skip navigation

State of the City League: Season Review

By Mark Francis Jr., 02/14/22, 11:15AM EST

Share

We take a look back at the 2021-22 City League regular season

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Welcome to the State of the City League! Here we will look at the past week of action, along with who stood out and any major performances from players across the most passionate league in Central Ohio. The regular season is over, the City League Champions have been crowned and now everybody starts 0-0 and it is time to prove yourself in the tournament. 

Congratulations are in order for Africentric Early College as both their boys and girls basketball teams captured City League Championship gold, both by overcoming early deficits. It started Wednesday (2/9) when the Lady Nubians climbed out of a 1-point first quarter and down 11-1 early in the second frame to not only lead at halftime but ultimately win the ball game 36-31. Then, Saturday (2/12) the boys team trailed by as much as 17 before storming back and capturing their first City League Championship since 2005 by a score of 65-58. 

Fresh off a City League Championship, the Nubians finished 17-5 on the season and played one of the toughest schedules in Central Ohio. They are led by senior Dan Wagner, who is making a great case for being the most decorated all-around athlete in recent City League history, and junior Dailyn Swain who is coming off an epic second half in the title game, both are first-team All-City selections. Africentric is the top seed in the district in Division III and will start off their tournament run against Cristo Rey on February 23rd. 

The runner-up Beechcroft Cougars are the No. 1 seed in the district in Division II and finished with a record of 16-3. Seniors Amani Lyles, JJ Simmons and Antwoine Reed are all first-team All-City and will lead their team into a match against Hamilton Township. Beechcroft was perfect in City League North play, and held a 17-point lead at one point in the City League Championship game that shows the kind of firepower they have. The Cougars also tip-off again on February 23rd, and are talented, experienced and mentally tough enough to bounce back and have an excellent tournament run. 

Marion Franklin finished last in the south division at 4-17 and are an 18 seed in the district in Division II and will take on south division and southside rivals South High School on February 23rd. Sophomore Tito Glass has been an effective player all season long for the Red Devils as the sophomore running back also leads his team in scoring. 

Centennial (4-17; 2-11) fresh off of back-to-back victories, defeated Mifflin on the road 52-49 (2/10) and then beat Bexley 58-51 (2/12). Senior Marlin Byron received an off from Penn St. DuBois earlier this week is averaging just over 12 points and has been consistent on both ends of the floor all season long. The Stars also have a young star that has been balling out of control, in the words of Nate Dogg, since stepping on the court. Isaiah Skinn is a freshman that was out for seven months with an injury, but he is going to be special and the evidence is already showing. Skinn has scored 23, 24, 23, and 25 points in the last four games and is showing basketball IQ beyond his years. The No. 21 ranked Centennial Stars visit No. 4 Jonathon Alder to start their tournament run.

Independence is a 39 seed in Division I in the district and is going to Dublin Coffman to begin their tournament. The Sixers finished 8-13 and were at one point in contention for the top spot in the City League South, showing the potential this team has. Senior forward Reighn Lowery has been the most consistent player on both sides of the ball all season for Independence. Lowery has had big time scoring and rebounding games to lead the Sixers and if he can control the paint against Dublin Coffman then his team has a chance to walk away with a win. 

East High School (6-9; 4-9) is a 17 seed and takes on Bishop Watterson to open things up. The Tigers have a talented duo in junior Caeden Swanson, senior Kwalee Woods-Law along with a core of upperclassmen. Swanson is averaging over 10 points a game while the senior Woods-Law is over nine but both players are capable of having big scoring nights at any moment. The gritty style of East High School can be difficult to play against, they have played the top teams in the north tough. 

Walnut Ridge was 13-7 overall and tied with South at 11-3 for second best South Division record while having what will be the next best guard forward duo in the division and one of the best shooters in the City League. Senior Zion Blevins can be a flamethrower from deep and the combination of first team All-City sophomore point guard Dominique Aekins and sophomore Na’Varion Adams have the potential to be special. The Scots have the winner of Mifflin and Westerville North to contend with as their opener, and have a nice path to winning a district title. 

Mifflin is 9-11 overall, 7-7 in league play, and a 40 seed with two more games to play this week as they host Lancaster and International before they play their opening tournament game at Westerville North. Sophomore guard LJ Foster is a sleeper prospect that plays tough on both sides of the ball, averaging over 13 points while having the length and quickness to defend at a nice level. Junior Abdiaziz Mohamed is also able to explode on offense, the 6-foot guard plays with good pace and can finish at the rim, averaging 10.4 points per game. The Punchers always have a punching chance because their defense can tighten up and put a vice grip on teams when they need to. 

