Friday + Saturday in Columbus

<p>This past weekend I saw two Columbus city league games, this article covers the top players from those games. Northland picked up a big road win in the City League - North at Linden-McKinley as the Vikings won 60-56 on Friday night. On Saturday 1st in the City League - South, Africentric, hosted 1st in OCC - Buckeye Pickerington Central. The Tigers had a dominant win in that one 86-54.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="921770" first="LA" last="Walker"] (2022). W/F 6’5. Linden-McKinley<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/7E63E5E2-DA87-46CD-AD0C-7AAEF48E564C-crop-4800x3152-1643572985.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1376088 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/7E63E5E2-DA87-46CD-AD0C-7AAEF48E564C-crop-4800x3152-1643572985-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></strong></p> <p>Walker is a very strong physically hard-nosed senior that leads the Panthers. He has a mature and strong build and is not afraid to use it. He was in on every rebound on both ends and got most of them with his nice athleticism and long wingspan. He got multiple and-1s all game long showing his ability to finish through contact. I was very impressed with Walker’s ability in the open court with the ball. He always made the right play on whether to keep it or pass to his teammates and I loved the way he used his off arm to shield defenders from getting to the ball. His athleticism lets him guard pretty much any position on the floor as well. The Panthers, unfortunately, lost this one but Walker went off in the fourth to give them a chance - he hit multiple threes and had very timely buckets. </p> <p class="p1"><b><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/A93BF062-F64D-4947-81E0-AE1C50A8E461_1_100_o.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1374722 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/A93BF062-F64D-4947-81E0-AE1C50A8E461_1_100_o-300x200.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="867940" first="Gavin" last="Headings"] (2023). F 6’7. Pickerington Central</b></p> <p>Headings put on a show Saturday night. He came out hot and aggressive. he scored the first eight points for the Tigers, finished with 20, and did it in multiple different ways all night long. He did it inside and out. He hit a pair of threes, showing off his ability to spread the floor. He also used his length very well on the offensive end by stretching out and getting to the rack time and time again and finishing very effectively with both hands. I loved his post-up game as well. Showed off a multitude of moves and footwork, that combined with his great touch makes Headings someone college coaches need to get on the phone. I’ve seen Headings play three times this year and every time I walk away more and more a fan of him. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="809608" first="Robert" last="Dorsey"] III (2022). G 5’10. Northland <img class="size-medium wp-image-1376090 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/1A4E98B2-BE01-412F-A821-DFDBCB56FAA6-crop-4800x3152-1643573143-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></strong></p> <p>Dorsey can straight up ball. He is a shorter but stocker and strong guard for the Vikings. He can knock down shots if left open and has a great ability to get to the rack. He uses his strong body to move defenders out the way when he is driving and gives him the ability to finish over and with bigger defenders in his face. I loved his movement off-ball as he had very creative cuts to get open and some easy buckets. He really turned up his defense in the second half as well getting multiple steals and even shocked me and got the crowd going with a pair of dunks. </p> <p><strong><img class="size-medium wp-image-1376092 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/31F76AF5-088B-4FC7-B7B9-D39D5B21BEF8_1_100_o-crop-4800x3152-1643573227-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />Tabree Beacham (2022). G 6’0. Northland</strong></p> <p>Beacham was in foul trouble and got limited minutes for the Vikings but when he was in he was impressive, to say the least. His game has an effortless look to it. Beacham has an incredible tight handle and uses it by putting on a flurry of moves on defenders to get them off balance and lull to sleep and then blows by them with his quickness. He came out of the gates very aggressive and other Panthers did not have much of an answer for him. He has some nice size for his height that helps him when driving as well. I also loved his vision as well as showing that you have to respect that when he drives as well. Beacham is a slept on 2022 from Columbus that I believe can make some college coaches happy. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>