CITY ON A HILL
Zach Fleer donates jerseys, elevates hometown hoops
The idea came to Zach Fleer halfformed, more a broad concept than a specific vision.
As co-founder of 270 Hoops, Fleer has spent the past seven years bringing exposure to central Ohio prep basketball through the website he helped build. As it grew, so did Fleer's desire to make a deeper impact on the community, a longing that led to the creation of 270 Faith.
The mission of both has now met at the intersection of hope and need. With Fleer spearheading the effort, Columbus City League's basketball teams will have new jerseys within the next few years – all of them, starting with those in greatest need.
It's a significant undertaking but one Fleer, a 2015 Ohio State graduate, sees as his calling.
“It all goes back into the ministry work I'm trying to do, blessing people without asking for anything in return,” he said. “I think that's the best way to show the heart of Christ, by doing amazing works and not wanting anything in return.”
This fall, eight boys teams and one girls team will receive new jerseys, thanks to the fact that 270 Faith raised just short of $30,000 for the 2022-23 season.
That's merely the first phase. Fleer wants to do more, both in supplying jerseys and enriching the lives of City League athletes.
“I think it's just a testament to who Zach truly is,” South coach Ramon Spears said. “Even though 270 Hoops is all central Ohio sports, he has a love and respect for Columbus City School kids because he knows the playing field is uneven. What he's doing is God's work for him. He has a vision and not only is he a writer, but now he's a prophet.”
The first steps were taken in November. West hosted a fundraiser to provide snacks and drinks for practices and games. Fleer joined with 270 Hoops co-founder Jason
“It all goes back into the ministry work I’m trying to do, blessing people without asking for anything in return.” Zach Fleer
Morrow to donate $1,000 to the cause. A week later, Fleer went to West for a scrimmage that never materialized, and while there, coach Scott Ivery had his players thank Fleer and pose for a photo to post to their Facebook page.
The next day, Fleer noticed that the jerseys in the picture had no lettering or numbers and decided to buy new jerseys for West. As a result, on Dec. 8, 270 Faith – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization – was launched as an offshoot of 270 Hoops.
With the groundwork laid, Fleer said some divine inspiration while driving home from a Westland home game helped him determine the next step. While listening to a Bible app, Fleer heard the message of Matthew 5:14, which reads, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”
“It all clicked,” Fleer said. “I was like, OK, I'm being called to go back to the Hilltop, where I'm from, and give back.”
The initial plan was to raise money to help West and Briggs purchase new jerseys, but Linden-mckinley's run in the state playoffs changed the game. Fleer changed course, instead starting a fund to purchase tickets for students to watch the Panthers advance to the regionals for the first time in 17 years, and he was surprised by how many donations he received.
“He's like, 'Who are we to just sit back and not try to help these kids out?' ” Linden-mckinley coach Kevin Darthard said. “He's from the West Side, so he gets that there's not a lot of free-flowing extra cash for a lot of our students to be able to go to three games. That's $40-50. Our kids' families are debating which bill will get paid that will determine how much food they have. Not everybody, but really a lot.”
That's when the aim changed from just helping the Cowboys and Bruins to something bigger.
“My goal is to get all 16 boys and girls programs covered within the next two years,” Fleer said. “That's the goal. I did a priority list of teams who needed jerseys the most and took care of those schools first, and then I'm cycling down to the schools that have gotten new jerseys in the last year or two.”
When Spears took over the South program, he immediately set out to change the culture. To reinforce the underlying transformation, cosmetic changes were made. Flipping the home and away seats was one step. Spears also had a desire to buy new uniforms and replace them roughly every three years. Fleer wanted to help make that happen.
Spears stressed that City league schools have a proud history, and they are not begging for money.
"We're not broke," he said.
But they accept Fleer's help because he is one of their own, and his actions are borne out of a sense of goodwill.
Fleer has worked with each school to customize uniforms. Mifflin asked to change their proposed blue jerseys to black and have the home ones say Punchers. Linden-mckinley will have the school address written in cursive. West is going back to the orange and brown they wore around the turn of the century.
“The (West) kids are so pumped about being able to wear orange jerseys,” Fleer said. “One kid who's 5-7 was like, ‘Oh, I'm gonna dunk in that jersey' when I showed it to him.”
It's about more than just looks or designs or logos, though. Spears and Darthard both pointed out that, while new jerseys won't score any points for their teams, they will have tangible benefits for each City League program.
“We're going to look good,” Darthard said. “Y'all are going to know your selfworth and self-value. Yes, we are Linden. We do look good. We are confident. That helps them play better, play harder, and it trickles onto everything.”
That impact is what Fleer had in mind when he began brainstorming ideas on how to get into sports ministry. Last summer, he started a bible study. This year, he hosts “Hoops and Hope” each Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at Westgate Park, where he first played the sport as a child.
It's not just about basketball. But it never has been.
“Look what he's doing,” Darthard said. “That shows his heart. He's doing what he always said he wanted to do: giving back to the less fortunate, giving back to the inner city.” ajardy@dispatch.com @Adamjardy