February 23, 2023

THURSDAY, FEB. 23, 2023

The importance of the Basketball Edition

Ohio’s basketball teams are two of the best in the MAC. The Basketball Edition seeks to highlight that.

Will Cunningham

When it comes to basketball, Ohio is extremely lucky.

It is not often that a university at Ohio’s level has a pair of basketball coaches as good as Jeff Boals and Bob Boldon.

The two have proven they are excellent at just about every part of coaching college basketball. When it comes to roster management, both coaches have been able to bring extremely talented recruits to Athens, develop players at a high level, and utilize the transfer portal in the way all current college coaches must.

On the court, both of Ohio’s basketball teams frequently play an exciting style, and both Boals and Boldon have shown the ability to get the best out of the players at their disposal.

Two great programs that have produced the likes of Cece Hooks, Jason Preston, Kiyanna Black, and Mark Sears deserve great coverage, so that is why The Post’s annual Basketball Edition shines a light on The Convo, which has become the home of two of the Mid-American Conference’s best and most consistent programs.

Will Cunningham is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post . Want to talk to Will? Tweet him @willocunningham.

Ashley Beach

This is the second Basketball Edition I have been fortunate to write for and edit. As someone who has covered both the men and women during my time at The Post, I find it important to shed light on both teams.

In this edition, you’ll find stories of coaches and athletes who give their all for Ohio each and every day. This year, we found it important to tell stories that went beyond someone being a great athlete, but rather who they are off the court as well.

Ohio has a rich basketball history, and this edition is only a glimpse into the world that is “Bobcat Basketball.” The connections both teams have established over the years run deep and are not to be overlooked.

I hope you enjoy the stories of these athletes and coaches as much as I have.

Ashley Beach is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post . Want to talk to Ashley? Tweet her @ashleybeachy_.

Editor-in-Chief | Ryan Maxin

Managing Editor | Kayla Bennett

Digital Director | Anastasia Carter

Equity Director | Alesha Davis

EDITORIAL

News Editors | Molly Wilson, Addie Hedges

Asst. News Editor | Maya Morita

Culture Editor | Katie Millard

Asst. Culture Editor | Alyssa Cruz

Sports Editor | Will Cunningham

Asst. Sports Editor | Ashley Beach

Opinion Editor | Tate Raub

Asst. Opinion Editor | Meg Diehl

The Beat Editor | Emma Dollenmayer

Asst. The Beat Editor | Grace Brezine

Projects Editor | Hannah Campbell

Investigative Editor | Alex Imwalle

Copy Chief | Aya Cathey

Slot Editors | Bekah Bostick, Katie Trott, Lauren Serge, Lydia Colvin

ART

Art Director | Trevor Brighton

Asst. Art Director | Lauren Adams

Director of Photography | Jesse Jarrold-Grapes

Photo Editor | Carrie Legg

DIGITAL

Audience Engagement Editor | Emma Erion

Asst. Audience Engagement Editor | Molly Burchard

Director of Multimedia | Cole Patterson

Asst. Director of Multimedia | Donovan Hunt

BUSINESS

Media Sales | Grace Vannan, Gia Sammons

Director of Student Media | Andrea Lewis

Volume 113, Issue 21

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WILL CUNNINGHAM SPORTS EDITOR ASHLEY BEACH ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Man with multiple warrants arrested, mailbox stolen

ANNA MILLAR NEWS STAFF WRITER

Be

Nice to Your Pets

Deputies received a report of a man yelling at his dog, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. The matter was addressed over the phone and the caller informed deputies the incident took place on Oakdale Road in Glouster. No further measures were taken.

Don’t

Abandon Your Car

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to an abandoned vehicle and suspicious person report in Chauncey. Upon arrival, deputies patrolled the area but were unable to find the individual described.

Deputies were unsuccessful in contacting the vehicle’s registered owner and placed a four-hour tow tag on the car to have it removed.

Keep

Track of Your Things

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to GoMart, in Coolville, to take possession of a firearm left in the public bathroom. When deputies arrived, they found the firearm’s owner had returned to retrieve it.

Deputies informed the individual of the dangers of leaving a firearm in a public place before returning it to the individual.

False Alarm

Deputies responded to a report of a burglary alarm on Main Street, in Millfield, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies inspected the property, found no signs of forced

FREE LECTURE

entry and returned to patrol.

You Told Me To Leave it Here

Deputies responded to a third-party complaint of a mobile home left on private property, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Upon making contact with the parties involved, deputies discovered that the owner of the mobile home had the property owner’s permission to leave the home on the property temporarily.

Simply Existing

Deputies observed a suspicious person while on patrol near Poston Road, in The Plains, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies spoke with the man and confirmed no criminal activity was taking place.

Really? When You’re Already in Trouble?

A suspicious person was reported on Bean Hollow Road, in Athens, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. When deputies arrived on the scene, they conducted an investigation and arrested the suspect for criminal trespass and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle.

The individual was taken to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail to await his court appearance.

Just Follow the Rules

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a trespasser on Mushrun Road in Athens. When deputies arrived, contact was made with the owner, who informed them a family member was on the property whom he had a trespass complaint against.

The property owner requested a statement on the matter but did not wish to file criminal charges. He did request that the family member was contacted and told not to return again.

The deputy contacted the family member’s residence but discovered they had not returned home. Contact will be made with the subject when possible, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

Got Mail?

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to State Route 550, in Athens, regarding a report of mailbox theft. Deputies are working to find the suspect.

One Crime at a Time, Please

Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint on South Plains Road, in The Plains, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with two people and found the man had several felony warrants out for his arrest.

The man ran away from the deputies but was caught shortly after. Once he was in deputies’ custody, he was taken to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail for his warrants and other charges, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

You Should Really Put Those Plates On

Deputies saw a parked car at a business in The Plains that was not displaying license plates, according to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle was checked, and deputies found it was not reported stolen and returned to patrol.

WILL CUNNINGHAM SPORTS EDITOR

Ben Roderick's role at Ohio has changed tremendously since he arrived in Athens from Powell as part of head coach Jeff Boals' first recruiting class.

That class led the Mid-American Conference, and Roderick was a big reason why. As

Ben Roderick hasn’t let his role change him

Jason Preston, Ben Vander Plas and the player he would replace in the starting lineup for the next season, Jordan Dartis.

Dartis is Ohio's all-time leader in 3-pointers, second in 3-point attempts and third in 3-point percentage. When he graduated after the 2019-20 season, Ohio needed an elite 3-point shooter to replace him in the starting lineup, and Roderick was the best choice.

