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Scrimmage Notes: Pickerington Central, Briggs, Central Crossing

By Zach Fleer, 11/16/16, 9:30PM EST

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Pickerington Central sophomore point guard Jeremiah Francis is as good as they come

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In a three-way scrimmage at Briggs on Wednesday, the Bruins hosted nearby Central Crossing and Pickerington Central. In an entertaining battle between three improving teams, Pickerington Central stood out above the rest - particularly with sophomore point guard Jeremiah Francis. Let's take a look at the scrimmage's top performers. 

Jeremiah Francis (6'2 PG / 2019): There are players who say they are elite and then there are players who prove it. Francis proves it. Over and over and over again. On Wednesday, he was as good as ever, dominating at the point guard spot and using his physicality, IQ and ball skills to get anywhere he wanted off the dribble and any shot he wanted. There is simply not another point guard in the area that can match Francis' physicality and toughness, as he is built like a middle linebacker at 6-foot-2 and roughly 200 pounds. Francis handles well against pressure, rarely makes a mistake, and has cut down on his tendency to over dribble at times, which has turned him into an even more efficient lead guard. With his jump shooting improving, Francis can create any shot he wants on the floor, as his pull-up jumper has been a thing of beauty as of late. The most experienced player on Pickerington Central's roster, despite being a sophomore, look for Francis to take Central Ohio by storm this winter. 

Adrian Nelson (6'7 SF / 2018): Nelson has come back strong from the injuries that ended his sophomore season early. With his breakout delayed a year, Nelson is poised for a big junior year, as he was the night's most explosive player, wowing the crowd with several big jams. Nelson has incredible length and is still growing, as we could see him stretching out to be 6-foot-8, which is imposing size for a wing player with his quickness, agility and ball skills. Nelson is a force on the offensive glass, can defend on the wing and get out in transition, and is also a knockdown shooter capable of stretching the floor. Picking up three mid-major Division I offers this fall, Nelson could rise into the top three of Central Ohio's 2018 class with a productive junior season. 

Juan Elmore (6'4 PF / 2018): If Elmore buys into his role as a bruising forward who brings additional toughness underneath for Pickerington Central, not only the Tigers, but he will greatly benefit. For Elmore on Wednesday, he did just that, as he could not be denied on the offensive glass, showing to be the top interior scorer among forwards on the night. Elmore is thick, nimble for his size and can rebound and score underneath, while also having an ability to stretch the floor and shoot. Look for Elmore to improve on a strong second half to his sophomore season where he stepped up greatly for the Tigers in the absence of Sterling Manley. 

Josiah Fulcher (6'2 SG / 2020): Fulcher is going to be very, very good. A confident and composed freshman guard who can straight up shoot, Fulcher is long, skilled and bursting at the seams with potential. Pickerington Central's best shooter, Fulcher will play a big role on a Tigers team that is as loaded as any team in Ohio. No. 3 among 2020 prospects in the area, Fulcher could end up being the top-ranked player in the class, and maybe in Ohio, when it's all said and done. 

Danny Corbett (6'1 PG / 2017): Corbett has been a starting point guard at Briggs for as long as I have covered the game and it has been a treat to watch him develop over the last four years. A gamer who brings it every time out on the floor, Corbett has his best group yet around him at Briggs, as the Bruins senior class is confident and playing with a lot of cohesiveness. Corbett is the reason for all of that, as he demands intensity and effort from his teammates, traits of a real point guard and floor general. On Wednesday, Corbett was effective in all areas of the game, but impressed with his jump shot which looks to be improved. A strong ball-handler that handles pressure, makes good decisions and constantly finds the best shot, Corbett would be a strong look at the Division II level, as he holds just one NAIA offer at the moment. A big season is on the horizon for the senior point guard Corbett. 

Kam Stephens (6'5 C / 2017): Briggs' surprise player on Wednesday, Stephens could be the front court presence that the Bruins have lacked for the last few years. Playing strong inside against the bigger lineup from Pickerington Central, Stephens impressed with his toughness, strength and finishing ability inside. Competing on the glass and scoring tough buckets inside, Stephens could be the x-factor for Briggs in what the Bruins believe can be a City League South title run this season. 

Sean Potenciano (5'10 PG / 2017): An emerging guard in the Briggs' backcourt, Potenciano was solid on Wednesday, hitting perimeter shots and showing to be a talented ball handler. Corbett and Potenciano combine to be a tough Briggs backcourt that will make opponents work, while having the unselfishness and feel to make the right passes on the offensive end. A breakout senior season could be on the horizon for Potenciano. 

Garrett Groupe (6'3 SF / 2017): While Stephens will be very important for Briggs' success in the post, the focus for the Bruins' perimeter offense will be on Groupe. A knockdown perimeter shooter who can stretch the floor and hit shots, Groupe was very good early on in the scrimmage on Wednesday. Hitting three triples in Briggs' first scrimmage against Pickerington Central, Groupe set the pace on offense and gave the Bruins a spark. Sharp-shooting and toughness will be needed on a consistent basis from Groupe for this team to make a run, 

Mike Woods (6'3 SG / 2018): Woods was the Comets' best performer on Wednesday, stretching the floor and hitting shots. While his release may be a little unconventional, it goes in more than it goes out, as Woods made his mark early on as a young perimeter shooter in a Comets program trying to rebuild. Improving as an athlete, as Woods goes, so does Central Crossing, as the Comets can give themselves a chance to compete in most games when Woods and his teammates are hitting shots. 

Keason Lowe (5'10 PG / 2018): A cerebral guard who simply does not make mistakes, Lowe was solid on Wednesday, hitting shots, handling pressure and drawing contact which turned into points at the line. Lowe is the straw that stirs the drink for Central Crossing, as he controls the pace on offense and always gives the Comets a chance with his decision-making in the backcourt. Lowe will also make you pay with his knockdown perimeter shooting, as his secondary scoring will be much needed this winter. 

Antwon Hampton (6'3 SG / 2018): When Hampton's shot isn't falling like it was on Wednesday, the athletic combo guard finds ways to still be effective in other areas of the game. He did that on the defensive perimeter and with his crisp passing, which helped Central Crossing compete despite a shortage of scoring from its talented junior wing guard. If Hampton can provide the type of all-around impact he displayed on Wednesday in addition to his scoring, he will really help this Central Crossing team take the next step forward. 

Cam Parsley (6'6 PF / 2018): Parsley is still a developing big, but we saw enough out of him on Wednesday to be confident about his development going forward. With good size and length, Parsley scored consistently on Wednesday when given chances underneath, which he will have to do to help this Comet team. Parsley is the size that Central Crossing needs, and with talented guards like the three mentioned above that will be able to create shots for him, Parsley might just be the key for the Comets in the post. 

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