Committed to college
Wednesday was the first day of a monthlong regular signing period for basketball. The following area players either signed or are intending to do so:
Men’s basketball
Joe Ballard, Thurgood Marshall/Glenville State (W.Va.)
Jake Campbell, Centerville/Presbyterian (S.C.)
Jack Mapes, Springboro/Wittenberg
Women’s basketball
Lindsey Rosendale, Springboro/Otterbein
Katie Schubert, Springboro/Tennessee-Martin
Women’s softball
Taylor Drake, Indian Lake/Urbana
Baseball
Chaise Spangler, Brookville/Bluffton
Like a lot of high school basketball players, Joe Ballard envisioned himself playing at the next level. That came true for him when the Thurgood Marshall senior verbally committed with Glenville State (W. Va.) this week.
“This is something that I’ve always dreamed about,” Ballard said Wednesday, the first day of the regular signing period for basketball and all other sports. “They like my athleticism.”
Springboro senior Jack Mapes is headed to Wittenberg.
Most notable was who didn’t sign, former Wayne standout Markus Crider, who reportedly is drawing the most interest from St. Bonaventure and Iona. Crider said he’ll take more recruiting visits and probably will sign in a couple of weeks.
Glenville is an NCAA Division II program and a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. There is good reason why Pioneers coaches like Ballard’s ability. At 6 feet 6, few players could match his leaping ability. As for highlight dunks, he’s a first team, all-timer.
“The kid is amazingly gifted athletically,” said Marshall coach Darnell Hoskins. “I have never seen anybody jump as high. This kid has rockets in his shoes.”
Ballard averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds. Hoskins said Wright State showed late interest but wanted Ballard as a preferred walk-on. Ohio colleges Malone, Walsh and Urbana also recruited Ballard.
Another Marshall senior, Joe Thomasson, has verbally committed to WSU. However, he has yet to score high enough on the entrance exam. Hoskins said his options are to enroll and not play, or attend a prep school or junior college.
Mapes, a 6-foot guard, was one of four Panthers who averaged double digits in scoring (10.6). His usually consistent long-range touch was the perfect complement to 6-10 center Maverick Morgan’s inside game.
Mapes hit nearly 41 percent of his 3-pointers (53 of 130). He also converted 33 of 38 free throws (87 percent) and added 3.9 assists.
“Every game I heard ‘shooter,’ ” said Mapes, whose father played basketball at Ball State.
“That was a big focus of our team, to let me and Maverick run a two-man game because if we were on the same side of the floor, they couldn’t double him with my guard, it would have to come from somewhere else. That created other opportunities.”
Mapes said he chose Wittenberg over rival Wooster. The Tigers were 23-7 last season under veteran coach Bill Brown and advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament quarterfinals.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2381 or mpendleton@DaytonDaily News.com.
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