COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus City League Championship rarely disappoints and on Saturday, Northland's 60-58 upset win over defending champion Africentric will surely be talked about for years to come. 

The talk of day was undoubtedly in regard to Northland freshman King Kendrick who dropped 33 points and the game-winning free throws.

Yet, we also saw a stand-out performance from Africentric's Dailyn Swain, along with a few other notable performances.

Let's take a further look in the Prospect Scouting Report.

King Kendrick (Northland / 2026 / 5'10 PG) Unless you went the entire weekend without cell service or internet, you most likely heard about the sensational performance from the Northland freshman. If you weren't at East High, best believe his play was worth the hype. From opening tip, Kendrick proved he was ready for the moment and ripped off nine of his game-high 33 points in the first eight minutes. The 5'10 point guard was in his bag, showing off an array of pull-ups, catch-and-shoot threes and an ability to break his defender off the dribble with high difficulty finishes. Simply put, Kendrick has a really advanced feel for the game for a senior, let alone a 15-year old. Oh, and in case you don't know by now, Kendrick can shoot ambidextrously, as jumpers were naturally made with both hands. In a few instances, Kendrick's still relatively thin frame was evident as some physicality led him to some turnovers. Yet what was most impressive of his entire performance was his confidence and poise, most apparent when he calmly sank two game-winning free throws. There's a running theory that the bigger the game, the more likely Kendrick is able to deliver. That's special. Kendrick delivered Northland their first City League title since 2016 on top of an all-conference first-team selection. Don't be surprised if the freshman picks up his first Division I offer(s) as we head into the spring, as the City League has a new name that should receive serious attention.

Dailyn Swain (Africentric / 2023 / 6'7 Wing) While the Northland upset was the main story, it's important to not overlook the all-out effort from the best player in the City League of the last four years. Swain wisely went into takeover mode and finished with 28 points through three quarters. When Swain shows an extra level of aggression, he's one of the more unstoppable players in the state. The Xavier commit mostly got his production off the dribble and through the lane as he helped Africentric overcome a halftime deficit when he would go coast-to-coast and attack the rim. It's eye-opening how smooth Swain can glide in the air as he avoids contact and swims through defenders. His handles are underrated and similar to a point guard, which is even more impressive when you consider his 6'7 frame. I've consistently said as gifted he is offensively, he's an even better defender. As we head into the postseason, our coverage mostly focuses on the game recaps, so this may be my last scouting report on Swain. The four-year starter was a special player to cover and represented the Nubians at a high level. It would be a wonderful and appropriate ending for Swain to help deliver a Division III state championship for Africentric before he embarks on what should be an excellent collegiate career.

Honorable Mentions: The stars showed out, but some admirable performances were delivered from the supporting cast. Northland senior wing Latrell Ucker was the hustle player of the game and hit some key early shots as he scored all 10 of his points in the first half. Ucker connected on a couple of momentous threes and had high-level energy on the boards and loose balls, as he snagged six rebounds and had a block and at a steal. Africentric senior forward Preston Steele was the second most productive player for the Nubians as he finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and four steals. At 6'5, Steele is strong and physical and plays with an intimidating presence defensively and in the post. Steele has room for improvement with his overall touch around and beyond the rim, but has the tools and athleticism to make those strides. With an offer from Lakeland Community College, Steele will be an excellent get for a JUCO program.