Playing in one last game before Christmas on Wednesday, Upper Arlington junior wing Dane Goodwin brought many gifts to the Golden Bears in an overtime win over Westerville Central.
Scoring as many points as the opposition did at halftime, Goodwin dazzled in his most impressive performance up to this point in the season. Finishing with 33 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and four blocks, Goodwin dominated the host Warhawks, scoring 11 points in overtime alone.
All in all, Goodwin scored 24 of Upper Arlington's 36 points in the second half and overtime, scoring inside on an assortment of finishes, while hitting the type of shots from the perimeter that he is known for.
A part of Goodwin's game that goes under the radar, however, is his rebounding. Snatching boards out of the sky like a mad man, Goodwin dominated Westerville Central on the glass, rebounding in and out of his area. Able to snatch a rebound, go coast to coast and score on any level, Goodwin demanded the respect of the defense on every possession.
One thing that makes Goodwin great, in my opinion, is that he is the single-most targeted player in the area - meaning opposing players go at Goodwin harder than any other guy. That shows the signs of greatness, and Goodwin has been just about every positive adjective that you can think of this season.
Averaging 28.8 points per game through four games, Goodwin has put up two 30+ point, 13+ rebound outings in less than two weeks, as he went for 35 points and 15 rebounds against Central Crossing on Dec. 9. With a competitive fire and intensity that reminds me of that of Tom Brady, Goodwin might be the kick in the ass that Ohio State has missed on the hardwood the last few seasons.
Check out highlights of Goodwin's dominant performance below, courtesy of 270 Hoops.
Wesson Faces Stiff Challenge in Huntington Prep
Heading into his toughest matchup of the year, Ohio State commit Kaleb Wesson and Westerville South host Huntington Prep on Thursday. The prep powerhouse comes to town to take on the defending state champions in a highly-anticipated game tipping off at Otterbein at 7 p.m.
For Wesson, it will be the most talented team Westerville South has played all year, even despite a challenging non-conference schedule. Huntington Prep features eight players at 6-foot-6 and taller, including Florida signee Chase Johnson, Florida target Maurice Calloo, Ohio State target Keldon Johnson and high-flyer Keyshawn Bryant, who has several offers at the mid-to-high major levels.
While Westerville South may have been better suited to play Huntington Prep last season, Thursday's matchup will be another proving ground for Wesson, who has dominated up to this point in the season. Wesson's critics have argued that the 6-foot-10's less than elite athleticism could be a deterrent to success at Ohio State many times in the past. Thursday's matchup against a team that has as much size and athleticism as most college teams could be huge for Wesson, who has done nothing but produce at high levels since the beginning of his sophomore season.
Through six games, Wesson is averaging a team-best 20.8 points per game, while continuing to dominate on the glass. Wesson has yet to face a team with a matchup anywhere close to the big load on the block, which makes Thursday's game all that more intriguing.
Make sure to follow 270 Hoops for game coverage and post game recaps on Westerville South's primetime showdown with one of the nation's best prep powerhouses.
