Syracuse ITC's football brothers power basketball rise

Six seniors who played football together now lead ITC basketball team to success

Jan. 30, 2026 at 10:39pm

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Six seniors at Syracuse's Institute of Technology Central (ITC) High School have transitioned from the football field to the basketball court, using the bond they built as teammates on the gridiron to power their basketball team's rise. Led by Antwan Aiken Jr., Tyquanne Harris, and Nyquan Gilbert, ITC has improved from an 8-14 record in their first season to 11-4 this year, despite falling to undefeated state-ranked Westhill 76-51 in their latest matchup.

Why it matters

The story highlights how strong team chemistry and camaraderie built through multi-sport participation can translate to on-court success, even when transitioning between different sports. It also showcases the growth and maturity of the ITC players, who have developed into leaders on their basketball team.

The details

The six ITC seniors - Antwan Aiken Jr., Tyquanne Harris, Nyquan Gilbert, and three others - have played together since their freshman year, helping establish a winning culture at the school. Harris recently reached the 1,000-point milestone, joining Gilbert, and the three have led ITC's offensive efforts this season. While they fell to powerhouse Westhill, the ITC players' teamwork and leadership were evident throughout the game.

  • ITC went 8-14 in the players' first season together as freshmen.
  • ITC is now 11-4 this season, their senior year.
  • Tyquanne Harris reached the 1,000-point milestone this season.
  • The loss to Westhill occurred on January 30, 2026.

The players

Antwan Aiken Jr.

A senior at ITC High School who has played basketball with his teammates since their freshman year.

Tyquanne Harris

A senior at ITC High School who recently reached the 1,000-point milestone in his basketball career.

Nyquan Gilbert

A senior at ITC High School who has also reached the 1,000-point milestone this season, joining his teammate Tyquanne Harris.

CJ Hodge

The head coach of the ITC High School basketball team, who has guided the team's growth over the past four years.

Eli Prince

A senior at Westhill High School who led his team's offensive effort with 29 points in the win over ITC.

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What they’re saying

“It just makes things easy when things aren't going as well.”

— CJ Hodge, ITC Head Coach

“They're men now. They were boys, and now they're men out here, so that's a big part of our success.”

— CJ Hodge, ITC Head Coach

“It was a good accomplishment. But my mindset was worrying about knocking down the number one team in our league.”

— Tyquanne Harris, ITC Senior

“The whole team has bought in. We know this is a special year for us. We have a list of five seniors, and they recognize that this is going to be their time. They're hungry from last year.”

— Flagan Prince, Westhill Assistant Coach

“We believe that everyone is capable of doing everything on the court, and we trust everyone to make the right decisions and to execute whenever they're put in the position.”

— Eli Prince

What’s next

ITC looks to bounce back on Tuesday against defending Class B state champion Marcellus, while Westhill aims to continue its undefeated run on Wednesday against Bishop Ludden-Grimes.

The takeaway

The story of the ITC basketball team highlights how strong team chemistry and camaraderie built through multi-sport participation can translate to on-court success, even when transitioning between different sports. The growth and leadership of the ITC seniors have been key to the team's improvement over the past four years.