Future Spotlight: University Titans at North Central

<p>On January 4th the University Titans led 31-8 at halftime over North Central High School. The lead ballooned to 29 late into the third quarter before University made a big line change, bringing in the second unit. For North Central, much of the same players remained on the floor to finish it out. It's a tough situation for a young team like North Central who hasn't seen the season go as they might have hoped. They faced a University squad who sits just outside most 3A top ten rankings. You could see the frustration mount in some of the younger players on North Central, but even as they faced a big deficit, they persevered.</p> <p>It was "garbage time," but one man's trash is another man's treasure. University's underclassmen took the court and seized the opportunity for extended minutes, while North Central's young team never relented and wound up tying the second half 31-31. They showed potential, but more importantly displayed the desire to get better. It was one of those games, as a neutral spectator, I could ignore the score and enjoy simply watching the game. Here are a few underclassmen who caught my eye.</p> <p><strong>Elijah Williams</strong> (2024) G/F North Central</p> <p>Williams ran point for much of the game and did so at a blistering pace. He is a confident, aggressive guard, who pushes the pace and wants to influence every aspect of the game. Sometimes confidence can be harder to teach than skill, Williams doesn't have that problem. He's a strong guard who can twist and turn inside to get his looks at the rim, but he looks to pass as much as he looks to score. He's creative in finding passing lanes (sometimes a bit too creative), but his skill is evident. Just a sophomore, Williams already knows who to beat off the dribble, and who to take to the post. Some offseason work to sure up his jump shot off the dribble could unlock the guards' game next season.</p> <p><strong>Gelonni Ervin</strong> (2025) G/F North Central</p> <p>Eyes go to Ervin as soon as you walk into the gym. He's got that basketball body, tall, long, and plenty of frame to fill out. He plays mostly on the wing and exhibited a good handle that doesn't come easy for freshmen with his length. Offensively he's raw. He was able to go inside and finish but was hesitant to pull the trigger from further out. The real flashes came from his defensive effort and his movement on the court. A lot of times younger kids can overthink their time with the ball, but off-ball they think less and flow more naturally. This is the case with Ervin, which makes even more sense when you watch him defensively. He didn't back down from stronger offensive players in the post and showed good instincts blocking a couple of shots. Ervin could be an elite shot-blocker if he's able to get stronger and hold his ground inside. </p> <p><strong>Jacori Ervin</strong> (2024) C North Central</p> <p>The third underclassman in North Central's starting five, Jacori Ervin is another tall, long-player who oozes potential. He plays mostly around the paint, using his great length to snag boards or offer up shots from all around the key. He seemed most effective when given room at the free-throw line, taking most of his shots from that spot. He has good instincts but like Gelonni Ervin, he seems to overthink at times when the ball is in his hands. I know first-hand how hard it is being the skinny guy in the post, but Jacori shows a lot of fight defensively and doesn't back down. He's a player I could see getting on a roll if he just gets a few shots/plays to go his way. </p> <p><strong>Gabe Heimbigner</strong> (2024) G/F University </p> <p>Heimbigner is another taller player with a guard skill set. He doesn't quite jump out at you like other taller, longer players, but the University sophomore already has a strong base that keeps him on balance at all times. His good foundation leads to good lift on his jump shots and keeps his shot consistently squared. He's comfortable inside or out, is solid with the dribble, and can light it up from three-point. The most striking part of his game is how natural he looks in every phase. Passing, triple-threat, using screens, Heimbigner looks at home on the court. University has a lot of upperclassmen, and I am going to keep a close eye on Gabe next season when playing time should open up.</p> <p><strong>AJ Wolfe</strong> (2024) G University</p> <p>Wolfe played early in the contest and showed why spacing the floor with long threes throughout the game. He's got a quick trigger, sets himself before the catch, and is capable of waxing from a few steps behind the line. You can tell he always thinks to shoot on the catch and keeps defenders honest. Wolfe should continue to get ample playing time as a floor spacer for the Titans and perfect that jump shot. It will be interesting to see what elements he can add to his game in the offseason.</p> <p>These guys are great examples of why you can't waste minutes on the court. They took advantage of whatever opportunity they had, however big or small. These in-game experiences will prepare these players for when their time comes. I for one, will be watching. </p>