The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Beachwood’s Houston settling in to new home
Junior moved to Northeast Ohio after his stepfather died of colon cancer in August
Daryl Houston’s life flipped upside down in August.
Houston’s stepfather, James Barnes, passed away from colon cancer on Aug. 3, 2019. By the end of the month, Houston and his mother moved from their home near Detroit into a shared apartment in Beachwood with his aunt and cousin.
Barnes battled cancer for more than two years before his death. Doctors informed the family he had months to live earlier last year, but a timeline didn’t dull the pain associated with losing a man Houston said was basically his father.
“It was tough,” Houston said. “I was sad about it for a while, but I had talked to him a lot before it happened. He was telling me he knew it was coming, so we were prepared but it still was hard when it first happened. He died in the house so seeing the body, it was tragic.”
Houston, originally from Beachwood, moved to Michigan when he was 3. His mother, Tjwania, wanted to return to Northeast Ohio to be closer to family following her husband’s death.
After spending two years at Grosse Pointe South, Houston was the new kid at Beachwood.
“His game kind of reminds me of a combination of Ja Morant and Kyrie, I think he’s got parts of that in his game.”
— Beachwood coach David Krasnow
He already began to prove himself at his previous school, where Houston was the conference’s player of the year as a sophomore.
At Beachwood, the basketball court is where he assimilated within his new teammates and classmates. As the postseason nears, Houston’s established himself as one of the Bison’s leaders and one of the area’s top players. Houston ranks among the area scoring leaders at 21.9 points per game for Beachwood, which is 12-6 and 9-3 in Chagrin Valley Conference play. The 6-foot-2 junior also leads the team averaging 7.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.3 steals per game.
Recently, Houston’s increased comfortability as coach David Krasnow’s point guard has manifested in victories against Chagrin Falls, Glenville, West Geauga and Perry. The Bison have won 11 of their last 14 games following a 1-3 start.
During Beachwood’s current five-game winning streak, Houston has averaged 27.4 points per game and notched 31-point efforts against West Geauga and Chagrin Falls.
Krasnow thought Houston was certainly capable of seeing the floor the first time he watched him in open gym. The more Krasnow watched Houston, the more his estimation grew.
“He’s absolutely a player,” Krasnow said. “His game kind of reminds me of a combination of Ja Morant and Kyrie. I think he’s got parts of that in his game. He’s like, at times, a contortionist. He’s going up for a shot and somebody bigger’s ready to block it and it’s like he dislocates his hip, he’s done some things that I don’t know what to say.”
Houston brings a defensive versatility that allows Beachwood to employ various fullcourt pressures. His length and quickness seemingly allow him to cover two ballhandlers at once.
At point guard, Houston’s feel for the game is evident. He is able to create shots for himself and others, knocks down midrange opportunities and has plenty of bounce to finish at the rim against bigger defenders.
Houston’s arrival proved fortuitous for Beachwood’s basketball program. The team graduated most of its main contributors from a year ago, highlighted by Jayson Woodrich and his 26.1 point-per-game average. Jalen and Jeshaun Minter returned with the most experience, although only as bench players. The two were unable to participate in open gyms due to football practices during the fall, but easily saw Houston’s talent and bonded quickly.
“First when he came here, it was cool,” Jalen Minter said. “He was quiet, which is low-key what I thought was cool about him because he didn’t have a big mouth. He just let his game speak for him.”
Alongside the Minters and sharpshooting guard Moe Jones, Houston’s formed strong friendships with his teammates. The Bison’s chemistry continues to improve, as do Houston’s relationship via a personality Krasnow says it quiet, but funny paired with some confidence and swagger. Houston’s increased trust in his teammates corresponds with Beachwood’s successful stretch.
Next to a new rotation, the Bison also feature a new coach as Krasnow was hired to replace Matt Miller following last season. Krasnow, formerly an assistant next to Miller, credits Houston in helping make his work look good in Krasnow’s first head coaching experience.
Off the court, Krasnow has tried to make sure Houston and all of his teammates understand he’s available — whether via text to discuss game planning or a phone call in case one of them needs a ride.
“Basketball has helped me get away,” Houston said. “It clears your mind, (I’ll) go get some shots up. I can talk to my coach anytime, too, he’s always telling me he’s open to talk. He helps me with on and off the court stuff.”
Likewise, Houston’s helped Krasnow.
Krasnow tries to keep his volume at a reasonable level during practices and games. During a December game against Olmsted Falls, Krasnow pointed out a play to Houston that ended with a good shot by the point guard — but also left Jones open in the corner.
The next time down the floor, Houston found Jones wide open for 3.
“What I’ve learned from Daryl, which I’ve applied to everyone, the softer you talk, the more they listen,” Krasnow said. “I know that seems like a basic thing but if you’re used to people yelling, if you just hear people yelling and loud you just kind of shut down.”
Houston gained quick familiarity with Beachwood. He previously trained with John Davis III, the former Bison standout who went on to start 90 games at Furman, and played in some runs with another former player in Tyrone Gibson.
Past the halfway point of his first school year at Beachwood, Houston said he likes his new school more than his old one. As far as the area’s basketball atmosphere, he’s taken in a game between Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights as well as games at the Chet Mason Invitational that compare favorably to the basketball culture around Detroit.
A few weeks away from the postseason, Houston’s goal is to win a district title. His Grosse Pointe South team lost in the district final last year, a game he missed with a broken thumb.
The point guard has made a smooth transition into a new school and a new team — one that’s enjoyed a lot of winning thanks to Houston’s play.
“I’m having fun,” Houston said.
“I’m a captain on the team so I’m like a leader on the team, helping everybody out.”
“He’s like, at times, a contortionist. He’s going up for a shot and somebody bigger’s ready to block it and it’s like he dislocates his hip, he’s done some things that I don’t know what to say.” — Beachwood coach David Krasnow, on Daryl Houston