Practical approach tempers state-title buzz
Jerome Hunter conceded that it’s hard to ignore the hype surrounding Pickerington North’s basketball team.
“Everyone at school, basketball fans around the state … they’re all saying we’re going to win state this year,” said Hunter, a 6-foot-7 senior forward who has signed to play at Indiana.
“It’s nice that people notice us, but I tell everybody that it’s a long, long season and there are a lot of real good teams to go through. It’s really important for us to take a one-gameat-a-time approach. You’ve got to believe that coach is emphasizing that every day at practice.”
In equaling a program record for wins, North (21-7, 8-2 Ohio Capital Conference Ohio Division) took the area by the storm in March, advancing to the Division I regional title game, where it fell to crosstown rival Pickerington Central 75-58 for the third time last season.
Spurring on all the excitement at North is the return of five of its top six players, plus the addition of three transfers and a freshman expected to have an immediate impact.
“What we achieved last year definitely raised expectations, which can be a good thing and a bad thing,” Panthers third-year coach Jason Bates said. “Although we left some meat on the bone, we got a little taste of success, and that gives us some motivation for this year. Hopefully, the guys remember how much hard work and preparation and focus on the day-to-day, game-bygame grind helped us get to a regional final.”
Hunter, who averaged 20.6 points and 11.9 rebounds and made first-team all-metro and second-team all-district, is the centerpiece of the Panthers' lineup. He is expected to be a contender for Ohio’s Mr. Basketball Award.
Returning are 6-10 senior center Eli McNamara (9.3 points, 7.1 rebounds), 6-4 senior forward Dondre Palmer (9.6 points, 6.4 rebounds), 5-10 senior point guard and fourth-year starter Ty Wiley (9.7 points, 4.5 assists) and defensive specialist Ty “Red” Potts. McNamara, who is said to have improved greatly in the offseason, has signed with Miami University. Palmer is headed to Findlay. Potts (Ball State commit) and Wiley are football recruits.
The transfers include 6-9 senior Ross Ryan from Centerburg (14.3 points, 8.0 rebounds), 6-4 sophomore Chris Scott of Huber Heights Wayne and 6-0 senior guard Corey Baker of Groveport (12.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists). And 6-4 freshman Jack Sawyer, who started on the regionalfinalist football team, is a terrific athlete. Ryan will be sidelined at least six weeks with a fractured knee bone, and Baker will be forced to sit out the first 11 games to satisfy OHSAA transfer rules.
“When we had all of the ‘bigs’ playing together over the summer, it looked pretty special,” Bates said. “We’ve gone our preseason without the football players. Now, we’re going to have to wait until at least January to see the whole group together. That’s not an altogether bad thing. Ross gets to sit and watch and learn. And our younger guys know they’re going to have to work hard to supplant our seniors, who have paid their dues.”
Bates, whose team took a big step last season after going 11-13 in 2015-16, also has heard and read plenty about what his team might achieve.
“There’s a real buzz around about us from parents, students and people in the community about how we should win the state championship,” he said. “I try to be as real as I can with my kids. I tell them there’s a lot we need to do to fulfill that goal. We can’t get caught up into what other people think. Let’s be real: The Central District is a gantlet. The league we play in is a gantlet. Our focus has to remain on the now.”