Girls Basketball: Big Walnut, Olentangy freshmen look to make immediate impact
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Olentangy’s Sydney Mobley shoots during a scrimmage with Purcell Marian on Nov. 18 at Reynoldsburg. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Sydney Mobley was bored one afternoon, so the 8-year-old picked up a basketball and started dribbling.
That simple act has blossomed into a talent that already has Division I colleges salivating and the freshman post player hasn’t even played an official game for the Olentangy girls basketball team.
Mobley already has offers from Arkansas, Illinois, Louisville, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Providence, West Virginia, Virginia and Louisville. The Buckeyes were the first to offer her when she was in the sixth grade.
“My dad (David) was a varsity boys basketball coach (at Harvest Prep),” Mobley said. “So, there were always basketballs around the house. So, one day I came home and I was bored. So, I picked one up and started dribbling. My dad heard me and he came out and we started doing drills in the garage.”
Sydney is embracing the pressure of being a highly-recruited and talented player.
“My dad has always told me that getting your first offer puts a target on your back,” she said. “(He said), ‘Being young, you need to understand that you’re not any other kid anymore. You’re built to do different things.’ I’m still young and I still need to live my life. But in the back of my head, I know I’m not just a regular kid.”
Mobley, who is 6-foot-2, is more than a post player.
“She’s the real deal,” Olentangy coach Jamie Edwards said. “She’s used to the life. I don’t ever think she looks like she’s getting burned out or anything. She’s always wanting to go to different camps. Her dad trains her a lot. He knows what he’s doing – he trains our high school team sometimes. She’s in the weight room, going to two or three different training sessions a week on top of her busy schedule. She puts in the work – it’s not some big fluke.”
Delaware County has another freshman who is already garnering Division I college interest. Big Walnut guard Remy Largent has already visited Michigan and Toledo and has been in contact with Akron, Ball State, Marshall and Miami.
“I think it’s motivating and exciting to get these looks,” she said. “But also, right now, I’m focused on my high school career. So, I’m trying to not think that far in the future. I’m trying to play for my high school team right now.”
A basketball family
Like Mobley, Largent’s love for basketball comes from her family. She has two uncles (Aaron and Ryan Stumpf) and a grandfather (Mike) that played collegiately. Aaron played at Toledo and Ryan and Mike at Capital.
Remy’s cousin, Maddy, is a senior center/forward with the Golden Eagles and is committed to play at Baldwin Wallace. Another cousin, Eli, is a freshman on the Big Walnut boys team.
“I grew up in a basketball family,” Largent said. “We have a gym at our house. We play three (versus) three or five (versus) five all the time. It’s really fun.”
Oh, and there’s mom, Carey. Carey Largent, a 1998 graduate, was a two-time all-Ohio player with the Eagles before playing collegiately at Kent State and the College of Charleston.
Carey, who is in her second year as Big Walnut’s coach, was the third player in program history to reach 1,000 points, finishing with 1,157.
Big Walnut’s Remy Largent works the offense during a scrimmage with Springfield on Nov. 18 at Reynoldsburg. Photo: John Hulkenberg
“I kind of look at it two ways,” coach Largent said. “During high school season – it’s all about our team and we’re going to win as a team. What are all of my players’ individual goals and what’s our team goal? Then, when we move into AAU season, I focus on Remy a little bit more. I can coach her a little more specifically on her collegiate goals.”
Remy, who plays AAU with Cincinnati-based Sports City Angels, figures to be a key player in a young backcourt that also features sophomore Lexi Federer, who had an assist to turnover ratio of 1.34 last season while averaging 5.0 points, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game.
“(Remy) has great length,” Carey said. “She’s got long arms and long legs, so that (helps) defensively. I think she can be a little more gritty on defense, but she’s getting there. I was a shooter, but I was not as good a shooter as she is already. I think why I got recruited is because I was a good overall, athletic playmaker and really solid on defense. I’ll admit it, she’s a better shooter than I ever was.”
Having mom as her coach has made it easier for her as a player and in the recruiting process.
“I like her as a coach – I think it’s fun,” Remy said. “She also pushes me. She knows my strengths and weaknesses. I think it’s good for a coach to know that about a player. It also gives me confidence knowing that she believes in me.”
Remy was a key player as a defender on the Eagles’ girls soccer team, which finished 14-5-1 overall and won its second consecutive OCC-Capital Division title, sharing with Delaware Hayes at 6-1.
“I’ve played soccer probably longer than I’ve played basketball,” she said. “During soccer season, I stay in shape for basketball. (It also helps) with foot skills, agility and sprints.”
