Late-Season Update: Northwestern Basketball

As Northwestern Boys Basketball Coach Terrance Burke looked ahead to the season back in December, he knew some growing pains were inevitable after losing two key players during the offseason — 6-foot-7 center Obinna Oleka transferred and point guard Torre’ Summerville was expelled.

Oleka and Summerville combined to average 35 points per game last year.

Yet even without those two, Burke was excited about the potential for the season, forecasting big years from guard Nick Speller, forward Joe Johnson and 6-foot-8 center Clayton Higginbotham.

The problem for Burke and Northwestern (5-12) has been that while Johnson and point guard John Johnson have stepped up as hoped, the Wilcats have had to deal with injuries to Speller, who has been limited for most of the season by a groin injury, and Higginbotham, who missed an extended period of time with an ankle injury.

But with Speller, who Burke compares to Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton, and Higginbotham finally back healthy, Burke is optimistic Northwestern can surprise some teams come playoff time.

“Teams haven’t really seen us at our best with everyone healthy and I think that will be a huge advantage for us,” Burke said. “If everyone steps up and executes the game plan, I think we’ll have a good chance of advancing in the playoffs.”

Meanwhile, Rod Hairston and the Wildcats’ girls' team haven’t been without their fair share of obstacles as well.

Hairston stepped in as Northwestern’s interim coach in early December after head coach Eric Sampson was issued a season-long suspension amid allegations of recruiting violations. Making matters worse for the Wildcats, six-foot center Simone Sampson, Eric Sampson’s daughter, and guard Tiffany Wallace both transferred after Eric Sampson was suspended. Simone Sampson averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds per game last season.

Even without Sampson and Wallace, Northwestern (9-8) has come together during the course of the season and has won two of its last three games, with both wins coming by double-digit margins — 63-48 over Bladensburg Feb. 4 and 64-44 over DuVal Feb. 10.

Ciara McCray (16 points per game), Jazmyn Robinson (14) and Porchia Smith (13) have combined to average 43 points per game.

“It’s been a very tumultuous, adversity filled year,” Hairston said. “But the girls have shown some intestinal fortitude to say the least, to be able to get through all the adversity. It’s been a very trying year but a very successful year for the girls to perform like they have under these kinds of conditions. And I think this team’s ability to overcome adverse situations will take it a long way.”