Andre Ingram likened it to when he was a high school senior in 2003. That year he led Richmond’s Highland Springs High into the Virginia Group AAA state final against much-heralded South Lakes High. Nobody thought Ingram’s team had a chance. Essentially, the same holds true when American (3-1) visits Atlantic-10 favorite Xavier (3-1) on Saturday.
“It’s funny looking at it. During warm-ups, you looked at us and you looked at [South Lakes], they were definitely more physically gifted than we were, but we played with so much heart it made up for a lot of the physical attributes that teams had over us,” said Ingram, who led his team to the championship and was named 2003 Virginia player of the year.
He’s been leading the Eagles ever since. This season, a returning roster of complimentary weapons are allowing him to find his own game rather than fight off double-teams and force the action.
“The balance that we have, at least as a threat, forces people to make a decision,” said American head coach Jeff Jones. “I think Andre has just had people play him more honestly than he did a year ago when people went into the game and said, ‘If Ingram doesn’t have a big game, none of these other guys are going to beat us.’”
The Eagles are getting increased production on the inside from senior centers Brayden Billbe (10.6 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game) and Paulius Joneliunas (5.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg), and the coaching staff is pushing sophomore point guard Derrick Mercer (11.3 ppg, 5.8 assists per game) to be even more aggressive offensively.
“[Mercer] has a tendency to put it on cruise control at times, and the thing that we’re really trying to get across is that he’s the guy that drives the whole thing,” said Jones. “If he’s on top of his game, if he’s attacking, if he’s running the show, obviously we’re a much better team.”
Ingram (17 pgg, 6 rpg) is taking advantage, currently shooting 53.8 percent from 3-point range — up from 33.8 percent last season — with an assist-to-turnover ratio of plus-5 — last year he finished the season minus-5.
Without having to put the entire team on his back, Ingram can be patient and shine when it’s his turn.
“That’s something that I’ve had to learn these past few games,” said Ingram. “I don’t have to force anything or rush into anything. Those opportunities will present themselves.”
