logo
The four Ohioans competing in the Final Four

The four Ohioans competing in the Final Four

Axios08-04-2025

There aren't any Ohio schools to root for in the Final Four this weekend, but you can still cheer for a few Ohioans.
Fun fact: Senior Sakima Walker, who grew up in Columbus, plays for South Carolina, the team that won it all last year.
She graduated from Africentric Early College, a local girls basketball powerhouse.
Walker helped lead the Nubians to back-to-back state championships in 2018 and 2019. The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association named her the player of the year for Division III in 2020, a season cut short by COVID-19.
Zoom in: Walker doesn't get a lot of play time on the stacked South Carolina roster but is a "self-proclaimed team mom" and doesn't mind her role, On3.com reports.
"I just stay ready when my name is called, help my teammates, encourage my teammates, and bring good energy," she said.
The other Ohioans: One of those teammates, senior Bree Hall, is from Dayton.
South Carolina faces Texas, which also has two Buckeye State natives: Kyla Oldacre (of Mason) and Laila Phelia (of Cincinnati).
How to watch: Tonight's game starts at 7pm (ESPN).

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

South Carolina baseball losing star shortstop to transfer portal
South Carolina baseball losing star shortstop to transfer portal

Yahoo

time5 hours ago

  • Yahoo

South Carolina baseball losing star shortstop to transfer portal

South Carolina baseball lost its 15th player to the transfer portal on Friday morning. Gamecocks shortstop Henry Kaczmar has entered the transfer portal, The State has confirmed. The news was first reported by On3's Pete Nakos, who said that Kaczmar had entered with a 'do not contact' tag. While it's not always be the case, such a tag generally indicates a player already has their next destination in mind. Advertisement Kaczmar was a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable season for the Gamecocks, who finished 28-29 and 6-24 in the SEC under first-year coach Paul Mainieri During his lone year at South Carolina, he started in all 53 games that he played and recorded a .315 batting average (third best on the team) along with seven doubles, three triples, six home runs and 28 RBIs. He also slugged .486 and had a .394 on-base percentage. Kaczmar led the team with a .333 batting average in SEC games. Prior to his time in Columbia, Kaczmar, an Ohio native, spent two years at Ohio State. He was a Big Ten All-Freshman Team member in 2023 and earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors in his sophomore season (2024). USC baseball 2025 transfer portal tracker Committed to South Carolina (4) Advertisement Transferring out of South Carolina (15)

Austin Smotherman leads BMW Charity Pro-Am through two rounds, Trent Phillips tied for 8th
Austin Smotherman leads BMW Charity Pro-Am through two rounds, Trent Phillips tied for 8th

Yahoo

time8 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Austin Smotherman leads BMW Charity Pro-Am through two rounds, Trent Phillips tied for 8th

Austin Smotherman shot a second round 62 that included 10 birdies at Thornblade on Friday and at -16-overall the SMU alum will take a 2-shot lead into the weekend at the BMW Charity Pro-Am. Boiling Springs High School alum, Trent Phillips shot a 2nd round 66 Friday afternoon at Carolina Country Club and is tied for 8th at -11 overall. Four former Clemson golfers make the cut, led by Bryson Nimmer who's tied for 12th at 10-under par. The final two rounds will take place at Thornblade Club. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Jarace Walker to Miss Two Games
Jarace Walker to Miss Two Games

Yahoo

time10 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Jarace Walker to Miss Two Games

Jarace Walker to Miss Two Games originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Pacers, for the most part, have been healthy during their playoff run to the NBA Finals. Against the Oklahoma City Thunder, their luck will change. Advertisement In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks, forward Jarace Walker rolled his ankle while defending Karl-Anthony Towns. He was unable to leave the court on his own power and was seen on crutches the following day, although there was no cast or boot. Still, the Pacers will be without him for at least Games 1 and 2. "He's going to be out for a while. I don't know how long. He certainly will not play in the first two games of the Finals," Rick Carlisle said on 107.5 The Fan. "The fact that the Finals are stretched out over a pretty significant period of time gives him a chance to recover." Walker is not an elite scorer, although he provides some extra defensive depth that the Pacers will sorely need against the Thunder. While Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Obi Toppin are capable of slowing down Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it was expected that Walker would be able to play a bigger role if needed. Advertisement He scored 12 and 10 points in the two regular-season games against the Thunder, and while he slotted into a more limited role in the postseason, he remains one of the more talented defenders on the team. Game 1 will tip off at Paycom Center on June 5, with coverage on ABC. Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Why Indiana Pacers Are Massive Underdogs Against OKC Thunder in NBA Finals Related: Selfless Indiana Pacers Not Exempt From 'Face of the League' Debate This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store