Williams Jr. and Mathias to Play for Upstart Grizzlies
Volume 1 Issue 14
The odds of making the NBA are slim-to-none. The odds of two Northwest Ohio athletes playing for the same team? Almost non-existent. Dakota Mathias and Vince Williams Jr. look to put our area on the map by way of Memphis, Tennessee. If they take the floor together, they will be the first NWO NBA teammates since Joe Cooke (Toledo Libbey) and Dave Sorenson (Findlay) in 1971 for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Vince Williams Jr., who graduated from Toledo St. John’s, was drafted in the second round by the Memphis Grizzlies this past summer. During his four years at VCU, Williams was a constant force for the Rams and as a senior was named first team All-Atlantic 10 Conference. Williams Jr. was one of the Grizzlies bright spots during the Summer League where he was a consistent shooter. Williams Jr. signed a two-way contract which allows him to play for both the Grizzlies and their G-League affiliate the Memphis Hustle. Playing in the G-League will allow Williams Jr. to gain valuable experience before making the full jump to the big time. Williams Jr. will be the third Toledo St. John’s graduate to play in the NBA after John Amaechi (1996-2003) and Brian Roberts (2013-2017).
Dakota Mathias looks to continue his journey to become a NBA contributor this season as he has signed an Exhibit-10 contract with Memphis. The Exhibit-10 contract is given to players that have shown value to the organization but will not be on the day-to-day NBA roster. Mathias will primarily play for the G-League Memphis Hustle but be called by the Grizzlies as needed. Last season Mathias played six games for the Grizzlies where he came off the bench as a contributor. After four great years at Purdue, Mathias played one season for Joventut in Spain then came back to the USA to play for the Texas Legends of the G-League. For the past two seasons has played sparingly in the NBA on short term contracts for both the 76ers and the Grizzlies. Mathias has been shining in the Summer League the past few years and it looks like he has finally gotten his due with this contract for Memphis. Mathias is only the second athlete in Elida HS history to play in one of the big four sports, the other being Quentin Poling of the NFL.
Important Updates
Zavier Simpson (Lima/Lima Senior) was waived by the Orlando Magic.
Notable Game Updates
On October 2nd Chris Wormley (Toledo/Whitmer) had 4 tackles in a loss to the Jets.
On October 9th Dallas Gant (Toledo/Toledo Central Catholic) had 15 total tackles in a Rockets win over Northern Illinois.
On October 9th Thomas Cluckey (Oregon/Clay) went 7-for-7 on extra points and and 1-for-1 on field goals in a Rockets win over Northern Illinois.
On October 9th Tyler Perkins (Norwalk/St. Paul) had 6 punts for 264 yards in a loss to Kansas State.
On October 9th Cavon Croom (Sandusky) had 3 catches for 26 yards in a BGSU loss to Buffalo.
Interesting Reads
CHSL settles on alignment with Toledo schools in powerhouse Central Division
What Detroit Tigers' Andrew Chafin thinks about his 2023 player option
No. 1 in their hearts: Fish has special bond with Oak Harbor football team
Perrysburg basketball coach Boyce nominated for national award
St. Paul's Livengood gets 300th career win as Crabbs runs for 391 yards
New York Mets' Chris Bassitt Not Focused on Potential Free Agency
HS Football Power Rankings
Top Cross Country Times of the Week
Just For Fun
What HS Conferences Looked Like 50 Years Ago in 1972-73
Blanchard Valley Conference
Arcadia, Arlington, Cory-Rawson, Findlay Liberty-Benton, Hardin Northern, Leipsic, McComb, Pandora-Gliboa, Van Buren, Vanlue
Buckeye Border Conference
Edgerton, Edon, Fayette, Hicksville, Hilltop, Montpelier, North Central, Pettisville, Stryker
Buckeye Conference
Elyria, Findlay, Fremont Ross, Lorain, Lorain Admiral King, Mansfield Senior, Marion Harding, Sandusky
Firelands Conference
Black River, Edison, Mapleton, Monroeville, New London, Norwalk St. Paul, South Central, Western Reserve
Great Lakes League
Bedford (MI), Bowling Green, Fostoria, Port Clinton, Oregon Clay, Sylvania
Greater Ohio League
Hamilton, Lima Senior, Middletown, Portsmouth, Springfield
Green Meadows Conference
Antwerp, Def. Ayersville, Def. Tinora, Fairview, Haviland Wayne Trace, Hicksville, Holgate, Paulding
Johnny Appleseed Conference
Ashland Crestview, Clear Fork, Crestline, Fredericktown, Lexington, Loudonville, Ontario, Plymouth
Lakeland Conference
Amherst Steele, Lorain Clearview, Midview, North Ridgeville, Oberlin, Sheffield Brookside, Vermilion, Wellington
Miami Valley League
Bellefontaine, Miamisburg, Lima Central Catholic, Lima Shawnee, Piqua, Sidney, Springfield Catholic Central, Urbana
Michigan-Ohio Border Conference
Dundee (MI), Erie-Mason (MI), Ida (MI), Northwood, Ottawa Hills, Whiteford (MI)
Mid-Ohio Conference
Big Walnut, Buckeye Valley, Cardington-Lincoln, Highland, Marion Catholic, Mount Gilead, North Union, Northmor
North Central Conference
Buckeye Central, Caledonia River Valley, Carey, Colonel Crawford, Marion Elgin, Marion Pleasant, Mohawk, Ridgedale, Riverdale, Wynford
Northern Border League
Archbold, Delta, Evergreen, Liberty Center, Montpelier, Patrick Henry, Swanton, Wauseon
Northern Lakes League
Anthony Wayne, Lake, Maumee, Perrysburg, Rossford, Springfield
Northern Ohio League
Bellevue, Bucyrus, Galion, Norwalk, Shelby, Tiffin Columbian, Upper Sandusky, Willard
Northwest Conference
Ada, Allen East, Bluffton, Convoy Crestview, Columbus Grove, Delphos Jefferson, Lima Perry, Lincolnview, Paulding, Spencerville, Upper Scioto Valley
Northwest Ohio Athletic League
Archbold, Bryan, Liberty Center, Montpelier, Napoleon, Wauseon
Putnam County League
Columbus Grove, Continental, Fort Jennings, Kalida, Leipsic, Miller City, Ottoville, Pandota-Gilboa
Sandusky Bay Conference
Clyde, Fremont St. Joseph, Huron, Margaretta, Perkins, Sandusky St. Mary’s, Tiffin Calvert
Seneca County League
Bettsville, Hopewell-Loudon, New Riegel, Old Fort, Seneca East
Suburban Lakes League
Eastwood, Elmwood, Genoa, Gibsonburg, Lakota, Oak Harbor, Otsego, Woodmore
Toledo City League
Red Div. - Central Catholic, DeVilbiss, MaComber, Scott, Start, Woodward
Blue Div. - Bowsher, Cardinal Stritch, Libbey, Rogers, St. Francis, St. John’s, Waite
West Central Ohio Conference
Belle Center, Benjamin Logan, Fairbanks, Indian Lake, Ridgemont, Riverside, Waynesfield-Goshen, West Liberty-Salem
Western Buckeye League
Celina, Coldwater, Defiance, Delphos St. John’s, Elida, Kenton, Lima Bath, Ottawa-Glandorf, St. Mary’s Memorial, Van Wert, Wapakoneta