All-Blade Team: Marc Loving

3/14/2013

2013 Boys Player of the Year Marc Loving

■ School: St. John’s

■ Class: Senior

■ Height: 6-8

■ Position: Forward/Guard

■ Key stats: A two-time All-Blade player of the year and All-Ohio first-team selection, the versatile Ohio State-bound Loving led the Titans to a 20-4 record, a repeat Three Rivers Athletic Conference title (13-1 record), and No. 5 state ranking. He averaged 21.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 blocked shots per game, while shooting 59 percent from 2-point range, 31 percent on 3-pointers, and 76 percent at the line. He is school’s all-time scorer (1,678 points) and rebounder (711) and set single-game scoring record (42). A leading candidate for Ohio’s Mr. Basketball award.

■ Coach says: “Marc is a unique talent in that, at 6-8, he can play the guard position. He has ball-handling skills that make him a threat anywhere on the floor. Because he is unselfish, and has passing ability, he can hit the open man when teams try to double-team him. He can play any position, with his play around the basket being stronger this year. His game against Lima Senior exhibits what he can do. Without [injured point guard] Austin Gardner playing, he scored 42 points. The next game, when we did not need that kind of scoring, he scored 11.” — Ed Heintschel