Akiean Frederick is a forward on the men’s basketball team at Sinclair. He is a driven athlete and student who constantly shows a genuine passion for the game.
A Columbus, Ohio native, Frederick went to Franklin Heights High School. While his athletic career at Sinclair was marked with success, his early relationship with basketball was filled with adversity. He didn’t play for his high school’s varsity team until his senior year. Despite this setback, Frederick realized his potential and continued to chase his dream of playing basketball at the next level.
Frederick’s first year at Sinclair, he started 29 out of 30 games. The team finished with a 28-3 record. They were one of the most successful teams in Sinclair’s history. Beyond being a crucial part of the team, Frederick is a team player. When it came to talking about his play he said, “I just try to get everybody involved, give everybody a turn to score, pass it, anything.” He cares about the team, and was a part of the connection between the players that allowed them to be so successful.
This bond still exists today. The team has gotten off to a 6-0 start and is about to enter a big stretch of home games. Their first conference game is December 10 against Lakeland at 7:30 p.m. It is a crucial component to continuing their success from last season.
As the season progresses, Frederick has been forced to look further into the future. With multiple colleges contacting him about continuing to play at a 4-year university, he has a bright future ahead of him. “I just try to stay humble,” he said.
As a Liberal Arts major at Sinclair the options are wide open for him in the future. His top choice at the moment is Marshall University, a Division 1 school in West Virginia. He stays focused on both the season and his academics.
The Pride anticipate the challenge that waits for them in the future. With hopes of outdoing their performance last season, they continue to work hard to make reach their goal of a championship.
Frederick will be out there, repping the number 23, the same number as his idol, Lebron James. When the Pride pack the gym at 7:30, the team will be ready. Playing one game at a time, they will keep fighting for the highest prize which is bringing a National Title to Sinclair.
Matt Harlan
Reporter