Columbus City League Preview: Beechcroft Cougars
Columbus City League Team Preview The team that represented the Columbus City League’s north division? That would be the Linden McKinley Panthers, but with a shot at the district title on the line it was the Beechcroft Cougars who…
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Continue ReadingColumbus City League Team Preview
The team that represented the Columbus City League’s north division? That would be the Linden McKinley Panthers, but with a shot at the district title on the line it was the Beechcroft Cougars who came out on top. In fact, of all the Columbus City League boys basketball teams, this team’s captivating run through the Ohio State Basketball Playoffs was an original sports casualty of this pandemic.
The Cougars, who took down the Panthers and went on to defeat this writer’s beloved Eastmoor Academy Warriors in the district finals, were about to finish their pre-game meal, board the bus and be on the way to a showdown with Kettering Alter in the Regional Semi-finals. A phone call changed everything and ended their season prematurely.
Coach Humprey Simmons, who is a Columbus City League alum, has a very special job, he gets to coach his second son at the school. He won a Columbus City Championship with his first son, Jelani, in 2018 and now he has a chance to do it again with his baby boy.
“I know how to handle it, I can enjoy it more,” says coach Simmons about winning another City Championship with his younger son, admitting that the first game was a “must win” for him.
JJ Simmons JJ Simmons 5'10" | PG Beechcroft | 2022 State OH is a 5-foot-11 muscular guard that attacks and finishes at the basket with the best of them as his just under 18 points per game last season would suggest. His pace of play is beyond the high school level and he is such a gifted passer that his father doesn’t realize where the ball is going until it gets there.
Amani Lyles Amani Lyles 6'7" | C Beechcroft | 2022 State OH , whose 14 points and 12 rebounds propelled Beechcroft in the Eastmoor win, is returning to give the Columbus City League its best duo. Lyles averaged a hair under 17 points per game and gave the Cougars the inside impact they needed up north. Amani Lyles Amani Lyles 6'7" | C Beechcroft | 2022 State OH could be the best big man on the northside of Columbus.
“I have to split them up in practice sometimes because of their chemistry,” Simmons says of the duo. The two players have been playing together since middle school and as Coach Simmons reminded me, “they still have two years left to play with each other.”
The 6-foot-6 Lyles is an intriguing player because he can play in the post and on the wing and his coach says his handles are improving. This is a scary thought for the coaches in the north division who will have to draw up game plans to slow down this team.
Seven other players return to this team, not including players that may move up to the Varsity level, giving this team unprecedented depth.
Among these seven players are Aamir Carter, Javo Jordan and Jaylen Hudson, all are going to be looked upon to contribute big time to the winning of games. Coach Simmons calls Carter a “stat stuffer,” and a player that “can do everything on the floor.” Jordan will be the point guard and is described as the Gary Payton/Isiah Thomas type who will guard you 94-feet and disrupt whatever you want to do on offense. Hudson is the knock down shooter of the group, willing to let open jumpers fly as soon as he feels he is open.
The Beechcroft Cougars 2020-2021 season will be remembered by picking up where they left off, finishing the plan and a father fulfilling another dream of winning with his son.