Top seniors of the week 1/12-1/16

Over the past week I attended three games, Olentangy Liberty 60 @ Upper Arlington 46, Trotwood-Madison 108 @ Whitehall 110 and Westerville Central 75 @ Dublin Coffman 60. In this article I’m going to be spotlighting the top senior performances from these games. [player_tooltip player_id="1041814" first="Andrew" last="Wade"], 6’5 PF Olentangy Liberty 2021: Wade is simply a guy who gets the job done for his team and helps you win games. Wade plays really hard, attacks the offensive glass and finishes around the paint. There isn’t much flash to his game and he probably won’t hurt you with a 3-pointer or killer crossover, but that’s not what Wade is on the court to do. Small colleges should be fighting for Wade’s services for the next four years as this is a kid who will help your program. Tylar Foster, 6’1 SG Olentangy Liberty 2021: Foster doesn’t receive the same attention that some of his senior counterparts do, but against Upper Arlington he was the key to a Patriots victory. Foster was incredibly efficient from the floor and led his team in scoring. He scored off a couple cuts to the basket off ball and spotting up from the corner. His shot is funky mechanically but he typically hits from the outside. Foster also had a nice pickpocket of a Golden Bears guard to an easy score. While most games he won’t be leading the team in scoring, Foster is a key contributor to an Olentangy Liberty team that should be aiming for a district title. [player_tooltip player_id="918968" first="Anthony" last="McComb"], 6’2 SG Trotwood-Madison: I’m not sure you could’ve picked a better landing spot for McComb after he transferred from Thurgood Marshall after his coach left for Springfield. McComb will put up insane scoring numbers in the fast paced system that the Rams play in. A 30 point outing for the senior is something that shouldn’t surprise you with McComb this season and that’s exactly what he did on Wednesday night. While his offensive outing wasn’t enough to carry his team to a victory, McComb still shined for the Rams. [player_tooltip player_id="805218" first="Carter" last="Mims"], 5’7 PG Trotwood-Madison 2021: Mims had arguably the play of the season in this one, where he made a crazy buzzer-beater to send the game into double-overtime Vs Whitehall. Mims is one of the quickest guards in the state and really helps fuel the style that Trotwood wants to play. His size is obviously a limiting factor, but Mims is physical on defense and gets into the paint offensively. For D3 programs that are looking to really push the tempo, Mims is a guy that you should look at. [player_tooltip player_id="919026" first="Royal" last="Sibley"], 6’5 PF Whitehall 2021: Sibley had a career day against Trotwood, ending with a game-high 34 points as he lived at the free-throw line. Sibley attacked the hoop relentlessly in this one. In the overtime periods, Sibley would leak out for dunks as no Trotwood player was getting back on defense. Sibley was hesitant to shoot from the outside in the first half, but ended the game with two 3-pointers. How well he shoots it from the outside could be the difference in his success as an offensive player at the next level. Sibley is also incredibly long, he had a couple impressive blocks in this one. Currently holding one D2 offer and one JUCO offer, Sibley is an intriguing forward prospect. Kievon Wiggins, 6’4 PF Whitehall 2021: Wiggins had 11 two point field-goals in this contest, a remarkable number for the senior forward. Wiggins has a wide frame and was comfortable riding defenders all the way to the bucket. His strength allowed him to out-muscle defenders for offensive rebounds and put-backs. He doesn’t have much of a left hand and didn’t do anything from the outside, but Wiggins plays hard and is physical. D3 and JUCO programs should take a look at this slightly undersized forward. [player_tooltip player_id="967154" first="Teddy" last="Brown"], 6’1 PG Whitehall 2021: Brown was a player I’ve never heard of before this game, but his shot-making ability from the mid-range and 3-point area stood out. Brown finished the game with 20 points and made probably six or seven shots from outside the paint. If he continues to make shots from the outside, Whitehall is going to be a very tough out in the MSL. [player_tooltip player_id="918967" first="Tasos" last="Cook"], 6’2 SG Westerville Central 2021: Cook is the most powerful athlete in Central Ohio. You can tell this kid never skipped leg day and that has paid off in a big way for the senior. Cook can just bully opponents with his impressive strength while attacking the basket. He’s the perfect example of why you need to hit the weight room. Cook has expanded his offensive game as well, knocking down jumpers at a much more frequent clip. Cook has played his way into a legitimate Division I prospect, but that shouldn’t keep Division II schools from still prioritizing him as well. [player_tooltip player_id="805202" first="Quincy" last="Clark"], 6’3 PG Westerville Central: Clark really shined as a passer in this game, showing that he can play the point guard position at the next level. Clark’s size allows him to see over the defense and pays off big time when he pulls up from the 8-12 foot area. Clark has really nice touch on shots around the basket. With Clark and Cook, Westerville Central has the best guard duo in the state? It’s certainly up for debate. [player_tooltip player_id="919034" first="Nash" last="Hostetler"], 6’3 SF Dublin Coffman 2021: Hostetler is a scholarship kid in my eyes, every day of the week. In this era of basketball where shooting is so prioritized, this seems like a no-brainer to me. Hostetler moves well without the basketball and if you lose him for even half a second and he gets the ball, it’s going up. Hostetler is limited with the basketball, especially in transition, but as a 3-point specialist you can’t get much better than him. Division II and NAIA programs should be inquiring about the senior wing and he would be an absolute STEAL if a Division III program is able to grab him.