At North Side, the goal is always to “get on the wall.” For a program that measures success in championships, that expectation gives an experienced senior class a clear target entering the 2026-27 season. The Legends return three starters, another senior with substantial varsity minutes and a pair of freshmen who have already earned the coaching staff’s confidence. There is familiarity with the program’s demands and a belief that this group has the pieces to make its final results match its ambitions.
Last season provided evidence of what North Side could become under returning coach Shabaz Khaliq. After opening 0-4, the Legends eventually put together a stretch of eight victories in nine games, including wins over Huntington North and Homestead. This year’s returning core brings experience within those expectations, giving North Side a foundation it had to develop as last season unfolded.
Senior Max Goheen will be central to turning that familiarity into consistent production. The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 10.5 points, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals last season, finishing with 127 assists and 52 steals while shooting 42 percent from three-point range. Those numbers reflect a player capable of influencing possessions as a scorer, distributor and defender. A second-team All-SAC selection, Goheen returns with both the production and experience to direct the Legends through difficult stretches. His next challenge will be balancing opportunities to create his own offense with keeping an evolving rotation involved.
Alongside him, senior Andrew Upton gives North Side another established perimeter option. The guard shot 46 percent from the field and 40 percent from three last winter. The potential of the Goheen-Upton combination was particularly evident against Leo, when Goheen went 4-for-4 from deep and Upton connected on three of four attempts as North Side made 10 of its 15 three-pointers. That kind of shooting can create difficult decisions for defenses trying to contain the Legends inside, and Upton’s return gives North Side another player comfortable taking consequential shots.
Senior forward Omarion Waites, will be a college football player, but this winter he supplies a productive interior complement to that backcourt. At 6-foot-3, Waites returns after averaging 11.2 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 61 percent from the field. His efficiency gives North Side an established option around the basket, and his rebounding will be especially valuable without Maalik Moore, who led last year’s team at seven rebounds per game. With leading scorer Sebastian Moore also graduating after averaging 16.9 points, the Legends have meaningful production to replace. Waites is positioned to take on a larger share of that responsibility.
Kamry Charlton strengthens the senior foundation even though he is not listed among the three returning starters. The 6-foot-5 forward played substantial minutes last season and averaged 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. His size and experience could become increasingly important as North Side establishes its frontcourt rotation. Charlton and Waites give the Legends two familiar options near the basket, but their ability to handle expanded responsibilities will help determine how effectively the team replaces its graduated seniors.
The supporting cast offers a combination of returning experience and intriguing newcomers. Junior Vincent Murphy, a 6-foot-2 guard, and sophomore Tyshawn Henderson, a 5-foot-9 guard, give North Side additional backcourt options. Senior newcomer Jamarcus Martin adds another 6-foot-3 forward to the mix. Their development will matter as opponents focus on Goheen, Upton and Waites. North Side does not need every player to carry the offense, but dependable contributions throughout the rotation would give its established leaders more room to operate.
Freshmen Jase Brooks and Landon Woodson bring another reason for optimism. Brooks is a 6-foot-2 guard, while Woodson offers 6-foot-3 size at guard and forward. Khaliq describes both as hungry and mature beyond their years, an encouraging combination for players preparing to enter varsity basketball. Their immediate roles will develop with experience, but joining a group with several veteran leaders gives them an opportunity to contribute while learning the demands of the program. How quickly they become comfortable could influence North Side’s depth and lineup flexibility.
Brooks, in particular, has a lot of eyes on him as he is considered arguably the best freshman in Northeast Indiana this winter after a stellar middle school career.
The Legends finished last season 14-11 overall and 4-5 in the SAC, with their postseason ending in a 65-62 overtime loss to Snider. Upton scored 14 points in that finale, Waites added 12, and Goheen and Charlton each contributed seven, giving this year’s senior core firsthand experience with how narrow the postseason margin can be. With experienced starters, a substantial senior presence and promising young additions, North Side has reasons to believe those goals are attainable. Getting on the wall will require turning that promise into consistent execution when the stakes are highest.
“Success ain’t built on sympathy…we are not going to waste our time worrying about what we can’t control. Our experience will help guide us through adversity, we know what we have to put into it in order to gain what we want out of it,” said Khaliq.
WHY #9?
North is strong at the top and the expectations of their 9th graders is clearly evident. And that makes this team one to watch as a fast riser all season long. They start at nine only as a cautionary look at what they need to fill in at the middle after losing their top scorers and rebounder. North is right in that sweet spot of controlling their own destiny where they can turn a lot of heads if everyone carries their weight from the opening tip of the season on.
CRITICAL GAME – December 11 vs. South Side
As stated above, trophies matter for the Legends program and their first one to get one – even if its not that big end of season prize – is game three as the Reichert-Hey Memorial Trophy is on the line between these two schools with a rivalry that stretched back over the course of a century. This game isn’t just important for North Side due to that rival trophy, it is important because the Archers proved last year that they are among the class of the SAC and return just about everyone.
A win in this game wouldn’t just be a measuring stick for the Legends, it would be a clear statement.
CRUCIAL PLAYER
All eyes are on Jase Brooks. And if you’ve been paying attention, that shouldn’t be new to you even if Brooks is new to high school basketball. The 6-foot-2guard ranks number 10 in Prep Hoops’ initial Indiana Class of 2030 rankings, making him one of the state’s top young prospects. Brooks backed up that promise with strong scoring performances at June’s Charlie Hughes Showcase, where his size at the guard position helped him stand out before his high school career officially began. He is likely an immediate impact player for the Legends.
Not to mention, the name alone carries with it attention, a cousin of former North Side standout Keion Brooks Jr. and the son of former North Side big man Steve Brooks, who is part of the Legends coaching staff.
Be the first to comment