Months after dominating on the EYBL circuit and leading his All-Ohio Red squad to a Peach Jam title, Ohio State commit Dane Goodwin has not slowed down one bit. In the first two weeks of the high school season, Goodwin is getting buckets - and many of them.
Leading all of the Central Ohio area in scoring, Goodwin is putting up 29 points per game at the moment, highlighted by a career-high 35 points in a win vs. Central Crossing last week. What's new with the 6-foot-5 junior swing man?
"[Feeling] pretty good," Goodwin said of the start to the high school season. "We have gotten off to a pretty good start so far. It's different this year because we can play faster with more of a four guard look and I think that's helped us with pressuring the ball and getting out in transition.
"So far for me, it's been a good year. I've gotten more touches and am scoring a little bit more this year."
The official alpha on the Upper Arlington roster, Goodwin is excelling alongside a talented cast of guards and wings, including sophomore Max Martz, a potential Ohio State target who has already visited the OSU campus this year. With talent and youth surrounding him, Goodwin has embraced his role as not only Upper Arlington's most experienced player, but also its consummate leader.
"[This year] has been different because now I can't only lead by scoring," Goodwin told Eleven Warriors. "I have to be assertive and let my teammates know what needs to be done and when."
The first part of a talented trio of 2018 commits for Ohio State, Goodwin is feeling good not only about the future of the program, but also this year's team as well.
"I think Ohio State can be as good as they want to be," Goodwin said. "They have the talent to be a good team as they showed in the Virginia game but they are still trying to figure out how to play with each other."
As far as 2018, Goodwin can't wait to play with his future teammates.
"I am very excited about my class and the future," Goodwin said. "I have gotten to know Justin [Ahrens] and Darius [Bazley] better as time goes on, as well as Kaleb [Wesson]."
Attending a high school that is just a stone's throw from the Ohio State campus, Goodwin has had a chance to grow very close to the Buckeye staff. Participating in Ohio State open gyms and being around the program, Goodwin anticipates a rather smooth transition to the college game when the time comes.
"I have a really good relationship with all the coaches and also some of the players," Goodwin said. "Being close to them will only help me once I get to Ohio State and develop an even better relationship once I am there."
Until then, Goodwin must focus his sights on the high school season. One of several elite-level prospects in the Columbus area, Goodwin is impressed by the crop of talent in Central Ohio.
"Central Ohio basketball is as good as it has ever been," Goodwin said. "As I look through our schedule, there's not one game that you can look at and say it will be an easy win. A lot of teams in the area have guys that can play so every game will be a test for us this year."
You can check out the Upper Arlington team schedule, roster and stats here, courtesy of 270 Hoops.