Maddy Stumpf returns after averaging 7.6 points and 8.0 rebounds and junior forward Denza Allen averaged 8.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game last season.
Senior guard Teagan Ng, a West Liberty volleyball commit, also returns for the Eagles, who finished 15-8 overall and 8-6 in the OCC-Capital where they tied for third with Westerville North behind champion Westerville South (14-0).
The Eagles, who open at home against Marion Harding on Nov. 28, hope to contend for a league title.
The program hasn’t won one since Carey’s senior season. It’s the only of Big Walnut’s nine league titles that was won in the OCC. The Eagles won district titles in 1991 and 2009 and were runner-up four other times.
“Our big goal is to win OCC,” coach Largent said. “That would mean a lot. To be in the last player group to win a championship – to do it as a coach would mean a lot. We lost in the district finals my senior year. So, I never won a district championship.”
Big Walnut coach Carey Largent communicates during a scrimmage with Springfield on Nov. 18 at Reynoldsburg. Photo: John Hulkenberg
‘I put pressure on myself’
Olentangy finished 14-10 last season and 5-5 in the OCC-Cardinal to finish tied for third with Dublin Jerome behind champion Marysville (10-0).
Olentangy opens its season at the Newark Classic against DeSales on Nov. 24.
“I’m really excited to play my first high school game because I’ve been waiting for it for so long,” Mobley said. “I’m putting a little bit of pressure on myself to do well because I know that even though I’m coming in as a freshman, I’m a leader. I put the pressure on myself because I know how important the sport is to me. I really want to do well and, mostly, I want my team to do well.”
Sophomore Whitney Stafford (guard) knows what it’s like being a go-to player as a freshman. She led the Braves with 16.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.7 assists last season.
Whitney got into basketball through her sisters, Jessica and Bridget, who also played at Olentangy. Jessica is a 2015 graduate and Bridget graduated in 2022.
From 2010 to 2016, the Braves were in the district final game six times under current Olentangy boys basketball coach John Feasel. But the Braves haven’t been back since.
“I’ve always been around the Olentangy team with my sisters going through it and stuff,” Stafford said. “Feasel always did (a drill) where someone has to make two free throws and no one has to run. He would have me come over and do that. I’ve been around the program and basketball my whole life.”
Stafford has offers to Kent State and Toledo and had offers from Buffalo and Central Michigan before those programs changed coaches.
Her cousin, Sydney Affolter, is a junior guard on the Iowa women’s basketball team.
“She’s helped me with everything with recruiting,” Stafford said. “It’s a lot, but she’s helped me manage everything with staying in touch with coaches that have shown interest in me.”
Adding Mobley to the mix makes Olentangy a threat this season.
“It’s helped us a lot,” Stafford said. “She’s a presence inside. So, when (opponents) pinch in inside, it opens shots on the outside. She’s our rebounder in there and she’s good at getting everyone else involved too.”
What makes Mobley so good?
“All the hype is for real,” Edwards said. “I’ve coached a lot of 6-2 kids, but nothing to the level of (Sydney). She can play guard if she wants to. If she had to run the point, she could run the point. It’s kind of shocking how nimble and quick that she is. She shoots the 3 just as well as anyone on my team. She’s the real deal.”
Sydney Mobley leans on Stafford and older sister, Alex, who is a senior guard. Sydney plays on the same AAU team as Stafford – the West Virginia Thunder.
“They’ve both helped me a lot,” Sydney said. “Whitney and Alex both helped me with being a leader. At first, I was kind of bashful. I didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes. (They’ve both) just helped me not be so bashful. Even though I am younger, I still have a lot of experience. My voice is still valued and I can still help our team by expressing my opinions and just leading on the court by the way I play.”
Senior Mia Chirpas (forward) and juniors Kate Mosher (guard; 4.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 steals per game), Chayla Rankin (forward; 3.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.1 blocks) and Meryl Kolath (forward) will also play key roles for the Braves.
Olentangy would have had another freshman in Kareena Agrawal, but she suffered a season-ending knee injury in club ball over the summer and will miss the season. Senior Addison Schaffner is also out for the season because of a knee injury suffered in soccer.
“The opportunity (for Mobley and Stafford) to play together gives Olentangy more respect,” Edwards said. “We’ve got talent. Our junior class is loaded. I think (having players like Stafford and Mobley) helps put us on the map a little bit. This is high-level basketball. Most of our kids play AAU basketball and most of them are on elite-level teams now. So, it’s paying dividends.”
Olentangy’s Whitney Stafford works during a scrimmage with Purcell Marian on Nov. 18 at Reynoldsburg. Photo: John Hulkenberg