OregonPreps
It was a banner year athletically at Grant High School as the Generals captured the 6A state title in boys basketball and reached the semifinals in football. Star athletes Paul McCoy and Andre Broadous move on from both teams, but don't cry any tears for Grant. Kenneth Acker, an all-around 6-foot, 175-pound athlete, is stepping into lead roles in both sports and the rising junior is spending this summer getting ready for both.
This past year as a sophomore, Acker started it all as a utility player on the football team where he chipped in on both ends. "I think I had a pretty successful football season," Acker said. "I didn't expect to come in and start that much but I did, so I feel like I had a really good role on our team. It was a good season and I'm looking forward to next year."
From there, Acker moved to the basketball court where he played a key role in the backcourt backing up McCoy and Mike James all the way to the title. "I really liked it my sophomore season," Acker said. "I went in thinking I was going to swinging (JV) back and forth, but I came in, they liked what I did, and I got a lot of minutes. It was exciting just soaking it all in."
Acker wasn't finished adding trophies to his mantle. From hoops he moved immediately to the track where he was a member of Grant's state title 4x400 relay team. Acker will continue on in all three sports the next two years at Grant, but when it comes to what his college future entails there appears to be an early leader.
"Right now I'm probably looking at football because of the season I had, but we'll see," Acker said. "I've gotten a couple of letters from Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona State, and Portland State. I want to major in business management so I'm looking at that and also a good campus."
It's very early, so Acker is obviously keeping all of his options open. This summer he'll remain busy as he'll hit a couple of camps and combines for football, prepping to step into the vacancy Broadous leaves behind at quarterback. Basketball-wise he's playing on the 16U squad for Team Jones, preparing himself for taking over the starting point guard spot McCoy kept. Individually, he's staying focused as well. "I'm just working out trying to get bigger," Acker said.
