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Walnut Ridge 64, Eastmoor Academy 50 - Prospect Scouting Report

By Zach Fleer, 01/18/22, 10:30PM EST

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Zion Blevins scored 20 points to lead Walnut Ridge over rival Eastmoor

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The race for the City League South division title is still ongoing. Walnut Ridge came into Tuesday still in striking distance, sitting one game behind Africentric after knocking off the Nubians, 77-60 last Friday.

A win over rival Eastmoor Academy was necessary on Tuesday in order to stay in the hunt. Walnut Ridge (9-4, 7-2) took care of business, relying on 49 points from seniors Zion Blevins and Tyree Morgan and sophomore Dominique Aekins to power past the Warriors (6-5, 4-4), 64-50.

This game was close early on, with Eastmoor Academy tying things at 23 midway through the second quarter. Walnut Ridge went on a 10-0 run to end the half, taking a 33-23 lead into halftime.

It was never really close from that point forward, as Walnut Ridge kept its foot on the gas in the second half. The backcourt play of Walnut Ridge was too much for Eastmoor Academy, who struggled to get star senior big man Dennis Asoro involved consistently.

Eastmoor Academy's dysfunction on the offensive end led to their undoing, as Walnut Ridge had too much scoring for the Warriors. Blevins led all scorers with 20 points, while Aekins added 18. Morgan was a force on the interior, finishing with 11 points and a handful of rebounds. 

Tuesday's win avenged an early season loss to Eastmoor Academy, as Walnut Ridge remained hot heading into Wednesday's big non-conference dual against Gahanna Lincoln. The Scots need a signature non-conference win to boost their stock heading into the district tournament and there is no greater opportunity than against Sean Jones and the Lions.

For Eastmoor Academy, Asoro was the only scorer in double figures, finishing with 14 points. The 6-foot-8 senior continued a very strong season, as he was a force once again on the interior. Sophomore guard James Nowell was second on the team in scoring with seven points, while five players scored between five and six points each.

After beginning the season at 6-1, Eastmoor Academy is reeling, losing four-straight games and their last three in league play, virtually ending any chance of winning a division title. There is still much to play for, however, as Eastmoor will be a contender once again in Division II.

Zion Blevins (6'4 SG / Walnut Ridge / 2022): Yes, he led the game in scoring. Yes, he knocked down a handful of jumpers and had a couple strong finishes through contact. Yes, he was the anchor of his team on the glass and on the defensive end of the floor. But more than anything, Blevins was ELITE on Tuesday in the way he communicated with his teammates. Blevins has clearly bought into being this team's senior leader, as they directs them on both ends of the floor and keeps his teammates engaged in all areas of the game. We love Blevins' game, as he can score it on any level, contributes greatly to winning and doesn't need a high usage percentage to be effective. This is a kid ready for college basketball, as he will work hard, make plays and continue to improve. His best basketball is still ahead of him, which makes him a high quality prospect to recruit for regional college programs. 

Dominique Aekins (5'9 PG / Walnut Ridge / 2024): Aekins is putting together one of the best seasons that we've seen from a sophomore point guard in the last few years. The 5-foot-9 lightning bug point guard has carried Walnut Ridge in many big games this season and has been on a hot streak as of late. Aekins has ELITE quickness and speed, as he keeps the ball on a string and can break down any defender off the dribble. This young man is a very good passer while on the move and has quality vision and anticipation ability. We love the toughness and fearlessness of this young man, as he seems built to compete at any level. Wednesday's matchup against Sean Jones will be a GREAT measuring stick for Aekins, as there is not a better one-on-one matchup for any point guard to take on. The sophomore needs to continue to work on his jump shooting, a skill that will help him to become virtually unguardable more than he is already. We look forward to seeing Aekins develop, as he has a special junior and senior season ahead of him after the success he's had already as an underclassman. 

Dennis Asoro (6'8 C / Eastmoor Academy / 2022): The 6-foot-8 senior has pro potential longterm. I really believe that and will put my reputation on the line for this young man. Asoro has size, strength and impact on the interior that is uncommon. There is not another player in the area who can match Asoro's physicality and brute strength. The senior is a skilled big who can finish on either side of the rim, but is most dominant going over his left shoulder. There is a ton of untapped potential in Asoro's game, as he is quite literally only scratching the surface of how good he can be. Every junior college in America needs to have Asoro on their recruiting lists, as he will have a chance to develop into a Division I player if he can take care of business in the classroom and continue to improve on the court. Asoro reminds me a bit of 2015 Linden-McKinley graduate Hasan Varence. Both were raw at this point, but offered extreme upside. Varence had a great career at Ohio Dominican and is now a pro overseas, as I feel Asoro has the same type of potential, if not more. 

Tyree Morgan (6'6 PF / Walnut Ridge / 2022): Morgan earns a write up for his toughness and motor on Tuesday. The senior did not back down from Eastmoor Academy's imposing front court and his impact was a big reason why Walnut Ridge was able to control the interior and pick up the big win. I love the way Morgan attacks the glass, as he is a relentless rebounder and is not afraid to bang in the paint. You will never have to worry about this dude being intimidated, as he played with a genuine toughness that his teammates fed off of. This is a late blooming big that will be even better in college. 

James Nowell (5'9 SG / Eastmoor Academy / 2024): Nowell is one of the purest shooters in the 2024 class. He has a beautiful jump shot and is a threat anywhere on the perimeter. I look forward to scouting him more, as Nowell offers game-changing shooting ability that is vitally important to an Eastmoor Academy team that likes to go to its bigs on the interior, as he creates a lot of space for his bigs to go to work. Look for Nowell to step into an even bigger scoring role throughout the rest of this season, as he is capable of being a consistent double digit producer. 

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