To continue the back half of the event is the Warhawks of Westerville Central vs. the Thunderhawks of Lakota East. After a difficult defeat to Hilliard Bradley in the district finals in the spring, the Warhawks are looking to bounce back in a big way. Senior and Akron commit Josh Henderson is probably the most improved player over the spring and summer that I covered in the entire state, as his length, athleticism, and versatility earned him a spot with one of the top MAC schools next season. His sidekick this year is Pickerington Central transfer and fellow senior Amare Spiva, who also had a stellar AAU season last spring. Spiva is a twitchy point guard that is one of the top unsigned seniors in the state. Increased roles from senior Maceo Harper, junior Mason Gooden, and junior Matt Brett are going to be crucial to the success of Central under first year head coach Max Shawver. The Warhawks are off to an underwhelming start, but I expect them to become a serious title contender after they work out some of their early rust and chemistry issues.
Lakota East is entering year 23 of coach Clint Adkins, who has built one of the more respected programs in the Cincinnati area over that time. He has built a culture that has resonated with his players and it’s shown in his results. Coach Adkins has three GMC championships, three District championships, and one elite eight appearance that was cut short due to COVID. This year, they have potentially the best point guard in the state in Miami (OH) commit Trey Perry. Perry is a blur with the ball and more physical than lots of bigs, making him one of the toughest guards to cover that I’ve seen this season. Senior guard Mike Akendele, freshmen Brady Bowman and JJ Smith, as well as junior PJ McFarland are key play makers that the Thunderhawks need this year to be successful, but the offense starts and ends with Perry. After finishing 12-13 a year ago, East is 4-0 to start 2024-25 with wins over Goshen, Sycamore, Oak Hills, and Middletown. The matchup of Trey Perry vs. Westerville Central’s Josh Henderson is one of future MAC foes, which will pique the interest of basketball junkies and casual fans alike.
