City League Sports

Sam Whitaker III, Columbus International class of 2023, and LJ Foster, Columbus Alternative High School class of 2024 join the show. LJ plays basketball for his home school Mifflin. The first team all city basketball players talk about their support systems on and off the court. They also talk about their goals and how they were able to meet those goals throughout their high school careers. They also give their reasoning for who is better between Michael Jordan and Lebron James.

The very first episode we recorded for City League Sports was a phone call with Archie Griffin in March of 2022. Due to technical difficulties, we did not intend to release the show. After reconsidering, we decided to release the show 1 year later.   Join us as City League and Ohio legend Archie Griffin shares his amazing stories from high school at Eastmoor. He also talks about the adversity he faced at The Ohio State University, and how he overcame it.   Archie Griffin is the only 2 time Heisman winner, and he was voted as the #4 greatest college football player of all time by 150 former coaches, players, administrators and media. It's a fantastic episode you don't want to miss. Terry Anderson joins the show as a special co-host.   Photo Credit: The Ohio State University.

All City Bowlers Damon Aubrey, Mifflin class of 2024, Cedena Perez-Corby, South class of 2023, and Tyler Needles, Marion Franklin class of 2023 join the show. They talk about the highs and lows of bowling, and they give love to their coaches and teammates who helped them build their programs to what they are today. They also talk about the age they were when they were introduced to the game and why they love it so much.

Superstar Jordan Horston joins the show. She shares some of her favorite memories, including representing the USA at the FIBA U17 Women's World Cup and FIBA Americas U16 Women's Championship, winning the MVP at the World Cup, and winning the MVP at the McDonald's All-American Game. She also shares her memories playing basketball in Columbus, including winning 3 state championships at Columbus Africentric Early College. Photo Credit: USA Basketball and FIBA.

We're joined by 3 Lady Hooper Stars in the Columbus City League. Leila Carter, Columbus International, is a true freshman who started on varsity and averaged 27 points per game and 13 rebounds, which earned her first team all city honors. Mali Thornton, Eastmoor Academy, is a junior and scholar athlete who has been named all city multiple times. Rayanna Howell, Columbus Africentric Early College PreK-12, is a junior who has been named all city, and still finds a way to be a leader on a team that has multiple extremely talented girls. The 3 girls share their stories about their love for the game, how they were introduced to basketball, and they share the goals they want to accomplish before they graduate.

Northland legend Satch Sullinger joins the show. He talks about how he balanced being a husband, father, coach, teacher and mentor during his time with Columbus City Schools. He relives some of his favorite basketball memories, including coaching his son Jared Sullinger who was rated the #1 power forward in the country according to ESPN (#2 player overall), and leading Northland to a #1 national ranking. He also shares his stories as a kid growing up in the 60's during the civil rights era.

Walnut Ridge Hoops players Dom Aekins, class of 2024, and Asion "Chip" Francis, class of 2023, join the show. They talk about the brotherhood they share on their team, and how they constantly push each other to be better. Dom talks about what it's like being a star player, building a nice legacy at Walnut Ridge individually, while still trusting in and encouraging his teammates like Asion and others.   Coach Charles Jefferson also joins the show. Jefferson, a Walnut Ridge alum himself, and former varsity basketball player, talks about the pride he has in returning to his alma mater, thinking about the memories he has walking through the hallways, and the tradition that he's been trusted to continue.

We sit down with former Linden-McKinley Panther AJ Davis. He talks about some of his favorite players to compete against in the City League when he was in high school. He also shares with us his Top 5 City League players from the 1990's until now. It's a fun show where all things basketball are discussed. AJ also talks about his time playing division 1 basketball and his time playing in the NBA D League. Photo Credit: James Madison University

We sit down with the Centennial girls basketball team. Kayla Houston, class of 2025, was selected second team all-city as a freshman during the 2021-2022 season. Aza Corbett, class of 2025, is one of the team captains. The girls talk about their goals this season. They also share with us how eager they are to continue to learn and grow as a team. Head Coach Ernest Bell also joins the show. He tells us how proud he is of the effort he continues to see from his team. He also shares with us his expectations for the Centennial girls basketball players, and how he wants to help shape them to becoming productive young women in society.

Helen Darling joins the show. The former High School All-American shares with us what it was like being a major division 1 recruit during her time at Brookhaven High School. She also shares some stories of her time playing basketball at Penn State, earning Big Ten Player of The Year Honors, as well as her time representing the USA at the 1999 World University Games held in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and her time in the WNBA. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces/San Antonio Stars

We sit down with the Columbus Africentric Early College PreK-12 basketball team. Dailyn Swain, class of 2023, is the #4 rated player in Ohio according to 247 Sports. He shares his journey and experiences playing high school basketball, as well as some unfinished business he wants to take care of. Head coach Michael Bates, and senior Dyson Bibins also join the show. They share some of their most memorable moments they've experienced over the years. They also talk about the tradition at Africentric and how they are thankful to be a part of the story.

