This is the fifth of our “Meet the Jays” segments featuring the 2009-2010 Creighton Bluejays men’s basketball players. Join us as we profile a different scholarship player each day leading up to the season opener at Dayton on November 14.
Back during the 2002-03 season, I remember watching DeAnthony Bowden come off the bench for the Bluejays. One thing my friends and I did each game when he came in for the first time was make a big X with our arms. One reason was because one of my friends thought DeAnthony looked like DMX, but the bigger reason was that we considered DeAnthony the X-Factor– The guy to get things jumpstarted if things were slow or the guy that no one considered being the playmaker with guys like Kyle Korver, Larry House and crew. Since DeAnthony, that type of player over the past six seasons since has seemed to be a bit lost, until now.
That guy is Junior College transfer Darryl Ashford. Coming into the season, there are questions to what his role is going to be. After watching Darryl in the exhibition game Wednesday night, I think we are getting an idea. He is going to be that spark that the team may need to get things going at times. Darryl Ashford appears to be one of those guys that just sort of goes out and plays basketball and does it quietly.
Darryl took a long road to get to Creighton. He was originally recruited by Bobby Knight when he was at Texas Tech. Due to some academic issues, he ended up going to prep school at New Hampton Prep in New Hampshire before landing at Jacksonville junior college in Texas before committing to Creighton.
You would think that one factor in Darryl deciding to come to Creighton would be the Qwest Center and the environment and with his performance Wednesday night you would figure he knew what to expect with his 16 points and 4-of-5 from three along with five assists. When I spoke to him at Creighton media day, I asked what he thought of the Qwest Center:
“I’ve never been there. Haven’t seen it.”
Something tells me he likes it there. However, in Wednesday’s game we only saw one part of his game with his outside shooting. Check the video at the repertoire of things Darryl can do, and this is even back from his high school days. (He is #23)
Darryl has enjoyed his time at Creighton so far:
“I am just really enjoying the town, I really like everybody. I’m excited to play some basketball and get out there.”
Darryl led the Jacksonville JC in scoring, steals and blocked shots last season which means he can score points and play some defense, two things that will be key to this season. Watching him on the floor at the same time with P’Allen Stinnett and Antoine Young can create some tough matchups for teams this season on the perimeter, because Ashford can also drive to the basket.
Get out and watch Ashford and the rest of the Bluejays wrap up the exhibition portion of their schedule Sunday afternoon against Nebraska-Omaha.