Flyer freshman being thrown into the fire

Dyshawn Pierre and the other Dayton freshmen haven’t been allowed to ease into their college careers. Because of injuries and the lack of quality veterans, they’ve been logging major minutes and thrown into the heat of battle.

But while they’re still learning much about basketball at this level, Pierre and his three classmates don’t want to use their youth as an excuse.

“We have discussions, and we don’t want to be viewed as freshmen,” Pierre said. “We want to put in as much work as the rest of the team and not be the ones who let our team down.”

So far, they haven’t had to worry about not pulling their weight.

Pierre has been a starting wing and is averaging 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds. He’s also shooting 55.2 percent from the field and 48.2 on 3-pointers.

He had a perfect day in a win against Boston College, making all eight of his field-goal attempts (including 5-for-5 on 3-pointers) and a pair of foul shots for 23 points.

Khari Price has been a capable back-up for guards Vee Sanford and Kevin Dillard. Forward Jalen Robinson has been a reliable front-court sub, averaging 5.9 points and 5.2 rebounds (second on the team). He hauled down 14 boards in a game, tying for the fifth-most for a freshman in program history.

Forward Devon Scott hasn’t seen much action, but he’s shown plenty of potential with his tenacity and skill set.

Although they still make freshmen mistakes occasionally, they’re maturing quickly and will be ready for even bigger roles next season.

“The experience has been great, playing in front of as many fans as we do,” Pierre said. “Playing for this coaching staff is amazing, too. Being able to travel all over the states and play this many top teams is a cool experience, for sure.”

About the Author