'Akron loves us': Parade celebrates state champion Buchtel, Hoban boys basketball players
Buchtel and Archbishop Hoban boys basketball players were more than just state champions Sunday afternoon in downtown Akron.
They were stars on floats.
They were teenagers bringing smiles to the thousands of faces that lined Main Street from Cedar Street to Bowery Street.
“It was pretty dope for the community to come out and show love and support to two city schools winning a state championship,” Buchtel senior starter Marcel Boyce Jr. said after taking part in a parade that attracted a crowd of between 4,000 and 5,000.
“They said that nothing like this has been done since the LeBron [James] era. It was a different experience and I am glad it was a nice day outside and everybody came out and showed their support and love. This was successful. This was a nice event for the city of Akron to enjoy.”
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The parade started at 2 p.m. near Spaghetti Warehouse, went past Canal Park and ended about 35 minutes later near the Akron Civic Theatre.
Buchtel players and coaches held up the Division II state championship trophy to show their adoring fans. It's the school's first boys basketball title.
Hoban players and coaches hoisted the Division I state championship trophy to applause from their fan base. It's the program's second title.
“This was a great parade,” Hoban junior starter Jonas Nichols said. “It feels great to bring these state championships back to the city of Akron. We had a lot of people show up today. I didn’t think this many people were going to come out, but Buchtel brings a big fan base and we bring a big fan base. It feels good to share this with them and both teams accomplished history.”
Akron boys basketball coverage:'We all share the love': Hoban students, staff celebrate basketball state championship
Akron celebrates Buchtel, Hoban boys basketball state champion teams
The parade featured plenty of blue and gold for Hoban and black, white and red for Buchtel. It also featured cheerleaders, band members, stilt walkers, and some flashy cars.
Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan and U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes each gave a proclamation to Buchtel coach Rayshon Dent and Hoban coach T.K. Griffith.
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“This is another surreal moment for Hoban and for the city of Akron,” Griffith said. “I would have never guessed that this many people would come down. This was overwhelming. I am overwhelmed with gratitude. This was really neat to share with Buchtel. There were a lot of people from Akron here today. Buchtel brought a ton of people down here and there were a lot of Hoban people, too.”
Griffith, a 1989 Hoban graduate, said “it felt like 15,000 people were here.”
Dent, a 1986 Buchtel gradute, was also appreciative of the support.
“This parade was simply amazing,” Dent said. “The community came out and showed out. The love we experienced today was for the ages and I am truly grateful. Thank you Akron, loving and celebrating us. You're a class act.”
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Akron showers Buchtel, Hoban state champion athletes with love
The parade is the result of Buchtel and Hoban winning state championship games March 19 at University of Dayton Arena.
Boyce joined fellow starters Khoi Thurmon, Amire Robinson, Jayden Maxwell and Stevie Diamond on Buchtel’s float Sunday.
“This parade shows how much the city of Akron loves us,” said Diamond, a sophomore. “We gotta do it again next year.”
Boyce, Thurmon, Robinson, Maxwell and reserve Tajh Poole are set to graduate in the spring. Diamond and top reserves Diaire Pride Jr., Dakota Taylor and Qi’Marreon Marks are slated to return next season for Buchtel.
“It felt good to be in this parade,” Thurmon said. “Seeing people that are proud of us makes us happy. Having two teams bring the city of Akron together and seeing the city in a positive way is awesome.”
Nichols joined fellow starters Will Scott Jr., Andrew Griffith, Logan Vowles and Sam Greer on Hoban’s float Sunday.
“It is an amazing feeling when two teams come together and do great things for the city of Akron,” Scott said. “I feel like we put on a show for Northeast Ohio.”
Scott, Vowles, Andrew Griffith and key reserves Lamar Sperling and Colin Coyne are set to graduate in the spring. Nichols, Greer and key reserves Joey Hardman and Josh Greer are slated to be back next season for Hoban.
“I was not expecting this many people at the parade,” Sam Greer said. “It was packed.”
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron parade celebrates state champion Buchtel, Hoban basketball teams
