Ohio Capital Conference- Cardinal Division Sleeper Players

Photo: Matthew Cletus Gallery

Mark Francis Jr.

December 9, 2020 @ 10:58 AM

Having a division that had two teams finish over .500 last season, the Cardinal division of the OCC is bound to have a few good sleeper players. From seniors looking to make their final for a scholarship or sophomores who should catch eyes early, these players are coming into this season (one has played already) not on everyone’s radar. Young men that are usually considered “sleeper players” have parts of their game that casual fans may not see but coaches and scouts find very important. Every team should be improved with the increased production of these young men. Jason Inbody- Sophomore; Olentangy Berlin: The 6-foot-4 swing guard has been solid so far this year, averaging 7 points in the two games that his Bears have played. Last season he contributed on a small level amongst a young team and was a beast on the glass. Inbody attacks rebounds like an animal, using his gangly frame to snatch the ball out the air. This young man has a game that any school would like to have, with his hustle and the way he defends. Inbody is a reliable shooter, even on a team that struggled that last year, you cannot leave him open on the perimeter. If his team improves from their 4-20 record last year then expect him to play a pretty big role in that. [player_tooltip player_id="919038" first="Omari" last="Effiong"]- Senior; Thomas Worthington: A freak athlete that is the glue guy to this team and integral to his team’s success, Effiong’s energy can catapult a team to big runs and high spirited comebacks. This guard can handle the ball well enough to take the pressure off of [player_tooltip player_id="805137" first="Jalen" last="Sullinger"] while being able to make plays for himself and others. Although he is not a great deep shooter, Effiong can hit the 17-foot jumper with regularity. His athleticism pops out on defense with his quick feet and ability to not let his man get around him. He does all the little things for his team as well, keeping offensive possessions alive with tipped balls or diving for loose balls. If the Cardinals are going to be district champions again, Effiong will be a key barometer. Gio Roberts- Junior; Hilliard Darby: Roberts comes into this season as his team’s emotional leader, the one that can rally everybody around him to get the job done. The 6-foot-2 Roberts is a relentless driver of the basketball who stops at nothing to get to the rim and can finish once he’s there. Roberts matches his driving ability with a jump shot that can get him by for the time being, although it will need to improve. His court awareness is above his years as well, being able to know when double teams and pressure it coming from. He can run the pick-and-roll very well too, probing the defense with a cerebral mind. [player_tooltip player_id="1090153" first="Luke" last="Kuhlman"]- Sophomore; Dublin Jerome: His name is like his game; cool man. Luke has a relaxed approach to the game, being able to calmly get his team into its offense when he needs to. He can stretch the defense with his good jump shot and knows when to take shots and when to pass them up. Kuhlman employs his pump fake perfectly, getting defenders in the air to foul him and getting easy buckets at the free throw line. He is slept on because he is still young and is overshadowed by older prospects in the OCC but this year he expects to break out. Luke Elmore- Senior; Olentangy: With a slight legacy left behind by his two older brothers Will and Jake, Luke is an under the radar player that can have a really impressive season. The close to 6-foot-4 guard is long and rangy with the ability to knock down shots when given the opportunity. Elmore’s role has mainly been as a defender on the varsity level, which is why he has been overlooked so far in high school. He scored 56 total points last season and with the loss of several seniors from the 2019-2020 team, the youngest Elmore should be able to improve that scoring output. Ryan Barlow- Senior; Marysville: He does all the little dirty things for his team, Barlow averaged barely under six points per game last year but his value is measured in everything else he does. When he has his chances on offense, Barlow is a tough finisher at the rim and can space the floor well on the fast break to give his other guards space to get in the lane and kick it out to him. Active hands on defense causes him to pick up weak side steals and get it ahead for easy baskets. Look for Barlow to continue his ways this season as smaller schools should be keeping an eye on this young man. *All Statistics Provided By 270Hoops.com*