Columbus City League (CCL) Preview
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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…
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Continue ReadingThe 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.
Contenders
Africentric– 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 Dailyn Swain Dailyn Swain 6'7" | SF Africentric | 2023 State #81 Nation OH (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 Preston Steele Preston Steele 6'5" | PF Africentric | 2023 State OH (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 Cortez Freeman Cortez Freeman 6'2" | SG Africentric | 2024 State OH (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.
Columbus South– 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 Lajames Washington (Jr) who returns after finishing 3rd team All-District a season ago. He along with Maurice McCall (Jr) will bring experience in the backcourt which is needed to win in the City League. Damon Griffin Damon Griffin 5'9" | PG Reynoldsburg | 2025 State OH (So) played well in the Summer and should see an increased role in addition.
Predicted Finish
(North Division)
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 Davion Bridges Davion Bridges 5'9" | PG Northland | 2023 OH (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 Lethaniel Foster (Jr) and Abidiaziz Mohamed (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 Kj Jones Kj Jones 6'8" | C Columbus International | 2024 State OH (Jr). Centennial only won 4 games a year ago, but they have some younger pieces really impressing so far in Isaiah Skinn (So) and Henri Young Henri Young 6'7" | PF Centennial | 2023 State OH (Jr). Columbus East and Whetstone both return their top guys as Whetstone has Shiaman Diawara (Jr) returning and East brings back Caeden Swanson (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.
(South Division)
- 1. Africentric– 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.
- 2. Columbus South– Bulldogs have good guards returning and are more experienced.
- 3. Walnut Ridge– Would have been the #2 prediction before Navarion Adams transferred out. Return All-District PG Dom Aekins (Jr) and Bryden Hodge Bryden Hodge 6'0" | PG Walnut Ridge | 2025 OH (So) from a solid team.
- 4. Eastmoor Academy– Lose their All-District big man (Dennis Asoro), but return juniors Sebastian Nelson Sebastian Nelson 5'7" | PG Eastmoor Academy | 2024 OH and James Nowell James Nowell 5'10" | CG Eastmoor Academy | 2024 State OH . who will need to have big seasons.
- 5. Briggs– Saadiq Reeves (Sr) is back and will be the Bruins’ primary scoring option.
- 6. Marion-Franklin– Struggled last year (4-18) but they have their two best back in Tito Glass (Jr) and Malik Ali (Sr).
- 7. Independence– Will bring back Geramiah Thompson (Jr) but who else will he have around him?
- 8. Columbus West– Not up to par with the rest of the league.