Isaiah Johnson update

[infofan]

The Walnut Hills boys’ basketball team thoroughly enjoyed the program’s first regional title Friday night at CintasCenter, but thoughts turned to state week by Saturday morning.

Walnut Hills coach Ricardo Hill said he had 80 messages on his phone from well-wishers after the Eagles’ 50-46 win over La Salle Friday night and an emotional celebration was evident for the school’s fans and supporters among the 5,376 in attendance at XavierUniversity.

“Awesome feeling,” Hill said Saturday morning. “It’s more of a relief; there was so much pressure on these guys to take everybody’s challenge.”

Hill and some assistant coaches were scheduled to drive up to the University of Toledo in time for Saturday afternoon’s Region 1 final between Brecksville-BroadviewHeights vs. Toledo Rogers at 3 p.m.

This season marks the seventh consecutive year an area Division I program will be at the state Final Four.

Walnut Hills (27-1), ranked No. 1 in The Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll and No. 18 nationally by MaxPreps, plays the Region 1 winner in a Division I state semifinal March 22 at 8:30 p.m. at Ohio State University.

The Eagles practice at 8 a.m. Sunday before afternoon practices from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Hill said. The team leaves for Columbus after practice Thursday night and will stay in a hotel there before the Friday night game.

Hill said he was proud of how the Eagles kept their resolve against La Salle (20-8) Friday night.

Walnut Hills senior center Isaiah Johnson (Akron signee) had a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Eagles. He was 4 of 7 from the free-throw line including a few critical shots at the line down the stretch.

“Isaiah hit some big free throws,” Hill said. “I said, ‘when we need them he is going to make them.’”

Walnut Hills senior forward DJ Wingfield (OhioUniversity signee) had 13 points and eight rebounds. Senior guard Khari Burton had 10 points and five assists.

La Salle, which had an 11-game winning streak snapped, had three players scoring in double figures Friday night including guards Jeffrey Larkin (10 points), Jeremy Larkin (10 points) and Connor Speed (10 points).

Look for Isaiah and the Eagles on STO later this week in state finals

[Hilltopper]

Walnut Hills High School is an outstanding school academically. Looks like Johnson will fit right in to our program.

http://www.walnuthillseagles.com/index.asp

WHHS Academic Achievements

Out of more than 18,000 public high schools in the USA, US News ranks Walnut number 65 in the USA and awards WHHS Gold Medal status. WHHS is the number one ranked school in the State of Ohio.

WHHS offers more Advanced Placement courses than any other school in the nation. In 2012, WHHS increased the number of AP exams taken by 40%.

Out of the 31 high schools representing Ohio and a total of 1,600 semifinalists of the 2013 National Achievement Program, WHHS has the most African American semifinalists. This program recognizes the African American students who excelled on the Preliminary SAT and intend to enroll in college.

Persistence rate of 7th grade students (i.e., % 7th grade students who are able to continue one and move up within Walnut) increased significantly from a historical level of 80% to 94% in 2012, driven by increased intervention programs.

Superbly trained faculty with 92% holding master's degrees, equivalent or above. There are five nationally board certified teachers and a National Teacher of the Year.