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Inside Look: Division II and NAIA offers flowing for local upperclassmen

By Zach Fleer, 12/11/20, 12:00PM EST

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An inside look at the latest recruiting news in Central Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Surprisingly, this has been a busy week for recruiting in Central Ohio. After weeks of inactivity, we have seen a handful of local players earn new scholarship offers. Let’s take an inside look at the latest recruiting news.

Tyler Kindberg offered by Indiana Wesleyan (NAIA)

The Worthington Christian senior wing picked up an offer from the best NAIA program in the country on Wednesday. Indiana Wesleyan is off to a 12-0 start this season and looks well on their way to notching a ninth-straight season of 29-straight wins. Graduate assistant Hudson Welty has been a big presence in Central Ohio, attending virtually every live broadcasted 270 Hoops event this past summer and fall.

That is likely where he saw Kindberg for the first time. The 6-foot-3 wing is off to a tremendous start to his season, scoring the ball at a high level and making a major impact on both ends of the floor. With great grades and a tremendous attitude and work ethic, Kindberg makes sense for any college program needing an elite athletic presence on the wing who will do anything to win.

Kindberg likely won’t get a better offer than IWU, as they’re the only program in the country whose games are broadcasted on ESPN and have won three national titles since 2014.

Gavin Foe offered by Marian (NAIA)

Sticking in the Crossroads League, Johnstown senior Gavin Foe was offered by Marian this week. Marian competes in the same conference as Indiana Wesleyan, a league that often features several top 10 teams in the country at any given moment during the year. Marian is sitting at 4-1 this season with its only loss coming against Indiana Wesleyan in November.

The Knights offered Foe following a very strong start to his senior campaign where he was led the Johnnies to great success. Foe is another athletic wing player that impacts the entire game, as he is a terrific rebounder, defender, passer and scorer. NAIA basketball is no joke and any time these elite, top 10-type programs offer a player, it usually means that player truly knows how to play the game.

For Foe, this is his fourth offer, as fellow NAIA programs Mount Vernon Nazarene (Crossroads League) and Rio Grande have pulled the trigger, as well as Division II Fairmont State. The 6-foot-3 guard is one of the very best players in Division III and is coming off a junior season where he led the Johnnies to their first district title since 2016.

Jerry Saunders and Cooper Davis offered by Concord (Division II)

Picking up his first offer on Thursday, Pickerington North junior guard Jerry Saunders was offered by head coach Todd May and Concord. Olentangy Liberty junior guard Cooper Davis picked up his second offer (the other coming from NAIA Indiana Tech) on Thursday from Concord as well.

Concord competes in the tough Division II Mountain East Conference that consists of primarily programs from West Virginia.

May is no stranger to local talent, as the Circleville native and former Columbus State head coach has made Central Ohio a recruiting priority in his five seasons leading the Mountain Lions program. On the 2020-21 roster, Concord features Brian Collier (Grandview Heights), Ethan Heller (Sheridan), Luken Hill (Sheridan), Brandon Kennedy (Chillicothe Unioto) and Matt Weir (John Glenn). 

In the 2021 recruiting cycle, May and Concord have extended offers to Africentric guard Eli Burke, former Westerville Central guard Quincy Clark, Olentangy Orange forward Jason Foster, Gahanna Lincoln wing Jarius Jones and Whitehall forward Royal Sibley alone. May watched virtually every 270 Hoops live streamed event this summer and fall, helping the Concord program familiarize themselves with some of the best up and coming local talent. 

Saunders and Cooper are among those top players in the 2022 class, as both come from great basketball pedigrees and are two of the best competitors that you’ll find in the area. Saunders is expected to take major strides this season at Pickerington North while Davis is fitting in nicely at Olentangy Liberty, helping to elevate the Patriot offense to an even higher level. 

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