BEREA, OHIO -- A year ago, former Midpark High standout Kevin Gall's basketball season was tied to his recovery from an illness that in reality cost him his first season of college basketball. Now healthy, the Brook Park native is making both his mark and an impact on the Baldwin Wallace University basketball program as an effective player on the court and an affective player on the bench and at practice. And, playing for the Yellow Jackets is a dream come true for him.
"Kevin is wise beyond his years and experience," said second-year Head Coach Duane Sheldon, who served as the head coach at Midpark from 1994-95 through 1998-99 and was the coach at Ohio Athletic Conference rival Heidelberg University for six seasons before returning to his alma mater, BW, in the winter of 2008. "He transferred (from Division II Lake Erie College) into BW in the fall of 2008, missed a good part of last season due to some pre-season health issues, but he's healthy now.
"Last season was a tough one for Kevin, but he persevered and made the most out of it when he had the opportunity and better health," continued Sheldon. "This season, Kevin is healthy and making an impact. He plays well off the bench, and when given a chance to start, he has done that well too. The key to his play is consistency"
"I feel that I have sufficently recovered from my illness," said Gall, a history major at BW who intends to attend law school and then become a lawyer. "Last year, I was never really 100 percent healthy and I think it affected my play greatly. I think it is very important for me to stay healthy if I plan to contribute to the team the way my teammates and coaches expect me to contribute."
"I chose Lake Erie initially because of the interest they showed in me throughout my high school career," said Gall, who averaged 1.8 ppg. last season and has significantly stepped up his contribution this season. "I chose to transfer to BW because I felt it was a better school academically and also closer to home for me. I've always wanted to play basketball at BW since before I was in high school, so getting the opportunity to do so now made my decision to transfer that much easier.
"This season, I am trying to improve each day," said Gall, who is scoring 9.4 points and grabbing 3.1 rebounds per game and shooting a team-best 61.7 percent from the floor on 29-of-47 attempts heading into a Wednesday, Dec. 16 game against Heidelberg College in Tiffin. "I'm always trying to improve every aspect to become a more complete player. Our team goals are to improve and get better. We want to be OAC champions and ultimately make the NCAA Division III National Tournament."
Gall, who stands six-foot four and weighs 200 pounds often plays against opponents much taller and stockier, appears ubiquitous [The Websters Dictionary describes ubiquitous as being in all places at all times] by his play which is an embodiment of hustle, desire and an all-out commitment to his team.
That commitment has helped BW forge a two-game win streak and four victories in its last five contests. In last Saturday's 87-73 win versus Capital University in the Ursprung Gym in Berea, Gall scored eight points and grabbed two rebounds in 14 minutes of action.
"Kevin will give up his body for his team," said Sheldon, who has led his team to a 4-3 overall and 2-1 OAC record heading into the Heidelberg contest. "What he lacks in physical stature he works extremely hard to make up in effort and desire. We appreciate what Kevin brings to our program both on and off the court.
"Kevin also works hard to help our younger student-athletes in our program," continued Sheldon. "With our program being so young right now, we really need upper-class leaders like Kevin to step up and help us guide them."
"Basketball has always been a very big part of my life since I was a little kid," said Gall. "Being a college student can be very stressful in itself and basketball has always been an outlet. I feel blessed to be able to show up each day and get to play the game that I love, especially here at BW. I would also like to thank my parents [Lawrence and Bonnie Gall of Brook Park] for their constant and continued support, because without them, I wouldn't have made it to where I am today."
Following its game at Heidelberg, the Yellow Jackets will be idle until Dec. 22 when it travels to Wilmington for an OAC Game against the Wilmington College Quakers at 7:30 p.m. The next home game is Wednesday, January 6 against rival Mount Union College in the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium in the Lou Higgins Center at 7:30 p.m.
All Yellow Jacket men's and women's basketball games can be heard LIVE via the Internet at www.wBW.com. In addition, all away games are broadcast on campus radio station WBW, 88.3 FM.
In addition, BW's Saturday, February 20 game against Otterbein College is both "Take a Kid to the Game" Day and will be televised by SportsTime Ohio (www.sportstime ohio.com). For more information regarding the "Take a Kid to the Game" promotion, please call Meg Carney in the Athletic Department at 440-826-2140 or e-mail her at mcarney@bw.edu.
