Jason Morrow:
Future150 National Editor/ Midwest Recruiting. Covering high and middle school basketball. OH,IN and IL.
GAHANNA, OH (Future150) -- As practices open this Friday in Ohio, one of the perennial top programs in the state, Gahanna-Lincoln, is gearing up for another run deep into March. The Lions, led by 13th-year head coach Tony Staib have been a force in Columbus over the past decade.
Staib has produced quality Division I-talent like VCU forward Rob Brandenberg, Ohio U. guard Stevie Taylor and most recently Michigan State’s Javon Bess. The talent continues to come through the Columbus suburb today as high-major talents like four-star big man Nick Ward and Syracuse-commit Matthew Moyer (Future150 #67).
Led by Bess, the 2013-14 campaign netted the Lions another share of an OCC-Ohio crown, but fell in the tournament to eventual state runner-up Upper Arlington in the district final 55-49.
“(Arlington) had a great senior in Kevin Vannatta, and congratulations to them,” Moyer said. “Last year we came up a lot (shorter) than what we should have…we should have been where Upper Arlington was.”
Gahanna will move on without Bess as he begins his college career in East Lansing, leaving the program in the capable hands of Ward and Moyer.
“(Javon) is one of my best friends. It’s shocking to me that he was playing with me last year, it has not hit me yet,” Ward said after his unofficial visit to Michigan State for Midnight Madness on Oct. 24.
The two juniors will now have to carry the load, and Moyer understands the importance of the changing of the guard at Gahanna.
“I just had to wait my time, and I think now is my time,” the Syracuse-commit Moyer said. “I just need to make sure I am assertive and aggressive, and at the same time being the good teammate I usually am, finding the open teammate.”
Last year, Moyer only averaged six points per game and some believe that he will have to be the ultimate scorer this year for the Lions, but with the six-foot-eight Ward dominating the paint, that’s not necessarily the case.
“A lot of the stress will be off of me as far as the scoring load, with Nick,” Moyer said. “Last year he was a presence, and this year he will be even more of a presence…I think we will compliment well.”
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