Northland alum Jude Adjei-Barimah joins the show. He tells his amazing story of how he earned a football scholarship to Bowling Green State University, working his way onto the field and becoming a starter at the division 1 level, and putting in the work and discipline needed to follow his dreams making the roster for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL. This is a story of structure, faith and resilience. Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

We sit down with the city league south football co-champs South High School. Coach George Yates II talks about his roots at South going back to childhood, and returning as an adult, turning the program into a consistent winner. Quarterback Damon Griffin II, class of 2025, and wide receiver Da'Shawn Simmons, class of 2024, talk about their desire to continue to improve every year as a team until all their goals are achieved. Both players were named first team all district and first team all city. They are also members of the only South High school football team to beat Eastmoor Academy in 30 years.

We sit down with the East High School football team, the City League North co-champions. Taizaun Burns, class of 2025, Wayne Lindsay III, class of 2023, and head coach Mike Bell discuss their historic football season which restored order to a school with a lot of tradition. The first team all district and first team all city players Burns and Lindsay talk about how the culture change in the football program has lead to a culture change in the school as a whole, and they embrace their new roles as leaders in the school building that many kids look up to. Coach Mike Bell, who is also a member of the Ohio Dominican University Hall of Fame for basketball, shows gratitude to the Columbus Ohio community, his coaches, players, the student body at East, and the school administration for believing in and supporting the team, and he's excited for the future.

Beechcroft and West Virginia University standout defensive end Julian Miller joins the show. The All Big East defensive lineman talks about his historical career in college including one memorable game where he set the single-game sacks record (4.0) during a 21-20 win against Pitt. He also talks about the significance his family had on his football career. He shares some stories from high school as well. Photo Credit: West Virginia University

We sit down with the West girls soccer team. Coach Elizabeth "Coach Higgy" Higginbotham talks about her love for the game of soccer, playing as a child and in college, and bringing a girls soccer team to West High School a few years ago when she noticed there was no girls team. First team all city star Sydney Sinclaire, second team all city athlete Annabelle Cooper and her sister Brianna Cooper, a ccs girls soccer honorable mention also join the show. They talk about why they think it's important for girls to participate in sports, and they give their peers advice, encouraging them to join a team and play even if they have no experience, or if they have fears and doubts, because they will have fun and not regret joining the team.

Brothers Ernie Wheelwright, Walnut Ridge/University of Minnesota alum, and Rob Wheelwright, Walnut Ridge/University Of Wisconsin-Madison alum join the show. They share their most memorable moments playing football in both high school and college, including some of their favorite games, as well as some players they enjoyed playing with and against. They also discuss what it means to be a part of a family with a lot of athletic tradition, while following in the footsteps of their grandfather "Ern Wheelwright" and their older brother "Mike Bell." They tell us how they are keeping the family tradition of playing sports at an elite level. Photo Credit: The University Of Minnesota

We sit down with first team all city players Ja'Miah Thomas, and Isabella Williams from the Briggs High School Volleyball team. They talk about their journeys playing in the program over the years, starting out as underclassmen to becoming seniors and leaders on the court today, while being recognized as some of the best players in the City League.   Coach Herb Sharfenaker also joins the show. He talks about the "Bruin Strong" culture at Briggs, and how he thinks the students, teachers and athletes support one another. He also talks about his long tenure as a coach, and how many of his former players now join him as assistant coaches giving back to the new generation.

We sit down with filmmakers Gary Tate Jr. and Michael Gravely Jr. and discuss their much anticipated documentary "Da Haven," a powerhouse inner city football team, Brookhaven of Columbus Ohio, that managed to defy the odds and win the city's first (and only) state football championship game. Through personal accounts and exciting stories "Da Haven" revisits the exciting journey in the lives of the players, coaches, and community who experienced this unprecedented year in football history. The Quarterback of that team, Michael McGee also joins the show.

We sit down with first team all city rising stars Mekhi Johnson, and  Sean Smith Jr. from Columbus Africentric Early College. They talk about what it's been like becoming leaders on the team at such young ages. Head coach Jamell Davis also joins the show. He talks about his long  path to becoming a head coach and how he wants to start his own legacy at CAEC. Krista Frost fills in as a guest host.

