'One in a million': Buchtel senior Qi'Marreon Marks excels in basketball, track, bowling

Qi'Marreon Marks is ready to compete this weekend in a Buchtel uniform in three sports, which is nothing new for the senior who attends Akron Early College High School.

His busy weekend starts on Friday with a Division II sectional final boys basketball game as reigning state champion Buchtel travels to Norwayne for a 7 p.m. tipoff.

Marks, a 4.0 student who is 5-foot-9 and 150 pounds, will be in Geneva on Saturday to compete in three events in the Division II indoor track and field state meet at Spire Institute.

And then he will wrap up the weekend on Sunday with the Greater Akron High School Boys and Girls Varsity Bowling League Tournament at Spins in Akron that will include competitors from Buchtel, East, Ellet, Firestone, Garfield, North, Norwayne, Archbishop Hoban, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, Our Lady of the Elms, St. Vincent-St. Mary and Walsh Jesuit.

"I have been doing all three sports [in the winter] since my sophomore year," Marks said. "It kind of does take a toll on me toward the end of the season, but I am used to having that routine.

"... It can get very stressful at times, but all in all it wasn't that bad because I was able to manage my time and do the work that I needed to do, and I have coaches that are willing to compromise with me."

Marks, who turned 18 on Feb. 15, generally wakes up around 6:45 a.m. and goes to school at Akron Early College High School on the University of Akron campus.

Marks' average day could include a basketball practice or game, a track and field practice or a run around the track in the UA Recreation Center and some rolls at a local bowling alley with teammates or his father, Jeffrey Marks.

Qi'Marreon Marks is very close with his dad and mom, Qiana Martin, and his brothers, Qi'Aden Marks and Qi'Ziah Marks. Qi'Aden is a 2022 Buchtel graduate and current Central State University student. Qi'Ziah is a sophomore at Akron Early College who also bowls and runs at Buchtel.

Qi'Marreon started playing basketball competitively at the age of 9. He has been bowling for eight years and started competing in cross country and track in seventh grade.

Marks has won City Series championships in basketball and track and field, and is on pace to graduate with 14 varsity letters from Buchtel: four apiece in cross country, bowling and track and field and two in basketball.

He is on pace to earn an associate's degree this spring and could get his bachelor's degree in two years at age 20.

Qi'Marreon Marks helps Buchtel win OHSAA boys basketball state title

Qi'Marreon Marks was a key reserve on Buchtel's 2022-2023 team that won the Division II state championship. He has stepped into a starting role this season alongside seniors Diaire Pride Jr. and Damien Johnson Jr. and juniors Stevie Diamond and Demetrice Coates.

This year's team is vastly different from last season's squad that featured 2023 graduates Marcel Boyce Jr., Khoi Thurmon, Amire Robinson and Jayden Maxwell.

Marks and Pride are two senior leaders. Junior Moustapha Ndao, junior Ta'Shawn Thomas, senior Dakota Taylor and freshman Kayden Simpson are also making an impact.

Marks scored a career-high points 17 points this season at Richmond Heights, had 15 points in a game against Garfield and 14 points against Walnut Ridge.

"I learned to be very versatile," Buchtel boys basketball coach Rayshon Dent said of coaching Marks. "He calls me every Sunday night and asks me, 'What is the schedule like this week? I ask him, 'What is your schedule like this week?'

"I really want him to be a part of this. He has been a joy. He is a leader on our team. He is a glue guy as well. He unifies guys and galvanizes the team really well. Just to see him do what he does is really amazing. Seeing him run track and then it translates onto the court for him because he plays at a really, really high speed, as you can see, and he doesn't wear easy. He is very durable and he shows his teammates how he goes about his business as far as his body, stretching and things like that."

Added Buchtel boys basketball assistant coach Steve Culp: "Honor roll, National Honors Society, you name it. Q is a great kid."

Marks said Mount Union is a potential option for college and that he could run track for the Purple Raiders.

When asked what sport he likes the best, Marks replied: "It used to be basketball, which I still do love, but I am starting to love track a lot. I love the teammates, the people, the tracks that we run at and the interactions with other teams. Everybody cheers for you the entire time. I love the energy that I get running, especially in the 4x4. It is the last race of a meet and you hear the crowd and there is a lot of adrenaline pumping as you run around the track.

