Columbus City League Preview: Independence 76ers
The 2019-2020 Independence 76ers had a history maker, even though their record was not what they wanted it to be. Senior Andre Trent set an Ohio High School record with 17 three-point field goals in route to scoring 54 points…
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Continue ReadingThe 2019-2020 Independence 76ers had a history maker, even though their record was not what they wanted it to be. Senior Andre Trent set an Ohio High School record with 17 three-point field goals in route to scoring 54 points in the final regular season game. With him gone, the Sixers set out to win an open Columbus City League south division with a team full of seniors.
The athletic history at this school runs deep, from Kenny Gregory to Eric Haw to Star Allen to Joel Jackson, Independence was once a hotbed for sports. The basketball gym full of banners and players full of that spirit, this senior class looks to turn things around and get back to their winning ways.
Independence will be led by Keshawn Harris who was second on the team in scoring last season with just over 15 points per game.
Harris, the six-foot lefty point guard is the definition of steady. He controlled the offense last season and set up Trent for many of his open three-point jumpers. Harris does not have sonic speed but he gets to the basket using his craftiness and skill. This young man can finish in the lane well enough and will hit an open jump shot if he needs to. Keshawn Harris will stand out even more without Andre Trent, look for him to up his scoring average in his senior season.
Four other seniors come back including Jeremiah Hinkle-Moore, Michael Johnson, AJ Glover and Ibrahima Dia.
Dia will be the most consistent player returning outside of Harris, but AJ Glover seems to show the most potential. Ibrahima Dia is 6-foot-5 averaged close to 6 points per game but played in 17 games and showed the ability to rebound and be a good outlet passer.
The 6-foot-4 Glover is a really good athlete who can finish at the rim and protect it so no team can get easy lay-ups. He will need to improve his mid-range jump shot to consistently help out Harris’ ability to attack the rim. Glover will be able to use his size to rebound and get easy put-back points and his energy has to be everlasting this upcoming season.
Hinkle-Moore and Johnson will round out the returning players and they will be relied upon to hit open three’s, especially Hinkle-Moore (the Barnett Recreation Center product) who is one of the best catch-and-shoot players in Columbus. Independence will need to find depth from the junior varsity team, who was pretty good last season.
The Sixers have the experience to compete for the south division, the guard play to contend for it and the size to win the open division. This would be the first step to gaining back what they once had, a stranglehold on the Columbus City League’s south division.