Top Seniors of the week 2/1/21-2/7/21

<p>There were a handful of seniors who made their mark in games that I attended this week. Princeton 61 @ Sycamore 45, Thomas Worthington 69 @ Olentangy Orange 50, Toledo Rogers 31 Vs Ottoville 100, Trotwood-Madison 78 Vs Lima Shawnee 96 and Toledo St Francis 44 @ Ottawa-Glandorf 62 were the games I caught in person. Here were the seniors that stood out over the rest.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="918955" first="Tyrese" last="Hughey"], 6’7 PF Thomas Worthington 2021: Tuesday night was the most aggressive I’ve ever seen Hughey around the basket in his career. While Olentangy Orange doesn’t have a lot of size, I was still very pleased with how Hughey was going to the rim almost every time he caught the ball. It was a dominant first half performance, with 16 points as Hughey scored almost every time he touched the ball around the basket. We’ve seen Hughey show outside flashes, but during the high school season he can dominate in the interior at will.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="805138" first="Josh" last="Thorbahn"], 6’5 SG Ottoville 2021: Thorbahn set the Ottoville career scoring record and the single game scoring record with 45 points against Toledo Rogers. Thorbahn is a knockdown shooter, with a lightning quick release and excellent feet off the catch. His touch is also a great skill, as most of his misses rattle around the rim multiple times and don’t miss very far off the rim. Thorbahn showed off some athleticism with a jam right down Broadway. While it was disappointing to not see Thorbahn in a more competitive game, I thought he was sensational in this one.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="919011" first="George" last="Mangas"], 6’5 SF Lima Shawnee 2021: Mangas scored the most points I’ve ever seen in a high school basketball game with 57 points against Trotwood-Madison. While Mangas does get some leak-out buckets in transition, don’t let that diminish an incredible accomplishment by the senior. Mangas moves without the ball better than anybody in the state, as he executes designed plays so well. Shawnee has excellent passers and Mangas is the guy who benefits from this quick ball-movement the most. I find it absurd that Mangas doesn’t hold a division I offer yet, the senior has produced time and time again.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1042164" first="Tyson" last="Elwer"], 6’6 C Lima Shawnee 2021: Elwer has a lot of [player_tooltip player_id="919037" first="Maceo" last="Williams"] qualities in his game. While both are undersized at the C position, both players are tough as hell and really compete on both ends. Elwer had like six or seven blocks in this one, showing that he can protect the rim at a high level. Elwer also knocked down two jumpers from the baseline, including a 3-pointer. Elwer isn’t going to be a guy who blows you away with a crossover or poster dunk, but he’s such a good basketball player and those kids help you win at every level of basketball.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1106196" first="Caden" last="Vermillion"], 6’5 PF Lima Shawnee 2021: Vermillion is maybe the best passing forward in the state. I was amazed with some of the outlet passes that he made in this game, him and [player_tooltip player_id="919011" first="George" last="Mangas"] are just in sync better than maybe any duo in the state. He isn’t much of a scorer and baseball is likely to be his sport of choice for college, but Vermillion is a high school player who should be praised for his effort.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1106195" first="Brennen" last="Blevins"], 5’11 SG Ottawa-Glandorf 2021: Blevins shot the crap out of the basketball against Toledo St Francis, making it rain from all over the floor. Blevins moves well off screens and gets shots up quickly when given space. I do question a little bit if Blevins can be a point guard at the next level, but when he gets to the paint, he does a nice job of finishing over length. Blevins should be a high priority for all Division III programs in the region, as him and [player_tooltip player_id="967132" first="Owen" last="Nichols"] are both great small college senior prospects. If I were a Division III head coach, I’d be trying to bring both of them to my program.</p>