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Utica 68, Mount Gilead 52 - Prospect Scouting Report

By Zach Fleer, 12/04/21, 9:15PM EST

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Seth Cooper and Trenton Collins combined for 38 on Saturday

UTICA, Ohio -- The Licking County League has been notorious for low scoring, defensive-oriented basketball over the years. This year's Utica team is intent of flipping that narrative on its head, as the Redskins blitzed Mount Gilead to the tune of a 10-0 start in a 68-52 victory on Saturday.

Playing run and gun basketball at a frantic pace, Utica was on fire to begin the game, scoring 10 points in two minutes and dropping 27 for the quarter as junior Trenton Collins and senior Seth Cooper provided for the bulk of offense.

Collins and Cooper, a duo that will be hard to top in any backcourt in the LCL, were the guys who made Utica's engine go on Saturday. The Redskins play with confidence, belief and high energy with them on the floor, which was apparent when Collins went out with foul trouble in the second quarter.

Mount Gilead trimmed the deficit to 11 points behind some crafty interior play from junior Aaron Gannon, a transfer from Highland. Going into halftime trailing 40-28, Mount Gilead responded with a big start in the third quarter.

Behind the play of Gannon and sophomore guard Elijah Chafin, the Indians opened the second half on a 9-0 run, trimming the lead to three at 40-37 with 5:50 remaining in the third quarter.

Enter Collins. The junior athletic beast responded with five-straight points on two athletic finishes, extending Utica's lead and helping the Redskins engineer an 11-2 run to finish the frame.

Heading into the fourth quarter nursing a 51-39 lead, Utica put its foot on the gas in the final frame. Getting production from virtually the entire roster, the Redskins blew the game open late and rolled to a 16-point victory.

Collins led all scorers with 20 points. The junior is far more than just a scorer, as he had a couple handful's worth of assists in powering the Redskins offense. Cooper pitched in 16 points on three triples and a mix of inside scores. The senior is a perfect complement to Collins as he can really stretch the floor with his outside jumper. 

Senior Zach Heckman added nine points while sophomore Roman Gamble and junior Brady McDaniel contributed eight and seven points, respectively.

For Mount Gilead, Gannon led all scorers with 16 points. The junior was a force around the rim and made a handful of smart hustle plays. Sophomore guard Elijah Chafin and junior Carter Kennon each contributed 10 points while senior Paul Butterman added nine.

The Indians have a young core and will be a top contender in the Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference, which seems pretty wide open with what defending co-champions Fredericktown and Centerburg lost to graduation. Mount Gilead will need to have consistent scoring across the board to overcome the top contenders in the league.

Much like Mount Gilead, Utica is looking to break through in the Licking County League this winter. The Redskins are in a tough Cardinal division that includes heavy favorite Heath and defending league champion and regional finalist Johnstown.

While they will need to prove they belong in league play, Utica has a chance to put together its best season in the last decade-plus, as the Redskins have not won a conference title since 2008. 

Trenton Collins (6'4 SG / Utica / 2023): Excuse our language but the best way to describe Collins is that he is an a** kicker. The junior is an athletic beast that overpowers high school defenders with his strength, toughness and level of aggression. He is constantly in attack mode and relentless going to the rim where he can finish through contact. Collins knocked down two threes and a mid-range pull up jumper, while dishing out a handful of impressive assists, both in transition and in the half court. The junior has greatly improved his motor and feel for the game. He's the type of guy that just inspires belief in his teammates, as he raised the energy and confidence of everyone around him. Utica will go as far as Collins can take them, as he will need to gamble less on the defensive end and remain on the floor for the duration of every big game this season. 

Seth Cooper (6'2 SG / Utica / 2022): Cooper is an absolute microwave scorer. When he gets hot, shots start falling and that was the case in the first half when he had 15 of his 18 points. The senior, who we discovered at the 270 Hoops Exposure Series in August, can flat out shoot the basketball. He has an extremely quick release, great footwork and a pretty stroke, knocking down threes off movement at a high level. He can also put the ball on the floor and finish tough through the defense, while being a flashy passer that is a great backcourt mixture with Collins. If he gets in a rhythm, Cooper will have the chance to put together some impressive scoring nights this winter with Collins drawing so much attention with his slashing ability. There's no Utica success this season without the impact, work ethic and leadership of Cooper. Division III and NAIA programs should give Cooper a look at the next level. 

Aaron Gannon (6'5 PF / Mount Gilead / 2023): We love Gannon. The junior attended our Hoops and Hope Bible study over the summer and we had the chance to really get to know him on a more personal level. It was awesome then to see the young man go for 16 points and lead the Indians on Saturday. Gannon is a very slender and lengthy 6-foot-5 forward that is very productive. He was the most consistent interior finish in Saturday's game, cleaning up the offensive glass and making smart, heady plays to create second chances for Mount Gilead. Gannon gives great effort, is a high IQ player and has the length, versatility and mobility to be a next level player. We think he has great potential on the wing as a stretch forward, as his handling coordination and jump shot mechanics will only continue to improve. This is a prospect that regional small college programs should familiarize themselves - especially Christian schools that prioritize high-character young men. 

Elijah Chafin (5'11 PG / Mount Gilead / 2024): The sophomore Chafin is a crafty point guard that had an excellent second half for the Indians. The 5-foot-11 lead guard plays with great pace and knows how to get into the paint, as he found his way to the bucket off the dribble a handful of times on Saturday. Chafin showed impressive transition passing ability with a slick one hand assist off the dribble in the second half. It's always a luxury having a high quality point guard, especially when that guard can step up and lead you in scoring. Chafin has that ability and will be a huge piece for this Mount Gilead team the next few years in what could be a special time in the KMAC for the Indians. 

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