For the Greenforest Eagles boys basketball team, the mission is clear: win the Class A Private state championship.
“The expectations coming in have always been to compete and win it all this year,” said first-year Eagles coach Larry Thompson, who served as an assistant on last year’s squad.
Though the goal of a state title is the same for every program entering a new season, the Eagles have a lot going for them that make that achievement attainable. They came within a game of winning it all last year, settling for runner-up. They’re currently A’s top-ranked team, their record now at 23-2 (11-0 in Region 5) after Friday’s 92-56 win over Landmark Christian, which served as their regular season finale.
And three of the seniors - Precious Ayah, John Ogwuche and Jared Bowens - were a member of the 2013 state championship team.
“It felt great,” said senior guard Ogwuche, a captain on this year’s team who’s committed to play at the next level for New Hampshire. “It was amazing. I had just come to the States (from Nigeria), and just to be hear was a blessing. To win it all was a dream come true.”
Now Ogwuche wants to close his prep career the way it begin - with a championship. As a member of the 2012-13 squad, he was a freshman who saw limited action. He did play in the final and scored seven points. This season, he’s emerged as a vocal leader after spending previous seasons leading by his actions.
He’s helping to mentor players including juniors Ikey Obiagu and Justin Forrest. Obiagu is a 7-foot-tall five-star recruit with offers from every major program in the country outside of Duke and Kentucky.
If Forrest’s name sounds familiar, it should to those in Atlanta. His father, James Forrest played forward at Georgia Tech from 1992-95 and was a two-time Mr. Georgia Basketball (1989-90) from Southside. The younger Forrest, a guard, is the Eagles' leading scorer.
“I do a lot more talking now and helping to organize our guys,” Ogwuche said. “I try and make sure the guys are trying to do what they’re supposed to do and have a winning mentality.”
There’s no doubt in Thompson’s mind the Eagles are playing with that type of mentality. Their only losses were in holiday tournaments on Dec. 22 to Hammond (S.C.) in the Chick-Fil-A Classic and on Jan. 18 to South Atlanta in the MLK Classic. Hammond is the No. 3 ranked team in all of South Carolina, according to MaxPreps; South Atlanta is AAA’s No. 2 team.
“It’s never good to lose, but (the losses) did give us a newfound sense of focus,” Thompson said. “Especially after the loss to South Atlanta. We’re in a different headspace now. We’re more focused in practice. Everyone bought in to what we’re trying to do before, but now they’re all in.”
Not only do the Eagles have their coach pushing them, but the Lady Eagles are also providing inspiration. The Lady Eagles - ranked No. 4 - also won 63-35 on Friday at Landmark Christian to finish their season a perfect 21-0.
“We feed off each other,” Thompson said. “Having both of us play at a high level gives the whole school a burst of energy. The morale here is high and everyone is supportive of each other.”
Up next for the Eagles is the Region 5 tournament, which begins Monday. Both the boys and girls programs will enjoy a first-round bye. Both are expected to be crowned league champions, which will give them a coveted No. 1 seed and home-court advantage through at least the first two rounds in the state tournament.
For Ogwuche, Ayah and Forrest it would be yet another milestone for the seniors, which, as a class, has already racked up more wins than any other class in the program’s history, which dates back to 1995.
“A state title would be a blessing and an honor,” Ogwuche said.
About the Author
