Calumet led by 21st Century grads
21st Century grad leads tough-minded crew of Calumet players
Core’Vonn Lott is only a freshman, but is already one to beat. Lott is a star at Calumet College along with others coming from 21st Century, a Class A school.
Core’Von Lott played in the shadows of Eugene German and DeAndre Gholston at 21st Century, a Class A school.
Now, as a freshman, he’s a star at Calumet College.
The Crimson Wave (14-1) are off to its best start in Ryan Sexson’s 12 seasons as head coach.
Lott, a 6-foot-1 guard who sat out last season, is averaging 15.7 points.
In most ways, Lott is the quintessential player for the Crimson Wave.
He lives at home, commuting 30 minutes from Gary. He gets up early for two morning classes, then breaks for a personal workout. He eats lunch and then practices with the team, typically from 3:30 to 5 p.m. He ends frequently with another workout.
Lott is an exception in one way. He arrived at Calumet straight from high school. Many players on the roster are castoffs from junior college or have unusual basketball backgrounds.
Few colleges recruited Lott, who averaged 18 points and 2.5 assists as a senior in high school. Calumet, an NAIA Division II school, plays in the Chicago Collegiate Athletic Conference.
“I loved the campus and no one else offered,” Lott said.
It doesn’t get any earthier than Calumet. It’s a pure basketball experience.
“You can’t play at Calumet if you don’t love the game,” Sexson said. “I just try to be surrounded by guys who love the game.”
The Crimson Wave appear to have discovered that group love.
Joe Larry, Calumet’s leading scorer, averages 18.2 points. He’s a 6-0 senior guard who played a “minimal role” at Parkland Community College for two seasons before coming to Calumet, according to Sexson.
Sexson said Larry can score a variety of different ways.
“He’s had a chance to shine here,” Sexson said.
Lazono Trammell, a 6-8
“We want to win conference and go to nationals. We’d like to win a couple of games in the tournament and get as far as we can. For now, we are just taking it one game at a time. We want to continue to buy in.”
— Core’Von Lott
starting forward who is the biggest player for Calumet, gets a special dispensation from practice at times because he’s in the U.S. Army National Guard.
Trammell played at Chicago Harlan and Shawnee Community College.
Bowman graduate Anthony Cole, a senior guard, is another starter. He played for a year at Oakton Community College.
The list of what Sexson can’t offer seems longer that what he can. Calumet doesn’t have dorms or a meal plan.
No one has a full scholarship.
According to Sexson, “Everyone here is paying something out of pocket.”
What he sells is a tough conference and an opportunity to star.
All his players have Chicago or Northwest Indiana roots.
The good start is a surprise.
Three key players finished their eligibility last season — Devin Harrison, an NAIA All-American; Michael Brooks, their starting point guard; and Jose Ramirez, their biggest player.
Because there’s so much transition, Sexson is never sure what he has until the season starts.
“I knew we were athletic and we had some talent,” Sexson said. “These were mostly secondary players, though.”
Assistant coach Chris Artis was surprised too.
“I did not expect this at all,” he said. “Our guys play really, really hard and they are tough.”
It sounds hokey, but Sexson hopes for the type of organic chemistry he has this season.
It doesn’t always happen.
The Crimson Wave has only qualified for the NAIA playoffs once under Sexson.
If they win the South Division of the CCAC, they’re in. If they win the conference tournament, they’re in.
“Half the battle is getting them to play hard and getting them to play together,” Sexson said. “We are fortunate we have guys who are competitive, love the game and allow us to coach them.”
Lott said he’s trying to not look ahead.
“We want to win conference and go to nationals,” he said.
“We’d like to win a couple of games in the tournament and get as far as we can.
“For now, we are just taking it one game at a time. We want to continue to buy in.”