Nov. 21, 2007

Ohio's new freshman forward, Maurice Pearson, joins the Bobcats from Silver Springs, Md. Pearson says the move to Athens, Ohio has been a change in pace from his busy hometown.

"In Athens everything is more centered and there's not such a variety of stuff that you have access to.... I like the college atmosphere. The whole town is based on the college, and there are no outside distractions."

Adjusting to a new town is just one of the many changes that face Pearson as a freshman at Ohio. One of the new challenges has been transitioning from high school basketball to college level basketball, which brings with it a whole new set of demands.

"It's a lot different, it's more intense. It's heavier schedule, there's more stuff demanded as a player on and off the court. The coaches are on your studies harder, you have to go to study tables."

Pearson credits his AAU coach, who has been with him since middle school, for helping him develop into the basketball player he is today. He also says that his mother, and her determination to make sure that he always did his best, helped him get where he is today. As far as his influences at Ohio, Pearson says that he has been learning from his older teammates both on and off the court.

"I look forward to coming to practice and playing against Leon Williams and Jerome Tillman, they're my role models as far as basketball on and off the court. They're good people to follow... I can bring a lot of energy to practice and play hard, but as far as everything else I have a lot of work to do to fill the spot of Leon and Jerome."

At only 17 years old, Pearson is the youngest player on the team. For this season, Ohio Head Coach Tim O'Shea has decided to redshirt Pearson, which he says is not necessarily a bad thing.

"I'm young already. So it's like being in my rightful grade, and then I get a year to practice and travel, and experience college."

Even though he will not be playing with the Bobcats this year, Pearson has high hopes for the team, despite their demanding schedule.

"I expect we should make some noise and do some damage. We have a good chance as long as we work hard."

Ohio starts its seven-day road trip on Nov. 26 at Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. The Bobcats will take on the Patriot League preseason favorite Crusaders in the Hart Center at 7 p.m.  

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Pearson's feature was written by Marissa Doyle, a senior journalism/public relations major at Ohio University from Pittsburgh.