Zip ‘Em Up vs. Ohio 1804: Preview

Zip ‘Em Up’s journey begins (and perhaps ends) with a showdown against the alumni team representing THE Ohio University, Ohio 1804. 1804 was the year the university was founded and also the year during which the Aaron Burr/Alexander Hamilton duel took place, although the events are likely not linked in any meaningful way. 1804 boasts a similar roster composition to Zip ‘Em Up in that it is made mostly, but not entirely, of players from the school which lends the team their name.

The headliner of the group is 2016 MAC Player of the Year Antonio Campbell, fresh off of winning the NBA G League with the Lakeland Magic. Campbell is a 6’8” bruiser who posted 17 and 10 as a Junior at OU and shot .536/.346/.661 for his career with the Bobcats. His main foil on the perimeter will be Nick Kellogg, who cashed out on 40% of his 728 three point attempts in a tremendous four years in Athens (Ohio, not Georgia). Joining Kellogg in off the ball guard duties will be Mike Laster, who shot the three well albeit less frequently than Kellogg at OU, and Davidson product Jordan Barham a guard much more adept at slashing. Jay Kinney is joining as a point guard who struggled at Ohio, but was an explosive scorer in two seasons at San Jose State. Stevie Taylor is the pure point guard on the roster, although he spent last season coaching rather than playing. Down low, High Point rebound magnet Ricky Madison will join OU and Marshall glue guy TyQuane Goard in rounding out the front court alongside Campbell.

Another former OU Star in Jaaron Simmons is on the roster as a coach, not a player, and 2012 Sweet Sixteen darling DJ Cooper will suit up alongside Malcolm Bernard for Mid American Unity, the 16 seed in the Columbus region. Ohio 1804 is raising funds for Ohio Impact, which is also supported by current Ohio coach Jeff Boals.