He rewarded Boals for putting him into the starting lineup with a stellar season. Roderick averaged 12.2 points per game and shot a blistering 41.9% from beyond the arc in the regular season, good for fifth in the MAC. He was a key part of Ohio's magical postseason, scoring 20 points in the MAC Championship against Buffalo and 15 in Ohio's first-round upset of Virginia in the NCAA Tournament.

After the success of 2020-21, the 2021-22 season was a tough one for Roderick, as he struggled to find his shot, making just 22.2% of his 3-pointers.

"He lost a lot of his confidence last year," Boals said. "But he had a lot of good looks, and we encouraged him to keep shooting."

Roderick rewarded his teammates and coaches confidence in him with a rebound in his 3-point percentage, which is back up to 40% this year, albeit on fewer attempts than the past two seasons.

the No.6 recruit in Ohio, there were big expectations for Roderick to help turn around a team that lost many of its biggest contributors with the departure of head coach Saul Phillips.

In 2019-20, Roderick played in 23 of Ohio's 32 games, started five and averaged six points on 36.7% from 3-point range. He made 36 3-pointers that season, trailing only

"I'm never going to stop shooting the ball," Roderick said. "I still think I'm a great shooter, but I'm just trying to make the right play and do whatever I can to help the team win."

But Roderick's shooting hasn't been the only thing that has changed over the last couple of seasons. After starting 54 of the 55 games he played over the course of the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, Roderick was moved to the bench for the start of this season, but his approach never changed.

"I think it's just me doing the same job I always do," Roderick said. "Just being that glue guy on the court and being very vocal, both offensively and defensively and helping guys do whatever needs to happen in order to win games."

Roderick has been back in the starting lineup for 11 of Ohio's past 12 games. Both he and Ohio have looked better over that stretch than they have all season.

He is one of the Bobcats' most important defenders and has a knack for jumping into passing lanes and getting his hands on the ball. On the offensive end, Roderick is putting the ball on the floor more and turning it over less.

"I think it's just being in the right spots," Roderick said. "I feel like I've gotten smarter on the defensive end. I might not be the quickest but I feel like being smart can help put me in the right spots."

Over his career, Roderick has adapted his game however the Bobcats needed him to. He is an asset to a team playing its best basketball of the season. Roderick's leadership has been invaluable, as he is one of only three players on the roster that has been with the Bobcats for at least three years.

"He's playing like a senior right now," Boals said. "He's a great leader in the locker room, he's a great leader on the floor, a great leader in huddles, and he's doing a lot of stuff that isn't really seen in the box score."

While Roderick's role has changed a good deal over his four years in Athens, he has not, and he continues to play a pivotal role in Ohio's success.

@WILLOCUNNINGHAM

WC425318@OHIO.EDU

Senior Ben Roderick picks up his dribble to pass the ball during the game against Miami at The Convo on Feb. 4, 2023. (JESSE JARROLD-GRAPES | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

ATHENS FARMER’S & ART MARKET

Athens Community Center

Same great vendors in a NEW space. Now located at the Athens Community Center. Parking Available at the Cmmunity center and the City Pool lot. If walking to the market, PLEASE use designated crosswalks to cross East State Street

Get Locally grown, raised and prepared food and beverage items. Plants, dairy, baked goods,seeds, and meats. PLUS locally made artistic goods.

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FRIDAYS LIVE Studio C • RTV 515

Fridays Live, Ohio University’s sketch comedy show is in its 50th Season. Join the cast and musical guests in the studio or stream online youtube.com/FridaysLiveOU

February 3rd • 8pm

February 17th • 8pm

March 3rd • 8pm

March 31st • 8pm

April 14th • 7pm

SNACKS WITH SCRIPPS

Lasher Learning Center Schoonover Mon, February 27th

Join the members of the OU chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and hang out with journalism professors, snacks provided!

7:00 pm

This event is FREE & open to all students

Yaya Felder has become Ohio's talisman

couldn't take Ohio where it needed to be. And with a slew of young contributors on Ohio's team, Felder had to step up.

"I think I became more of a leader (this year)," Felder said. "I'm talking more, and I'm (present), and I felt like I wasn't there last year, I was still shy."

With a very young roster and a lot of fresh faces, the Bobcats struggled to come up with wins early in the season. But the work Felder put in the offseason was apparent; she scored 21 points in a loss to one of the nation's best teams, Ohio State. Felder backed that performance up with a 26-point performance in the next game against IUPUI.

Felder ramped up her offensive excellence in MAC play and even made history with a 40-point performance against Central Michigan. Felder became just the third player in Ohio women's basketball history to score 40 points in a single game.

Felder's improvements have provided a headache for defenses. Her quick first step allows her to get past defenders at will, and her improvements as a shooter mean defenses can't leave her open from the beyond the arc.

Most recently, many teams' solution has been to force the ball out of Felder's hands with traps or double teams, but Felder's basketball IQ and knack for finding open teammates is a threat to the opposition.

"I think about getting my teammates involved first," Felder said. "Because making them a threat, makes the defense fall back against me. So now I can be able to do what I have to do … "

BOBBY GORBETT FOR THE POST

Before every Ohio home game, Yaya Felder tries to dunk.

For any 5-foot-8 athlete, dunking a basketball on a 10-foot hoop seems impossible. In every game, she has tried and failed, but she is improving little by little. Felder has worked hard to become the player she is today. In the last year, Felder has shown substantial growth.

When Felder came to Athens, she was shy and reserved and wasn't expected to contribute as a freshman. Only a year later, she is Ohio's vocal leader and the MAC's leading scorer in the 2022-23 season.

Although Felder wasn't expected to take on a significant role in her freshman season, she's always had talent. In high school, her athleticism and basketball IQ allowed her to make plays other players couldn't. Felder

finished her high school career as the alltime leading scorer at Conard High School and was named to the all-state team twice.

As Felder transitioned from high school basketball to Division I college basketball, her chances at playing time looked slim. Felder sat behind two All-MAC players, Erica Johnson and Cece Hooks at the guard positions. An Ohio team that returned almost all its starters and some of its bench contributors didn't seem to have an opportunity for Felder.

COVID-19 absences and injuries to players opened a spot for Felder to get serious playing time. Felder was anxious about making the most of her chance and wanted to be more communicative with her teammates. As the year went on, Felder's positional versatility and athleticism made her the team's first option off the bench, and she was often in the starting lineup.

Felder's confidence grew, and in the final

12 games of the season, Felder averaged 11.7 points per game, including three 20-point games. Felder was one of the few bright spots in a disappointing season for the Bobcats, who were defeated in the first round of the MAC Tournament.

