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Akiean Frederick soaring to new heights at Sinclair Community College

By Zach Fleer, 08/09/16, 10:00AM EDT

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The Franklin Heights graduate picked up his first Division I offer from Nicholls State on Monday

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Only three years ago was Akiean Frederick coming into a senior season in which he spent most of the previous year on the junior varsity squad. On Monday, Frederick picked up his first Division I offer from Nicholls State, a small university that competes in the Southland Conference.

On the verge of completing a journey that seemed impossible at times, Frederick hasn't had it easy on a path to an offer that he has been chasing for the last three years.

Frederick kickstarted that process with a breakout senior season in 2013-14, where he was one of Central Ohio's best big men, dominating the OCC-Capital to lead a previously struggling Franklin Heights program to 14 wins. 

After multiple growth spurts that took Frederick from 6-foot-3 to 6-foot-6 going into his senior season, the stretch forward has added another three inches to a skill set that is ever expanding.

Standing at 6-foot-9 these days, Frederick is easy to spot amongst his peers. However, he was just a face in a crowded warehouse prior to arriving at Sinclair Community College in the fall of 2015.

"I was lost with life. I felt like just one of these kids that could have been," Frederick told 270 Hoops. "I had a warehouse job working from 6:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. and that was my life."

The hard time Frederick speaks of was months after running into trouble at Owens Community College, where the Franklin Heights graduate had originally signed to in the summer of 2014. 

After his dismissal from Owens in the fall of 2014, Frederick thought all was well with his transition into another school, but he would be surprised.

"I thought it was going good at first because Coach Herb (Shaughnessy) had reached back fast," Frederick said. "But I had to get a release from Owens and that took a little time. Then I tried to enroll into Columbus State for spring semester but was too late, so I could not register."

Receiving great news from Sinclair assistant coach Herb Shaughnessy months later, Frederick was able to enroll for summer semester in 2015 and make up credits that were lost in his departure at Owens. Earning a scholarship after competing in several Sinclair open gyms, Frederick found himself in a familiar environment with the Tartans, despite being a new arrival.

"I already knew my teammate Manny Powell before arriving there so that was cool," Frederick said. "I made sure I got close with all my teammates. Ever since day one, I just trusted what Coach (Jeff) Price told me and continued to work hard."

Staying after practice to do schoolwork, Frederick was able to right the ship academically, which only led to better performance on the hardwood.

"Doing all of those things helped me get to where I am now," Frederick said. 

Once it was time to lace up the sneakers, Frederick was ready. 

On a Sinclair team that won an Ohio Community College Athletic Conference division championship by going 28-3 and winning its first 21 games of the season in 2015-16, Frederick emerged as a premier prospect in the Division II junior college ranks.

Averaging 14 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, Frederick shot an impressive 54.2 percent from the field, including 77.2 percent at the line. Operating as a stretch four on a team stockpiled with dynamic guards who could attack the lane and dish out to open shooters, Frederick thrived on a high-scoring offense. 

However, the Sinclair dream season would be cut short in a Region XII District 11 semifinal loss to Cuyahoga Community College on March 4, which started Frederick's ever-important offseason a bit early.

Intent on improving his ball-handling and perimeter shooting, Frederick continued to refine a skill set that attracted the likes of several low and mid-major Division I programs in July. Performing at a high level at the Mullen's Junior College Showcase in Dallas during the NCAA live recruiting period, Frederick officially put his name on the map.

Since the event, the 6-foot-9 forward was offered by the aforementioned Nicholls State, while several other schools are showing increasing interest.

"I've talked to UT-Martin and Eastern Carolina," Frederick said. "After the Dallas showcase, my coach told me he has talked to Stony Brook and Oakland University as well." 

With things headed in the right direction, Frederick, who is Sinclair's lone returning starter and captain, is looking to bring the Tartans back for another shot at a conference title.

"As soon as I get to Sinclair, I have to be about business," Frederick said. "We have a group of young guys coming in and we have to get them mentally and physically prepared for college basketball."

Looking to play both on the perimeter and the post this upcoming season, Frederick is looking to use his versatility and quality size to create mismatches against opposing forwards. 

With an athletic and play-making freshman class coming in that is expected to include former Africentric high flyer Jaquan Harrison, Frederick has a few expectations for his club.

"We need to get everyone involved. Last year our team was unstoppable when we shared the ball," Frederick said. "This class coming in is long and athletic, but also talented. The key to our success will be hustling and get it-and-go type of play."

Setting his sights on a district, regional and national championship, Frederick knows the process won't be easy. But for the 6-foot-9 forward from Franklin Heights, nothing has been easy up to this point in his career.

Looking back on the adversity of the past, all Frederick could do was smile.

"It honestly feels great. I will not even lie, I shed a few tears," Frederick said. "I just remembered how hard I worked for this. I have a lot more work to do but this is an opportunity of a lifetime."

Introducing Junior College Rankings

270 Hoops will now provide junior college rankings of the top players from Central Ohio high schools. Recognizing that junior college players need just as much help in the recruiting process, 270 Hoops aims to fill that void by providing yet another source of exposure for Central Ohio's best basketball talent. You can find the latest batch of junior college rankings here, highlighted by top-ranked prospect Akiean Frederick. 

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