ThisWeek’s 2017-18 Super 12 Boys Basketball Team
On one of the many nights Dane Goodwin hit a memorable shot for the Upper Arlington High School boys basketball team, the 6-foot-5 senior guard earned credit from his coaches for a completely different aspect of the game.
Goodwin took a charge during the fourth quarter Feb. 3 at Dublin Coffman, minutes before hitting both the game-tying and game-winning 3-pointers in a 44-41 victory that helped UA secure its third consecutive OCC-Central Division championship.
Goodwin, who is the Golden Bears' all-time leading scorer and rebounder and a Notre Dame recruit, said it was only the second charge he'd ever taken. Coach Tim Casey felt it simply reflected the overall improvement he continued to see in the final season of Goodwin's storied career, one that ended with a 23-2 record and his being named ThisWeek's Super 12 captain as well as Ohio Mr. Basketball.
"That was a big-time play. Dane has gotten better defensively all year long and his attention to detail on the defensive end is better," Casey said. "He'd have been an even better defender if we could get him out of the game a little bit. We just rely on him so much that it's hard to get him out of the game and playing 32 minutes every game is a grind."
Goodwin finished with 1,951 career points and 817 rebounds, both by far the best in program history, and averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 rebounds.
He was OCC-Central Player of the Year and first-team all-district each of the last two seasons, shared district Player of the Year honors this year with Pickerington North's Jerome Hunter and was named state Player of the Year by Gatorade.
UA, which went 10-0 in the league, tied Huber Heights Wayne for third in the final Division I state poll but lost to Coffman 60-39 in a district final.
"I try to stay humble but there is a certain level you strive for to try to do something special," Goodwin said. "In the years to come when I look back, I will remember all the memories I had with this team and this program and be proud of that."
Super 12TRE' BAUMGARDNER
The Division III district Player of the Year showed his ability to shoot in the clutch when he drilled a 3-pointer just before time expired March 17 to give Africentric a 42-39 win over Archbold and send the Nubians to the state tournament.
A 6-0 senior guard who has committed to Minnesota State and was first-team all-state, Baumgardner averaged 16 points, 5.5 rebounds, six assists and 3.5 steals and shot 40 percent from 3-point range. Africentric finished 22-7 with a 67-57 loss to Cincinnati Deer Park in the Division III state final.
"He's capable of doing that," coach Michael Bates said after the district final. "He's a gamer and a true leader."
JULIUS BROWN
The 5-11 senior point guard averaged 16.3 points, 3.0 assists and 2.8 steals for Westerville North, which finished 21-5 overall, losing to Pickerington Central 59-57 in a district final.
Brown saved his best for the postseason, averaging 22.0 points.
Brown, who will play at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, was special mention all-state, first-team all-district and OCC-Buckeye Player of the Year.
"Julius is as committed as any kid that we have ever had," coach Shan Trusley said. "He works from sunup to sundown. That's who he is."
CHANC DAWSON
After transferring from Franklin Heights to Ready, the 6-4 senior guard helped drive the Silver Knights by averaging 18.4 points, 3.4 assists and 2.6 steals while making first-team all-district and third-team all-state in Division III. The Silver Knights won a share of the CCL title, were district runners-up and went 20-5.
"Chanc has incredible in-game competitiveness," coach Dan DeCrane said. "He wants the team to reach the highest level of success. He's an explosive, down-hill attacker on offense. He can finish in the paint well, make 3-point shots and open up great opportunities for his teammates on his drives to the basket. (He's) a player who can do a little bit of everything."
JEROME HUNTER
Hunter, a 6-7 senior forward, averaged 20.2 points and 10.2 rebounds and became Pickerington North's all-time leading scorer and rebounder. The Indiana recruit helped North go 20-5 overall and 9-1 in the OCC-Ohio, winning the league title.
Hunter finished with 1,314 points and 729 rebounds. He was first-team all-state and all-league and district co-Player of the Year.
"Jerome's hard work and dedication to improvement helped change the culture of (our) program," coach Jason Bates said. "Jerome made major improvements year in and year out. From his ball-handling and 3-point shooting, to his attention to detail on the court and in the classroom, Jerome grew leaps and bounds."
