'Sneakerhead' leads way for Sayre

Own, collect, or wear enough sneakers and people might dub you a "sneakerhead."

Antwan James might qualify. Sayre's 6-5, 245-pound forward claims to own 17 pairs of basketball sneakers.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about his performance Thursday was the senior's wardrobe change at halftime of a 61-30 Public League win over visiting Overbrook.

"My sneaks didn't have much grip so I was slipping a little bit," James said. "They were low tops and I tweaked my ankle a little bit on somebody's foot."

His first pair was black and red to stylishly complete his ensemble. He emerged after halftime with high tops colored in blue, black and gold.

"They matched my uniform, and in school people told me to wear them," James said of pair No. 1. "I just liked the [second pair]."

"I've done it multiple times, but it's not on purpose," he said. "It's just because maybe I'm not feeling these or something like that."

The West Philadelphia resident brings multiple pairs with him to every game. James changed after the game into a third pair.

His kicks helped him to 23 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.

Teammate Brandon White added 13 points, while Bilal Haines dished nine assists and Qudir Croston blocked four shots for Sayre (13-5, 7-4 Division C).

For Overbrook (6-13, 5-6), Daevon Ravenell had eight points.

James and Co. proved to be too much, finishing the first half with a 31-9 lead before James flipped footwear.

Perhaps when you're the first player in school history to reach 1,000 career points, you can wear what you want. He accomplished the feat earlier this month.

"When I first did it, there was a big announcement during my third period," said James, who played as a senior last season but was granted another year of eligibility.

According to James and coach Eric Hooks, the extra year was granted because James' father was incarcerated when James was a freshman, which made transportation to school difficult. James didn't play freshman year and saw little action as a sophomore.

Now, his name will always come first on the school's list of scorers. Sayre became a high school in 2003.

"It was a good achievement for me, like a milestone," he said. "I was really excited and I still am. I think they might get a banner for me. It'll be like, dang, people that go here a decade or years down the line, they'll still know about me."

Overbrook 6 3 8 13 - 30

Sayre 15 16 13 17 - 61

O: Massi Allen 6, Nasir Morris 8, Gary Hawes 4, Daevon Russell 8, Dahmere Jackson 2, Zahfir Cade 2, Raekwon Thompson 2, Michel Hairston 2.

S: Nasir Blandon 8, Antwan James 23, Tymair Johnson 4, Brandon White 13, Marquese Johnson 8, Donte Lewin 5.