"I love my teammates in basketball and bowling, too. We have a great time together."

Buchtel senior Qi'Marreon Marks pursues track and field state titles

Marks, who is ready for his second Division II indoor track and field state meet this weekend, has already competed in two Division II outdoor track and field state meets.

Marks is entered in three events in Saturday's indoor track and field state meet at Spire: the 3,200 relay at 2:30 p.m., the 400 at 4:50 p.m. and the 1,600 relay at 6:55 p.m.

"Qi'Marreon is one in a million," Buchtel boys track and field coach William Graham said. "One of the things that has really impressed me is his work ethic away from being around us. A lot of times, especially with track, it takes your coach to push you and tell you what to do.

"Back when things started really revving up with indoor track in December or January, he talked with me and said, 'Listen coach, I don't know how I am going to do this, but with my classes now I get out at around 10 [in the morning], so if you can send me the workouts I will go the [UA] REC and get the running portion in and then I will come and lift weights before basketball practice and then go to that.

"On off days, from what I understand, he goes to the bowling alley on the weekends when he doesn't have basketball games to work on his bowling game. Basically, every bit of free time he has right now is dedicated towards him getting better at one of the three sports he competes in."

Marks' best 400 time is a 50.39 at the outdoor district meet at Salem and his best indoor time is a 51.40 this season at the University of Akron.

Buchtel's 3,200 relay is set to include Marks, senior Jameson Decatur, sophomore Terrence Decatur and sophomore Dwight Shade this weekend. Marks joined the Decaturs and 2023 Buchtel graduate James Nelloms during last year's outdoor season.

Buchtel's 1,600 relay is slated to feature Marks, his brother, Qi'Ziah, senior Zyaire Lewis and Shade. Marks had success last year with Jameson Decatur, Lewis and current senior JaeSon Anderson during the outdoor season.

Marks' best finishes in a state meet came in relays at the Division II outdoor meet. As a sophomore, he joined his brother, Qi'Aden Marks, Lewis and Jameson Decatur to finish eighth in the 1,600 relay. His junior season concluded with a third in the 800 relay with 2023 Buchtel graduate Tajh Poole, Lewis and Anderson.

"Qi'Marreon is doing extra workouts on his own," Graham said. "As a senior in high school, to be able to juggle all of this is impressive. He goes to Akron Early College, too, so he is in college basically. It just blows my mind. Here is another tidbit you might not know — he preaches at his grandfather's church as well. ... If he ran for President, I think we would be OK."

Buchtel senior Qi'Marreon Marks compiles impressive bowling scores

Marks' highest game in bowling is a 280 in a win over Walsh Jesuit at Clutch Lanes in Cuyahoga Falls on Dec. 21. He also rolled a 207 for a 487 series.

Marks' highest two-game series is a 515 (257-258) in a win over CVCA at AMF Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn on Dec. 5. He then scored six points later that night in a boys basketball win over Firestone.

"Qi'Marreon is a phenomenal person," Buchtel bowling coach Annette Economus said. "He is a gift. He is my No. 1 bowler with an average of 210. I nominated him for an award with the Ohio High School Bowling Coaches Association for Division II. They wanted no one less than a 205 average, and he made the mark with a 210.

"He is the nicest and kindest person. He has an older brother, Qi'Aden, and a younger brother, Qi'Ziah. We call them Q1, Q2 and Q3. Qi'Marreon is Q2. He looks up to his older brother and he looks up to his mom a lot. He likes doing a lot of family things.

"... I have never experienced a kid like him. He sends me texts every holiday and checks in on when he has to be at events. He is so organized, it is scary."

Marks has earned All-City Series honors basketball, bowling, cross country and track and field. He is a senior co-captain with Antonio Jackson on Buchtel's boys bowling team.

"He has a 4.25 GPA ... and he works at Chick-fil-A," Economus said. "I said to him one time during the season: 'Q, do you sleep?' And he said: 'Yeah, I do actually.'

"... I have never met somebody so dedicated, someone who listens like him and never has an argument. He is so humble and doesn't have an ego. He is not one of those kids that says, 'I am the best.' I wish there was 10 more people like him on my team. He is amazing. You can tell he was brought up in a good family."

Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Buchtel senior Qi'Marreon Marks excels in basketball, track, bowling