TAEVION KINSEY
Following a season in which he was Division II district Player of the Year and Eastmoor Academy reached a state semifinal, this 6-5 senior guard averaged 19.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals.
Kinsey, who has signed with Marshall, was second-team all-state and first-team all-district. Eastmoor won the outright City-South title and was a district runner-up while finishing 20-6. Kinsey also was a contributor as a freshman when Eastmoor made it to a Division III state semifinal.
"He's a strong leader, and the team supports him and I think he supports his teammates," coach Jim Miranda said. "I think he's developing quite nicely."
C.J. PENHA
Leadership and work ethic were among Penha's biggest strengths this season, according to Harvest Prep coach David Dennis.
A 6-6 senior forward who was first-team all-district and second-team all-state and has committed to Taylor University, Penha averaged 19 points and six rebounds while shooting 67 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. The Warriors lost to Africentric 54-52 in a Division III state semifinal to finish 28-1.
"C.J. Penha is a great basketball player but a better person off the court," Dennis said. "Most places he could average 25 points a game, but he's a great teammate that is all about winning. He works hard. He wants to get better."
DOMINIQ PENN
With this 5-11 sophomore point guard leading the way, Dublin Coffman won the fourth Division I district title in coach Jamey Collins' 16 seasons. A second-team all-district and honorable mention all-state selection, Penn averaged 16.5 points, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals while helping Coffman finish 20-7.
In a district final, he scored 30 points as the Shamrocks avenged a pair of regular-season losses by beating Upper Arlington 68-51.
"Dominiq's growth and maturity on both the defensive and offensive end has been his biggest change from a year ago," Collins said. "He's undergone major growth that helped make us a completely different team than where we were at midseason."
BEN RODERICK
Before suffering a season-ending knee injury during a 73-66 win over Olentangy on Jan. 31, this 6-5 junior forward was averaging 24.4 points to lead central Ohio.
Without Roderick, Olentangy Liberty lost six of its final seven and finished 11-13.
A first-team all-district and second-team all-state honoree, Roderick will enter his final prep season with 1,019 career points.
Roderick, who averaged 7.5 points as a freshman and 18.5 points as a sophomore, also led the Patriots in rebounding at 7.2 per game.
"Ben has worked extremely hard on his game in the offseason, playing against very good competition," coach Greg Nossaman said. "He also has great teammates that aid his game."
JELANI SIMMONS
The Division II district Player of the Year and a Youngstown State signee, Simmons led Beechcroft back to prominence.
A 6-6 senior guard who also was first-team all-state, Simmons averaged 20 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.0 steals.
The Cougars won their first City title since 1983 and won a district title for the first time since 2007 while finishing 25-2.
"Just coming in as a senior, he always stayed consistent," said coach Humphrey Simmons, who is Jelani's father. "If there was a void, he'd fill the void, and he's just a winner. He won a City title and a district title, and with him being my son, I'm going to miss him and miss just coaching him."
ISAIAH SPEELMAN
The 6-6 senior forward averaged 15.6 points and 4.8 rebounds as Bradley finished a program-best 25-2 and captured its first district title before losing to Pickerington Central 43-39 in a Division I regional final.
Speelman, who will play at Cedarville, was special mention all-state, second-team all-district and OCC-Cardinal Player of the Year. He is the program's career leader in points (1,509) and rebounds (487). The Jaguars won their second OCC-Cardinal title in a row at 12-0.
"Isaiah has done so much for us," coach Brett Norris said. "He has worked hard in the weight room and understands what we want to do."
TRE WILLIAMS
Williams emerged as one of central Ohio's top inside threats as a senior for Reynoldsburg.
A 6-7 center, he increased his scoring average from seven points as a junior to 18 this season while leading the Raiders to their third Division I district title.
Williams also averaged eight rebounds and shot 66 percent from the field as Reynoldsburg went 19-8. He was first-team all-OCC-Ohio and all-district and second-team all-state.
Williams opened his final prep season with back-to-back games of 26 points and also scored 29 in a 60-57 win over Chillicothe on Dec. 28.
"Tre worked himself into being the best big man in central Ohio," coach Scott Davis said. "You could count on him to get 18 to 20 points a game and 10 rebounds a game."
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