Jason Morrow:
Future150 National Editor/ Midwest Recruiting. Covering high and middle school basketball. OH,IN and IL.
PICKERINGTON, OH (Future150) -- After a summer playing AAU for the King James Shooting Stars, 2016 guard Ibi Watson is turning the page to high school ball. The shooting guard has transferred to perennial Division I-power Pickerington Central from Athens High School in southern Ohio.
“It’s been a huge change but I like it,” Watson told Future150. “The level of competition is a lot higher and its good to go against some of the top wings in the state during practice.”
The top wings that Watson is referring to would be senior Rodney Culver and Junior Jalen Tate, younger brother of current-Buckeye Jae’Sean. Culver and Jalen Tate, along with now-Arkansas State guard Connor Kern led Pickerington Central to a 3rd straight district title. Now with Watson, the Tigers can reload for another run, but the goals are one step at a time.
“As a team we feel like we can make a run at state but our first focus is to win the (Ohio Capital Conference),” Watson said.
The junior averaged 18.1 points and six rebounds per game last season at Athens, but he says there is room for improvement in all facets of his game from AAU to the high school season.
“Personally, I am trying to get better every day at every aspect of my game and become more of a leader and player coach on the court,” Watson added. “Playing against the top teams in the country really showed me where I was at and what I needed to work on.”
The hard work has paid off in the form of some MAC offers for the guard as Ohio U. and Akron offered late in the spring. Other mid-to-high majors are recruiting Watson, as Iowa and West Virginia have showed interest, and Dayton offered early in November.
“I was surprised but excited to get the offer since their team did so well last year,” Watson said of the Dayton offer, as the Flyers made the Elite Eight. “The recruitment process is going well, a lot of high major schools are coming hard, just no offers yet.”
Playing in the spotlight this year at Pickerington Central, there will be plenty of chances to shine. The Tigers will play teams like Dayton Dunbar (OH) and Montrose Christian (MD) out of conference, while still playing the traditional home-and-home with OCC-Ohio rival Gahanna-Lincoln. The Tigers will certainly be on the map, and so will Watson.
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