Among the top first-year players this year are guards Kyran McClure of Westerville South, Tyus Ferguson of Groveport, Seth Fuller of Dublin Coffman, and Jalen Tate and D.J. Tyree of Pickerington Central; and forwards Luke Vargo of Coffman, James Manns of Marion-Franklin, Malik Harrison of Walnut Ridge, Houston Smith of Africentric, Nick Ward of Gahanna and Jimmy Ratliff of Hilliard Davidson.
Some of those last names might ring a bell. McClure?s father, Kelly, was a former Westerville South, Otterbein and European pro player. Tate?s father, Jermaine, played for Ohio State and Cincinnati, and his brother, Jae?Sean, is an Ohio State recruit. Ward?s father, Jeff, was a standout at Brookhaven and Tiffin, and Ratliff?s father and namesake played at Ohio State.
?A lot of coaches are reluctant to play freshmen on the varsity,? Watson said, ?but most of these kids are either starting or contributing, and if you?re logging minutes at a program like Westerville South, Pickerington Central and Dublin Coffman, that?s a big indicator of how talented these players.?
