Feb. 10 -- LIMA -- Je'Kel Cotton's presence in Lima Senior's starting lineup has always commanded attention.
That's just a byproduct of being a knock-down shooter, a teammate who's willing to defer to other talented players and ultimately becoming a Division I college commit.
He's also a young man of few words, which is fine because his play talks loud enough for anyone in or around the gym to notice.
Even in the eye of adversity, whether it's an injury that cut short his junior season or the recent death of his father Charles Cotton, the 6-foot-6 future Detroit Mercy Titan has maintained that presence during one of the toughest stretches of his life.
"He's been through a lot the last several weeks, more than most of us can probably handle. To see him come out and have the game we've been wanting him to have for his dad, for his family, it's a blessing," Lima Senior coach Quincey Simpson said after Cotton scored 40 points, including 10 3-pointers, during an 81-56 win over Dayton Dunbar.
Cotton, who hit each of his first six three-point attempts, dedicated the game to his late father and credited his teammates for getting him going.
"Everything is for my Dad," Cotton said. "I just want to come out here every day and give it all I have on the court. I just do it for him. It's extremely incredible to just do it for my family and my Dad. I know he's watching me, and he's proud of me. It's been a blessing to do this with him looking down on me.
"It's a lot of adversity, but my brothers and everyone in the community have shown me lots of love. They've supported me, and I appreciate that. It's really been a great year, and I appreciate everybody."
Cotton helped the Spartans get a share of the Toledo City Athletic League championship as a freshman before averaging 9.7 points and earning second-team all-conference as a sophomore.
He received his first of at least seven Division I offers on Sept. 13, 2022, from Bowling Green State University. Two of those later came on his birthday in June 2023 from the University of Akron and Ohio University.
On July 1, 2024, Cotton officially received his offer from Detroit Mercy, the school he committed to in September and signed with less than a month later.
"He's a versatile forward wing that can score, handle the ball on the perimeter, and guard different positions," Detroit Mercy coach Mark Montgomery posted on the school's website following his signing in November. "He has a great shot from the outside and brings an outstanding IQ and pedigree. He plays for one of the state's top high school programs under coach Quincey Simpson, and I look forward to coaching him at the next level."
As a junior, Cotton averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds in his first four games before suffering a broken foot during a 92-38 win over Toledo Woodward, ending his season.
He called it a blessing to be back from injury this year and said he most enjoys the opportunity to put on a show with his teammates for the city of Lima.
"It was a struggle (to miss most of junior year), but I was at every practice cheering on my team," Cotton said. "I was supposed to be back in four to six weeks, but unfortunately, I just wasn't ready so I had to sit out the rest of the season.
"I knew God was with me, and I'd have a great year to come when I got back."
With Cotton as a mainstay in the starting five, Lima Senior was 15-2 heading into Monday night's Toledo City League tournament opener against Scott, a team it beat 86-38 back on Dec. 13.
The Spartans also have regular season games left against Perrysburg, LCC and Wayne before opening the tournament at Fostoria High School against Toledo Waite on Feb. 25.
"We have six more regular season games and six more tournament games in our eyes, so we've been focused on that," Cotton said. "We're going hard every day in practice and pushing each other to get ready to make this run in the tournament.
"We just want to be that team to get over the hump and bring that state championship back for Lima."