Behind The Box Score

Fresh off a state championship last basketball season, the Northland Vikings, who have become the pride of not only Columbus but all of Ohio, return virtually the entire roster from a year ago and are only getting better. Led by the best big man in the country, Jared Sullinger, this team is composed of D-1 talent at every position and is destined to run the table yet again after winning their first two games against Cincinnati Aiken and Huntington Prep out of West Virginia, which happens to be the alma mater of OJ Mayo and Patrick Patterson. Aside from Sullinger, the Vikings boast Ohio State commit JD Weatherspoon, a 6’6″ small forward that has drawn comparisons to LeBron James in terms of overall athleticism.

Sullinger and Weatherspoon are both seniors who have shown to be the vocal point of Satch Sullinger’s team and the effect showed on opening night. In a tight game with Aiken, both Sullinger and Weatherspoon went up for a missed shot and the result was an emphatic dunk slam from the both of them that changed the pace of the game. Northland would go on to win that game 70-58, in front of a packed house at Pickerington Central in part of the Opening Tip Weekend for high school basketball. The next great performance out of Sullinger came on December 5yh against Huntington, when in a close game, the Vikings once again went to “Sully.” Thrashing the opponents for 24 points and 20 rebounds, Northland came away with a 68-66 victory.

Nevertheless, with every great team it takes more than two big time contributors to win and that is what Northland is all about. Already possessing great senior leadership on the Viking roster, it’s the sophomores and juniors that have been talked about lately. Just a mere two days ago, sophomore PF/SF Jalen Robinson (6’7″ 220) committed to West Virginia, following junior off guard Trey Burke(6’1″ 175) who has committed to play basketball at Penn State. Even more impressive is the fact that sophomore PG Jordan Potts (6′ 170) and SF Devon Scott (6’8″ 205 lbs) have been getting hard looks from James Madison and SG KeChaun Lewis (6’3″ 175)  is in line to be the next Viking to go D-1. What is even more intriguing is that the Vikings have all this talent and not one single player boasts about individual accolades. Apart from the aforementioned players, Northland’s role players play a vital role in the team’s success. Such players as Junior forward Roberto Pierre (6’2″ 200), junior guard Jaykl Cornley (6’2″ 180), cousin of Javon and Jameel Cornley, both Division I athletes as Javon is at Indiana for football and Jameel was a four year player at Penn State on the basketball team. Following in the footsteps of such great high school athletes seems like a tough task to the average player but for Jakyl, it’s no big deal as most of the team is witnessing a breakout season from the junior. Roberto Pierre, who is a star on the football team is the Tayshaun Prince like figure on this team, hustling at each end of the floor and providing a strong presence in the post. Lequan Williams, also a junior at 5’10″ 170 is a force from three but is more notable for his defensive presence. After starring on the JV team a year ago, Williams has gotten his chance this season and has taken the necessary steps to make things happen. The next of the talented juniors is Lavonte Justice, a lockdown defender who is crucial to the Northland defense. Jusitce, who is also 5’10″ and weighs around 145 lbs, is another threat from three and makes teams pay when opposing defenses focus on the post, with Sullinger, Robinson and Scott, that’s bound to happen.  With a trio of role players that could be starters at any other school in the area, this Northland team is virtually on a runaway route to the state championship.

The mantra of this team was expressed as Pierre was quoted earlier today saying, “Even the people that don’t really get in have a role in helping this team get better everyday.” Pierre would add when asked about playing with such stars as Sullinger and Weatherspoon, adding, “It’s really cool, we always compete with eachother and help one another get better. We are all brother for real.”

An attitude such as Pierre’s is crucial to success and the Vikings are beneficiaries of that.

Usually it’s the Oak Hill’s and Findlay Prep’s, whom Northland hosts Saturday at Otterbein, that has the primetime talent on all one roster. But this team is an inner city school that has come together as a team, something similar inner city schools have trouble doing. When faced with tough economic problems and hardship from the effects of the streets, many players play for themselves searching for a way to “get out.”

For the Vikings, the latter has never been the case and the results have shown. When a player like Sullinger, who was Ohio’s Mr. Basketball a year ago sets the tone for teamwork and dedication, no matter who is on the roster, that team will succeed. For Jared, this team has talent and if he keeps leading them in the right direction, the sky is the limit. A major part to their success is the balance that the Vikings have. Sullinger, who at 6’9″ 262 lbs, is an incredible force in the post who can also take the ball out to the perimeter and mix it up with the best of them. Weatherspoon is a good shooter that easily gets into the lane and when he does, look out below. With a wing span that stretches for miles, JD is a perimter assassin on defense and his highlight play of the year came at Brookhaven last season. Rotating on defense, Weatherspoon blocked a three point attempt and immediately began to run the floor, Sullinger delivered a perfect pass and a windmill slam ensued. It was a madhouse in any gym Weatherspoon played in and for good reason. Starring in a junior season that served as his breakout, Weatherspoon broke Jeff Cumberland’s Columbus City League record for dunks in a season with 60. Many teams would be reluctant to have that many in an entire season, but for one player to put up that many is just jaw dropping.

With the post presence and athleticism already established, the Vikings can also serve it up from way downtown. Jordan Potts is a weapon on the perimeter and Sullinger occasionally takes it out and makes it rain. With all the hype, it has been a goal of this team to not lose focus and finish business. The task at hand will be even more difficult this season as games against the aforementioned Oak Hill and Findlay loom on the schedule and the Vikings hope to avenge their only loss of the 08-09 campaign on January 30th, this time in the 614. Also on the schedule is the long awaited matchup against fellow Ohio State class of 2010 commit DeShaun Thomas on January 23rd on the floor Thomas, Sullinger and Weatherspoon will share in part of one of the best classes in the nation. Apart from their non conference schedule, the City League is also improved as Brookhaven looks to be the Vikings’ biggest challenge with the acquistion of former Franklin Heights star Peter Kpan, who at 6’5″ 230 lbs will be the only other post force in the City League aside from Sullinger. With Kpan and Bowling Green commit Craig Sealey, who is comparable to Weatherspoon, the Bearcats will see just how good they are as the two tangle on Tuesday at Northland. Look for this team to once again show just how good they are but do it all for one goal, to win.

For great Northland and Columbus City League coverage go to www.cityleaguehoops.tv or the YouTube page at http://www.youtube.com/user/cityleaguehoops. Links provided from these sites.

Also visit www.capcitypreps.com for City League Football and Basketball action.