BIG POTENTIAL
Akron Hoban’s Greer could play Division I college football, basketball
Every so often a generational player rolls through and is impossible to ignore.
Hoban has that in sophomore standout Sam Greer, although it’s hard to miss him at 6 feet 8 and 310 pounds.
In the fall, you’ll see him mauling defensive linemen as an offensive tackle on the perennial power football team.
In the winter, he’s the center underneath stuffing shots and dropping buckets.
“I’ve never had anyone this special in my time, and I’ve been here a long time,” Knights basketball coach T.K. Griffith said. “You don’t get many guys that can play Division I in college in both football and basketball. I’ve been here for 31 years. He’s pretty special. He’s unique in that he’s a man of action. He’s not going to do it in words.”
Greer definitely has the bite to back it up in both sports.
Consider that he had a scholarship from Ohio State football before ever playing a down on varsity and you’ll understand just how rare a specimen he is.
Add to that his key role in last year’s Division I state title in basketball and his shadow becomes even larger.
“Sam is a gentle giant until it’s time to play,” Knights quarterback Tylan Boykin said. “He is one of the most humble people I’ve ever met, especially with that high of a ceiling, but he is a DOG.
“The athleticism he possesses at that size is something you see once in a lifetime. I call him the Nikola Jokic/́ Trent Williams hybrid. He is the teammate that’s always going to have your back and he shows it always. His work ethic is [not] like anything I’ve ever seen.”
What sets Greer apart
That work ethic has already landed him 11 combined scholarships.
In football, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee, Louisville, Miami, Florida, Purdue and Central Michigan have already offered the 16-year-old.
In basketball, Akron and Kent State would love to have him in the middle.
“It starts with his athleticism, but the second thing that makes him different is his mentality,” Hoban football coach Tim Tyrrell said. “He’s an old school kind of kid where he’s a little bit nasty on both the football field and basketball court. He’s one of those grinders.
“Nowadays kids are so athletic, they don’t like getting in the trenches. He likes it. What T.K. has him doing on a basketball court fits his personality. On the football field it’s the ideal thing. When you’re that size, can run and have that nastiness, it sets you apart from everybody else.”
No downtime
The grind of going from football in July to basketball in December to camp season in March leaves very little downtime, but right now Greer is loving the process.
“Most coaches love their guys playing two sports,” Greer said. “It keeps them conditioned all year round. I get no break. I had the state game in football, took a week off, and then started playing basketball. It’s hard on your body. I play basketball physically, so there’s not much difference. I like playing basketball. I’ve been playing since preschool.”
An injury kept him off the football field for most of the regular season, but when Greer returned the transition was seamless. Greer didn’t allow a sack in the seven games he played and was never penalized.
Last season on the hardwood, he averaged 6.0 points and 4.6 rebounds. In the state semifinal and final, the big man averaged 12.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.
This season, he’s putting up 6.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He scored a team-high 19 points Tuesday in a 62-60 loss to Canton Mckinley.
“Not many people are as athletic as he is,” Hoban guard Jonas Nichols said. “To be able to move with how big he is makes him special. He’s not afraid of anyone. When you get him rattled up, he’s unstoppable. He’s probably the best offensive lineman in the country.”