Preseason All-Richland County Team

Brandon Little

November 11, 2019 @ 05:35 AM

Richland County offers a good variety of basketball year in and year out. A unique position between Central Ohio and Northeast Ohio is where you can find the county. Mansfield a city of around 50,000 people puts out talent with the best of them at times. Mansfield Senior, Clear Fork and Shelby all have seen some good basketball teams and that could continue. <h3>First Team:</h3> Brennan South (2020) | 6-0 G | Clear Fork South returns as the counties best shooter and quite frankly one of the best scorers. Clear Fork will need him a ton this season as they lost a lot and he will be plenty capable of that role. Dead eye shooter that can fill it up from range. Thrives with or without the ball, South is a definite prospect. Griffin Shaver (2021) | 6-1 G | Ontario Another player that can be up there with the better scorers that operates best with the ball in his hands. Shaver does a great job of working around screens and getting open shots and doesn’t need much room to let it fly. A two way threat that will give as much effort on the defensive end as he does the offensive end. High IQ player that makes good decisions and doesn’t turn it over a ton. Ontario should be pretty good and it starts with their junior guard. Roger Merrell (2020) | 6-1 WG | Mansfield Senior Merrell had some up and down games last season, but he showed what he is capable of. As a senior, expect Merrell to bring it all together. Maybe the best shooter in the county that can catch fire and stroke it from three and has done so three out of four times when I have watched him. The senior can also get to the hoop and finish. A nice scoring game that needs to show consistency and we believe it will. Cameron Todd (2020) | 6-3 W | Mansfield Senior Todd is a solid football prospect and has led the Tygers to the playoffs this season. But, he’s also solid on the hardwood in the winter. Todd brings the ability to play both ends with energy and it shows. Should be big for Senior this year, as one of their leaders and a returning starter. Scores inside, can get to the hoop off the bounce and is a tough on-ball defender. Sets teammates up when he has the ball. Not the fastest player but gets around well and a good athlete. TJ Pugh (2021) | 6-5 WF | Shelby Pugh is the best basketball prospect in the county. High division ll schools should be in on him, getting him would be a steal. With a division l ceiling, Pugh can flat out play. Brings size to the game, can also handle the ball though. Best playing downhill where he gets a lot of his scoring from, is becoming a better shooter though. Pugh is a legit 20 point and 10 rebound threat this season. <h3>Other Notables:</h3> Cody Lantz (2021) | 6-2 G | Shelby Angelo Grose (2020) | 5-10 | Mansfield Senior Shaquan Coburn (2020) | 6-2 G | Ontario