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Newark 59, Whitehall 52 - Prospect Scouting Report

By Jake Spegal, 01/25/20, 4:15PM EST

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Balanced scoring led Newark over Whitehall in game three of the Jared Sullinger Play By Play Classic

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In the third game of the Jared Sullinger Classic at Ohio Dominican, Newark and Whitehall went to battle in a high intensity matchup. Newark ended up being better in the end, holding on to a 59-52 victory.

A matchup between two teams from different areas, different conferences and different styles of basketball, the pace of Saturday's matchup seemed to favor Whitehall. The Rams came out with little intimidation against a quality opponent, attacking the boards and the rim, taking its first lead of the game early in the third quarter after trailing by a point at 27-26 at half. 

While the Rams hung around and cut the deficit to three points going into the final frame, Newark ramped up its defensive pressure in the final frame, stretching its lead to as much as eight points as the Wildcats cruised to a 59-52 victory.

Balanced scoring was the name of the game for Newark as Bobby Crenshaw led the way with 14 points, while Drew Ballinger added 12 points and Jaden Woods rounded out the trio with 11 points. Drew Ballinger added nine points while Kadein Robinson pitched in seven.

For Whitehall, the scoring was balanced as well, however the Rams got little production from its bench. Junior guard Teddy Brown led the team with 13 points, while junior wings Royal Sibly and Kievon Wiggins added 12 points each. 

Newark will be off for nearly a week when the Wildcats travel to Big Walnut where they will have a chance to virtually lock up a fourth-straight OCC-Capital title. 

For Whitehall, the Rams will hit the road on Wednesday and take on Wellington in a battle for first place in the MSL-Ohio. Standing alone atop the conference, Whitehall will need a win on Wednesday to keep the distance between themselves and the rest of the league.

Royal Sibly (6'6 WF / Whitehall / 2021): The intriguing 6-foot-6 Sibly had a strong showing on Saturday against a tough Newark team. Sibly has a wingspan that stretches beyond the horizon, as he was a major force on the glass and wowed us with a few athletic finishes. While his game has yet to really stretch outside to the three-point line, Sibly makes a big impact with his length, motor and athleticism alone, as he is a difficult matchup for most high school teams. We liked the way Sibly finished through contact and the motor he played with, as he had a strong nose for the ball and was not afraid to bang inside for rebounds. Sibly is a scholarship prospect that has as much upside as most prospects in the 2021 class. 

Drew Ballinger (6'3 WG / Newark / 2021): While Ballinger didn't put on a shooting clinic as he does at times, the junior had a solid showing on the offensive end for Newark, getting the rim for a few tough finishes around the length and athleticism of Whitehall, showing off an improved ability to beat defenders off the dribble and get in the lane. He also knocked down a three off the catch, made a few instinctive passes and got involved on the glass for the Wildcats. Ballinger is a disciplined defender and a knockdown shooter with a high IQ who is improving his offensive arsenal game in and game out.

Kievon Wiggins (6'4 WF / Whitehall / 2021): Wiggins had an impressive showing for Whitehall, showing off some versatility on the  offensive end for the Rams. Wiggins finished off a few tough takes while attacking off the bounce, using his strong, lengthy frame and his athleticism to finish through contact in the teeth of Newark's defense on multiple occasions. Wiggins plays with a high motor, gets involved on the glass and is a tough matchup on the defensive end as he has the tools to defend on the interior and on the perimeter. Wiggins is a prospect to keep an eye on in the 2021 class, as he has shown an ability to knock down shots in the mid-range and from deep and also knows how to attack a defense and score on the interior.

Bobby Crenshaw (6'2 G / Newark / 2020): Crenshaw is a player that belongs on the All-Effort Team, as he had the biggest impact out of any player in the game. The pace of Saturday's non-league contest clearly favored the 6-foot-2 senior, as he was able to show off his high-level athleticism in the open floor. Crenshaw is an unselfish player that fits really well in Newark's team-centric program, as he sells out on the defensive end, always makes the extra pass and grinds on the glass for offensive and defensive boards. You won't find many better athletes in the senior class, as Crenshaw uses all of his athletic gifts to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Small colleges looking for athletic guards who can really defend on the wing should take a long hard look at Crenshaw. 

Teddy Brown (5'10 G / Whitehall / 2021): Getting our first real look at Brown on Saturday, we came away impressed with the hard-working junior guard. Brown impacted the game on both ends of the floor, knocking down two threes, finishing a few attempts around the rim and really locking in on defense where he came up with a handful of scrappy steals and deflections. In a Whitehall program that prides itself on toughness and mentality, Brown is a perfect match, as he gave everything he had on defense and took advantage of the scoring opportunities he had to score. 

Jaden Woods (6'5 WF / Newark / 2020): Consistency is the key for Woods, as the senior never seems to get too high or too low for Newark and shows up on both ends of the floor for the Wildcats every game. Woods gets involved on the glass and plays within the offense, creating a ton of good looks that he converts at a high rate. The senior has shown the ability to score in the post, to hit the mid-range, to attack off the bounce and to knockdown the three-pointer off the catch as he has really polished his offensive game over the last season. Defensively, Woods is an extremely disciplined perimeter defender who can even hold his own on the interior, as he simply knows how to defend and has quick feet and good length on that end. Small colleges in the area should take a look at Woods, as he has the work ethic, IQ and skill to become a very good player at the next level.

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