Central Buckeye Conference- Kenton Trails Division Top Players
Every team has taken the court on the Kenton Trail side of the Central Buckeye Conference and two teams have pulled away from the rest of the crop. Unbeaten Shawnee (3-0) and Jonathan Alder (2-0) have both displayed excellent team…
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Continue ReadingEvery team has taken the court on the Kenton Trail side of the Central Buckeye Conference and two teams have pulled away from the rest of the crop. Unbeaten Shawnee (3-0) and Jonathan Alder (2-0) have both displayed excellent team chemistry and the ability to adapt to any situation and persevere through it. Kenton Ridge (2-1) is third in the pack and seem to have what it takes to dethrone one of those teams. Bringing up the rear is London (0-3) and Bellefontaine (0-2) who are both win-less and struggling right now but just above those teams is Tecumseh (1-2) who want to have a say-so in how this division is won. Each of these teams have at least one player who has put on outstanding performances through the early part of this year, and here are the standout players from the early part of the 2020-2021 basketball season in the Central Buckeye Conference, Kenton Trail division.
Jackson Izzard Jackson Izzard 6'2" | SG Alder | 2021 State OH – Senior; Jonathan Alder: By far the best player and prospect in the conference as a whole, Izzard is a walking bucket. Izzard leads the Central Buckeye Conference in scoring at 28 points per game and in two games he has displayed what kind of talent he is, putting the ball in the hoop in a myriad of ways. Izzard is excellent moving without the ball, whether it is setting off-ball screens for teammates or cutting to the hoop, and he can finish at the rim with athleticism. He can also crash the glass, standing at 6-foot-3, and rebound at a pretty high rate, averaging a tick over eight rebounds per contest as well. Izzard is an athlete in every sense of the word, also being a standout football player, and puts it together on the court. This is one of the better small school players in all of Ohio, one that smaller programs would love to have.
Jamon Miller- Senior; Shawnee: The 5-foot-11 guard can get into the paint and finish over taller players when he gets there, he averages 17 points per game and a surprising 7 rebounds per game as well. Miller is shooting upwards of 60% from the field while only shooting around 30% from the three-point line, an indicator as to how much he gets into the lane and how amazing he is at finishing with either hand. He excels in transition, his ability to handle the ball with speed and pace allows him to do what he wants in the open floor. Miller causes havoc on defense as well, averaging 2.5 steals per game to begin the season, pressuring ball handlers and playing the passing lanes when he is off the ball. This senior guard is a solid prospect that brings toughness and determination to any program.
Collin O’Connor- Sophomore; Tecumseh: Despite his youth, he already has experience because he was a varsity player last season as well and now he gets his chance to be the go-to guy for his Arrows. O’Connor can shoot the ball consistently from deep, able to get his shot off the dribble by creating space with his solid ball handling skills. The 6-foot sophomore is averaging 16.5 points per game and is now-showing that his game can expand, getting better at putting the ball on the floor, getting to the basket and finishing at the rim. He will get better at man-to-man defense but right now is a good team defender, displaying good instincts of rotations and closing out on shooters. O’Connor will be a productive player in this conference for two more seasons.
Zion Crowe- Sophomore; Shawnee: A good combination with his guard counterpart, Jamon Miller, the 6-foot-4, long armed Crowe holds down the paint for the Indians. The sophomore is putting up 15 points per game and basically does not miss many shots because he is always shooting so close to the rim. Crowe is athletic and has the ability to guard multiple positions, causing problems for guards on the perimeter because of his length and being able to block shots in the paint with his jumping capability. He will be an interesting prospect to watch over his next few years because he will continue to get bigger, stronger and be a force when his senior year comes.
Jarrid Baughman- Senior; Bellefontaine: Not just the team’s best player but also the team leader, Baughman is averaging 16 points per game for his Chiefs. Baughman can be really efficient when he takes his time and allows the offense to come to him, evidenced by his 25-point outing at North Union while only shooting 12 total shots. He is a streaky shooter but he is never afraid to levitate and let it fly over the top of any defender, even though he is only 5-foot-10. Baughman also can get into the lane when defenders close out on him, his mid-range shot also drops at a high rate. He is the type of player that can give a small college some well-needed energy, shooting and fearlessness off the bench.
Chase Younts- Senior; Kenton Ridge: Averaging a double-double so far this season, upwards of 13 points and a tick over 10 rebounds, he has shown that he is his team’s most valuable player on a balanced scoring team that has three players all averaging in the 13-point range. Younts is 6-foot-2 but he is relentless when it comes to attacking the basket, both with and without the ball in his hands. The best thing about this young man is that he knows his game and does not play outside of it. Younts does not attempt three-point jumpers because that is not his strong suit but he stays in the paint and carves out space for himself to do damage. Tougher than a $2 steak, this young man brings an intensity to the game that college coaches and scouts love.
*All statistics provided by cbcsportsonline.net