Indiana State’s Unsung Hero

Jayson Kent Providing Big Results

(St. Louis, MO) – Jayson Kent has grown into his role as Indiana State’s unsung hero. The junior forward is the Sycamore’s fourth leading scorer, leading rebounder and best dunker. His role for this high-powered offensive team is to do the gritty and dirty work.

Kent began his career at Bradley as a talented ‘finesse’ player and has grown into a physical specimen that bangs with the big bodies of the Missouri Valley Conference. He’s quick enough to defend all five positions and talented enough to be an offensive threat.

He originally signed with and played for Brian Wardle at Bradley and then transferred to ISU. Kent has grown taller, added weight and muscle and knows his role with the 12-2 Sycamores. The now, 6’9, 210 pound Kent has worked hard to be able to be a physical MVC player.

 

 

Kent had to get his mind in shape too. He says he had adjust his mindset and accept his role. Knowing there are talented scorers and distributors on his team, he needed to play a different role. Realizing he needed to be the unsung hero rather than trying to be a star has made him more content personally and more effective on the court.

 

 

Offensive System and Avila

Kent and star center Robbie Avila were high school teammates at Oak Forest High School (Illinois) and love playing together. They have a sixth sense about what the other wants to and will do on the floor. Kent and the 6’10 Avila have enjoyed a role reversal at the college level. While Avila will roam outside and shoot the three, Kent does the dirty work inside.

 

 

Head coach Josh Schertz’s offensive system is more ‘read and react’ than patterns and play calls. Kent calls him an ‘Einstein of Basketball’ and he loved playing for both Wardle and his current coach. Indiana State’s free-flowing offensive style makes it hard to scout and hard to defend.

 

 

Unsung Hero Bragging on Teammates

Kent describes veteran Xavier Bledson as ‘a coach on the floor’ and guard Julian Larry as a ‘Cheetah’ because of his quickness. He’s amazed at the shooting prowess of Isaiah Swope and Ryan Conwell. He raves about his teammates’ individual work habits.

He describes this year’s Sycamore team as ‘together’. Unity and camaraderie are hallmarks of this Indiana State team. Kent says no one cares about who scores or who gets noticed and that his teammates are locked in on winning.

Our entire conversation can be seen on YouTube or heard a Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts.

‘Wictionary’ defines an ‘unsung hero’ as one who does great deeds but receives little or no recognition for them. Maybe Jayson Kent’s picture should be on their website.

Do Good

 

Editor: Cover photo of Jayson Kent courtesy of gosycamores.com.