Game MVPs from 2018 All Ohio Nike High School Hoops Shootout
The All Ohio basketball program put together a two-site opening weekend event on Saturday in Columbus. We took in the action at Pickerington North, and here were the results: Reynoldsburg (71) over Legacy Christian Academy (37) Grandview Heights (65) over…
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Continue ReadingThe All Ohio basketball program put together a two-site opening weekend event on Saturday in Columbus. We took in the action at Pickerington North, and here were the results:
- Reynoldsburg (71) over Legacy Christian Academy (37)
- Grandview Heights (65) over Africentric (49)
- Harvest Prep (82) over Northland (78)
- Pickerington Central (64) over Springfield (46)
- Wayne (46) over Upper Arlington (45)
- Pickerington North (89) over VASJ (58)
These were the most impactful performers from each contest:
Ben Fort (2019), 6’5” W, Reynoldsburg
Reynoldsburg’s key in a decisive victory over Legacy Christian Academy was their dedication on the defensive end. Their star player, Fort, set that tone for them early by flying around in passing lanes and accumulating four first quarter steals. The unsigned senior would go onto block four shots also, often showing elite hangtime on those rejections.
Fort also uses his length and athleticism as a scorer at the basket. He exploded to the rim for a several transition dunks and slivered his way between defenders for layups against a zone.
He has an offer from IUPUI and remains one of Ohio’s top unsigned senior recruits. Fort told us after the game that Morehead State could enter the picture and that he will wait until after the season to make any decision.
Luke Lachey (2020), 6’6” F, Grandview Heights
Lachey was tremendously assertive in Grandview Heights’ second victory of the season, posting a 24-point, 15-rebound double-double.
His impact is multidimensional, but let’s begin with scoring. Lachey spun baseline, a useful tendency of his in the post, for an early dunk — one of several powerful finishes in traffic. He can absorb contact, which makes him dangerous as a face-up forward. Lachey also stabilized their press-breaker as a secondary ball-handler who uses his size to escape quick guards.
On defense, the two-sport prospect who doubles as a wide receiver standout showed off his vertical, power, and hands. He defended the rim without fouling much, recording three blocks. Lachey was, by far, the game’s top rebounder and dominated the glass without a reasonable size matchup in sight.
CJ Anthony (2020), 6’0” PG, Harvest Prep
Anthony, a returning First Team All Ohioan, torched Northland for 34 points and seven rebounds in the season opener. As a scorer, his impact was twofold — going coast-to-coast and 3-point shooting.
Corralling seven rebounds Anthony turned those into points in the paint on the other end Saturday. In the open floor, he keeps the defender’s head and hips turning by changing hands with the ball, yet Anthony himself doesn’t lose speed. Then, as always, the jumper is weapon.
The junior also showed leadership through emotion on the defensive end of the floor. He locked down on the ball, showing elite lateral quickness. His running-back-like build is a factor on the defensive glass. As a whole, Anthony is clearly more athletic than last season.
Javohn Garcia (2019), 6’2” PG, Pickerington Central
Garcia paced the Tigers in what was a vintage performance by the senior point guard. A 14-point, eight rebound stat line is nice, but it doesn’t speak to his importance to the team. Throughout, he ensured high-percentage looks for the Tigers while they protected a second half lead, especially in transition. His quickness and length remain huge advantages on the defensive end of the floor, which is where the game was won for them.
Ronnie Hampton (2019), 5’11” G, Wayne
Hampton wasn’t about to start his senior season 0-2. While it felt like Upper Arlington was gaining confidence entering the latter stages of the third quarter, Hampton put at end to the momentum with several tough transition scores and free throws. Of his team-high 15 points, 13 were scored in the second half. Hampton has a super tight handle, but UA’s stout backcourt made him work for all of his baskets, as all of his converted field goals were contested.
Jack Sawyer (2021), 6’5″ F, Pickerington North
When I first started playing tackle football, I was struggling with the whole collision thing. After seeing my first game, my uncle gave me a call to provide some sound advice, he asked, “Anthony, do you want to be the hammer or the nail?” Point is: Sawyer chose hammer a long time ago. That mentality showed itself in his 21 first half points against Wayne, where he devastated all optimism for VASJ in their opener.
Sawyer took it to them, including several dunks and contested finishes in the lane. It looked like he was out there playing with children. Pick North took a 41-21 lead into halftime and never looked back. Sawyer complimented the power finishes with a couple transition pull-up jumpers, including a triple, and several fancy fall-aways with his back-to-the-basket moves.