In the off-season, Ohio lost nearly all its contributors to either graduation or the transfer portal. Felder quickly went from a solid role player in her freshman year to the focal point of Ohio's offense. She was only a sophomore and one of the team's most experienced players.

Felder knew the responsibility that she was dealing with and worked hard to improve her game in the off-season. Felder worked to become a better shooter, ball handler and driver as Ohio's new starting point guard.

According to Felder, however, her most important development was as a leader. The shy freshman who walked Ohio's campus

In Ohio's game against Northern Illinois on Feb. 11, Felder put that philosophy into her game; she was a quiet scorer in the first three quarters but got her teammates involved to keep Ohio in a position to win the game. And in the fourth quarter, she took over with 15 points, including a game-winning layup.

Felder's massive leap from a solid, yet quiet, role player to Ohio's fearless leader and the only player in the MAC who is currently averaging more than 20 points per game begs the questions: What's next for Felder? Can she one day win MAC Player of the Year? Can she lead the Bobcats to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2015? Can she play in the WNBA? Can she achieve the impossible and finally dunk?

Felder thinks she'll get there.

"I haven't dunked yet," Felder said with a smile on her face. "I feel like I'm going to get there."

Sophomore Yaya Felder (2) goes to shoot a basket against Bowling Green in The Convo on Feb. 8, 2023. (ZOE CRANFILL | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

Analytics have been a strong part of Ohio’s strategy

ELI JUSTICE FOR THE POST

Ohio has always run a modern offense under head coach Bob Boldon. They like to run the floor, get as many shots as possible and get to the basket when there’s a chance. This strategy can result in some very high-scoring games, but when shots aren’t falling, the game can get out of hand very quickly.

As the Bobcats’ roster continues to get healthier and the team becomes more comfortable with this style of play, they have done better and better. A perfect example of this was Saturday’s win over Central Michigan. The Bobcats played stellar offense, dropping 30 points in the first quarter and 27 in the second. Those were two of Ohio’s top three scoring quarters in the season. More importantly, the comfort level on offense let Boldon and the Bobcats mix things up on defense, running a triangle-and-two to limit Central Michigan’s top scorers.

Ohio’s offense has always fed off of its offense, but how much? What is the benefit of taking so many threes? This article will break down three crucial aspects that have

determined Ohio’s performance this season: 3-point shooting, defense to offense, and comparing scoring from upperclassmen and lowerclassmen.

Three Point Shooting

The team has shot above 31% from beyond the three-point line in five of Ohio’s six victories this season. This shows that Ohio can knock those shots down and score quickly when getting good looks and open shots. From the first game of the season, long-distance shooting has been the center point of Ohio’s offense as there has not been one game this year where Ohio hasn’t taken at least 20 threes.

As mentioned above, this can be a good and bad thing for the Bobcats. The fastpaced scoring played right into Ohio’s hands this past week, but there have been multiple games where Ohio has dug itself into holes in which it couldn’t recover. In Ohio’s first game against Kent State, they made just one 3-pointer out of 21 attempts for a dismal 5%. Making shots fuels Ohio’s confidence and sharing the ball helps the team get open looks.

In Saturday’s matchup against Central

Michigan, Ohio set season highs for points in a quarter and assists. Ohio had 22 assists on 30 made baskets with only 13 turnovers after having 26 turnovers in the previous game.

Moving the ball around quickly and with a purpose is important for the Bobcats. The more they share the ball, the more successful everyone will be on offense.

Defense to Offense

Ohio has struggled to play complementary basketball for most of this season, but that has changed as of late. On Saturday, Ohio scored 23 points off turnovers. It also only committed 11 fouls and forced nine steals with four blocks. One of those blocks was by sophomore Kate Dennis, who then collected the rebound and made an outlet pass to a sprinting Yaya Felder. It was one of the many examples of the Bobcats’ improved defense.

The limited fouls and increased defensive performance then led to cohesiveness on offense. With no one on the team being in foul trouble, the Bobcats could commit to their planned offensive and defensive strategy. Also, for a team that has suffered so many injuries this season, depth is very important for the Bobcats as they want to get out and run down the floor.

Ohio ranks seventh in the MAC with 2.56 blocks a game and third in the conference in steals averaging over eight a game. It is a high risk high, reward mentality for this

young Bobcats team.

Upperclassmen vs. Lowerclassmen

Ohio is led offensively by MAC leading scorer and sophomore Yaya Felder. Felder averages 21 points a game and has more than doubled the point total of any other Bobcat on the roster. In her first start of the season, freshman Jaya McClure had 22 points to go along with Felder’s 32.

Redshirt senior Caitlyn Kroll is second on the team in scoring at 8.7 points a game. However, the Bobcats will be without her services for the rest of the season as she has suffered a season-ending injury. The other upperclassmen that have impacted the box score for the Bobcats are redshirt juniors, Abby Garnett and Jasmine Hale. These two players are averaging 7.1 and 6.5 points, respectively.

After this season, even with the players they will lose, Ohio will be returning the majority of its scoring. This proves that Ohio’s young roster has many more years to gel and will continue to be a strong force offensively. This doesn’t mean that the upperclassmen for Ohio are hurting the team, that could not be further from the truth. Their work affects more than just the box score.

Old friends

education course. After lunch, students have tutoring until it is time for practice around 3:30 p.m. After practice is dinner and study hall. Then, students can return to the gym for more basketball activities if they’d like. It’s a lot like college.

Somedays, it’s hard to get out of bed at Hargrave. But some students do it for basketball.

Most players who go to Hargrave elect to attend for their prep year. A prep year is a gap year that the NCAA allows athletes to take before they begin their college careers. Athletes who take prep years maintain their four-year eligibility despite deferring their enrollment for a year.

Prep schools aren’t common in all areas of the U.S. There are a few famous prep schools, such as IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, but it’s more of an East Coast thing.

“There’s a lot up and down the coast of Southern Florida. Now, obviously there’s a couple in Virginia,” Ohio assistant coach Lee Martin said. “A lot of the players at Hargrave graduate high school, and either they need to get exposure, they went to a smaller high school, they need help academically, they need to develop, whatever it is for that gap year to get recruited and go on to play college ball.”

for him. Ness wouldn’t hit the court quite yet. He was set to be a manager.

“They knew that I was not a Division I caliber player, but the whole goal that season was to get me into basketball shape to possibly play at the next level,” Ness said. “I did that and they invited me back to play on the actual post graduate team the next year, which I did.”

PROVIDED BY LAMAR THORNTON ASHLEY BEACH ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Not many people would go to a military boarding school by choice; however, basketball players and coaches across the U.S. flock to Hargrave Military Academy each year for the chance to become one of the greats.

