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Jacob North excels on court, in classroom
By David Lee Morgan Jr.
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 11:56 a.m. EST, Jan 07, 2009
Put a basketball in Jacob North's hands, and he'll impress you with his skills.
Put a book in North's hands, put him in the classroom, and he'll impress you even more.
North, a Barberton High junior guard, is averaging 18 points for the Magics, who are 8-0. Their most recent victory came Tuesday night on the road in the Suburban League, 70-47 over Highland.
He is ranked No. 4 in his class with a 4.571 grade-point average.
The marks in school are the numbers that mean the most to North.
''I just want to be successful in whatever I do,'' North said. ''I don't want to settle for anything less than I accomplish so I just always work hard in class and I get a lot of help at home from my parents (Leslie and Roger).''
Magics coach Ken Rector is a ''Barberton Guy'' through and through, having grown up in the city and played for legendary coach Jack Greynolds.
Walk into Rector's office and the photos on the wall and on his desk give visitors a historic tour of Barberton basketball and what it has meant to Rector.
So many people in Barberton have impacted Rector's life on and off the court, and it's not often that the 42-year Rector, who has two children, daughter Ericka, 14, and Austin, 12, can say that one of his players has impacted his life.
North is one of those players.
''My son is around our team all the time, and I can't think of a better person for Austin to be around than Jacob,'' Rector said. ''When you look at basketball here at Barberton, kids and adults for that matter, are watching you all the time, not just on the basketball court but in the community as well.
''They are watching how you represent yourself, and Jacob sets a great example in everything he does because he does it with respect. The younger kids look at him and see what strong character is all about.''
When you talk about the rich basketball history at Barberton, starting with Greynolds, you also have to mention players like Alvin Robertson, who was a star at Arkansas and later became an NBA all-star and one of the league's top defenders with the San Antonio Spurs.
Carter Scott was a member of the Magics' 1976 state championship and starred at Ohio State.
And the Bodnar Twins, Mark and Marty, helped Barberton win the '76 state championship, then went on to star at Michigan, where both became academic all-Americans.
''Mark was third in his class and I was fifth,'' said Marty Bodnar, who is associate athletic director for tickets and marketing at the University of Michigan.
''But that was OK for me because the top four in our class spoke at graduation, so I didn't have to speak.''
Then, there's North, who made Barberton history of his own several years ago by becoming the first freshman to start for the Magics.
North knows the proud history of Barberton basketball and is honored to be included.
He also wants to follow in the Bodnars' footsteps.
''My Grandma Lorene (Deatherage) was librarian when (the Bodnar twins) were in school; she told me stories about them,'' North said. ''She said they were really great in the classroom and on the court, and it's an honor to try to follow them.''
Marty Bodnar said he's impressed with North's maturity as it relates to his academics.
''What kids need to realize is that you cannot participate in athletics in high school or college unless you are a student first,'' Bodnar said. ''My involvement in basketball made me a better student because the discipline you put into that sport, and in my case basketball, helps you become a better student.
''So it's great that Jacob is taking his academics seriously,'' Bodnar said. ''He's a leader and he's showing other students that academics at the end of the day is more important than athletics. Those days are going to end but your education is going to be with you the rest of your life.''
David Lee Morgan Jr. can be reachedat dlmorgan@thebeaconjournal.com.
Did you know?
The Barberton basketball program is celebrating its 100th season this year and boasts 41 consecutive winning seasons. Also, the Magics have won at least 15 games during each of the past 13 seasons.
Put a basketball in Jacob North's hands, and he'll impress you with his skills.
Put a book in North's hands, put him in the classroom, and he'll impress you even more.
North, a Barberton High junior guard, is averaging 18 points for the Magics, who are 8-0. Their most recent victory came Tuesday night on the road in the Suburban League, 70-47 over Highland.
He is ranked No. 4 in his class with a 4.571 grade-point average.
The marks in school are the numbers that mean the most to North.
