With the departure of Division II Player of the Year Zach Hankins, Ferris men’s backetball turned to a Division I transfer to ll the missing piece of the puzzle.
Enter Ferris senior forward Taylor Adway, who formerly played for the University of Toledo (Toledo, Ohio), a school that is a part of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) at the Division I level. A little shorter than Hankins but practically just as big, Adway stands tall at 6-foot-8 and is a threat in the paint. Naturally, everyone compares Adway to Hankins but Adway sees their styles of play a whole lot different.
“I feel like our games are different. I’m more of a face-up type player,” Adway said. “I’m more comfortable when I’m faced up, whether it’s facing up shooting or attacking the rim. I’m more comfortable in that aspect of the game and Hankins was more of a ‘back to the basket’ type player.”
With questions surrounding Adway and whether he could ll in the great role that Hankins had during his time at Ferris, Adway chose to shut it out. He does not even think about it, he said. Even though Adway doesn’t compare his style of play towards Hankins, he could fill in the great role that Hankins had during his time at Ferris, Adway chose to shut it out. He does not even think about it, he said. Even though Adway doesn’t compare his style of play towards Hankins, he is still aware of the great impact Hankins had on the program at Ferris and wants to follow in his footsteps in that aspect, even if that means getting off to a slow start.
“I denitely feel like I want to have an impact the way he had,” Adway said. “Starting off the season, I’m not playing up to my liking and I feel like that’s the biggest pressure for me.”
The reverse situation happened to Hankins than it did to Adway. Hankins transferred from Division II to Division I while Adway did the opposite. Going from the top level to one below might seem easy, but there are many adjustments that are made and usually takes some time to get used to.
“Basketball-wise it’s actually been a bit of an adjustment because it’s a different style of play and a different style of coaching,” Adway said. “I’m in a different role. At Toledo I wasn’t asked to do or expected to do as much as I am here, so now I’m in more of a role where more is demanded of me.”
The 2018-19 Ferris men’s basketball season began with high hopes for the Bulldogs but they have been in a National Championship hangover, sitting at 5-5 and coming off a fourth straight loss against the Ashland Eagles Saturday, Dec. 1. As some may remember in last year’s season, the Bulldogs only dropped one game the entire year. But last year’s performance was also a historic year and one to remember. Although the Bulldogs are off to a rocky start, they still maintain the same goals in mind and know their capabilities.
“I think we’re capable of winning, of course: the GLIAC regular season, the GLIAC tournament,” Adway said. “Our goal right now is to get better every day.”
The Bulldogs are back home 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, as they take on the Northwood Timberwolves.