The school, located in Chatham, Virginia, has been home to NBA players, several prep-level national champions, NCAA Champions, and March Madness MVPs.

Although Hargrave has impressive sports teams, it’s a military school first. Players are expected to live in the barracks, wake up to reveille, get in formation and attend classes like the non-athletes. There are no exceptions because there are also students that are there for non-basketball-related reasons.

“(As a coach,) You are trying to convince 5-star, 4-star recruits that are going Power 5 ‘hey, I need you to be up at 5:45, 5:50 for 6 a.m. formation,” Ohio assistant coach Lamar Thornton said.

Students wake up, eat breakfast and attend class from around 7:55 a.m. until lunch. One of the classes the students can attend is a basketball class that acts as a physical

Martin, a Mt. Airy, North Carolina, native, went for the prep program. A college coach suggested Martin look into prep schools when going through the recruiting process. At the time, Martin didn’t know what a prep year was, but he decided to look into schools on his coach’s list.

The list led him to Hargrave. He attended the academy and played on the postgraduate team for the 2008-09 season. He was coached by Kevin Keatts, the now head coach at North Carolina State, and A.W. Hamilton, the now head coach at Eastern Kentucky.

Lee’s prep year was a success and it helped him earn a scholarship to Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina. There, he won the South Atlantic Conference and participated in the Division II NCAA Tournament. He was also later named team MVP after his senior season.

Jake Ness, Ohio’s director of basketball operations, also attended Hargrave for the postgraduate team. Although, his story is a little different.

Ness grew up in Virginia, about two hours from Hargrave. When he got older, his family moved to Billings, Montana, where he played high school ball.

Ness and his family knew that he was not ready for the transition to college basketball, so they decided that Hargrave was the place

Ness played for Hargrave during the 2009-10 season. He also played under Keatts and went on to play at Boise State, where he was a member of the 2013 and 2015 NCAA Tournament teams. He is also a member of the Hargrave post graduate basketball Hallof-Fame.

Both Ness and Lee thought their time at Hargrave was over after their postgraduate years. That wasn’t the case. They both found their way back as coaches.

Martin was interested in coaching after college, but he didn’t know where to start. Then, his old coach, Hamilton, called.

“I felt like I always wanted to coach, but I wasn’t quite sure. I’d always had a close relationship with A.W. and my senior year, he straight-up just asked me around Christmas ‘do you want to coach? Do you want to come back to Hargrave?’” Martin said. “I knew that if I wanted to get into college coaching, this was a great start.”

Lee returned to Hargrave for the 201314 season as an assistant under Hamilton. He was 22 years old at the time, unpaid and living in the barracks. He ate at the mess halls like he had when he was a student and would proctor SATs for extra cash. It wasn’t a glorious life, but nothing could replace the coaching experience he gained.

Two seasons later, Martin was joined by Ness and Thornton.

Thornton came to the program in search of a graduate assistant spot. He was a finalist for the role at Michigan State, but it fell

through. He’d heard of Hargrave because of Terry Rozier, an NBA player and Youngstown native, but didn’t know anything beyond that information.

He drove down to campus to meet with Hamilton and Martin. After a little while on the campus, Thornton decided that Hargrave was where he needed to be.

It took a while for Thornton to adjust to the Hargrave lifestyle; after all, he wasn’t a former cadet. He grew up in downtown Columbus; he wasn’t used to living in the middle of nowhere. There were few restaurants and amenities in Chatham. Also, Thornton arrived before the students had, so he was adjusting alone.

“My first week, when I tell you I thought I was going to quit, I seriously thought about quitting. I was like ‘I can’t do this.’ I couldn’t do it,” Thornton said. “I was just there in the office by myself every single day, shaved face, shirt tucked in.”

There was no air conditioning in Thornton’s office. He was uncomfortable in more ways than one and it took a toll on him before he even had a chance to coach. In a way, Thornton was experiencing the same transition the athletes faced when they arrived at Hargrave.

“I mentally was losing myself,” Thornton said.

Once Martin arrived, he took Thornton out to dinner. The dinner soon turned into a therapy session where Thornton vented to the Hargrave veteran. Martin convinced Thornton that things would get better after the first few weeks. It was worth it to stick it out; he’d see soon enough.

A few days after that dinner, Ness returned to the academy. He got in around midnight and began to unpack in the barracks. He was in the process of making Hargrave home again when he met Thornton. The two talked and they became friends.

PROVIDED BY LAMAR THORNTON

Thus began the three’s first season as assistants under Hamilton. The three were basketball coaches first, but they had extra jobs on the side also. Ness acted as an ACT/ SAT prep teacher and later a health teacher, while Martin was the college prep counselor for a while.

The three put their main focus on the court, though and helped guide Hargrave to a national championship.

However, the trio didn’t last long. At the end of the 2015-16 season, Thornton left Hargrave to become a graduate assistant at Toledo. Although his time at Hargrave was short, Thornton is thankful for the season he spent there.

“It was definitely a big deal career-wise, just the number of connections I was able to build,” Thornton said.

The following season was Ness’s final at Hargrave. He left the academy to become a player development assistant with the Dallas Mavericks.

That left Martin as the last man standing. Martin became the head coach and later program director at Hargrave.

“I thought it was going to be a short stop,” Martin said. “(Ness) was two years, (Thornton) was one year. I went in and for better or for worse, I stayed seven years.”

During Martin’s tenure at Hargrave, Thornton joined Ohio coach Jeff Boals’ staff at Stony Brook ahead of the 2017-18 season. Thornton and Boals had made a connection while Boals was at Ohio State and Thornton Hargrave. The two would meet for brunch during breaks in the year in Columbus.

One year later, Stony Brook needed a director of basketball operations, so Thornton called Ness.

“I remember Boals just coming into our gym at Hargrave and recruiting, I didn’t think anything of it, you know, just another coach,” Ness said.

Boals had always been a friend of the Hargrave program. He was an assistant with Keatts at Marshall, where they both coached Hamilton. Boals had been recruiting Hargrave for years.

Ness hadn’t spoken to Boals before he flew out to Texas, but once Boals arrived, Ness knew he wanted to join the team. Ness became the director of basketball operations at Stony Brook in the summer of 2018.

After one season at Stony Brook, Ness, Thornton and Boals came to Ohio in 2019 when Boals was hired as head coach. Martin would later join the team in the 2020-21 season.

The 2020-21 season was the year that Ohio won the Mid-American Conference Championship and defeated Virginia in March Madness. It was a whirlwind year, and the three were happy to be together again.

“The biggest thing is not trying to take it for granted because I think it’s a unique situation that you actually get to work with people you like every day,” Thornton said.

