BEREA, OHIO --  Following a great learning experience as a freshman playing college basketball at Baldwin Wallace University, Elyria native Promis Cabbil (Elyria H.S.) made a promise to first-year Head Coach Duane Sheldon.

"I told Coach that I will be much-improved as a sophomore," said the usually soft-spoken Cabbil, a criminal justice and broadcasting major at BW. "I told him that I would work really hard in the off-season so I could better help the team this season.
 
"I was a little disappointed with my play last season," continued Cabbil, who scored 4.4 points, grabbed 1.8 rebounds and passed for 49 total assists and made a team-leading 31 steals in all 25 games, including 19 starts for the then 8-17 overall Yellow Jackets. "It was a great learning experience and process, and one that motivated me to really work harder over the summer to get better."
 
"For any freshman, playing in the Ohio Athletic Conference is tough," said second-year Yellow Jacket Head Coach Duane Sheldon, who first recruited Cabbil as the coach at OAC-rival Heidelberg University. "We knew that Promis had the talent and ability to play at Heidelberg or BW and with hard work and improvement could be a very good player in our league."

"As the old saying goes, Promis was "thrown into the fire" right away as a starter even though we knew (as a coaching staff) that he wasnt ready to start," continued Sheldon. 'He got better as the season progressed."
 
The key was the hard work and improvement. And, improve Cabbil has this season.
 
Heading into this Saturday's game versus OAC-rival Capital University, Cabbil is second on the team in scoring at 14.0 ppg., grabs 2.2 rebounds and has passed for a team-leading 29 assists. He shoots 50 percent from the floor (31-of-62 attempts) after shooting just 32.5% from the floor a year ago (39-of-120), and he shoots a solid 74.1 from the free throw line this season compared to 60% a year ago.

"I'm not sure that I have ever had a player work harder," said Sheldon, who's team is 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the OAC prior to the clash with the Capital University today (December 12) at 3:00 p.m. in the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium in the Lou Higgins Center in Berea. "Promis is certainly playing with more confidence. He now knows that this is his team to lead as the point guard. Promis is making things happen and that has both helped him and the others around him."
 
So, what did Cabbil do in the off-season to help make himself more successful this campaign?
 
"I spent alot of time shooting and doing dribbling drills over the summer," said Cabbil. "I also played in a lot of summer leagues and tournaments.  I also worked extra hard in the weightroom to get stronger. I worked out three times per week in the weightroom and ran whenever I worked out."

"I played every summer game like it was one of my college games so that I would get used to playing at a high level against good competition," said Cabbil.

"I feel like a different player this season," said Cabbil. "I am more adjusted to the level of play and am playing with more confidence. My teamates and coaches helped to make me become more comfortable."

"I'm more vocal with my teammates this season," said Cabbil. "I am not afraid to speak up. My teammates and coaches have put their trust in me which gives me the opportunity to be a leader."

And, once summer was over, the transition from freshman to sophomore was not yet complete.

"Just knowing the commitment that you have to make to be successful, how to manage your time better in terms of classes and studying as the main priority, and most importantly, by leading by-example were other things that I learned as a freshman and am working hard to continue to improve as a sophomore," said Cabbil.
 
"In the OAC, you have to grow up fast," said Sheldon, who led Heidelberg to the OAC Tournament Championship three years ago and hopes to return the OAC trophy back to Berea. "Promis, like any first-year student-athlete in our league, learned some key lessons about both being in the classroom, at study table and on and off the court.  We definitely like the improvement, but we both know that he still has a lot of work to do to be the best student and player possible. The great thing is that we know he'll do the work to make it happen."
 
"Our goals each year at BW is to play smarter and harder than any of our opponents and to win the OAC regular season title, the OAC Tournament title and ultimately a national championship," said Cabbil.  "We know its possible through hard work, dedication and commitment. And I and all of my teammates are willing to make that commitment.  Individually, my goal is to be a geat team player."
 
Sounds like a "promis".
 
Following its game with Capital, Cabbil and the Yellow Jackets next play on Wednesday, December 16 at Heidelberg in Tiffin at 7:30 p.m.