The Ultimate Sacrifice Pays Off as Easter II & Cenac Jr. Lead Link to EYBL Title
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| Chris Cenac Jr (L) & Jerry Easter II (R) Celebrate EYBL Scholar League Championship |
By Deon Cash
Jerry Easter II has been one of the most publicized and high profile hoopers from Ohio in the last two decades.
After his Sophomore season, Easter II was a future lock for a Mr Basketball selection before his career would be over in Ohio - or so it seemed.
In a suprise change of events, Easter, would decide to leave Ohio to go and play at a highly touted prep school in a different state (La Lumiere) on his basketball journey as a junior.
Some questioned the reasoning, or the antics. Others questioned the motives.
After all, Easter was leading Ohio in scoring as a sophomore (33ppg). He was the Player of the Year in the Toldeo area and was 1st- Team All -State.
No matter what, there seemed to be a different path for the kid who was ranked in the Top 20 since he was a 7th grader, and was arguably the top ranked 8th grader in the country before somehow inexplicably dropping in the rankings year after year.
Chris Cenac Jr, a behemoth of a kid, took a different route to the to top.
He literally popped on the scene last spring, and has had a metoric rise to his spot, which is arguably the best big man in the HS class.
With the rising development of his skills, its hard to not notice the kid who has been making waves through the South, and now, all over the country.
The 6'10 multi-faceted big from New Orleans can post hard, and will put you in the rim. He can take you off the dribble or shoot from deep. Add the mid-range consistency and the intensity he plays with on defense in swatting shots, guarding 1-5 and grinding in the trenches?
Here's has become a "Can't Miss Big" who is headed to Houston next year and the league two years from that.
However, just two years ago, Cenac Jr was struggling to find himself on the top of a top ten aau league board, let alone the ESPN Top 10 NBA Draft board of 2026.
He and his family dedicated themselves to the game and Cenac Jr development, and the rest was history.
Cenac was dominant in the Championship game, winning the MVP honor. Cenac Jr. brought it all season as if on a revenge tour, making EYBL 2nd Team All-League before the tournament success.
Which brings us back to Easter II.
Once it was found out that Easter would not make the Mcdonalds All-American team, Easter II was devastated.
His parents were irate, and with good reason.
They had raised Jerry to be a good kid. Get great grades. Stand up for yourself, but be respectful to your elders. Work hard. Lift weights. Be humble.
And Jerry had done that on his journey. No matter the coach, no matter the team. He listens to the coaches, he relays the messages, and he runs the team.
But for some reason, the previous coaches at La Lumiere decided that Easter II and his family wasn't there for the right reasons.
This hurt Easter II as well.
If you actually know Easter II, he has a real burning desire to win. Anything else is secondary.
He knows he can average 30 a game for a season. He knows he can record a triple-double while scoring 40. He knows he could score 50 in a game.
What he, and we, didn't know was:
Could he take a pro-style team to a national championship as a point guard?
When it was all said and done? He did that as well. As a lead point guard.
His parents have stressed the importance of Jerry II playing point guard.
And in his journey of being a pro hooper, the step of becoming a leader and running the show was huge.
Which brought us to this season.
Link started out PreSeason #1 and fumbled the bag early. They dropped to 17th in the country at one point.
They also lost two of their top players (Amare Bynum -Ohio State commit) & John Clark (Texas commit) it seemed that they could be headed for a downfall.
However, they started playing better, and had moved into the mix when the conference tournament started.
Cenac and Easter knew how important this tournament was. Not only to the program, but to themselves.
So, when Easter and Cenac led Link Academy over Kiyan Anthony and Lutheran in the EYBL Scholar League Championship, it sent a huge statement to all the haters and detractors who tried to sabotage the Easter and Cenac name.
It also validated the reason behind moving Easter and Cenac to Link Academy.
Simply put, to win the EYBL Scholar League Championship. We're they the best high school duo in the country? That's up for debate.
But there was no debate who the Stars of.the EYBL 2024-25 Tournament were: Easter & Cenac.
While Easter II didn't make all-conference, he did make the All-tournament team, with Cenac Jr. grabbing the MVP of the Tournament.
And it has been announced that Easter II will be participating in the Jordan Brand National HS Showcase, which is well deserved.
After the game Easter II would take a picture with Carmelo Anthony.
Just last summer, Easter & Cenac met for the first time at Chris Brickley Invitational.
The rest was history.
Congrats to Easter and Cenac for their perseverance in the midst of doubt and ignorance.
And, oh yeah, by the way, Paul Biancardi, a respected rankings expert, finally gave Jerry Easter his respect, after all the years of disrespect with the slide of Easter down his rankings over the last four years (Via ESPN Top 100).
Interesting. Now all of a sudden, he's on Biancardi's best. And at the top of the list.
Amusing.
Never forget that Biancardi influenced two players from one of the most losing teams in the EYBL this year on the McDonalds All-American teams ahead of Easter II.
That same team (La Lumiere) Jerry Easter II lead in scoring, rebounds, assists, and steals while on the same team as those guys. Last year.
On a personal note, Easter II crushed them this year and dominated them in the matchup while Link Academy rolled.
Link Academy, now ranked #2 in the country, will be playing in the National Tournament in early April.
Don't ever doubt Jerry Easter II and Chris Cenac Jr.
Would not be suprised to see them hoisting the National Tournament Championship as well.
Follow Easter, Cenac, Link Academy and SELIVE365 on the journey.