While at Ohio, the trio ran into another Hargrave alumni, I.J. Ezuma. Ezuma came to Ohio in the fall of 2021 for his freshman year.

Ezuma’s Hargrave story is a little different from Ness, Martin and Thornton’s. He began at the academy when he was in middle

school.

“It’s kind of unheard of to hear a kid go from seventh grade all the way through Hargrave as many years as I.J. did,” Ness said. “Most guys are there for maybe two, three years tops. He did the whole thing.”

Ezuma knew Ness and Lee before he arrived at Ohio because of their shared time at Hargrave. Thornton had left Hargrave the year Ezuma enrolled.

Ezuma was thrown right into the Hargrave culture at a young age. He wasn’t quite the 6-foot-8 240 lbs basketball player he is now, but he got there over the years. At times he struggled with the structure, but he found ways to have fun.

One of Ezuma’s favorite moments at Hargrave was Founder’s Day his eighth-grade year. The entire school came out for the event, playing games and letting loose.

“I was a big eighth grader, as you can see, and there was this event, there was a big red ball seven or eight feet tall, and we would run at each other and run toward the ball on opposite ends to try and push the ball to the other side. Like a full sprint,” Ezuma said. “I remember hitting the ball, bouncing back and I fell. I thought I had a concussion or something but it was just so fun.”

Ezuma made some friends during his stay, too, including Ohio’s Gabe Wiznitzer.

Wiznitzer was there for a prep year because he, like Ness and Martin, needed one more year to progress before college. Wiznitzer had previously attended the Christ School in Asheville, North Carolina. His brother, Nick, had attended Hargrave before him and Wiznitzer joined the program after his coach had departed from the Christ School.

Wiznitzer and Ezuma lived on the same floor at Hargrave. Ezuma was a year younger than Wiznitzer, but they still ran in similar social circles. Ezuma recalled that Wiznitzer lived on the last door on the left of their floor.

“We weren’t necessarily that close because his team was a lot closer with him, but we would hang out,” Wiznitzer said. “I remember he would sell Honey Buns.”

Wiznitzer’s connection to Hargrave brought him to Ohio. Martin, who had coached him at Hargrave, helped recruit him to the Bobcats.

“Coach Martin and I are really close. I’d say he’s honestly one of the main reasons I came here just because he already trusted me and I trusted him,” Wiznitzer said.

Now, all five of Ohio’s Hargrave alumni are vying for a Mid-American Conference Championship together. They bonded over their background and the many hours spent sweating in the Hargrave gym. Without Hargrave, the five of them might not have met or ended up at Ohio.

“I’m thankful for Hargrave. I’m definitely very appreciative,” Wiznitzer said. “While you’re there, it sucks, but once you’re done, you look back on it, appreciate doing the hard things, especially with your friends and the people you’re so close with.”

Hargrave taught the five of them to appreciate basketball and the time spent at lifts, practice and on the road.

“Hargrave is hard. Even working there, it’s tough,” Ness said. “It’s different, but we always said, when the guys are going to formation, going to class, that’s the hard part of their day/ The most enjoyable part of the day is coming to basketball.”

All five of Ohio’s Hargrave alumni are grateful for the time they spent there because it taught them the discipline needed to survive coaching and playing at the college level.

Eight years ago, Ness, Thornton and Martin were coaching together at a prep school in the middle of nowhere. Now, they’re in Athens and they couldn’t be happier.

“We’ve done a lot of winning, guys,” Martin said to Thornton and Ness with a smile. “Think about it. We won the national championship in prep school together, we get here and go to the NCAA Tournament, beat Virginia and last year we won 25 games. I don’t know what it is.”

Wiznitzer and Ezuma feel the same way. They’re happy to be Bobcats.

“Whatever you’re doing, have fun while you’re doing it. Life’s short,” Ezuma said.

Over the years, the Hargrave brotherhood has served more than just Ohio; the academy has a long history of churning out incredible athletes. The Bobcats are lucky to have swayed a few to come to another school in the middle of nowhere for a few more years.

PROVIDED BY LAMAR THORNTON

ILLUSTRATION BY LAUREN ADAMS

Ohio’s recruiting soars under Jeff Boals

WILL CUNNINGHAM SPORTS EDITOR

Ohio has always been one of the strongest recruiters in the Mid-American Conference. Its history includes five All-Americans, nine MAC Players of the Year and an impressive collection of recruits.

The Bobcats were turned into a recruiting powerhouse by current Akron head coach John Groce, who coached the Bobcats from 2008 to 2012. Under Groce, Ohio signed a number of highly-ranked recruits, including D.J. Cooper, who is still the highest-rated recruit in program history, according to 247Sports.

After Ohio’s recruiting lulled a bit between 2012 and 2019 under head coaches Jim Christian and Saul Phillips, it hired former player Jeff Boals from Stony Brook to turn its recruiting around, and he did exactly that.

When Boals was at Stony Brook, he was recruiting a talented small forward from Powell, Ohio, named Ben Roderick, who was unsure about moving so far away from home.

“I’ve always been a fan of Coach Boals, even when he was at Stony Brook,” Roderick said. “But I knew I wanted to stay close to home, so I wasn’t too interested in that.”

Roderick was the No.6 recruit in Ohio in the 2019 class, and while Boals wanted him at Stony Brook, he knew he needed to get him to Athens.

“When I was at Stony Brook, we offered him,” Boals said. “When I got the (Ohio) job, my first phone call was to him, and we were able to do a home visit and got him on a campus visit and got him to commit.”

That 2019 class, which Boals recruited before he had even coached a game at Ohio, was

the No. 1 ranked class in the MAC. Boals would then recruit a second No. 1 MAC class in 2020 and a third in 2022.

The only year of Boals’ tenure in which he did not have the best recruiting class in the MAC was 2021 when COVID-19 impacted recruiting. Despite bringing in just one player that year, Boals showed his ability to bring talent to Athens by getting Jason Carter to return to Ohio for his final season.

When Roderick was first recruited, he was

the second highest-rated recruit in program history, but he has since been passed by two more Boals recruits in Mark Sears, who is now the starting point guard for No. 2 Alabama, and A.J. Brown, who has shown significant promise in his freshman season at Ohio.

While Boals has shown he is a capable coach on the floor, his attitude off it is even more important when trying to bring high-level recruits to Athens.

“We’ve got a great coaching staff,” Roder-

ick said. “Coach Boals is a great guy on and off the floor. He really cares about us, not just on the court but how our family is doing and how we’re doing in our personal lives. I think it really goes a long way.”

Boals has signed six of the top 10 recruits in Ohio history in just four years and only three actual recruiting classes. Of those six, four are currently on the team and three are either freshmen or sophomores.

