Columbus City League (CCL) Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The City League continues to be one of Columbus' top leagues as it sent 3 teams (Africentric, Beechcroft, and Linden McKinley) to the District Finals with one advancing to the Regionals and one advancing to the State Final Four. The league again has quite a bit of talent but is also looking at graduation affecting them quite a bit from the previous year. While this affects the amount of teams likely advancing to the District Finals, there is a good chance of us seeing another City League team back in the Regionals or State tournament come March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Contenders</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Africentric</em>- The Nubians returned to the State Final Four after a brief absence since 2018. Although they lost to Ottawa-Glandorf, Africentric showed they are a legit squad and again could be back in Dayton. In starts with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='922605' first='Dailyn' last='Swain']</strong> (Sr), a Xavier commit and one of the top players in the 2023 class, who is a mismatch at the Division III level and should be the POY in the City League this year. Also returning is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1163468' first='Preston' last='Steele']</strong> (Sr) who will help the Nubians on the interior and brings experience from the State Semifinals. While they lose Dan Wagner (1st Team All-District) in the backcourt, the Nubians added <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1222355' first='Cortez' last='Freeman']</strong> (Jr) from Canal Winchester to help run the backcourt. Freeman had a good Summer with All-Ohio Red and should make an immediate impact with Africentric.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Columbus South</em>- The Bulldogs showed glimpses of being one of the better teams in the City League and have a history of recently being one of the top programs. Due to competitive balance, the Bulldogs move up to Division I this upcoming year but will have a solid core to build around and remain in the hunt in the South division. It starts with <strong>Lajames Washington</strong> (Jr) who returns after finishing 3rd team All-District a season ago. He along with <strong>Maurice McCall</strong> (Jr) will bring experience in the backcourt which is needed to win in the City League. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1475111' first='Damon' last='Griffin']</strong> (So) played well in the Summer and should see an increased role in addition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Predicted Finish</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(North Division)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This division certainly was hit hard with graduation and lost a ton of firepower from the previous year. Due to this, it is difficult to determine an accurate order of finish. I really like Northland and their history. The Vikings return <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1225052' first='Davion' last='Bridges']</strong> (Sr) who was solid during the season, but will be without All-District guard Rob Dorsey. With the lack of returning firepower, I wonder if Northland has enough to win the division? Some of the teams that were in the bottom of the division a year ago could make a jump in 2023. Mifflin is returning their top 2 in <strong>Lethaniel Foster</strong> (Jr) and <strong> Abidiaziz Mohamed</strong> (Sr) from a team in the middle of the pack last year. International brings back arguably the best player in the division in 6'8 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1222375' first='Kj' last='Jones']</strong> (Jr). Centennial only won 4 games a year ago, but they have some younger pieces really impressing so far in <strong>Isaiah Skinn</strong> (So) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467906' first='Henri' last='Young']</strong> (Jr). Columbus East and Whetstone both return their top guys as Whetstone has <strong>Shiaman Diawara</strong> (Jr) returning and East brings back <strong>Caeden Swanson</strong> (Sr). Beechcroft and Linden McKinley both advanced into the District Finals a year ago, but both lost much of their production. It will depend on the youth talent upcoming to determine where both teams end up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(South Division)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><li>1. <strong><em>Africentric</em></strong>- Return the best player in the league (Swain) and added another big name (Freeman) to likely make them the favorites not just in the CCL but in the state/Division III.</li><li>2. <strong><em>Columbus South</em></strong>- Bulldogs have good guards returning and are more experienced.</li><li>3. <strong><em>Walnut Ridge</em></strong>- Would have been the #2 prediction before Navarion Adams transferred out. Return All-District PG <strong>Dom Aekins</strong> (Jr) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1432012' first='Bryden' last='Hodge']</strong> (So) from a solid team.</li><li>4. <strong><em>Eastmoor Academy</em></strong>- Lose their All-District big man (Dennis Asoro), but return juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1285282' first='Sebastian' last='Nelson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1519637' first='James' last='Nowell']</strong>. who will need to have big seasons.</li><li>5. <strong><em>Briggs</em></strong>- <strong>Saadiq Reeves</strong> (Sr) is back and will be the Bruins' primary scoring option.</li><li>6. <strong><em>Marion-Franklin</em></strong>- Struggled last year (4-18) but they have their two best back in <strong>Tito Glass</strong> (Jr) and <strong>Malik Ali</strong> (Sr).</li><li>7. <strong><em>Independence</em></strong>- Will bring back <strong>Geramiah Thompson</strong> (Jr) but who else will he have around him?</li><li>8. <strong><em>Columbus West</em></strong>- Not up to par with the rest of the league.</li></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->