Isaiah Johnson and Kwan Cheatham could have decided they wanted to try to make a name for themselves.
They could have abandoned the University of Akron basketball program and coach Keith Dambrot in search of a better chance at NCAA Tournament glory.
After graduating in three years, the two were essentially college free agents, free to go elsewhere and play immediately.
The two products of Cincinnati high schools had every reason to look around. Their postseasons had consisted of one-and-dones in the CollegeInsider.com (2013-14) and National Invitation tournaments (2015-16). In their sophomore season of eligibility, they sat home after the Zips fell to Buffalo in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Both have the talent that could have made them attractive to programs like Louisville or in the Big Ten Conference, Dambrot said Thursday. Johnson, aka “Big Dog,” is a 6-foot-9, 290-pounder who concentrates on rebounding first. Cheatham, a 6-9, 235-pound forward, loves defense but can be deadly from 3-point range.
Dambrot need only look up the road to Cleveland State, where the fifth-year transfer rule devastated coach Gary Waters’ program. Calling it “a bad rule,” Dambrot was keenly aware that in two years, Waters lost Anton Grady to Wichita State, Trey Lewis to Louisville and Bryn Forbes to Michigan State, the latter leaving to be close to his ailing sister. Last season, the Vikings slipped to 9-23.
But Dambrot prides himself on cultivating relationships with his players and their families and treating his people right. He said he has good rapport with both Cheatham’s and Johnson’s mothers.
So Dambrot did not have to share Waters’ dismay. Loyalty won.
“Those guys could have gone anywhere in the country with their size and skill set. Their loyalty and commitment to us is big,” Dambrot said as UA held basketball media day at the student union.
With Cheatham and Johnson returning to play as graduate students, the Zips return five of their top eight scorers from a team that tied the school record with 26 victories.
While the Zips have recorded 21 or more victories in 11 consecutive seasons, Johnson wants more.
“The only thing I want to do is win,” Johnson said. “I feel like the last three years we’ve had the best team in the MAC and we should have gone to the dance all three years and each time we fell short for discipline reasons.”
Johnson explained the “discipline reasons” to which he referred were little things that have derailed the Zips in the MAC Tournament, which brings an automatic NCAA bid. UA’s last appearance came in 2013.
“Like on the court stuff, not being in the right position, missing an extra pass or missing an easy layup,” Johnson said. “Not focusing in like we should have.”
When the two were asked why they decided to return, Dambrot jumped in and answered, “They just like me.”
“That’s one of them,” Cheatham said. “It just felt right. I had teams call, I had people call my parents. I’m just a loyal person. I had three good years here going and I’m excited for the future. I know what kind of year we can have this year. It just feels special. It felt right staying here and being loyal to this fan base and to coach Dambrot.”
With his nickname and his skills around the basket, Johnson could have been a fan favorite elsewhere. At UA, he’s one of the best in the MAC, but not a likely candidate for player of the year.
“He’s taking a hit because we’re so balanced and we’re defensive-oriented, so there’s going to be guys in our league who score more than him,” Dambrot said of Johnson. “On top of that, he’s so pass-oriented that he’s not going to score as much as [Ohio’s] Antonio Campbell and guys like that. But ultimately he’s going to get judged on whether we win or lose.”
Johnson doesn’t sound like he cares if people around the nation know who he is. The focus that he said has been his team’s downfall in March seems on point — for him at least — in October.
“I felt like coming back here was a no-brainer,” Johnson said. “I haven’t won the way I wanted to here. I’m determined to win championships.”
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her blog at www.ohio.com/marla. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.