Despite his recruiting successes, Boals still credits Ohio as the main draw for high school players and the reason so much talent has come to Athens.

“It says a lot about the university,” Boals said. “The way college basketball is now, you’ve got to continually recruit and we feel like if we get a kid to campus, they see what we have to offer in the facility, the campus, the academics, we feel pretty good about our chances.”

Boals has had tremendous success, both on and off the court, in his four years with Ohio, and he has stayed true to his recruiting philosophy through it all.

“We’re always going to try to get the best talent,” Boals said. “But also guys who can fit our culture, are good students, have high character, love the game of basketball and are serious about a degree.”

The character of the players Boals recruits can be seen in Ohio’s improvement over the 2022-23 season.

This year has proved that no matter what Ohio’s roster looks like and how they play at the beginning of the season, as long as Boals remains in Athens, Ohio will have a chance.

@WILLOCUNNINGHAM

WC425318@OHIO.EDU

Ohio’s Head Coach Jeff Boals yells at his players after Northern Illinois ties the game early in the second half at The Convo on Feb. 21, 2023. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)

Jaya McClure’s family ties shape her love of Basketball

BOBBY GORBETT FOR THE POST

Feb 24, 2022 was the day of the Kentucky 2A Women’s Basketball State Championship game, and by the third quarter the game was already decided. Current Ohio guard Jaya McClure led her team with 32 points en route to a 94-44 victory. The win gave McClure and company their third 2-A state championship since 2018-19. According to McClure, the secret ingredient to the team’s success was love. By the end of McClure’s high school career, the Lady Centurions loved each other like a family.

“Love and energy is what it takes to win games. When teams love each other, you win,” McClure said. “And my High school team, we loved each other. We did things outside of practice. And I made sure that everyone felt heard and felt like they were a person... everyone wanted to play, everybody wanted to give their all and that’s what made it so much fun.”

As a daughter of a former Louisville football player, sports were an essential part of the childhoods of Jaya and her twin brother Jordan. By the age of 8, Jaya was already involved in tennis, fencing and swimming. McClure didn’t start playing basketball until the seventh grade, but the competitive nature of her family pushed her to become the best person she could be on and off the court.

McClure blossomed as a player in high school where she was voted to the All-tourney team three times. McClure took the next leap in her game as a senior in high school, and by the end of the year she was a Ms. Kentucky Basketball candidate and a McDonalds All-American nominee.

Jordan McClure didn’t have as many opportunities as his sister, early on in his High school career, but he worked hard to garner interest at the collegiate level. Jordan’s determination and work ethic is inspirational to Jaya.

“He is one of the hardest workers I know,” McClure said. “And his passion and love for basketball is real. He’s had a hard go with politics and everything in high school basketball, and so him making it to college ball has just been a blessing for my family.”

More recently Jordan suffered a wrist injury that may threaten his basketball career, but Jaya has used his hardships as fuel to improve,

“My brother redshirted his freshman year and he’s been dealing with a wrist injury,” McClure said. “So it’s looking like he may never play basketball again. So with that on my mind recently, that’s been fueling me too.”

McClure has had high expectations for herself on and off the court dating back to her high school days. During her senior year

of high school, McClure was honored with the Donna LJ Award, given to a female, senior basketball player who, “exemplifies the meaning of a great student athlete.”

McClure has taken her academic initiative to Ohio University, as she is majoring in neuroscience. Although McClure’s academic initiative has made her transition from high school to college more difficult, her academic obstacles help her on the court.

“How you do anything is how you do everything. My mom always made that important in our family,” McClure said. “... So when I push myself in school, I push myself in basketball. I push myself in every way.”

With Yaya Felder already established as Ohio’s point guard coming into the season, it seemed unlikely that McClure and Felder could share the court as starters during a large portion of the season, and in the nonconference play they didn’t.

However, McClure still found ways to score and impact the game coming off the

bench. McClure’s first standout performance was on Dec. 21 in her home state, when Ohio took on Kentucky. McClure had what was at the time a season-high of 15 points.

McClure got off to a bit of a slow start scoring the basketball in Mid-American Conference play, but as she gained playing time with Felder, the chemistry between the two players began to mount.

When Caitlyn Kroll went down with a season-ending injury, McClure was forced to make the first start of her college basketball career alongside Felder. The two immediately looked like a natural fit, Felder and McClure combined for 54 points. McClure played all 40 minutes in Ohio’s 83-75 win, and finished with new career-highs of 22 points and 7 assists.

McClure credits the support her family has given her for the confidence she had in her first ever start as a Bobcat.

“My parents and my brother are the biggest supporters of me,” said McClure. “And they’ve instilled confidence in me.”

After a very bumpy start to the Bobcats season, which included just two wins in their first 16 games, the Bobcats have steadied the ship and won two of their last three games. And McClure’s emergence as a strong second option to Felder in the backcourt, has Bobcats playing with more energy than they had at the beginning of the season.

Possibly the most important growth is off the court. McClure feels like as the season has gone on the Bobcats feel more like a family, “We’re just having more fun with each other, and enjoying each other,” McClure said. “And you can see the synergy on the court. We have definitely grown as friends and as teammates. And that’s only going to get better as the years continue.”

As McClure learned through her four years at Christian Academy of Louisville, love and family are the key to winning championships.

Ohio’s Jaya McClure (0) attempts a layup against Central Michigan in The Convo on Feb. 18, 2023. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)

Ohio wins sixth in a row, 77-68 over Northern Illinois

ASHLEY BEACH ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Ohio defeated Northern Illinois with no problem when it went to Dekalb, Illinois, earlier this month. However, Tuesday was different. Ohio and Northern Illinois were locked in a dogfight until the last few minutes, where Ohio came out on top with a 7768 win.

The Bobcats and Huskies scrapped in the first half. They traded jumpers and stayed on each other’s tails until about five minutes in, when Ohio pulled away on back-to-back 3-pointers by Elmore James and A.J. Clayton.

From there, Ohio cruised to an easy 10-point lead that didn’t last too long.

“We got it to 28-18, which I felt good about, and then we got soft,” Ohio coach Jeff Boals said. “We shot shots that we shouldn’t have shot, missed a dunk, gave up an offensive rebound put-back and then a random little 7-0 run.”

Northern Illinois spent about five minutes in the lead during the first half. It found a way to squash Ohio’s momentum each time Ohio started a run. Yet, Ohio persisted and

walked into the locker room with the game tied on a 3-pointer by Miles Brown.

The fight continued when the whistle blew for the second half. The score pingponged until Ben Roderick made a 3-pointer off a turnover.

