As the NCAA Tournament unfolds in Cleveland, local star and Robert Morris University forward Amarion Dickerson has become a focal point, not just for his basketball prowess, but for his hometown pride. According to a Cleveland.com report, Dickerson, a James Rhodes High School alum, is relishing the opportunity to play in front of a home crowd, saying, "Just having an opportunity to play in front of your hometown crowd, in front of a lot of fans, a lot of people you know. It’s all just an unbelievable blessing." He also doesn't shy away from boosting his city, offering Cleveland State restaurant and attraction recommendations whenever his team is in town.
Rocking a 10-game winning streak and entering the tournament as 15th seed, RMU and Dickerson are set to face No. 2 Alabama. While they carry the underdog tag, the team's camaraderie might be a defining factor in their performance. "I feel like we're a great group of guys that really established the brotherhood over the course of the months that we've been together, so I feel like we definitely have a huge chance to go on a great run in this great tournament," Dickerson told News 5 Cleveland in an interview.
RMU's head coach, Andrew Toole, had also attested to Dickerson's deep-rooted Cleveland connection, suggesting at one point, he might as well hail from the Cleveland city tourism board. The Colonials' success is, in part, attributed to stellar performances by players like Dickerson, who earned Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year this season with an impressive average of 2.4 blocks per game. Andrew Toole's respect for his player's commitment is evident when he tells Cleveland.com, "He defends with such pride. He takes the defensive side personal, and that’s not only for him, but for others."
Off the court, Dickerson's impact on the community is palpable. James Ford Rhodes' current basketball coach, Shawn Spencer, saw his former player as a source of inspiration for his current team, saying, "Through each adversity, you know, each piece of life happening... you still can make it. If you push through [and] persevere, things will take care of itself." Spencer, who previously coached Dickerson, plans to bring his current players to witness the tourney's action and the product of resilience that Dickerson embodies. This sentiment was documented in an article from News 5 Cleveland.
As a Cleveland native attending school just down the road at Rhodes High School, Dickerson's return isn't just a personal achievement but a communal event, aptly described by the player himself, who anticipates the game against Alabama as feeling like a home game, with Pittsburgh fans traveling and local fans representing in full force. Such a statement was presented in a Cleveland19 interview. Whether or not the 15th seed RMU will carve out a Cinderella story this March Madness, they certainly aren't lacking in hometown hero narrative or spirit—attributes that could make all the difference on the hardwood.
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