KMSP (April 10, 2016)
They built a basketball legacy in the 1990s, but low enrollment and the near closure of North High School in 2010 took a toll on the program. But after nabbing a state championship title last month, many say the school is on the rise again. “For us to end the season on a win, it feels good. I can’t explain it,” Senior Jamil Jackson said. Winning is something North High’s boys basketball team does well.
“From 1980 on, Minneapolis North dominated basketball, one of the best programs in the state,” Coach Larry McKenzie said. But for the last 13 years, there hasn’t been much to celebrate. The school went down from 1,700 kids to roughly 60 to 70 kids,” McKenzie said. “What was traditional a great program with a big legacy had dropped off the map.” Now the basketball program is having a resurgence and the school is academically on the rise as well. “This is the beginning of a new era for the North High,” Jackson said. READ MORE…