The Convo roared and smiles splashed on the Bobcats’ faces. They were finally confident enough to play the game their way, even if it was the last six minutes of the game. The Bobcats played with joy rather than the fear of losing.

“For a while there, it was neck and neck,” Dwight Wilson III said. “Those final two minutes, coach said we got five deflections which we were able to turn into points, and I think that’s what caused the separation.”

Freshman Elmore James was a big part of creating that room. He made a floater and a 3-pointer to give Ohio the space to breathe. Jaylin Hunter also contributed to the attack with a few steals and a block.

“That was kind of the dagger there and all we had to do was get a couple more stops,” Wilson said.

Wilson snagged his 1,000th career rebound Tuesday night and led Ohio in scor-

ing with 24 points. Northern Illinois did not double team him as much as other opponents have this season, which gave Wilson the room to make up for what Ohio had lost in the paint.

Northern Illinois scored 50 points in the paint compared to Ohio’s 40. Those extra 10 points could have been the difference between a win and a loss, had Northern Illinois shot better than 1-19 from beyond the arc.

“We went to zone just to slow down and take the ball screen,” Boals said. “We were fortunate a couple of times we lost (Darwesi) Hunter, who’s the best shooter, and the one time he hit a (3-pointer).”

Ohio’s luck helped it tack one more game onto its win streak and clinch a spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament. It has shed its struggles and built up an impressive six-game thread. However, Ohio’s got a long road ahead and if it continues with lethargic halves, it might face some trouble in March.

Ohio’s Dwight Wilson III (4) drives for a layup against a Northern Illinois defender in The Convo on Feb. 21, 2023. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)

Ohio’s A.J. Brown (24) looks to pass the ball to a teammate while playing against Northern Illinois in The Convo on Feb. 21, 2023. (JACK TATHAM | FOR THE POST)

Caitlyn Kroll’s leadership shines on and off the floor

ELI JUSTICE FOR THE POST

In a difficult season for Ohio, Caitlyn Kroll has had no regrets about using her extra year of eligibility. At 6-19 overall and 4-10 in the Mid-American Conference, Ohio is currently tied for last place. At this moment, it would miss the MAC tournament. Ohio still has a chance; winning out would put them in a position to make it to Cleveland. Unfortunately, they’ll have to do it without their vocal leader.

Kroll started her career out at St. Francis, but an ACL tear cut her high school senior season short and forced her to miss her first season. After a long road to recovery, Kroll averaged over 13 points a game and won Northeast Conference Newcomer of the Year, helping lead her team to an NCAA appearance.

After a strong first full collegiate season, Kroll transferred to Ohio, where she had to sit out another season due to the transfer rules at the time. After a long wait to suit up for Ohio, Kroll appeared in 30 games that season, starting seven. She averaged 23 minutes per game and 4.4 points in a season where she was finding her role. She felt at home the next season and started all 23 games she appeared

in for Ohio. She was named to the Academic All-MAC team, an award she still values strongly today.

Unfortunately for Kroll, her bad luck continued; an unexpected hip injury that required surgery led her to miss all of last season. She returned to the floor for the Bobcats this season. Embracing her new role fully, she has been a coach’s dream on and off the floor. A tough season with a young roster can be detrimental for a program, but Kroll has made it her goal to motivate the team.

“I knew I had to step up my role this year , especially losing some key pieces early on,” Kroll said. “I know that these younger girls look up to me and I’ve been around the program for a while. I know the ins and outs and I think they can see how hard I play every time I step out on the court. Going through so many injuries, this stuff can be taken from you in a second.”

Kroll spoke honestly in an interview about returning from injuries. She has now had three season-ending injuries, including one this year, which is not only a difficult physical challenge but a mental challenge as well.

“I have no idea,” Kroll said, laughing about how she managed a positive attitude through

her bad luck. “Every time I got hurt, I just feel like I use that as fuel. Like I’m going to come back from every single injury better than I was before. I might not be the same player I was before, but I think I contribute to the game in a variety of ways.”

Though Kroll is out for the rest of the season, she still cares about the program and her friends out on the floor. Her face lit up when talking about helping her teammates grow.

“He (Boldon) was like even when you are not here, you make such an impact. I didn’t realize how much of an impact I had,” Kroll said when discussing her conversations with head coach Bob Boldon. “I know what this team needs and ever since we had that talk, I just try to know how much I can impact these younger girls.”

Even after she suffered a season-ending injury in last week’s loss to Ball State, Kroll emphasized that she will be traveling with the team and attending practices to soak up her last couple weeks as a member of this program.

Kroll also emphasized how excited she is for the future of the program. After sophomore Yaya Felder and freshman Jaya McClure combined for over 50 points in last Saturday’s

victory, Kroll didn’t have enough positives to bring up about the underclassman on this roster.

“I am excited for this team. I really am,” Kroll said. “He’s bringing in a handful of great players to add to an already dynamic squad. Yaya and Jaya, they are going to be special. They’re young and to see them playing at that high of a level at such a young age, they’re only going to keep getting better. I wish I could be around but I will definitely will be supporting from a distance.”

After having this conversation with Kroll, it was easy to tell she is proud of her accomplishments, both on and off the floor. She has been through more than any college athlete should have to deal with. She has shown toughness and grit through a tumultuous career for Ohio.

Although they won’t have her services on the floor for the rest of the season, the Bobcats will have her leadership right by their side. Kroll will always have a lasting impression on this Bobcat program; she’s a coach and teammate’s dream.

Photo by Lisa Berg

Jeff Boals reflects on 4 years at Ohio

stands out to Boals not just because of the success, but because of the uniqueness of coaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no manual for navigating the mental and physical aspect, and it was a challenge for the veteran coach.

This season has also presented a few challenges. There were a lot of questions about Boals’ team before the year began. The Bobcats intercepted nine new team members and lost several to the transfer portal. Boals didn’t know what to expect when the Bobcats boarded their plane to Spain in the summer.

Now, that trip seems like forever ago. Ohio has gained some consistency since the summer and since the start of the season in November.

“This year and my first year are very similar.” Boals said. “Going into my first year and fourth year, we kind of had a growth learning mindset. Let’s get better. Let’s get closer as a team. I knew we’d be good. I didn’t know when we’d be good.”

Coaching in The Convo is almost surreal for Boals. He takes pride in his Bobcat roots, but he likes to do things his way.

ever. The relationships he establishes are solid, and it shows.

When Ohio defeated Virginia, Boals’ phone lit up with messages of congratulations and support from his former players at Robert Morris, Ohio State, Marshall, Akron and Stony Brook.

Not all of the messages he gets are tied to games, though.

