COLUMBUS, Ohio - - The second week of the Central Ohio Fall League, powered by Nova Village, was back at Ohio Dominican’s Alumni Hall for another afternoon of action on Sunday. The teams all have multiple games of playing together under their belt now and it showed this week as the teams that shared the ball the most had the most success and teams that played too selfishly did not see the success they envisioned. Check out what players stood out in the second week of the Central Ohio Fall League.
Braylon Morris (New Albany): He started a little slow during the first game, but heated up as the day went on, and ended up blazing hot from the floor. His team had two losses on the day, both by single-digits, but Morris stood out because of versatility on the offensive end of the court. The New Albany product got rolling from behind the arc in the middle of his first game and did not slow down. He nailed shots off the dribble, off catch-and-shoot and in clutch moments. He withstood fierce defensive ball pressure while still making the right decisions with the basketball. The senior continuously shows how smart he is on the court, whether it be making the right pass or contesting shots without fouling. Morris is one of the most underrated players in the areas, but he has shown that he can hang with all the top players numerous times.
Tai Perkins (Westerville North): The Akron commit showed why he was just that, a Division 1 commit, from his easy acceleration in transition to his instincts on the court, Perkins was great on Sunday leading his team to an 2-0 record on the day. He showed off his effortlessly quick first step that got him to the rim almost at will, along with his one-dribble pull up jump shot that was pure and money all afternoon. His shot selection was smart and didn’t get out of his element on the court, getting to his spots and using his quick release and ability to create space to get his shot off. The senior was a hound playing the passing lanes on the defensive side of the court, bolting through gaps to get steals and get his team on the break time and time again. Perkins is one of, if not the best, guard in the entire area and he continues to proves why every time he steps on the court.
Quentin Carpenter (Dublin Coffman): One of the most versatile players that stepped through the building on Sunday, Carpenter was a tough cover on offense and a pest on the defensive end. He took and made shots from all around the court, being efficient in his basket making and showing good touch around the rim. The 2028 forward was a solid rebounder as well, with good timing and the length to go up and grab the basketball over other players. Defensively, he guarded different positions both inside and on the perimeter too, moving his feet well and contesting every shot that was taken around him. In the pick-and-roll, he communicated what he wanted and recovered quickly when he needed to. Carpenter has a nice upside as a young player, with his ability to play different positions on the court.
Brody Fields (Teays Valley): A bucket getter at a high level, Fields can score from every area on the court and does so in an efficient manner. Fields did work from behind the three-point line, the mid-range, post and even handed out iso work, all while showing off his jumper and his soft touch around the rim. The junior has the size to make him a matchup nightmare for guards in the area, he can put smaller guards in the post and score over them or he can take bigger guards out and fly by them with his deceptive burst on the perimeter. His team finished unbeaten on the day and remained a perfect 4-0 so far during this fall league run. Brody is one of the most dynamic guards in the area, his ability to put the ball in the basket is above many others in Central Ohio.
Jahki Calloway (Bishop Harley): Despite not having the best offensive output, Calloway did a lot of the dirty work for his team on Sunday, helping his team win a tough first game before his team fell by six in the second game. His free throw his first game sent the game to overtime before his team won. He pressured the ball like a menace as usual, forcing turnovers that got his team in transition for easy baskets. Calloway controlled the pace of both games, never getting sped up with the ball in his hands while making opposing guards play faster than they wanted to. His game will never be about flash or scoring, but more about helping his team win games. Another player that had a fantastic summer, one that led to a number of D1 schools reaching out to him, Calloway always finds a way to make an impact for his team.
Isaiah Jones (Dublin Scioto): The youngster played with swagger and confidence in his time on the court, being aggressive and a playmaker with the ball in his hands. He was able to get through the defense with an elusive first step that allowed him to get past defenders and get into the middle of the defense for scoring opportunities either for him or his teammates. He played at a fast pace and always looked to push the ball when he was in the game. With his fast and aggressive play, he still did not force anything, playing with a level head not doing anything outside of his element. The way he played kept the defense on its heels and made them reactive, even when he was dishing the ball around the court. Jones did a good job of getting everyone involved while still hunting his own shot, something that will be built upon as his game grows.
Brennan Truka (Olentangy): Getting noticed for your off-ball is hard to do, but that is what initially drew the eye when watching Truka’s games on Sunday. He found the openings in the defense and immediately called for the ball where he easily scored numerous times inside and behind the three. He was a violent cutter, sprinting to the rim to make himself available for passes from his teammates. Truka also buried some big shots from three, showing off a quick release and good looking shot form as well, displaying that he can be a big time shooter for the Braves in the regular season. An under the radar player that is still looking for his breakout season, he hopes it is this one coming up.
Matt Brett (Westerville Central): An integral part of his team picking up their first win of the Fall League, a one-point victory, and the consistent source of offense for his team all Sunday afternoon. Brett did not back down from what seemed to be more talented teams, taking it right to Division 1 and Division 1 caliber players on the offensive end. He hit a three-pointer fading right with a hand directly in his face and followed it up with a deep three with a defender jumping straight at him. Brett was creative at getting space for his jumpers, using a nice first step along with his instincts that allowed him to use his quick release to get his shot off. The junior guard flashed potential and showed that he will not relent.
Braden McCruter (Big Walnut): His presence on the court was felt whenever an opposing player would drive the basketball, he continuously altered shots and deterred drivers from shooting the ball in the lane. He played without fouling as well, which frustrated players looking to drive. Not only was he an excellent rim protector, the senior also show the capability to get out on the perimeter and defend, both on and off the ball. On the ball, he made players take tough shots over him, while off the ball he was able to play the passing lanes, even shooting through for a steal and dunk in transition. Morris had soft hands in the paint and was a good finisher around the rim, especially during the second game. The Eagle also hit some mid-range jumpers that drew out the other bigs and opened up cutting lanes for teammates. His team is a sleeper one that has so much cohesive talent and explosive scorers, they are 2-2 entering next week, but they can easily explode and get on a hot streak.
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