Columbus North’s Ibar Baker pressures the ball as its being held by Heritage Christian’s Ethan Laskey Nov. 25, 2025 in Memorial Gymnasium at Columbus North High School.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
Ibar Baker is in his first season with the Columbus North boys basketball team, but the senior is no stranger to the sport.
Baker, who has lived abroad for the majority of his life, has been a big boost for the team this season as one of the Bull Dogs’ top rebounders and shot blockers.
Baker moved to Columbus in June 2025 from the country of Jordan. He currently is living with his aunt, who works at Cummins, while his family is living in Jordan. Baker has lived in several countries throughout his life including Kenya, Ethiopia, Thailand and Jordan being his most recent.
It isn’t Baker’s first time living in the states. He lived in Columbus for a few years from when he was 4 years old until the first grade until his move to Kenya.
Baker began playing soccer in Kenya, but really honed in on playing basketball when he moved to Jordan. When he wanted to continue with basketball, he joined the Bull Dogs during their summer ball last June.
Baker has adapted great to the small Midwestern town, especially in the state that is well known for basketball.
“It’s really enjoyable, especially in the community when it comes to basketball,” Baker said. “It’s been super open, super accepting. It feels like a second family, especially since my family doesn’t live here. Just to have that around, it’s been really nice.”
Columbus North’s Ibar Baker shoots between Heritage Christian’s Austin Wilhite (0) and Brody Sutton (12) Nov. 25, 2025 in Memorial Gymnasium at Columbus North High School.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
Baker is the tallest player on the court for North, standing at 6-foot-4. He’s got the length and also the IQ that has made him a key player in coach Paul Ferguson’s rotation.
“He’s a very thoughtful young man. He’s very intellectual. He’s had the benefit of living in multiple countries around, and it has helped him to understand people and cultures really well,” Ferguson said. “So the things we notice about him in the summer when he moved here and playing with us was how quickly he assimilates into a new culture and makes friends very easily. He’s very comfortable in a new routine. Right away, we were incredibly impressed with him, then when he came out to show his basketball skills on the court, it really added to our team. We were all really excited about him.”
Other things that are different in the states to Baker are the more options of food and restaurants. He mentioned Chipotle as being one of his favorites. While living abroad in countries near the Equator, Baker hasn’t dealt with the cold and snowy winters in Indiana.
“Parking in the athletic lot and getting to the door feels like the worst. It is freezing with all that snow and winter chill. As soon as I step out, I’ve got the hoodie, winter jacket and gloves on. I’m definitely not used to it. I’m warm-blooded,” Baker said with a laugh. “It snowed but maybe one time in Jordan and that’s it, but here, it stays cold.”
Ibar Baker
Baker said another difference he noticed playing basketball in Indiana is that there is no shot clock.
“You would have to get your shot up on your first or second layer, but here, there is a lot of leniency. You can just bring the ball back out two or three more times. I’d say that is the biggest one,” Baker said.
Baker said he plans to go to college somewhere in the states following high school graduation, but he hasn’t decided on where he wants to attend.
For now, he will focus on his basketball season, and he hopes to help bring the team a second sectional title in four seasons.
“As soon as I came to Columbus North, it was really open and accepting,” Baker said. “The basketball program here is fantastic. They’re like a second family to me.”
