Penguin seniors look to finish strong
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YOUNGSTOWN -- Their paths to Youngstown differing, Youngstown State's seniors have a common goal as the regular season comes to a close.
"Just locking in on the postseason," said Tevin Olison, a transfer from the University of the Cumberlands who added that he wants to finish his career on a strong note and play his best basketball as things wind down.
It's a sentiment echoed by Michael Akuchie, a senior in his fifth season at Youngstown State.
"The postseason, just like I've been saying every single weekend. I'm just locked in on what we all need to do," Akuchie said. "We're on a mission, and we're ready to go make it happen."
Akuchie and Olison are two of five seniors to be honored tonight as Youngstown State hosts IUPUI at 2 p.m. today. It will mark the final regular season contest at the Beeghly Center for that duo as well as Jamir Thomas, Garrett Covington and Greyson Kelley.
Akuchie and Covington were part of head coach Jerrod Calhoun's first recruiting class in Youngstown five years ago.
The program has seen a lot of development through those years. The Penguins went 8-24 in the 2017-18 season and 12-20 the next, but has finished above .500 in each of the last three, including this year's squad.
"That original class has had a huge imprint on everything we've done," Calhoun said. "The five-year plan has really worked out and much more. We've got the most Horizon League wins ever (this season with 11 so far), we've got back-to-back winning seasons. ... You don't win games (and) you don't develop your program without getting really good players.
"Both of those guys were very under-recruited, in my opinion. We got very fortunate (because) we got this job really late. So to get those guys as incoming freshmen (was huge)."
Calhoun added that the success extends beyond the court, as well. Both Covington and Akuchie earned their degrees and still returned for a fifth season this year, though Covington's was cut short by a season-ending Achilles injury in YSU's first home game. Whether he takes a medical redshirt and returns again remains to be seen.
Of their decision to return, Calhoun said, "I think that speaks volumes to their commitment to the university, their coaches, their teammates and the legacy they wanted to leave. Do they end up in the (YSU) Hall of Fame one day? I think that's to be determined, but I think they both have had Hall of Fame-type careers, and I'm very fortunate to have coached those guys."
The remaining three seniors all found their way to Youngstown via the transfer portal. Thomas joined the Penguins ahead of the 2019-20 season and appeared in 32 games that year, but missed the 2020-21 season due to an ACL injury before returning to action this year. The New Jersey native transferred in from Garden City Community College in Kansas.
"We recruited Jamir pretty hard out of junior college at Garden City. Jamir was a guy that was highly, highly sought after, he had a big resume in junior college," Calhoun said. "The guy has been unbelievable. He's coming off a torn ACL. His attitude, everything he's given to the program, as far as a leadership standpoint, he's really taking that next step. I think he'll be real, real successful in whatever he does."
Originally recruited based largely on his shot-making ability, Kelley has suffered similar misfortune in terms of injuries -- he's broken his ankle and torn his ACL since coming to YSU -- but has found different ways to contribute. Kelley spends his time during games charting the Penguins' offense.
Kelley's mother is a successful basketball coach, and he'll one day become a coach, too, according to Calhoun. He joined the Penguins ahead of the 2020-21 season before the injuries began to hit. He graduated from Shaw with a degree in business management.
"One of the best attitudes I've seen. Very smart, knowledgeable. I think he'll get right into coaching," Calhoun said. "If you look at our offense, we're top 55 in the country in points per possession. In the halfcourt, we're top 25 in the country after timeouts. He's done a really, really good job with us on the offensive side."
Finally, Olison has been a regular in YSU's starting five all season, and averages 30.4 minutes, 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He came to Youngstown this year thanks in large part to previously being recruited to University of the Cumberlands by assistant coach Ethan Faulkner.
"When he got in the portal, he was one of our main targets," Calhoun explained. "We knew Tevin was an older player, very skilled, very athletic, can score the basketball and has been one of our better defenders. More importantly, he's really fit into the team. I think it's really difficult for a lot of transfers to come in and fit into a team and have a team concept that first year, and he's passed every expectation of mine. He's been great."
Olison said that transition has gone smoothly because he was able to find his role with the team early on, and because the team as a whole gets along on and off the court.
Now that the clock is ticking, though, Olison and Akuchie say the sense of urgency is high not just among the seniors, but throughout the roster. YSU is in position for a home game to begin the Horizon League Tournament one way or another, and the Penguins are seeking to take advantage of that fact.
Once the conference tournament ends, YSU is going to participate in a postseason tournament one way or another, according to Calhoun.
"When it's coming down to the end of the season, you want to play as hard as you can. You want to leave on a good note," Olison said. "You don't want to have any regrets, and I'm just trying to lock in on all the small things, and I'm just trying to leave a good impression on Youngstown."
jwhetzel@tribtoday.com