High school basketball preview 2020: Lorain's Jamir Billings makes name for himself on defense but can score, too

The Lake Erie League is loaded with talent, but one of its most versatile players is one who didn't build his reputation by putting loads of points on the board. Lorain senior guard Jamir Billings came to the Titans prior to last season, transferring from Clearview. He joined a team that was stacked with offensive weapons, one that did not need a high-scoring point guard who was most effective with the ball in his hands. Billings, quietly, did his best to fit in — and he did it on the defensive side of the floor. "He's a great kid that fits right in with what we do," Lorain coach John Rositano said. "He's a hard worker, he has a high IQ basketball-wise and he defends hard. He plays a total game and is very unselfish and is a great teammate. "That's what we pretty much preach here at Lorain." Last season Billings averaged over two steals a game for the Titans, but that stat is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to describing his disruptive presence on the defensive end of the floor. "He just has a knack for ball deflections," Rositano said. "It's just uncanny how many balls, during the course of a game, even in practice, he gets his hands on and deflects. It drives other teams crazy. You can see, as games go on, that the other team shies away from him because of how many balls he gets his hands on. It's amazing." Billings explained that he has always had a gift for getting deflections. "I've been doing that ever since I've been playing," he said. "When I find the ball I just try to take it any way I can and more times than not I do. I think that's just the way I am, that it's natural." "He has long arms, he has great instincts and he understands angles," Rositano added. "He stays within our system and doesn't gamble a lot, but he knows when he can get a steal or deflection. He takes advantage of that." The Titans lost quite a few pieces to graduation, including top defensive guard Aaron Whitehead. In the Lake Erie League, with guards like E.J. Farmer at Cleveland Heights and Ramelle Arnold at Warrensville Heights, explosive offensive playmakers who can take over games, backcourt defense is at a premium. Rositano expects Billings to provide that defensive punch for the Titans, while at the same time proving he can put the ball in the basket, as well. "Our league is going to be one of the best, if not the best, in Ohio, so you need that 'lockdown' guy," Rositano said. "(Billings) is going to defend hard and take the other team's best player out. His offensive skill level is also really good. "He didn't get to show it as much last year because we had so many other guys and he was fitting into a new system, but he had a great offseason. He's just a really good player. He's going to surprise a lot of people on both ends of the court." Billings isn't worried about his offensive ability getting overlooked. "I think I'm known as a defensive guy, but my coaches and teammates know I can score a little bit," he said. "They know I can help us win some games by putting the ball in the basket." The best part, according to Rositano, is that Billings doesn't force things at the offensive end. "I don't think he really looks to score, he just scores," he said. "To me that's even more important, when a guy doesn't really look to score but he just scores because he's really good. The plays come to him a lot of the time because he plays the right way." Billings has not decided on his future plans and is not concerned if he will get the chance to play in college. The honor roll student is going to see how things play out this season. "Academics are very important and that's something my parents have talked to me about forever," Billings said. "I had the chance to start taking the college-level classes and to be able to graduate with an associate's degree so I jumped right on that. "That's even going to play into my college decision, to see if most of my credits will transfer. "I just want to play, to get deep into the season. If you get deep into the season, play well and win some games, the colleges will start looking at you. That's not something I am focused on right now." Rositano thinks the pandemic shutdown hurt a lot of players like Billings. "He's going to get some looks," Rositano said. "I think it hurt a lot of guys like Jamir that didn't get to play a lot of AAU games this summer, but I think once we start sending out tape of him this winter he's going to attract a lot of attention. "He'll go to college for free, whether it's academics or athletics. He's a straight-A student, a terrific student." Contact Mike Perry at 329-7135 or macsportstalk@gmail.com.