Four-year starter at UMSL stuffs the stat sheets
By Thomas Crone
For the St. Louis American
A lot of athletes will try to tell you that they don’t look ahead to the next level and that they never pause to scan a stat sheet. Jonathan Griffin, the star forward for the UM-St. Louis’ Rivermen basketball squad, isn’t at all cocky when he breaks the mold on these taboos. If anything, he’s downright humble in approaching the success that’s come with his senior season. But he’s also honest.
In his heart, the four-year starter would love to continue his game beyond college. But he’s mindful there’s a job to do now.
“I try not to think about it too much. One thing I really appreciate now is practice. I just enjoy the days with my teammates, trying to get better. Coming to practice every day, you realize that you don’t know when it’s going to be your last time playing,” he said.
“But I try not to look too far ahead. I’m just appreciating each day. Of course, I want to continue to play. I feel I have my best years in basketball ahead of me. It’d be great to get a chance to play somewhere.”
He’s also aware that in his fifth year in the program – his freshman season was wiped out by a knee injury – his statistics are remarkably well-rounded. He’s currently leading the team in scoring, at just over 17-points a game, but he also paces in rebounding, blocks, steals and assists.
“It’s something I’ve teased my coach about,” says Griffin of Chris Pilz, the team’s third-year boss. “I don’t get caught up in all that. Of course, I know where I’m at, but my music focus is on winning games. Coming into the season, our expectation was to improve overall, as a team. We wanted to play in the NCAA Tournament. We wanted to play together and concentrate on defense. Take it one day at a time, then get it done.”
That’s been a good formula so far, with UM-St. Louis starting off the 2005-05 campaign with a 6-1 mark, including a 4-0 start. After a disappointing loss to Kentucky Wesleyan, the team rebounded by knocking off Southern Indiana, the number-four team in the country among D2 schools, then UM-Rolla last weekend.
Griffin’s been a big part of that resurgence, with an all-around game that includes a heavy dose of rebounding, with almost eight boards a contest, despite playing the perimeter with a 6’2 frame. Against UM-Rolla, he scored a modest 14 points, but added 11 rebounds, along with six assists and three steals.
“It’s desire and good positioning,” he says of rebounding. “Some rebounds, you’re just in the right place and time. But it usually takes a second effort. I just feel like it’s my number one thing is rebounding, each and every game.”
If anything, that was burned into him early this year, during the preseason. Though UM-St. Louis faced, and lost to, three different Division 1 programs, the experience of playing the toughest, tallest competition in the area hardened them for the regular season. Even being on the wrong side of a 102-67 game at SLU didn’t bother Griffin and his team.
“Playing three D1 teams was really challenging,” he says. “All played a different tempo. We broke each game down and got better each game. We competed and got outmanned at some points, but those were highly important games. They got us into the season, ready to play.”
This week, UM-St. Louis faces Blackburn, at home, on Saturday, December 17. Then it’s a “road” game at Harris-Stowe on Monday, December 20. And with those games will come winter break.
“I love the schedule we have set up,” says Griffin. “We had a lot of home games and were able to establish our home court. Then we get that winter break, where we can just focus on basketball and not focus on school, at this time.”
He’s quick to note, though, that the last semester went as well for him in the classroom as on the court.
“All A’s, except for a math class,” Griffin says. “Getting a B in that one, but I can still make it up on the final. It’s been really good. I absolutely plan on graduating in May ’06. My main thing has always been school, then basketball.”
Griffin says that if he’s not lacing up the sneakers in a year, he’ll be teaching or coaching. The grad of Normandy High School says he’s had family members in the profession. He even thinks intangibles like his multiple tattoos and youth would aid him in getting across to kids.
“I think kids could relate to me,” he says.
He hopes that career can wait for a bit. Even playing at D2, his start this season says that might not be so far-fetched.
