Breakout Players in the Northern Lakes League: North vs South

<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Prep-HoopsNLL.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1280228 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Prep-HoopsNLL-240x300.png" alt="" width="240" height="300" /></a>  As we go into the September High School basketball season in Ohio, Open gyms around the area are opening. We will feature the NLL, City League, TAAC and TRAC Conferences. There has always been a battle between the North and the South, in Sylvania, Ohio it’s no different. My first stop is Sylvania Northview coached by Coached Jeremy McDonald, the pre-season NLL favorite who averaged 73 PPG last season return some high-profile talent to play alongside All Everything player [player_tooltip player_id="809616" first="Sean" last="Craig"]. It all starts at the PG spot and NV has a good one in Kenny Biggs...the SG spot is very well in hand with sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id="921806" first="Kasey" last="Hunt"]. We break down these future collegiate players. Kenny Biggs 6’0 PG: Sylvania Northview Biggs is one of the toughest PG in the area that everyone needs to know, he has a really good feel for the game and really showed his passing prowess during the scrimmages, one of the things I was impressed with was his ability to rebound the ball from the PG spot..he can drive the basketball and easily found open teammates, consistently making the right play with his impressive passing ability, on the defensive end he is very aware of what is going on around him, often denying the wing and making life uncomfortable for his teammates as he guarded them, on top of that he is a good three-point threat and just to show you he is not your typical 6’0 PG he threw down a thunderous one-hand dunk in front of several D2 programs that came to watch. His recruiting is unknown but that will change in a hurry. He is the engine on this very talented NV team. [player_tooltip player_id="921806" first="Kasey" last="Hunt"] 6’5 SG: Sylvania Northview Hunt is a long sniper with a quick release. He often would grab a rebound and before you know it, there was a 3 pointer that was going down. If you crowd Kasey he has several go-to moves to get to the basket — he is very crafty and has a very high basketball IQ to go along with his 4.0 GPA. I was really impressed with his willingness to post up and get to his spot with ease in the post. Kasey can not only score on all three levels, but he is a very good on-ball defender, using his length and athleticism as well as anyone in the area, often blocking and deflecting shots and not letting you get to your spot with in-your-face suffocating defense. Kasey has a complete game and will garner All-Conference and All-District honors this season. He checks all the boxes, He can shoot it (X), he can drive the basketball (X), he can post up (X), he can rebound (X), and most impressively he can defend (X) which I think the college programs were really impressed with. He is currently being recruited by several D2, D3 programs.   [player_tooltip player_id="809616" first="Sean" last="Craig"] 6’7 F: Sylvania Northview Craig is due for a monster year, the 6’7 lefty who currently holds several D1 offers, looks like he is in prime time form. Craig is a very difficult matchup, in his arsenal is a fadeaway jumper, to go along with pin point jump shooting from all over the floor. During the time I watched Craig he made 7 of 8 shots, most of them were highly contested, but his game is at such a level that he puts you at the mercy of which way he will score on you. Craig is my favorite to be NLL player of the Year, but his accolades will feature possible District POY as well. I have watched his game grow and his motor and ability to score on multiple levels will be a welcome asset to the college game. He will be the best player on the floor against most of the teams they play, worth the price of admission. My final thoughts: The NV Wildcats are primed for a successful season, led by outstanding coaching to go along with a VERY talented roster, look for them to not only contend in the NLL but make a deep run in the state. <hr /> Next I was southbound to visit the Southview Cougars, coached by Mike Bretelson Upon entering the gym to watch the players you can feel the excitement about the upcoming season, the players were eager to get in the gym and put the work in, Southview which will be picked in the top 5 of the NLL conference has a few transfers that will make an impact but the year will ride with a few key players [player_tooltip player_id="921792" first="AJ" last="Jump"], [player_tooltip player_id="921769" first="Sean" last="Millington"], and Kellen Leake. Here is the breakdown of the open gym. [player_tooltip player_id="921792" first="AJ" last="Jump"] 6’6 F: Sylvania Southview AJ is one of the leaders on his team and will be an intricate part of Southview’s success. He has college size already and can do it all from bringing the ball up the floor to making the right pass to rebounding the ball for putbacks. AJ is a high-IQ player who demands attention when he is on the floor. He has a multifaceted game that will translate at the collegiate level and one of the best things about his game is that he is an unselfish player — he cares about getting his teammates involved and he leads by example. His teammates hear his voice and they respond. AJ has a mature game that will be difficult for most teams to contend with, He can play out of the post, where he was very effective, and when he ventured out to the wing his jumper was very accurate. He can bruise you one play and then finesse you the next and with that combination Jump will be a walking double-double. With his size and skill set, he will garner All-District, All-Conference accolades this season. Jump already has an offer from Ohio Northern, look for that to increase as he will have an impact on every game SV plays this season. AJ is currently being recruited by several D3, NAIA programs. [player_tooltip player_id="921769" first="Sean" last="Millington"] 6’4 PG: Sylvania Southview Looking at Millington, he has all the tools, he has great size for a PG that will be a nightmare for teams to deal with. He is a heady floor general that is deceptively quick. The crafty left-hander is one of the best passers in the conference in that he sees the floor very well and can see the play three steps ahead of everyone else. Millington, showed me that he is ready to lead the Cougars this year, whether it be in scoring, assists or rebounding, he is very capable of grabbing 6+ boards a game, in which on a few occasions he was a one-man fast break! He has speed, size, and a very high IQ that will have college programs drooling to get his services next season. Look for Millington to add All-District and All-Conference honors this postseason. He is being pursued by D3 and NAIA programs. Kellen Leake 6’2 SG: Sylvania Southview Kellen is an unknown that teams will have to put on the scouting report. He was the best athlete in the gym with immense quickness and a deadly jumper. Guards multiple positions. Look for him to be an instant impact player in his varsity debut.   My final thoughts visiting both programs this past week is that both will have success, Coach McDonald and Coach Bretelson are two of the best coaches in the area and they will put a quality product on the floor. Look for the battle between the North and the South to be a BATTLE. Both teams boast talented rosters, superb coaching, and great home court venues that may prove to be the difference-maker when these two programs meet.