Former Libbey High School boys basketball coach Leroy Bates hasn't minded answering his cell phone the last few days because there was some pretty good news on the other end.
Monday he took a call from his former player, Ohio State University's William Buford, who informed Bates that he was just named Big Ten freshman of the year.
Four days earlier Bates took a call from Buford's Libbey teammate and classmate, James Madison University's Julius Wells, who announced his selection as the Colonial Athletic Association's rookie of the year.
Buford, a 6-foot-5 guard who was named Ohio's 2008 Mr. Basketball - the state's top honor for high school players - led all Big Ten rookies with an average of 11.1 points per game.
Buford finished third offensively among his Buckeye teammates and had the second most field goals (124) and third most 3-pointers (38). At the foul line, he led the team in shooting percentage (.925), making 37 of 40 attempts.
Wells, also a 6-5 guard, averaged 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds for the 18-13 Dukes. His 70 3-pointers were the third most in the CAA and the conference's most for a freshman.
"I'm extremely proud of them and happy for our basketball program," Bates said, "and proud of the fact that they are representing City League basketball so well. It's an affirmation that all the hard work they put in paid off for them.
"It's very satisfying, not only
because of their progress as basketball players but also their development as college students. Both of them are carrying over 3.0 grade point averages. So they're also working hard in the classroom."
Buford and Wells led Libbey to a 24-3 record and Division II state runner-up finish last season.
Two of their Cowboy teammates also have performed well this season as freshmen at Division II Ohio Valley University in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Guard Lance Jones leads OVU in scoring at 12.3 and has grabbed 4.8 rebounds per game. Forward Rodney Everage is third in scoring (10.3) and second in rebounding (6.0).
Ohio State has earned five Big Ten freshman of the year honors since it was first introduced by the league in 1986. Buford joins fellow Toledo native Jim Jackson (1990), Greg Simpson (1993), Michael Redd (1998) and Greg Oden (2007).
MORE BUCKEYE AWARDS: Ohio State sophomore Evan Turner, a 6-7 guard from Chicago, was named first team All-Big Ten by the league coaches and media yesterday.
Buckeye freshman B.J. Mullens, a 7-1 center from Canal Winchester, was named the league's sixth man of the year.
Jon Diebler, a 6-7 guard from Upper Sandusky, was selected honorable mention All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media. He averaged 11.2 points a game.
Ohio State University contributed to this report.
First Published March 10, 2009, 9:06 a.m.
