Marietta’s Junior Bass handles the ball inside during a game against New Philadelphia last season at Sutton Gym. (Photo by Jordan Holland)

Senior year didn’t go exactly how Junior Bass drew it up, but he came out on the other end of it stronger.

Bass spent the first three years of high school at Belpre before transferring to Marietta last summer with the intention of making a major impact for the Tigers in football and basketball.

However, due to transfer rules, Bass’s eligibility was limited to just five games in football and 11 games in basketball. He had to sit out the second half of the season in both sports.

“Junior’s a special individual that puts others before himself,” said Marietta boys basketball coach Austin Gardner.

Not being able to be out there with his teammates took its toll on Bass.

“It was obviously tough going through everything,” Bass said. “Everybody needs to go through something to get to where they are. Everything happens for a reason. Put it all in God’s hands. Whatever He does for me, I’m just going to keep going down that path. It’s helped me a lot through my high school career and I feel like it can definitely help me in college. I’m a young player, but I’ve been through some stuff.”

During a commitment ceremony held Thursday inside Sutton Gymnasium, Bass announced his intention to continue his basketball career at Wilmington College. The Quakers, an NCAA Division III program, are coached by Micah Mills and compete in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

“I was taking four visits that day and Wilmington was my last school,” Bass said. “I really just walked in, met the people and just felt the connection there. I talked to the team. The coaches welcomed me with a warm heart. I knew it was the place I needed to go. I feel like their program is really on the come-up.”

In 11 games for the Tigers this year, Bass finished with averages of 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals. Marietta went 9-2 with Bass in the starting lineup.

Even when Bass, a first team all-district honoree, was no longer able to play, he continued to have a discernible impact on the team.

“He came in and was on scout team and stuff,” Gardner recalled.

“He would take what we saw on film of an opponent we were going against and he would play a certain guy and play exactly like him in practice. It just shows how much detail he picks up. He was so focused, communicating with teammates, went 100% in practice.”

Gardner was impressed with the way Bass handled himself amid such a tough situation.

“He’s different. He’s tough,” Gardner said. “He will never show it in front of everybody else. He’s dealt with adversity most of the time, and he always handles it in a first-class manner. He never showed it any day when he was not able to play in the second half of the year. He’s so deserving. Some nights he makes me tear up because he’s going to be successful in everything he does.”

Bass considered playing football in college — West Virginia State was among the other schools he considered — but his love for basketball prevailed.

“I sometimes tell people I never really wanted to play basketball,” Bass laughed. “I was always a football player, but basketball took me in the right path. I fell in love with the game, the community around it, the environment. This is definitely a dream of mine, and it’s coming true now.”

Listed at 6-foot-3, Bass was a force in the paint as a prep player. Gardner believes his game will translate well to the collegiate level.

“Junior’s as tough of a kid as it gets,” Gardner said. “He’ll fit the brand of basketball in the OAC and make an impact at Wilmington.

“He’s working at it all the time. He’s got to get better with his footspeed and stuff we’ve talked about, getting a little bit more athletic around the rim. He’s a mismatch. Is he a guard? Is he a forward? Can he play inside-out? Those tweener guys are a problem.”

Along with his physical traits, Bass possesses the proper mindset of a college hooper.

“He’s a super high IQ player,” Gardner said. “Junior found out on every visit we went to, they like high IQ guys. Junior’s got that natural ability, but he also picks things up really fast.”

Bass looks forward to a bright future. He acknowledges that even though his senior was challenging, it helped shape who he is.

“Coach Gardner, my teammates, everybody, the community, school, they all had my back whenever it came to anything,” said Bass, who is leaning toward an exercise science major.

“They were pushing me to be the best person I could be. It impacted me in an amazing way.

“My family’s supported me through everything I’ve done. Transferring schools, choosing my college, everything like that. They’ve helped me through it all so I’m grateful for that.”

Gardner will miss not just coaching the player, but being around the person, on an everyday basis.

“I just really appreciate Junior,” the Tiger coach said. “He is someone that is going to be successful not just on the basketball court but in life.”

Contact Jordan Holland at jholland@mariettatimes.com.