skip navigation

Olentangy Liberty 74, Westerville South 59 - Prospect Scouting Report

By Zach Fleer, 12/12/19, 10:45PM EST

Share

Henry Hinkle led all scorers with 22 points on Thursday

POWELL, Ohio -- In a matchup between two programs who have won regional titles in the 270 Hoops era, Thursday's OCC-Buckeye showdown was sure to be competitive.

That was exactly what we got as Olentangy Liberty (3-1) outlasted Westerville South (1-3) in an uptempo contest, 74-59. Patriot juniors Henry Hinkle, Andrew Wade, Cam Barcus and Tylar Foster combined for 66 points to power a third-straight victory for Liberty. 

While Liberty jumped out to an early 21-9 lead in the opening quarter, South fought back valiantly. The Wildcats turned high pressure defense into long range bombs on the other end, as senior Keyton Kowalski fueled a run that helped South climb as close as four points.

The defending regional champ Liberty did not worry, however, as its crisp ball movement and three-point marksmanship helped the Patriots extend its lead to 40-32 heading into halftime. 

In the second half, it was all Liberty as Hinkle and Wade keyed a high-powered engine of an offense that South simply could not keep up with. Hinkle's ball handling and passing combined with Wade's rebounding and toughness seemed to spark the rest of the Patriots, as four players scored in double figures in a game that Liberty virtually never trailed in.

Hinkle led all scorers with 22 points, controlling the offense for Liberty and handling tight South pressure with ease. The junior guard is one of the elite passers in the area and set up his teammates all game long. Barcus had a breakout showing, as the junior, who missed last season with a knee injury, knocked down three triples in the first half to score 11 of his 17 points.

Wade had a monstrous game on the glass and in the open floor, out-rebounding and out-running his opposition on his way to 17 points. Foster rounded out the four Patriots in double figures with 10 points.

For South, junior guard Jaiden Guice had a team-high 15 points, getting any shot he wanted off the dribble. Kowalski added 12 points, nine of which on threes in the first half alone. Sophomore forward Drey Carter had eight points while no other Wildcat scored more than seven. 

With victories over Olentangy Orange and Westerville South, Liberty looks like a big threat to win the OCC-Buckeye once again, as the Patriots play with a great level of chemistry and trust, things that will serve them well later in the season. 

Liberty will look to improve to 4-1 as they head to Westerville North a week from Friday.

For Westerville South, the Wildcats will look to bounce back when they begin the first of four-straight road games on Saturday at Marysville. 


Order your 270 Hoops Preview Magazine today

Henry Hinkle (5'11 PG / Olentangy Liberty / 2021): Hinkle had a masterful performance on Thursday, scoring an incredibly efficient 22 points and adding a lion's share of assists. The 5-foot-11 guard is a very talented ball handler that clearly understands pace and can change speeds, as he consistently beat tight pressure defense off the bounce and found open shooters and cutters all game. When off the ball, Hinkle knows how to get himself open and can play within the offense, both as the point of emphasis and in a complimentary role. The junior is a deadeye spot up shooter that made South consistently pay when he was left open. We can't stress this enough, Hinkle is an ELITE passer while on the move. He constantly got into the lane and delivered accurate pass after accurate pass which really got the Liberty offense humming. We really like the strides he's made as a leader, as he's evolved into the go-to guy for this Patriots team, but has also made the guys around him better. The focal point of a Liberty middle school team that dominated the area just a few years ago, Hinkle is back leading that same group that is going to once again cause havoc in the Central District. 

Jaiden Guice (5'11 G / Westerville South / 2021): When it comes to creating a shot and keeping defenders off balance, Guice is one of the best that we've seen at the guard spot in the 2021 class. Thursday was a strong showing for him in that regard, as the junior guard lived at the free throw line and hit a handful of shots from all over the floor. The 5-foot-11 Guice is a talented ball handler that can change speeds, while having a strong feel for how to attack a defense. Guice has a great crossover, can hit shots off the bounce and can get to the basket where he's a solid finisher. Westerville South has been a hotbed for talented scoring guards as of late and Guice is clearly the next in line. 

