Wallace College Men’s Basketball Team
By: Matthew Florjancic ‘07
BEREA, OHIO — For an athlete to give his all during a game has become standard of anyone who plays a sport. However, it takes a special individual to give everything they have in practice. At Baldwin-Wallace College, all players work hard, but former Yellow Jacket sophomore guard and former Avon High standout Adam DeChant has the unique ability to motivate himself to practice with intensity.
DeChant started playing the game of basketball with his older brother and because he enjoyed the game.
"I started playing because my brother was a really good player and it both challenged and forced me to get better," DeChant said. "Basketball was always the one [sport] I was best at and the one I loved the most."
He took this love for basketball to Avon High School where he was a part of an historic team.
"As a team, we went further than any other basketball team in our high school’s history," DeChant said. "We won the District Championship for only the second time in school history."
That year, the Avon Eagles finished with an 18-7 overall record and made it to the "Sweet 16" in Division II in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Tournament.
"When we won the District Championship, the whole town was there," DeChant stated. "I’m from a small town and to win that game was something that I’ll always remember and I’ll always cherish."
Along with helping his team succeed, DeChant finished his high school career with some amazing statistics as well as individual honors.
As a senior, DeChant poured in 19.6 points a game and had a career-high 40 points against the Clearview Clippers. In addition to his gaudy statistical numbers, DeChant received three varsity letters in basketball and one in baseball. He was also first-team All-Lorain County Conference, first-team All-Lorain County, second-team Northeast District and an honorable mention All-Ohio Division II selection.
Even though he achieved individual success, DeChant was much more focused on the achievements of the team.
"The awards that I received were basically all gravy added on to a great year for our team," DeChant stated.
This team-oriented mindset was one of the reasons why B-W veteran Head Coach Steve Bankson, a longtime resident of Elyria, wanted DeChant to play for the Yellow Jackets.
"He came from a good program at Avon High School," said Bankson. "He was a person who had a great desire to become a better basketball player.
"He works hard in practice and he gets the maximum from his ability," said Bankson, who has 640 career wins and is the winningest basketball coach in B-W history. "He’s very much tuned in to what we’re doing offensively and defensively and he is willing to help the team in any way that he can.
"When he’s gotten an opportunity to play in games, Adam has contributed," said Bankson. He is a very team-oriented young man. We are very pleased to have Adam at B-W and in our men’s basketball program."
When it came time for DeChant to make his college choice, B-W was the most logical option.
"I came to B-W because it was kind of a family school," DeChant stated. "My brother graduated last year in 2004 and my sister graduated in 2002. My dad played basketball at B-W back in the 1970’s."
DeChant was excited to come to B-W because he would get to play alongside some of the athletes he had squared off against in high school. Currently on the B-W roster are several players from Lorain County. The list includes Dan Gundert from Wellington as well as Thad and Tori Davis from Elyria Open Door Christian.
DeChant was also happy to get an opportunity to play for Coach Bankson.
"Coach Bankson is a really nice guy," DeChant said. "I knew I wanted to play for him and be a part of a winning team (the Yellow Jackets enter Wednesday’s game at John Carroll with a 14-3 overall and 7-3 Ohio Athletic Conference mark and are ranked 19th nationally in Division III)."
When he arrived at B-W, DeChant noticed that the speed of the game and the physicality of the OAC were more challenging than anything he had seen in high school. DeChant knew that he would have to work hard to improve his speed and strength.
"The college game is much different than from high school," said DeChant, a criminal justice major. "I know my role right now is to get better every day and play as hard as I can when I get the opportunity in games."
Both the Yellow Jacket coaching staff and the players have taken notice.
"He comes in everyday with the goal of pushing himself and pushing those around him in order to make everyone better,’’ said fellow sophomore forward Tori Davis, an All-OAC player as a freshman. "He is a tremendous athlete and more importantly just a great person."
"Adam is one of our hardest workers in practice," said senior point guard and team captain Tom Harrington, a graduate of Holy Name High School. "He pushes me everyday and has helped to make me and many others on our team better. He is a real team player.
"Even though Adam does not see a lot of game time yet, he is a very talented basketball player," said Harrington. "There are a lot of teams in the OAC who Adam could start for. We are pleased that he is on our team."
As a freshman in 2003-2004, DeChant saw action in six varsity games and played a great deal on the junior varsity squad. In his six varsity games, he scored one point, grabbed three rebounds and made an assist as B-W finished 18-8 overall and finished second in the OAC.
"I had a good freshman year," said DeChant, "but as a team, we were disappointed that we did not win an OAC title. The end of the year was not quite what we wanted it to be. That has inspired us to better this year.
To date, the Yellow Jackets have won 14 games, including nine of their last 10. DeChant has played in five games and has scored three points, grabbed a rebound and blocked a shot.
With the goal of winning an OAC title and possibly gaining a berth in this year’s NCAA Division III National Tournament, DeChant’s attitude toward practice and his ability to help his teammates play better is key.
"Practice is where I help the team the most," DeChant said. "Practices are my games and I get pumped up for them."
Following its game at JCU on Wednesday, B-W is home on Saturday (Jan. 29) when they host Marietta College at the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea at 3:00 p.m. At halftime of that game, B-W will recognize the members of its 1993-1994 NCAA Division III National Tournament "Sweet 16" team. Included in that group are current Berea High School Head Coach Kevin Braaten and current Brunswick High School Coach Joe Mackey.
275 Eastland Rd.