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Prospect Scouting Report: Pickerington Central 75, Reynoldsburg 56

By Greg Glasser, 02/20/23, 9:00PM EST

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Recaps on a couple unsigned Tigers seniors and a strong showing from Noah Smith

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- On Friday, Pickerington Central capped a perfect 10-0 season in OCC-Buckeye play and finished the regular season with a 75-56 defeat over Reynoldsburg. 

The Tigers benefitted from a well-distributed team effort, led by their talented and experienced group of seniors.

Ohio State commit Devin Royal finished with 23 points, but below I highlight a couple unsigned Central seniors that delivered strong performances and have the ability to play at the next level, as well as an emerging junior from Reynoldsburg. 

Andrew Hedgepeth (Pickerington Central / 6'2 SG / 2023) Perhaps no player had a better game this past weekend than Hedgepeth, who had a game-high 24 points and connected on six made three-pointers. "Hedge" was confidently in a zone, as he went perfect on his first three long-range attempts in the first quarter and sparked a momentum that Central rode through their blowout victory. The hot-shooting wasn't an anomaly for the senior, who has shown an ability to hit from deep over the last two seasons. But it was a moment that showcased the senior's potential to spark offense and be a legitimate scoring threat. To his credit, Hedgepeth has been one to selflessly defer himself and his scoring for the betterment of the team, which may minimize his name in the headlines. But the 6'2 shooting guard comes from a basketball family, is coachable and has a comfortable feel for the game. If anything, Friday's burst proved Hedgepeth could be more assertive and should provide him the encouragement to be a focal scoring option. Hedgepeth has received interest from NAIA and Division III schools and would make for a fantastic fit for programs that value a quality teammate with an ability to score.

Markell Johnson (Pickerington Central / 6'1 G / 2023) Similar to his teammate above, Johnson is another Tigers senior that for the past two years has done an excellent job of maximizing his role. On a team that has multiple talented scoring options, Johnson is fantastic at pushing the pace and finding an open teammate, which he did to the tune of eight assists against Reynoldsburg. Johnson has a thin frame, but he's undoubtedly quick, attacks at the right moment and is known for doing the little things that help a team towards victory. He plays with an effort that's bigger than his size and makes a commitment to his man-to-man defense. Although he may not be the type of player to score 15+ points per game, he provides the type of depth that make rosters better. Johnson has received interest from regional NAIA and Division III programs and should make for a quality four-year player at the next level.

Noah Smith (Reynoldsburg / 6'4 Wing / 2024) Although it wasn't a favorable night for the Raiders, Smith provided a bright performance that at times gave Reynoldsburg some much-needed offense. Smith finished with 18 points, which included three triples in the first half. The junior wing has a nice stroke and has an attractive frame that could translate well at the next level. On a team that's had some consistency issues, Smith has been one of the more dependable two-way players on a per game basis. Like many players his age, Smith has room to improve on all facets of his game. But I like the way he competes and finds a way to score that is paired well with his 6'4 length. As regional D2, NAIA and D3 programs begin to narrow down their 2024 prospects, Smith is a player worth following for the rest of the tournament and AAU season.

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