“Recently, I got a text message from Mason McMurray and he transferred from here. It was his senior night, the last game he was ever going to play. He sent me a message thanking me. He told me he loves me and that he can’t thank me enough,” Boals said. “Those mean more than anything.”

Boals started coaching because the job was offered to him. He didn’t realize the number of lives he’d get to touch and the relationships he’d create along the way. Those relationships are why Boals continues to coach.

ASHLEY BEACH ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Ohio coach Jeff Boals didn’t see himself becoming a coach out of college. He was a biology major and wanted to be a physical therapist. However, instead of jumping into medical school once he graduated, Boals took a coaching job at Ohio.

He was the assistant coach at Ohio for the 1995-1996 season after a successful career as a player there. However, Boals

wasn’t quite sure if he’d have the same fate as a coach.

“When I got into coaching, I didn’t know how to make it a career,” Boals said.

“It’s hard to believe it’s year 28.”

Boals is in his fourth year as head coach of the Bobcats. He’s seen highs — such as defeating the No. 4 seed and reigning national champions Virginia in the first round of the 2021 March Madness Tournament — and lows.

The 2020-2021 season is one that

When Boals was a player, the team practiced nearly four hours each day. It was brutal, and Boals knew that was something he didn’t want to put his players through. He doesn’t run things that way because he didn’t like it.

Rather, Boals has taken something from each coach he’s worked with over his 28year career. His teams may practice a little less, but he still finds a way to instill the discipline that his old schedule created.

Boals’ players recognize that their coach is someone they can count on for-

“The further you get into it, the more you realize why you coach,” Boals said. “It’s the relationships. The small piece that you can have on helping young men become productive citizens, grow in life, graduate, get a job (and) have families. That’s the cool thing.”

@ASHLEYBEACHY_ AB026319@OHIO.EDU

Jeff Boals cheers after a win vs. Buffalo in The Convo on Feb. 14, 2023. (ZOE CRANFILL | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

ILLUSTRATION BY TREVOR BRIGHTON

Athleats: Get to know where the Bobcats grab a bite

Shade on East State, 994 E State St., Dwight Wilson III - Wild Fries

Caitlyn Kroll

Kendall Hale

Courtside Pizza, 85 N Court St., A.J. Clayton - Pepperoni pizza

Gran Ranchero, 979 E State St., Ben Roderick - Super chipotle burrito

Hangover Easy, 18 N Court St., Elmore James - Sausage skillet

Ciro Italian Kitchen & Bar, 120 W Union St., Jaylin Hunter - chicken tortellini and vegetables

Quinn Corna - spaghetti and meatballs

Kailah Johnson

Restaurant Salaam, 21 W Washington St., Gabe Wiznitzer - garlic chicken

El Tenampa, 21 S Court St., A.J. Brown - El Tenampa, three steak tacos with rice and beans

When they’re not on the road, Ohio’s athletes like to dine around Athens. They all like different places uptown and around Athens. Get to know the basketball players favorite restaurants and some of their orders.

The Pigskin Bar and Grille, 38 N Court St., Aidan Hadaway - Pigskin, burger and pretzel bites

Ajay Sheldon - Pigskin, cowboy burger

Olumide Adelodun - El Tenampa, street tacos

GoodFella’s Pizza, 6 W Union St., Miles Brown - pepperoni

Mum Mum Hibachi, 139 Columbus Rd., DeVon Baker - chicken hibachi

Aja Austin

Yaya Felder

El Camino, 1017 E State St., Kate Dennis

Wings Over Athens, 33 N Court St., Jasmine Hale

Brenen’s Coffee Café, 38 S Court St., Abby Garnett

Jaylin Hunter is on his own path

ASHLEY BEACH ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

From a young age, Jaylin Hunter knew he would play basketball. His dad is a basketball coach, and it was almost like Hunter had been born into the sport.

“I played football for a little bit, but I knew that wasn’t going to be it. I didn’t want to be outside all the time,” Hunter said.

Although Hunter’s dad taught him the ropes, the Manchester, Connecticut native fell in love with the game all on his own. Basketball was the only sport he played past the eighth grade. When a football coach told Hunter something wouldn’t fly in high school, he didn’t worry because he knew he wouldn’t return to the gridiron.

Hunter wanted to blaze his own path. He knew basketball was his key, but he didn’t know how yet.

In high school, Hunter played the Adidas Amateur Athletic Union circuit. He enjoyed traveling across the country and earning medals along the way. The summer his team got fourth in the championships is one of his favorite memories.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

At that point in his career, Hunter dove into basketball head-first. He became a student of the game. Hunter watched practice and game footage with his father to grow as a player.

Hunter showcased his talent during high school, but his recruiting process was slow. He didn’t get offers to play at the collegiate level until his career was almost over.

“I didn’t get my first offer until the second semester of my senior year, and that was from Old Dominion, the school that I originally committed to,” Hunter said. “I only got four real offers but I got a lot of interest.”

Hunter arrived at Old Dominion during his freshman year and made an immediate impact as a bench player. He played more minutes his sophomore year and made three starts, but he wasn’t quite where he wanted to be.

In Hunter’s junior year, he was a team captain, started all 32 games and led the team in free throw percentage. Hunter scored in double figures 16 times and ranked in the top 10 for several categories in Conference-USA, including assists, steals, assist-to-turnover ratio and minutes played.

But Hunter wanted a more holistic experience. He wanted the connections that come with basketball. That’s what brought

him to Ohio.

“It was just a better opportunity (and) a more close-knit team,” Hunter said. “One thing I love about here is I just feel like we’re a circle, one big group instead of a hierarchy. I think that’s just a testament to coach Boals and the culture he created here.”

Hunter is a team-first guy. He doesn’t get upset when someone’s shots aren’t falling and loves seeing his teammates succeed. Most of the time, Hunter is the Bobcats’ assists leader.

“I know that’s kind of cliche to say, but I feel like as a point guard, I do love seeing my teammates be successful.”

Hunter has found his way to a successful career. He’s taken the Mid-American Conference by storm and still has more time. Basketball is Hunter’s past and present, and he hopes it will be his future.

He’s an NBA junkie and plans to pursue a career in management or coaching in the professional ranks. He doesn’t exactly want to follow in his father’s footsteps, though.

“I think I want to deviate a little bit. I think I can use his experiences to create my own path and see what I can do with it,” Hunter said.

Hunter has forged his own path since he picked up a basketball and now intends to stay on it.

@ASHLEYBEACHY_ AB026319@OHIO.EDU

Ohio guard Jaylin Hunter (12) gets a rebound during the second half of the victory over Central Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in The Convo. (JESSE JARROLD-GRAPES | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)