ways to add on to his skillset. He has great hands, especially the ability to catch the ball in traffic, and keeps the ball high once he catches it so that no one can come close to blocking it. Jones can finish around the basket with his soft touch and has good feet in the post. Once he gets into a weight room consistently to pack on some muscle and get a reliable jumper in his arsenal and watch his stock act like a Fat Joe song and go “all the way up.”
Bailey Cramer- Circleville: The Eli Manning of freshman hoopers (in the nicest way possible), being completely unphased when the ball is in his hand and he is running the show. A pretty nice athlete that has not learned how to use it in game play yet, relying on his skill and technique to beat defenders. Cramer is a really good finisher as well. Competes at a high level and takes contact well and still gets his shot off over defenders while still being a good shooter. Defensively, this kid is a bulldog with quick hands that plays with an edge and is not afraid to stick his nose in there and get dirty. Cramer can contribute immediately to a Circleville team that does a good job at developing its young players.
Ethan Stare- Newark: Built older than he looks and uses it to his advantage when he drops that shoulder and turns the corner to go to the rim. Stare does not stare down his teammates because he is an excellent passer with great vision and the knowledge of getting where he wants to on the court. Plays with high IQ and can play team defense really well with his rotations and the way he plays the passing lanes. Cramer can go right with the best of them in his class, close to being unstoppable with that hand but to excel at the next level he will need to develop that part of his game. A promising prospect that may take longer to fully develop than others, but he seems to be worth the wait.
Day’von Diles- Pickerington Central: What could be the next in a long line of great guards to walk the hallways of Pickerington Central and everyone loves watching basketball players that wear specs. A speedster who wants to run and run some more because he has a great handle and is not afraid to get a little flashy in the open court. Diles is a fearless attacker of the basket, driving with a controlled recklessness that is admirable and his small body can absorb contact very well. He will pull up if the defender leaves their hand down and while his jumper does not fall with regularity, his form suggests that his jumper will get better with more time. The athletic powerhouse that is Pickerington Central continues to get good guard play with the addition of Diles, who in a few years can become a sleeper guard small schools could use.