With healthy Kamryn Grant, Africentric girls basketball closes in on state title repeat
Opponents were hard-pressed to find a weakness in the Africentric girls basketball team last winter. The Nubians, with only one senior, thrived on a lockdown defense and captured their eighth state championship.
But the team itself knew something – or someone – was missing.
“Last year, we had a nice picture,” senior forward Samairah Thompson said, “but we were missing that piece.”
“That piece” was Kamryn Grant, who missed all but the first two games with a torn right ACL. The 6-foot-1 senior has the height and build to alternate between small forward and shooting guard, and she’s adept at guarding both positions. Most importantly, her versatility allows her teammates to vary their roles.
Averaging 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals, Grant has been front and center all season for Africentric and should maintain that starring role this week in the Division III state tournament.
The Nubians (26-2) take on LaGrange Keystone (28-0) in a semifinal at 6 p.m. Thursday at University of Dayton Arena.
Even after earning Division III district Player of the Year honors and a nomination for the McDonald’s All-American Game, Grant remains soft-spoken.
“I feel like I’m doing well (considering) I’m coming off an injury,” said Grant, who committed to Dayton in May and signed in November. “It’s bittersweet. Obviously I wasn’t able to participate with my teammates last year, but I was still here. I’d never made it to state. Either way, it’s exciting to be able to come back and be part of the team this year, contribute and play with them.”
Grant started as a freshman but took off as a sophomore, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds and earning second-team all-state. She began her junior season with a 45-41 win over Division I Dublin Coffman but was hurt seven days later against Cincinnati Summit Country Day.
“Coming off a sophomore year where she was figuring it out, she was ready,” coach Janicia Anderson said. “She had a great fall, and for it to happen in the second game was devastating.”
Grant attended as many games and practices as possible, and on game days remained involved as unofficial team photographer. She has taken photography classes at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center the past two years.
Grant was cleared for light work in May and fully returned in time for preseason practice.
She admitted that her right knee is “about 80%” healthy.
“I was so determined to get back that it didn’t really matter about the pains and aches at the end of the day,” Grant said. “It’s still hard to bend and when the weather changes, it aches, but I’m doing the best I can.”
Anderson said Grant allows the Nubians to play at a faster pace, something reflected in their average of 71.8 points per game. Africentric has scored 2,009 points this season, 496 more than a year ago, and allowed 707, which is 177 fewer than last year.
“She allows our other players to move and groove in other spaces with her on the floor,” Anderson said. “Versatility is her strength.”
That should come in handy against a guard-heavy Keystone team making its state debut. Africentric is there for the 13th time.
Junior guard Brooklyn Barber averages 12.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals for Keystone, and classmate Vivian Cassell contributes 10.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.9 assists from a forward spot.
Another junior, 6-3 forward Callie Crabeels, is the only Wildcats player taller than 5-10.
Thursday’s winner faces Ottawa-Glandorf or Portsmouth for the state title at 2 p.m. Saturday.
It is not lost on Grant that she is finishing her high school career at her soon-to-be college home.
“That’s a dream come true, honestly,” Grant said. “It’s definitely going to be a nice experience. I’m kind of still on a high from making state. But this being my last week, it’s a bittersweet moment.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Kamryn Grant, Africentric girls basketball close in on state title
