Week 1: Columbus’s New Names To Know
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With OHSAA tipping off last week here are some new faces that started the year off on a good note.Here are some players that we will be keeping an eye on after they got off to a hot start. Kevin…
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Continue ReadingWith OHSAA tipping off last week here are some new faces that started the year off on a good note.Here are some players that we will be keeping an eye on after they got off to a hot start.
Kevin Reynald Jr
Kevin Reynald Jr
After losing a ton of key players from last year’s regional final run. I was interested to see what the Lions have in store for the new season. And man did KJ impress. He’s a shorter point guard but don’t let his height fool you, he had a handful of tough finishes through contact in his 22-point outing vs Westerville South. He has an aggressive approach and floats in the air while finishing. He seems very comfortable taking main ball-handling duties as he has the speed and explosiveness to split double teams and beat the press. The one thing I would like to see more is his shooting ability, he didn’t take a lot of jump shots when I saw him.
Noah Gamble
Noah Gamble
Noah is another sleeper in this loaded 2024 class. He will play a huge part to this young and upcoming Berlin team. Noah is off to a fast start averaging 16 points per game through the first week of play. When I watched him play his mid-range pull-up was simply unstoppable. He looked very comfortable with the ball in his hands, he rarely commits turnovers or forces bad shots. Playing alongside Derek Goodman Derek Goodman 6'4" | SG Olentangy Berlin | 2024 State OH the Bears have one of the most talented 2024 backcourts in the area.
There’s been a lot of rumbling surrounding freshmen King Kendrick, and I wanted to see the hype for myself and man did he not disappoint. King shot-making ability is one of the best I’ve seen in the 2026 class yet. His long wingspan allows him to create space off the dribble and makes it harder for the defender to contest his shots. King loves to get to his go to a mid range pull up which is money. Outside of being a great scorer for his age, he tends to miss defensive assignments and can get sloppy with the ball at times. But that’s expected for a freshman playing varsity ball. I’m excited to see the growth and development of King and he will be a force to be reckoned with in the near future.
Playing for a revamped Westerville South Squad, it seems like Juju will be one of the top scorers on the team. Juju has good size and length at the forward position, his play style is a stretch four but he can also rebound the ball really well. In the game I went to Juju was very active around the offensive glass, snagging four offensive rebounds which lead to second-chance points for his team. He’s a naturally gifted shooter and has a really nice feel for the game, he can shoot it off the bounce or stand still. I will be keeping a closer eye to see him progress through the season.