Little-used Mid playing a huge role
Pearson serves as captain the Midshipmen ‘needed’ with young team this year
Many sports fans equate the title of team captain with stardom.
At almost every level of competition – high school, college and professional – the captain is one of the top performers for a particular team.
That is not necessarily the case at the Naval Academy, where the title of team captain comes with myriad responsibilities and is certainly not selected based off accolades or statistics.
An outside observer would probably expect the Navy men’s basketball team captain to be Hasan Abdullah, a three-year starter and the floor leader as point guard. Or perhaps that title would be bestowed on George Kiernan, who has also played an integral role for the Midshipmen since he was a sophomore.
While both would have been excellent choices, it was actually another senior – seldom-used swingman Ryan Pearson – who was voted captain by his teammates.
Pearson may not have as prominent a role on the basketball court as Abdullah or Kiernan, but he is the leader off the court. His willingness to help teammates navigate the various challenges of the Naval Academy and handle their academic and military responsibilities is the biggest reason he was a unanimous choice to serve as captain.
“Any time you are the captain of a major sport at the Naval Academy it is very, very challenging. You must have the respect of your teammates in the locker room and also beabletorepresent themproperlyinBancroft Hall,” Navy head coach Ed DeChellis said. “That is why our players don’t just look at what someone does on the basketball court when picking a captain. I think they take a lot of other factors into consideration.”
Pearson was asked about his reaction upon learning he would be the Navy basketball captain.
“I wouldn’t say I was 100 percent shocked, but I was a little surprised and definitely excited about the opportunity to help my team in any way I could,” Pearson said. “It means a lot considering it was a peer decision. My teammates thought I would be a good leader in terms of helping my teammates be good midshipmen here at the Naval Academy.”
Pearson is a political science major whois a two-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. He has held an important leadership role within the Brigade of Midshipmen, serving as a company protocol officer.
Navy has 20 players on the roster and 14 of them are either sophomores or freshmen.
“I think Ryan was exactly what this young team needed as a captain. Ryan has taught these younger guys what it takes to be a midshipman,” Kiernan said. “Ryan is super smart in the classroom and understands how this place works. Heknows what it takes to be successful here at the academy and does a good job of imparting that knowledge to others.”
Pearson assumed the role of team leader long before he was formally given the title. DeChellis said the Virginia native has always spent time with younger teammates to help them acclimate to the academy.
“Ryan is the type who takes the time to get to know his teammates and takes an interest in their lives,” DeChellis said. “I know a lot of players come to Ryan for advice because they trust his judgment and know he cares.
Pearson confirms that assessment and said he takes very seriously the task of assisting his fellow men’s basketball players with the day-to-day grind of the academy.
“Having the privilege of being a team captain carries a lot of weight within the hall because you represent your teammates and your program,” he said. “You may be a Division I athlete, but here you are a midshipmanfirst. Soit’s really important to be organized and do a good job with time management. I’ve done whatever I could to help the youngsters and plebes with the adjustment and dealing with all the responsibilities they have.”
Kiernan admires that trait in Pearson and readily admits that a senior on the verge of graduation is often focused on the future as opposed to worrying about how sophomores and freshmen are doing.
“Ryan has shown all the leadership quali- ties you would want. He’s always willing to offer advice or go the extra mile to help someone out,” Kiernan said. “One thing that I take away is just how smart a person Ryan is about so many things. He’s constantly trying to help out the younger guys, especially off the court.”
DeChellis said Pearson has done a superb job of being the liaison between the coaching staff and players. The eighth-year head coach communicates with the captain via text message almost every day and relies on his internal leadership.
“Ryan and I have a great rapport and he does a great job of making sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing,” DeChellis said. “Has been great about facilitating communicationintermsofgetting guys to practice, film sessions or conditioning workouts
There haven’t been any issues with players being late to team meetings and such.”
Pearson plays sparingly, averaging less than seven minutes and 3.3 points as a spot reserve. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder has not appeared at all in seven games this season and has earned double digit minutes in just three.
“I approach everything with a team-first mindset. I’m there to contribute in any way I can and do what the coaching staff needs out of me to help the team win,” Pearson said.
DeChellis appreciates that Pearson practices as though he is a starter and is like another assistant coach on the bench during games.
“Ryan practices very hard every day and gives great effort and energy,” DeChellis said. “Ryan understands the game and the concepts of what we’re trying to do. He is always talking to teammates on the floor and telling them where they need to be.”
This is not the first time Navy men’s basketball has relied on a captain that did not play a whole lot. Kevin “Pookie” Alter was an outstanding leader for the 2014-2015 team despite averaging less than five minutes per game.
“Ryan is a very likable young man who keeps things loose with the guys,” DeChellis said. “He also is not afraid to pull guys aside individually and give them a pep talk. Ryan is an up-front type of person and has the respect of every player on the team.”
Pearson will be commissioned as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to the USS San Antonio, an amphibious transport based out of Norfolk, Virginia. That is an ideal situation for the Richmond resident who helped lead Henrico High to a pair of state championships.