March Madness: 270 Alum Watch Guide
Six former area players take on the game's biggest stage, starting tonight
COLUMBUS, OH - It’s every hoops fan’s favorite time of the year, March Madness.
Nearly every high school hooper has the dream to one day play in the NCAA Tournament, also known as The Big Dance.
For six former area players, that dream will be a reality this week as First Four round action kicks off Tuesday night.
You most likely watched most of these players from their high school days. Below is a guide when you can catch them during tournament action.
Seth Towns (Grad Senior) / #16 Howard University / Northland 2016
When to watch: Tuesday, March 19th vs #16 Wagner (First Four, 6:40pm TruTV)
No player has had the collegiate journey like Towns, the legendary Northland Viking that graduated high school the same year as Jayson Tatum and Lonzo Ball. By now, you should know his destinations. His first two seasons were at Harvard, where he was named Ivy League Player of the Year his sophomore season, before injuries sidelined him the next two years. He then came back home to play for Ohio State and made his first career tournament appearance in 2021. Injuries again robbed him of another two seasons before he landed this year at Howard, in his eight season, where he is obtaining his PhD. Towns is not only adding to his academic résumé, but he’s had a tremendous season leading the Bison and winning the MEAC tournament. Towns is averaging 14.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game and if the Bison pull off a First Four win over Wagner, they have #1 seed North Carolina awaiting them.
Tre Williams (Redshirt Senior) / #11 Duquesne / Reynoldsburg 2018
When to watch: Thursday, March 21st vs #6 BYU (12:40pm, TruTV)
In what is likely to be his fifth and final season, Tre Williams has made the NCAA tournament. After he spent his first two years at Indiana State, Williams has been a regular contributor for the Dukes, who are making their first tournament appearance since 1977. Unfortunately for Williams, who has battled injuries this season, he became injured again against Dayton in the A10 tournament and was sidelined for the rest of the conference tournament with his arm in a sling. It’s unsure whether Williams will be available for the Dukes first round match against BYU.
Javohn Garcia (Redshirt Junior) / #12 McNeese / Pickerington Central 2019
When to watch: Thursday, March 21st vs #5 Gonzaga (7:25pm, TBS)
One of the best guards in recent memory from the Tigers program, Garcia also makes his NCAA tournament debut. After he spent his first two seasons at UMass, followed by a year at College of the Sequoias JUCO, Garcia was recruited by Will Wade and has been a regular starter for the Cowboys. The Cowboys have absolutely rolled through their schedule, to the tune of a 30-3 record and are a popular upset pick against the Zags. Garcia is having career best averages, scoring 11.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Amani Lyles (Sophomore) / #14 Akron / Beechcroft 2022
When to watch: Thursday, March 21st vs #3 Creighton (1:30pm, TNT)
A force during his time at Beechcroft in the Columbus City League, Lyles is in his second season with the Zips and in his first NCAA tournament. He currently comes off the bench and averages 2.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in just over five minutes per game.
Atticus Schuler (Sophomore) / #7 Dayton / DeSales 2022
When to watch: Thursday, March 21st vs #10 Nevada (4:30pm, TBS)
The former Stallion had multiple opportunities to play at various collegiate levels, but chose to walk-on at Dayton. While it’s not frequent walk-ons see the floor, Schuler appeared in eight games this season and was perfect on his one made field goal attempt, a three, in a win against Oakland.
Sean Jones (Sophomore) / #2 Marquette / Gahanna Lincoln 2022
When to watch: Friday, March 22 vs #15 Western Kentucky (2pm, TBS)
The only player besides Towns to make their second tournament appearance, we unfortunately won’t get to see Jones in action this year. The former Lion provided a major contribution off the bench for the Golden Eagles, averaging 5.8 points and two assists per game along with tremendous defense, until he suffered a season-ending injury against Butler on January 10th. Marquette has the #2 seed for the second consecutive year and hope to make a deeper run than last season, which resulted in a second round upset to Michigan State in Columbus.
Written by 270 Hoops staff writer Greg Glasser