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Printer-Friendly ModeSenior more than a scorer
February 8, 2010 —
A box score is good for showing points, rebounds and assists. It can’t show leadership.
On a team with two seniors, leadership is a muchneeded intangible. At 17 points per game, senior guard Avery Stephenson is the leading scorer on the men’s basketball team, although the leadership he provides is greater than anything that shows up in the box score.
“On such a young team, it’s important to have someone for the younger guys to look up to,” Stephenson said. “This is my fifth year so I have the most experience. Other guys look up to me because of that and I do all that I can to be a good role model.”
Whether it is at practice or during a game, Stephenson is quick to offer advice.
“I want to help everyone improve and play at the highest level they can. When that happens, the team is successful.”
Something that Stephenson reiterates is the concept of team. When you consider all the individual accolades Stephenson has amassed, this may seem odd.
At Romulus High School he was named team MVP. At SVSU, last season he was named second team ALL GLIAC. Prior to the start of this season, he was voted a preseason All GLIAC player. Despite this, Stephenson would much rather talk about the team.
He was the leading rebounder for the Cardinals last season. His six rebounds per game this season are second best on the team. Even so, he deflects praise to his teammates and coaches.
“This season I have a lot of help from Keithan [Jackson],” Stephenson said. “Coach always tells us to do whatever we can to come down with the ball and that’s what I do.”
The Cardinals record stands at 13-8 overall, 10-6 in the GLIAC. The last time SVSU had a winning season was 2002. Head coach Frankie Smith believes Stephenson is a big reason the Cardinals are on the upswing.
“Avery has always been able to score,” Smith said. “He’s always been an overall team player. He’s a large part of the success.”
Stephenson began playing basketball when he was seven. The competitive nature of the sport is what he enjoys the most.
As an athlete, it’s natural for players to want to win in their sport. For Stephenson, no matter if he is playing pool or cards, which he likes to do in his spare time, he does what it takes to win.
“I’ve always been competitive at everything,” Stephenson said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s on the basketball court or somewhere else, I want to win.”
For a player such as Stephenson, there isn’t anything worse than having to watch from the sidelines. In the 2007-08 season, Stephenson appeared in only one game because of patella tendonitis. The Cardinals struggled for much of that season, adding to his disappointment.
“Ever since I’ve began playing, I’ve never had to sit out like I did that year,” Stephenson said. “It was so hard to have to sit out and watch the team struggle, feeling like I could have helped them in certain places if I was able to play.”
A communication major and athletic coaching minor, Stephenson will graduate in May. He isn’t sure what the future holds for him after graduation. He is interested in playing professionally overseas or finding a coaching job.
Until then, Stephenson and the Cardinals have six remaining regular season games with the potential of post-season play. He hopes he can add to his legacy.
“After I’m gone, I want people to remember me as a winner,” Stephenson said.