Rider’s Jordan embracing leadership role
LAWRENCEVILLE >> Stevie Jordan flashed a grin and laughed when asked where his favorite stop was during a European basketball trip in the summer.
“Amsterdam. The Red Light District,” he said with a hint of you know what, before assuring, “I stayed out of trouble. I was just watching my teammates go crazy.”
Rider’s point guard was part of select team of Division I players that also included teammate Tyere Marshall who traveled to Europe for exhibition games in Germany and the Netherlands.
“It was great,” Jordan said. “It was a different vibe. Everything is more relaxed out there. You don’t really have anything to worry about. You just show up and play.”
Coach Kevin Baggett helped set up the opportunity for Jordan and Marshall to go on the trip, something he feels is important for players with professional aspirations. Forward Frederick Scott also hooked up with a select team and went to Brazil for a tournament.
“They get a chance to go over there and say, ‘can I do this?’” Baggett said. “It might just be one particular country that they’re in, but I always say to guys McDonald’s isn’t McDonald’s over in Europe or in Brazil. It’s a different way, it’s a different taste. A Coke is a different taste. For them to experience it for themselves ... we take for granted everything we have in the U.S. whether it be an electrical outlet because they use different plugs compared to what we use. That gives them an idea of this is different and can I do it or is this something I might need to rethink and maybe go into the working world instead of going to play professionally.”
Back in New Jersey, Jordan is primed to build on a solid sophomore campaign in which he averaged 12.6 points and 5.9 assists per game. He was named preseason First Team AllMAAC along with forward Dimencio Vaughn on Tuesday, the same night the Broncs were selected as the league’s unanimous favorite. “We sort of shocked the MAAC last year and nobody expected that and this year they’re expecting us to win,” Jordan said. “We’ve definitely embraced that as a team. Everybody knows it’s going to take hard work and dedication every day in practice.”
Jordan has to be one of the team leaders. It’s kind of built into the job as the point guard.
“Just telling my college experience with these guys, trying to help them out and make it easier for them,” the Bensalem native said. “As a point guard, you have to be some type of a leader because you’re supposed to be a part of the coach, so I would hope they want to listen to me, too.”
Baggett probably coaches Jordan harder than he has any other player because he sees the natural talent and confidence required to be an elite point guard.
“He’s getting there and he has to understand it starts with him,” the seventh-year coach said. “I was riding him again this morning because he might be ready to go, but it’s other guys who aren’t and that’s where I need him to get them going so it doesn’t always come from the head coach. My point guards are our quarterbacks. Being a captain and being a leader is not when you pick and choose, it’s every day.”
Despite a 22-10 overall record and 15-3 conference mark last season that was good enough for the regular-season title, Rider produced its worst performance of the in a MAAC quarterfinal loss to Saint Peter’s, which was the team’s seventh straight exit at that stage.
To say that has stuck with Jordan and his teammates would be an understatement.
“I looked at the team and saw that we were a little immature,” Jordan said. “I know I’m one of the old guys on the team now, so I wanted to let everybody know my story. We shouldn’t take any game for granted.”
If that lesson is learned, the Broncs may have something special brewing.
“The talent is really through the roof,” Jordan said. “We have guys who can do everything on the court.”
NOTES >> Baggett said look for Jordan and Kimar Williams to play a lot together in two point-guard rotations. ... Freshman Ajiri Johnson ran with the first unit during practice, rotating in at the five. The staff is high on the 6-8, 204-pounder out of Monsignor Bonner in the PCL and Baggett said he’ll get the majority of his minutes as Marshall’s backup. ... Baggett once again cautioned against reading into preseason hype. “I know the talent is there, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to wins. We can’t think that we’ve arrived because we haven’t won anything. We go down and get beat by Saint Peter’s (in the quarterfinals) of the MAAC Tournament, so it’s a long year. Our guys are growing up, but there’s still a lot of growth to be had.”