Rags-to-riches Preston leads Ohio over Virginia

OHIO 62 VIRGINIA 58

Ohio coach Jeff Boals has called his rags-to-riches star Jason Preston’s story the American Dream.

A few more upsets, and his Bobcats may become America’s Team. They at least have the chance to become March Madness darlings.

Preston, the one-time high school benchwarmer who has become a must-watch pro prospect, led 13th-seeded Ohio to one of the biggest upsets of this NCAA Tournament. He produced a near triple-double of 11 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in sending defending national champion and fourth-seed Virginia home early, 62-58, in a West Region firstround game Saturday night in Bloomington, Ind.

“I’m not going to lie: Any time we play a basketball game, doesn’t matter who it is, I think Jason Preston is the best player on the court,” said teammate Ben Vander Plas, who scored 17 points for the Bobcats. “I’ve seen him do things that I haven’t seen anybody else do. The way he plays the game, it’s so phenomenal.”

So is Preston’s story. He averaged two points per game his senior year of high school. After being convinced to play in a few AAU tournaments, he ended up going to prep school, grew and landed a scholarship from Ohio after putting together a highlight reel. As a junior this year, the 6-foot-4 point guard averaged 16.6 points, 7.2 assists and 6.8 rebounds, and torched Illinois for 31 points early in the year in a narrow defeat.

Despite Preston’s emergence, Ohio (17-7) wasn’t even supposed to reach the tournament. The Bobcats finished fifth in the MAC during a regular season twice interrupted by COVID-19 pauses, but won their three conference tournament games decisively.

Virginia (18-7) seemed in control Saturday, up by seven nearing the midway point of the second half. At that point, however, Preston engineered a game-turning 16-2 run, scoring four points and setting up Ben Vander Plas on consecutive 3-pointers.

“I told him this is where stars are born, legacies are made,” said Boals.