Men’s Basketball: Evan Turner Featured in Illinois Program – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Sky Belongs to the Stars
Freshman Evan Turner becomes regular contributor in first season as a Buckeye
By Rick Balazs, Ohio State Athletics Communications
Growing up, Evan Turner admired Grant Hill for his all-around play. Thanks to his ability to pass, rebound and score, a triple-double was often in reach for the former Duke star.
This season, Turner, a freshman, has provided the Buckeyes with similar multifaceted play, showing the ability to knock down the open jumper and break defenders down off the dribble. His versatility has helped him become a key contributor in coach Thad Matta’s regular rotation, as he has averaged seven points and three rebounds a game in 16 games, including nine starts.
It should not come as much of a surprise Turner has enjoyed a successful freshman season. Growing up in Chicago, Turner always faced stiff competition on the basketball court. The Chicagoland area has produced many stars over the years, including Isaiah Thomas, who graduated from Turner’s alma mater, St. Joseph’s in Westminster, a suburb west of the city.
Turner thought that playing against kids often better or older than he was helped him become a better player.
“I was fortunate to play in Chicago because there is so much competition,” he said. “I think it prepared me well. If you can play in Chicago, you can play anywhere. I would go to the park and play, and there were always kids there who were better than me. That forced me to work on my game even more.”
He also benefited from growing up in a basketball family that introduced him to the game at a young age.
“My dad always played basketball and always had us around the game. My brother, Darius, and I had a Fisher Price rim. We would always compete and I tried to be better than him. My brother would take me outside when I was five and make me dribble, and I would and dribble for four or five hours. It was just fun to go out and play.”
Even with the experience of playing against Chicago’s best in his youth, Turner knew that playing college basketball in the Big Ten would be a whole new ballgame.
“My expectations coming in were that it was going to be a different game,” he said. “I knew it was going to be more physical, and the coaches weren’t lying about how physical Big Ten games are. You really have to pay attention to the game plan and how the defense plays you.”
Helping him make the adjustment from high school to the Big Ten have been the team’s seniors, Jamar Butler, Othello Hunter and Matt Terwilliger. Turner said the seniors, along with the coaching staff and fellow freshmen, were the main reasons why he chose to play at Ohio State.
“Our seniors are really good guys. The first day we came here, I was so impressed by the way they accepted us and showed us that we are all family.”
Off the court, Turner enjoys spending time with teammates, family and friends, watching reality TV shows, like Flavor of Love and Making the Band, and watching movies. One of his favorite movies is La Bamba.
“My favorite quote from La Bamba is the sky belongs to the stars.’ I always think about that when I wake up in the morning. I take it to mean that the sky is the limit for those who work hard enough to accomplish their goals and dreams,” he said.
With this strong start to his freshman season, the sky does indeed seem to be the limit for Turner, and perhaps one day he will join his role model Grant Hill among the stars of the basketball universe.
The full story will be printed in the game program vs. Illinois tonight in Value City Arena. Programs can be purchased on the main concourse. Fans also can buy programs at the Official Team Shop by calling 1-800-GoBucks or by visiting http://ohiostate.teamfanshop.com/.