Ohio University and Eastmoor Academy alum Amani Burke joins the show. She talks about creating her own identity as the sister of NBA player Trey Burke, what it was like growing up in a basketball family, and playing the game at a high level, while on the inside having mixed feelings and wanting to quit. She also tells us what it was like scoring 1000 points in both high school and college, and breaking one particular Ohio University Women's Basketball record. Photo Credit: Ohio University

Former Brookhaven and The Ohio State University running back Maurice Hall joins the show. He talks about the tradition at Brookhaven and the legacy he left in high school. He also talks about the challenges he faced at OSU competing with Maurice Clarett, as well as some of his memorable moments, including scoring two game winning touchdowns vs Illinois and Michigan which helped bring OSU to the national championship game. Hall currently lives in Los Angeles primarily as an actor, and he shares with us his upcoming projects. Photo Credit: The Ohio State University

First team all city football stars Dan Wagner, Africentric class of 2022, Daizhon Cox, South class of 2022, and Antwoin Reed Jr, Beechcroft class of 2022 join the show. They talk about some of their most memorable moments as seniors this year during the football season. They also talk about the adversity they had to overcome as athletes throughout their high school careers. Photo Credit:heruacademyllc

Northland hooper Rob Dorsey joins the show. He talks about the leadership he carried as a 4 year varsity starter, and the challenges that came with that. Coach Tihon Johnson also joins the show. He talks about the big shoes he has to fill following 2 great coaches before him. He also talks about the success of the Kingdom Summer League, a basketball league that he founded, which features professional and amateur basketball players.

Former NFL, University of Cincinnati, and Eastmoor Academy running back Isaiah Pead joins the show. He talks about being a part of the UC Bearcats team that turned the program into a consistent winner, and he shares some of his favorite memories and fun times he had with his teammates. He also discusses how being a father changed his life in a dramatic way. Photo Credit: The University Of Cincinnati

Eastmoor Academy alum Deshawn Marshall Jr. is a 2x Big Ten track and field champion and 5x All American at The Ohio State University. He talks with the coach who helped him become the man he is today, Eastmoor Academy's Jason Lewis, the 10x defending city champion. Rising Star Dallas Hodge also joins the show. He's a kid who's gaining attention across the state with consistent discus throws of over 140 feet. Photo Credit: The Ohio State University

Beechcroft hoopers Amani Lyles, and JJ Simmons from the class of 2022 discuss the legacy they left and the memories they made as 4-year varsity basketball players. Coach Humphrey Simmons also joins the show, and although he is the biological father of JJ Simmons, he feels as if all his players are his sons.

Kaidyn Lucas, class of 2023, is a track star at Eastmoor Academy. She has already competed in a state track tournament last year as a sophomore, and she has received first team all city honors. Kimara  Morgan is an Eastmoor Academy alum who graduated in 2007. She is a 2 time state champ in track and field at Eastmoor Academy, and she went on to earn a division 1 scholarship at the University of Toledo. She currently serves as an assistant coach at Eastmoor Academy. Coach Mark Anthony also joins the show. He's a 2 time city champ, with 1 state championship. He talks about what it's been like coaching a winning  program for several years.

Lydia Pratt, Whetstone class of 2024, is a rising softball star who earned second team all city honors as a true freshman. She joins the show with captain Ellen Edwards, class of 2022 - a first team all city player, and a two time city league champ. Coach Larry Peck also joins the show. They talk about the hard work required to compete at a high level and their favorite music to listen to at practice.

Former WNBA, Ohio State, and Independence basketball player Jessica Davenport joins the show. She talks about the competition she faced in the Columbus city league, her mindset as a college basketball player, and the exciting career she has after retiring from basketball working for Nike. Photo Credit: The Ohio State University

Linden-McKinley STEM Academy 7-12 basketball stars LB Towns Jr. and LA Walker and Coach Kevin Darthard Jr. join the show. They talk about how they helped change the culture at Linden-McKinley, turning their school from an overlooked team in an inner-city neighborhood to a respected, winning program.

Former Brookhaven and University of Minnesota defensive back Dominic "DJ" Jones joins the show. He talks about the memories he had while being a part of the Brookhaven football state championship team in 2004. He also talks about his professional career and "Legacy University," an organization he co-founded with Keith Massey to prepare students for college and the pros. "Legacy U" also teaches the kids how to overcome and prevent the various life challenges they may find themselves in while being an athlete.

First team all city Northland hooper Brianna Hamilton, head coach Jay Bee Bethea, and Tyeasha Moss, a division 1 basketball Xavier alum who was also a player on the first Africentric girls basketball team to win a state title in 2007 join the show. They talk about the importance of family and overcoming adversity on and off the court.

George Reese, an Independence High School and OSU alum shares his stories playing basketball growing up in Columbus, in college and the pros. He's joined by current Independence player Antony Lowery and head coach Quintin Aden Jr.