Hartfield to be big contributor for YSU
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo YSU’s Braun Hartfield looks on during a recent practice. The sophomore guard looks to be one of the Penguins big contributors this season.
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo YSU's Braun Hartfield shoots over a teammate during a recent practice.
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo YSU’s Braun Hartfield looks on during a recent practice. The sophomore guard looks to be one of the Penguins big contributors this season.
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo YSU's Braun Hartfield shoots over a teammate during a recent practice.
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YOUNGSTOWN -- Braun Hartfield dribbled, bounced the basketball and drove some more.
The Garfield Heights High School graduate knew his role last year, dysfunctional as it was, playing around the basket and maintaining a 6- to 8-foot circumference around the rim.
Hartfield did his due diligence, despite being effective as an undersized power forward for last year's Youngstown State men's basketball team.
In high school, a 6-foot-6 player isn't so unusual circumventing their presence around other post players. For a Division I NCAA player, it's just not right.
First-year YSU coach Jerrod Calhoun saw this, knew how Hartfield played after recruiting him for Calhoun's former stop of Fairmont State.
He thought Hartfield was under-recruited and thought former coach Jerry Slocum and his staff did a great job of getting the Garfield Heights graduate to come to Youngstown. Even Slocum admitted last season Hartfield was playing out of position.
Now, the 6-6 YSU sophomore can show his unbridled passion around the perimeter, something that made him a standout at Garfield Heights under coach Sonny Johnson.
"It's good to be back in the two spot, the two or the three, being able to guard wings and actually being a wing," Hartfield said. "It's different from last year where I guard big men.
"I'm just ready to compete and play."
Hartfield embraced this new YSU system under Calhoun from the onset, knowing how to excel in an uptempo offense and pressure defense.
It's something Calhoun saw when he studied the Penguin tapes from last season. Hartfield's ability to slash to the rim, ability to fend for himself around the basket and innate ability to take over a game intrigued Calhoun. He knew right away Hartfield would be set to lead this new look Penguins team into its first season and in a new era.
Calhoun anticipates his YSU sophomore have a breakout season. He's seen the improvement in practice.
Hartfield takes to the passing lanes like he owns them -- steals, rebounds and points -- Calhoun expects Hartfield to get them in mass quantities.
"I feel he could be a guy we could build this thing around," Calhoun said. "Next year, he'll probably be our best player. This year, he's going to be I-A. It's going to be Cam Morse and himself that are going to be right at the top of the list to fill a lot of categories for the Penguins."
It's a vast difference from last season.