With the departure of D.J. Cooper, perhaps the best Ohio player since Gary Trent in the mid-1990s, as well as six other players, one would think that the Bobcats have anywhere to go but down in 2013-14 season.
After losing one of the best senior classes in team history, as well as redshirt junior Kadeem Green and redshirt senior Nick Goff, Ohio will look to its guards junior Stevie Taylor and redshirt junior Javarez “Bean” Willis to lead the team next season.
“I look to be an overall team leader, both on the floor and off the court,” Taylor said. “I want to make my teammates happy, and it’s my job as point guard to not only spark myself on offense, but my teammates as well. If by chance I can improve, then so be it.”
Overshadowed by Cooper in the point guard role, Taylor averaged just three points per game last season, but only played 10 minutes per game — the fourth lowest average on the team. He did play in all 34 games for the Bobcats, though.
Taylor’s most prominent highlight last season came against Kent State, when a go-ahead three-pointer from the right corner with less than 10 seconds decisively ended the game.
The Convo erupted in pandemonium, as fans and players hoisted him upon their shoulders after rushing the court, a moment Taylor describes as an opportunity to lead this team going forward.
“After the Kent State game, I knew I could be a leader on this team,” Taylor said. “I thought I played really consistent over the course of this year. Each year I’ve gotten better, and this year I stepped up my play by stepping up my hard work.”
Willis, who sat out last season because of NCAA transfer rules, was a key asset to Texas Tech two years ago, where his assist-style play sparked an otherwise lousy offense for the Red Raiders. This past season, the view from the bench might be exactly what he needed heading into his last year of eligibility.
His patience on the sidelines, which included watching a group of players he will not play with this season, gave him the confidence to help lead the team in a starting role next season.
“Sitting on the bench, and not being able to play, it gave me a different perspective of what happens on the court,” Willis said. “I’m excited to get back out on the court, though.”
Willis, as well as Taylor, reside in Athens during the summer to continue to prepare and condition with the team. Taylor’s regiment, which includes days filled with class, lifting, shooting on the court, and at some point, finding time to eat, is part of the hard work the team plans to put in to achieve the same success it has experienced for the past two seasons.
ch115710@ohiou.edu
