Former California Pintos basketball standout Isaac Ash is working to establish himself following his first college season.
Ash, a freshman at Central Methodist University, is a member of the men’s Reserve Green basketball team. Ash has made himself a contributor for one of the Eagles’ two reserve basketball teams.
On Nov. 14, Ash scored a season high 28 points in the team’s game against Graceland University. He contributed a 15-point game against Missouri Valley College on Nov. 22, and on Dec. 5, he scored 20 points against North Central Missouri College. Ash nearly eclipsed his season high Feb. 16, when he scored 26 points against Ottawa University.
Ash said he has noticed a couple of differences when it comes to how practices are run at college compared to high school.
“It has been a little different because in college we will end up having a lot of early morning practices at like five in the morning instead of right after school,” Ash said. “We do a lot more things and instead of team workouts you are doing a lot more individual things with players who are the same position as you, and that has been something new. Honestly, practices are the same amount of time as they are during high school — it is just that you have more time to do your individual workouts.”
When it comes to games, Ash said a difference he noticed was that college games had a shot clock. Another difference he noticed was the competition for playing time.
“You really have to use your time wisely and get a shot off quick in college,” Ash said. “It is a lot harder to get playing time because now you are competing against guys that are all elite, so you always have to try a lot harder. It is a lot more challenging than in high school because you know now that (you’re) in college, everyone is really good.”
Ash said he thought his first season went very well.
“It was really cool getting to know a lot of the guys. Some of the guys were from mid-Missouri so it was kind of neat getting to play with some guys that I played against before,” Ash said. “Overall, it was pretty successful, and I learned a lot and it was a lot of fun.”
In college, Ash said his coaches moved him from the small forward and shooting guard position into the point guard position. As a result, Ash said he has had to work on and has improved his ball handling ability.
“The point guard has to bring it up the court and usually they have one of the best defenders on them, so that has been one thing I have really improved on,” Ash said.
Ash said he has also improved his communication on the court during his time at college.
“Because if you are not communicating on the court, it gets really chaotic out there,” Ash said. “Especially when you are in college and everyone is a lot more athletic and knows more about the game.”
Ash said he has a couple of goals that he would like to accomplish during his time in college, including shattering a Central Methodist record that he previously claimed as a Pinto.
“One goal I have always wanted to break at Central Methodist would be breaking the three-point record in a game. I always thought that was kind of cool because I did that in California, so I would like to carry on that tradition to the college level as well,” Ash said. “(And) just earning more playing time, working harder and earning the time I deserve.”