Mike’s Standouts of the Week

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week I attended three games, one regular season game between Westerville South and Licking Heights and a playoff doubleheader between Harrison and Fairfield, then Kings and Western Hills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1432011"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of the bigger sleepers in Ohio's 2025 class nationally, McClure has taken a huge jump this season and leads all OCC players in scoring at 25 PPG. McClure also became the first Junior to eclipse 1,000 points in his career at Westerville South. This was the first time I caught McClure in action this winter and he showed out by outscoring the opponents entire team. One of the top shooters in the state, McClure is money when he gets his feet set. Improving his explosiveness as an athlete, McClure had a nasty two-foot slam dunk with a defender underneath the basket. Always been a tough defender, McClure forced turnovers with his anticipation and length on that end of the court. A prospect I expect to start to see high major attention this spring and summer, he's already become a priority for MAC programs.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["2359074"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Fairfield had no trouble taking down Harrison in a first round playoff battle as the 2025 class of Fairfield showed their potential even without Kam Sanders. Crim is a prospect who has had a strong season, second on the Indians in scoring and had a big game on Friday night. Crim has long arms and solid defensive instincts, causing some turnovers. A slippery driver of the basketball, Crim does a good job getting defenders off of him when he's attacking off the bounce. In transition is where Crim can use his shiftiness and score easily at the rim. A capable shooter from the outside, Crim made a 3-pointer and also airballed another open one, if he can improve in that area of the game he could take a considerable leap as a senior.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1432056"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Harrison didn't have the size to battle with Clemmons in the paint and he did a good job attacking rebounds off the rim and high pointing the basketball. Also showing his potential as a pick and pop big, Clemmons knocked down two 3-pointers on the wing. Defensively is where Clemmons will need to take the next step defending in space. He has the body to be physical in the paint already and will be tested on the 3SSB circuit against some of the top bigs in the country.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2346523"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"For a second straight season Western Hills knocks off Kings in a tight playoff battle that saw a fourth quarter run decide the game. Keita made some huge shots down the stretch with back-to-back jumpers that swung the momentum of the game. In the first half, Keita made a nice move putting it on the floor and finishing with an and-1 layup. Keita has been a steady presence for the Mustangs, averaging 10 points and 7 rebounds a night. With an off-season of development, he could be one of the top bigs in the CMAC as a senior.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["2025118"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Baker and fellow Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1812061' first='Tommy' last='Clark'] did what they could for Kings, but it wasn't enough to stay alive in the playoffs. Baker hit some timely shots from the outside off the catch from 3-point range in this game. Best at attacking a closeout and getting downhill, Baker is left hand dominant when getting to the rim. The floater is a shot Baker likes to go to when driving, giving him a lane to shoot from the in-between range. A prospect who should get a lot of small college interest with [program_tooltip program_id='2289357' first='Team' last='Wildcat HGSL'] this summer, Baker and Clark will be a duo to watch as seniors with Kings.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65da28eff0b37"} /-->