Eastmoor Academy (12-8) has gone through a huge transformation as the season continued, losing multiple players to grades or injury in the middle of season and were down to nine players in their last outing. First team All-City forward Dennis Asoro averaged a double-double in the regular season and will look for another one when the 9th seeded Warriors host Horizon Science on February 23rd. Sophomore guard James Nowell has stepped up huge with more on his plate and delivered with a couple of big time games including draining six threes in his last game against Northland. Eastmoor Academy has a difficult road ahead of them as they will have Buckeye Valley on the horizon if they are able to get past Horizon Science. 

Whetstone ended the regular-season 7-11 and a 46 seed in the tournament, they are traveling to Gahanna Lincoln on February 22nd and look to pull off the upset. The top three scorers for the young Braves are either sophomores or freshmen and are all versatile players on both ends of the court. Sophomores Shaiman Diawara and Liam Coyne can create for themselves while at the same time playing into the team system that Whetstone has. Freshman Noah Knostman is one of the best players in his class in the City League. These three young men show flashes of being next level talent, and they have time to put their imprint on the City League in the coming years. 

Second place in the South Division belonged to the South Bulldogs who went 14-7 and have won four straight games to play with another game to play at West (2/14) to increase the win total. The 8th seed will host Marion Franklin, a team that they have owned over the past few seasons. The Bulldogs are led on offense by sophomore Lajames Washington who is scoring over 11 points per game and junior Mehki Sherrell-Foster who can sit down and lock up defensively. Sophomore Maurice McCall earned first team All-City honors, as he sets the table for this team on both ends of the floor. Coach Ramon Spears will have his team ready for the grind to get to another district championship. 

Northland ended the season second in the North Division (14-8) in head coach Tihon Johnson's first season with first team All-City guard Rob Dorsey III leading the charge. Dorsey scores close to 18 points a game and is the guy that the Vikings run offense through in crunch time. Dorsey is joined by senior Tabree Beachem and junior Davion Bridges who can not only put the ball in the hoop but the trio uses strength and athleticism to defend the perimeter as good as any team in the entire city league. Sophomore forward Latrell Ucker is finding his footing and being leaned on to stretch the floor and rebound while senior Deangelo Mitchell is a do-it-all type of player for the Vikings. Northland is a 16 seed and will host Olentangy Berlin on February 22nd where the winner will advance to play 15th-seeded St. Charles. 

Linden-McKinley ended up third in the North Division and finished the regular season 15-7 with possibly the toughest schedule in the area. The 4th seeded Panthers have two first team All-City performers in senior point guard LB Towns and senior forward LA Walker. Senior Malakhi Armistead is a knockdown shooter from any spot on the court that can also make plays off the dribble and is a reliable option for the Panthers. Intensity, defense and rebound have defined this season for Linden-McKinley and can carry them throughout the tournament. They are awaiting the winner of Bishop Hartley and Granville to start their journey, this team is flat out one of the toughest teams to prepare for and will cause so many teams problems as they march through. 

Briggs (7-14) has one of the best scorers in Central Ohio in senior guard and first team All-City selection Devonte Curry, who scores over 23 points per game and is a menace with the ball in his hands. Junior Jaquise Keaton can be the second scorer that the Bruins need to compliment Curry with his skill in getting to the basket. The No. 43 Bruins are headed to Dublin Jerome on February 22nd and Curry has the ability to go nuclear and carry his team to a win. 

West High School will more than likely get the pleasure of taking on Pickerington Central as they are a 49 seed and are waiting on the winner the Tigers and Westland. The Cowboys have a very good senior-freshman combo in senior Andre Smith and freshman Kahdon Johnson. The two guards play well off of each other and are both tougher than cheating off the smart kid in school. Johnson is small but is one of the best finishers at the rim in his class while Smith is the steady leader who sets the tone for West. Despite finishing the season at 3-15, the Cowboys are always able to compete at a respectable level. 

International finished the season 9-13 overall in the regular season, but only 2-12 in City League North play, and made huge strides this season. The Lions have a solid core of players in juniors Jujuan McLester and Sam Whitaker II along with sophomore Kenyon Jones. McLester and Whitaker are sleeper players in the City League and can both play at the next level. Whitaker scores close to 16 points per game and creates his own shot at will on offense while McLester scores over 12 per contest and has a high ceiling as a player. Jones is a raw 6-foot-8 forward that can stretch the floor and protect the rim on the back end of a defense. 

There are a few City League teams that are real threats for district titles and a couple primed for a run at the state championship as well. For a City League team in Division II, the path to a district title may come through three other different City League teams. When it comes to the Ohio High School state tournament, this league usually represents itself very well and this year should be no different.

Recent News


Learn about the greatest story never told in City League football


Get the 270 Hoops Preview Magazine today!