He was named Lorain County’s ‘Mr. Basketball’ in 2014. He averaged 22.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game his senior season. He broke Vermilion’s scoring record as a junior.
Now, Cameron Kuhn is making an immediate impact for Baldwin Wallace.
Kuhn, who lettered four years for the Vermilion Sailors as one of the school’s most potent players, decided to stay close to home when he committed to play for Baldwin Wallace. Kuhn said the speed and physicality of collegiate ball differs from his high school days, but he has managed to adapt.
Through 16 games, Kuhn has averaged 12.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, shooting 52 percent. The Yellow Jackets are 12-4 overall and 6-3 in Ohio Athletic Conference play.
Kuhn said he hadn’t necessarily expected to find a spot among the starting five this season, but he had expected to work hard from the very start.
‘I just work as hard as I can and hopefully that will take me to the best that I can be,’ Kuhn said.
‘I guess I’ve been playing well and I guess I was a right fit for Coach’s program. I think I’m just helping them out and that just worked me up to a starting spot,’ Kuhn said.
Kuhn’s hard work paid off when he was named the OAC Player of the Week on Jan. 12. The honor was the result of a season-high 25-point performance as the Yellow Jackets defeated Pine Manor, 111-79, part of an eight-game win streak. Kuhn also scored 19 points against Fisher and 17 against Capital that week.
Though hard work has anchored his success, Kuhn said his teammates have also played a significant role.
‘I came in as a freshman and they’ve all just been helping me out,’ he said. ‘I’m finally getting used to the program and the team chemistry is just unbelievable here.’
While the Yellow Jackets are a close-knit group, Kuhn also appreciates being close to home. About 40 minutes from Vermilion, Kuhn said his family is able to attend all his home games. Sailors coach Kurt Habermehl has also been in attendance.
‘It just shows how much they care about me. It’s just awesome.’ Kuhn said.
One of three freshmen on the roster, Kuhn said he doesn’t feel any added pressure as a rookie starter. In fact, coach Duane Sheldon said Kuhn fits the mold of his team’s biggest strengths as the Yellow Jackets can defend, shoot and share the ball amid its strong chemistry. Sheldon said Kuhn took some time to adjust to the speed of the game, but once he did, he took off.
‘We knew he had a chance to be a very, very good player for us,’ Sheldon said. ‘We didn’t realize this soon how well he would do.’
The Yellow Jackets have nine games remaining on the regular season schedule. Kuhn said his biggest goal is to help the Yellow Jackets secure the OAC tournament title. He also wouldn’t mind being named the OAC Freshman of the Year.
‘You look at his last four games, the stats are unbelievable. I think what I’m most pleased about is he’s taken on the role to guard the other team’s best player. He’s always guarding the best perimeter player on the other team and he’s done a very good job of that as well. So not only has he put up big numbers offensively, he’s been a real key component to why we’ve been so good defensively,’ Sheldon said.