''I just want to be successful in whatever I do,'' North said. ''I don't want to settle for anything less than I accomplish so I just always work hard in class and I get a lot of help at home from my parents (Leslie and Roger).''
Magics coach Ken Rector is a ''Barberton Guy'' through and through, having grown up in the city and played for legendary coach Jack Greynolds.
Walk into Rector's office and the photos on the wall and on his desk give visitors a historic tour of Barberton basketball and what it has meant to Rector.
So many people in Barberton have impacted Rector's life on and off the court, and it's not often that the 42-year Rector, who has two children, daughter Ericka, 14, and Austin, 12, can say that one of his players has impacted his life.
North is one of those players.
''My son is around our team all the time, and I can't think of a better person for Austin to be around than Jacob,'' Rector said. ''When you look at basketball here at Barberton, kids and adults for that matter, are watching you all the time, not just on the basketball court but in the community as well.
''They are watching how you represent yourself, and Jacob sets a great example in everything he does because he does it with respect. The younger kids look at him and see what strong character is all about.''
When you talk about the rich basketball history at Barberton, starting with Greynolds, you also have to mention players like Alvin Robertson, who was a star at Arkansas and later became an NBA all-star and one of the league's top defenders with the San Antonio Spurs.
Carter Scott was a member of the Magics' 1976 state championship and starred at Ohio State.
And the Bodnar Twins, Mark and Marty, helped Barberton win the '76 state championship, then went on to star at Michigan, where both became academic all-Americans.
''Mark was third in his class and I was fifth,'' said Marty Bodnar, who is associate athletic director for tickets and marketing at the University of Michigan.
''But that was OK for me because the top four in our class spoke at graduation, so I didn't have to speak.''
Then, there's North, who made Barberton history of his own several years ago by becoming the first freshman to start for the Magics.
North knows the proud history of Barberton basketball and is honored to be included.
He also wants to follow in the Bodnars' footsteps.
''My Grandma Lorene (Deatherage) was librarian when (the Bodnar twins) were in school; she told me stories about them,'' North said. ''She said they were really great in the classroom and on the court, and it's an honor to try to follow them.''
Marty Bodnar said he's impressed with North's maturity as it relates to his academics.
''What kids need to realize is that you cannot participate in athletics in high school or college unless you are a student first,'' Bodnar said. ''My involvement in basketball made me a better student because the discipline you put into that sport, and in my case basketball, helps you become a better student.
''So it's great that Jacob is taking his academics seriously,'' Bodnar said. ''He's a leader and he's showing other students that academics at the end of the day is more important than athletics. Those days are going to end but your education is going to be with you the rest of your life.''
David Lee Morgan Jr. can be reachedat dlmorgan@thebeaconjournal.com.
Did you know?
The Barberton basketball program is celebrating its 100th season this year and boasts 41 consecutive winning seasons. Also, the Magics have won at least 15 games during each of the past 13 seasons.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Akron, OH
Posted 12:42 PM, 01/07/2009
I know I'm a dummy because I don't understand how you get a 4.571 GPA. Can someone explain that to me?
Posted 12:50 PM, 01/07/2009
In some honors or more academically challenging classes--one can receive higher than a 4.0 for an A--so that is possibly the reason.
akron, oh
Posted 08:13 PM, 01/07/2009
Jacob--don't go out like lebron--go on to college and get a degree--you never know what will happen and you'll need all the education you can get Life isn't all about making the big bucks.
Posted 03:03 AM, 01/08/2009
The late Coach Greynolds would be very, proud. As much pride as he took in Barberton basketball, he had even more pride in the personal achievements of his student athletes.
Cross Lanes, WV
Posted 07:55 PM, 08/31/2009
1976 ... it was a very good year at Barberton High School. :) Go Magics.
It's great to read a success story for a Barberton student. Keep up the fantastic work, Jacob. And I agree with mom of2: Go to college and get your degree, Jacob. It's something no one can ever take away from you.