Andrew Wade (6'4 WF / Olentangy Liberty / 2021): Wade is going to be one of the biggest stock risers in the entire area this winter. The 6-foot-4 wing forward is an athletically gifted athlete who plays with an elite motor and toughness that will serve this Liberty team well. Wade had a monstrous outing, dominating the glass, running the floor like his wavy hair was on fire and finishing with toughness and consistency inside. We got our eyes on Wade in the 270 Hoops Fall League Open Division in September and we were sold then, but Thursday's performance furthered our belief in him. With a leader and facilitator like Hinkle, it's important to have a dive man with as much athleticism and leaping ability as Wade, as the junior duo connected on a handful of possessions in the win. The junior Wade can handle the ball in transition, is a glass eater and relentless finisher inside, attributes that will make him a highly recruited forward next summer and beyond. 

Drey Carter (6'5 WF / Westerville South / 2022): A rising sophomore that we saw for the first time since his freshman year, Carter had a solid showing for the Wildcats on Thursday. The agile 6-foot-5 forward has a considerable amount of potential, as we really enjoyed watching him move his feet and defend on the perimeter, while also appearing to be a knockdown shooter from distance. The sophomore has a smooth shot, is reliable from the free-throw line and constantly made the unselfish play, making the right reads and delivering a few advanced passes for his age and position. As Carter continues to add weight to his broad shouldered, lengthy frame, he has a chance to evolve into one of the better forwards in the 2022 class due to the size and skill that he has already. 

Cam Barcus (6'1 WG / Olentangy Liberty / 2021): A player that we saw for the first time on Thursday, we came away really impressed with the 6-foot-1 Barcus. While he may not pass the 'look test' Barcus is a terrific and bouncy athlete that made his presence felt instantly, pulling down a pair of offensive rebounds in the first quarter that seemed to light a spark for the Patriots. Barcus then took that spark and engulfed the gym in flames, knocking down back-to-back-to-back threes to fuel the 21-9 run that Liberty began the game with. With a quick release on his jumper and seemingly unlimited confidence, Barcus is going to serve a vital role for this Liberty team as yet another long range specialist that Hinkle can deliver dime passes to. We look forward to watching Barcus more as he's back after missing all of last season with a knee injury. 

Keyton Kowalski (6'2 WG / Westerville South / 2020): Seeing Kowalski for the first time ever on Thursday, we liked what we saw from the 6-foot-2 senior off the bench. Knocking down four threes on Thursday, Kowalski was South's best catch and shoot option, getting his shot off with a quick trigger release. On the defensive end, Kowalski worked hard and played with great effort, highlighted by an impressive chase down block that he had in the first half. With South needing a spark after a sluggish start, Kowalski provided that, as we look forward to seeing what other opportunities he can get this season.

Ty Foster (6'2 WG / Olentangy Liberty / 2021): Along with Wade, we got to see Foster a handful of times in the 270 Hoops Fall League Open Division, so we knew what to expect on Thursday. The highly efficient junior played another strong game, taking advantage of his scoring opportunities and helping Liberty establish its elite ball movement. Foster is a dead eye shooter that can create for himself off the bounce. At 6-foot-2, Foster has quality size on the wing, is an above average athlete that can finish at the basket, but most importantly, is a good teammate that is a terrific compliment for the weapons on the Patriot offense. 

Will Ortiz (5'9 PG / Westerville South / 2021): Another standout performer off the South bench, Ortiz impressed us with his toughness and effort on the defensive end of the floor. The junior guard defended with great intensity on the ball, making Hinkle work hard and disrupting the Liberty offense both on and off the ball. The 5-foot-9 guard picked up full court, knocked down a catch and shoot three in the first half and had a tough inside finish at the end of the third quarter. As South failed to put together a complete defensive performance, Ortiz was someone that gave the Wildcats consistent effort and toughness in his time on the floor. We look forward to watching Ortiz more, as he plays with the passion that we like to see on the defensive end of the floor. 

Recent News


Order the latest 270 Hoops GEAR today!

Subscribe to 270 Hoops Mailing List!

Email Address:
Favorite High School:
First Name:
Last Name:
Subscribe