Here are 12 Columbus-area high school boys basketball players to watch in 2023-24 season
Three players from the City League and two from Delaware Hayes headline our 12 central Ohio boys basketball players to watch this season.
Dominique Aekins, Walnut Ridge
The Scots’ 5-foot-8 senior point guard and Duquesne signee averaged 28.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds last season, earning first-team all-City League-South, first-team all-district and special mention all-state in Division I. Aekins, who committed to the Dukes in July, scored a career-high 40 points last season against Perrysburg.
Reggie Bagley, Whitehall-Yearling
The 6-5 junior guard was a key contributor for the Rams last season, averaging 21 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals. He was first-team all-district and all-MSL-Ohio and special mention all-state in Division II.
Rosean Burns, Beechcroft
The 5-11 senior point guard is coming off a strong 2022-23 season, helping to lead Beechcroft to a Division II district semifinal. He averaged 24.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.1 assists and was named first-team all-City-North, first-team all-district and second-team all-state.
Jesse Burris, Delaware Hayes
The 6-5 senior guard/forward averaged team highs of 18.1 points and 8.8 rebounds a season ago while also contributing 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. The Ohio University commit was OCC-Capital Player of the Year, first-team all-district and second-team all-state. Burris helped Delaware (20-5) reach a Division I district final, which it lost to Olentangy Orange 54-39.
2023-24 preview: Burris, Vanderwarker pairing raises expectations for Delaware Hayes
King Kendrick, Northland
The 5-10 sophomore point guard is one of the more highly recruited players in the area, already receiving several Division I offers. He averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals, earning first-team all-City-North and honorable mention all-district recognition in Division I a season ago. An ambidextrous shooter, Kendrick scored 33 points in leading the Vikings to a 60-58 win over Africentric in the City League championship game.
Sam Johnson, Worthington Christian
The 6-7 senior forward/center was named MSL-Ohio Player of the Year, first-team all-district and second-team all-state in Division III a season ago. The Cedarville commit averaged 19.5 points and 9.9 rebounds and helped lead the Warriors (21-5) to a district final, which they lost to Harvest Prep 61-44.
Arness Lawson, Pickerington North
A 6-2 junior point guard, Lawson continues to draw Division I attention. He has offers from Kent State, Miami University and Ohio University and has received interest from several other schools, including Ohio State, after averaging 15.8 points as a sophomore. He was first-team all-OCC-Ohio, second-team all-district and special mention all-state in Division I last season.
Carter Mallernee, Northridge
The 6-4 senior guard averaged 20.6 points and 2.5 assists and shot 42% from 3-point range last season to lead the Vikings (18-6) to a Division III district semifinal and the program’s first league championship. Mallernee was named Licking County League Player of the Year, first-team all-district and third-team all-state.
Cade Norris, Hilliard Bradley
The 6-4 senior guard led Bradley in scoring (19.4 points), assists (5.3) and rebounding (4.5) last season. The Illinois State commit was first-team all-district and all-state as well as OCC-Central Player of the Year. The Jaguars (19-6) reached a Division I district final, losing to Pickerington Central 55-43.
Caleb Schmelzer, Fairfield Union
The Falcons’ 6-7 wing and forward led his team (24-4) to a Division II Southeast District title and regional semifinal appearance a season ago, averaging 15.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists. The MSL-Buckeye Player of the Year, first-team all-district and third-team all-state honoree also was on the regional runner-up boys soccer team this fall.
Landon Vanderwarker, Delaware Hayes
A transfer from Division IV Northside Christian, the 6-7 junior wing helped the Lions win their first district title a season ago. Northside Christian (23-4) then lost to Berlin Hiland 52-50 in a regional final. Vanderwarker averaged 22.8 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.7 steals. He was named Player of the Year in the district and Mid-Ohio Christian Athletic League and first-team all-state.
Micah Young, Westerville North
The 6-2 guard helped lead the Warriors (22-3) to an OCC-Capital title and an appearance in a Division I district semifinal. He averaged 12.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.7 steals and was named first-team all-league, third-team all-district and honorable mention all-state.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 12 central Ohio boys basketball players to watch in 2023-24
