Oswego State men’s basketball will honor four seniors today for their hard work and dedication as athletes for the Laker men’s basketball program.
Jamir Ferebee
Ferebee is a transfer out of Mount Saint Vincent and is in his second season as a Laker. In his junior season at Oswego State, he emerged as an impact player on the offensive end when he scored 12 point or better in 10 straight games around midseason. He finished second on the team in scoring with 12.5 points a game and helped the Lakers win their third SUNYAC Championship title in six seasons.
Ferebee reached the 1,000-point mark in his senior season on. He currently leads the team in scoring with 15.6 points per game. He had a career weekend on December when he scored a career-high 35 points in a win against Buffalo State, then followed up it with 30 points in a win over SUNY Fredonia. Ferebee is also a two-time Laker Athlete of the Week.
Q: What have you been feeling possibly playing your last games at Max Ziel Gymnasium?
A: “Just got to come out with a win. Obviously, you want to win your last game on your home court whether it’s the first round of the playoffs or not. Whether or not, you just want to end it with a win.”
Q: Favorite moment as a Laker besides winning SUNYAC?
A: “NCAA Tournament last year. Just the experience, obviously transferring in I was at a program where I may have not experience that. But I was lucky enough to come to here and get in my first year.”
Q: Only playing two seasons here, how have you fulfilled your time here?
A: “Just enjoying my time with my teammates. Coming out and competing every day. Obviously my relationship with the coaches and just the environment in general.”
Q: What is the biggest thing head coach Jason Leone has taught you?
A: “As a player he taught me to just be aggressive and stay confident. As a person, just the little things toward maturing, in terms of the future with jobs and everything.”
Q: Biggest takeaway from being a Laker?
A: “The winning experience.”
Ian Schupp
Schupp is a three-year player at Oswego State, winning a SUNYAC Championship in his freshman season and then winning his second one when he returned here from SUNY Oneonta in his junior season.
Schupp was third on the team in scoring his junior season with 12.3 PPG. He scored a career-high 31 points in the regular season finale against Brockport. He would stay hot in the playoffs and scored 22-points against his previous team Oneonta in the SUNYAC Championship. His efforts earned him a spot on the All-SUNYAC Tournament team.
Schupp’s senior season he is second on the team in scoring with 12 PPG. His best game of the season came in last week’s win over Fredonia when he scored 25 points, including seven rebounds and three assists. In a game at Geneseo this season, after not having the best game shooting, he corralled a loose ball in the final seconds and nailed a jumper at the buzzer to beat Geneseo.
Q: What have you been feeling possibly playing your last games at Max Ziel Gymnasium?
A: “Not to be corny but it is definitely a little bittersweet. But, just got to make the most Friday and Saturday’s senior game. Whatever happens, happens. Just got to ball out.”
Q: Favorite moment as a Laker besides winning last years SUNYAC?
A: “I’d probably say senior games for the upperclassmen when I was a freshman and junior. Being able to win games for them, especially on their special day. I want seniors to go out the right way.”
Q: What is the biggest thing head coach Jason Leone has taught you?
A: “Ownership, honestly. There’s going to be times I make mistakes out there, but can’t point fingers. Got to man up and play through them and realize you got to get better and improve on that.”
Q: Biggest takeaway from being a Laker?
A: “Basketball goes fast while you’re in college. It fly’s by. You definitely have a longer season than other sports, but the two hour, three hour practices and away trips still flees by. You got make the most of these last couple week’s.”
Josh Ivey
Ivey is also a transfer into Oswego State out of Mohawk Community College. Ivey played a significant role off the bench in last year’s championship season for the Lakers as a defensive specialists.
This season as a senior, his role increased on both ends coming off the bench. He averages 21.5 minutes per game and is considered “the most efficient guy on the team” by coach Leone, averaging 9 PPG and 6.7 RPG.
Q: What have you been feeling possibly playing your last games at Max Ziel Gymnasium?
A: “It’s big. Learning from the seniors last year on how to be a leader. I wish I came here my freshman year, I enjoy it here.”
Q: Favorite moment as a Laker besides winning SUNYAC?
A: “I would say every day. Pretty much just being in practice, I love these guys, playing with them and growing as a team. Every day pretty much is fun for me.”
Q: What is the biggest thing head coach Jason Leone has taught you?
A: “Perseverance. Bad things happen to all of us, and good things. Good or bad, you got look at the next play. That’s the biggest thing [Leone] taught me is perseverance.”
Q: Biggest takeaway from being a Laker?
A: “In life bad things will happen. You just got to stick it out, continue and keep moving on no matter what happens.”
Louis Avellino
Avellino is a four-year senior at Oswego State. His leadership and presence on and off the floor has been an important part of the team throughout his career as a Laker.
“He’s one of the brightest players we have. If not, the brightest,” Leone said. “He knows all five positions on the floor. He’s very bright player and he’s a very bright person too.”
Avellino scored a career-high 10 points against Buffalo State in a win against them this season and averages over 10 minutes a game. He is a two-time SUNYAC Champion includes to his accolades as well.
Q: What have you been feeling possibly playing your last games at Max Ziel Gymnasium?
A: “I’ve really enjoyed my time here in my four years. Playing basketball for Leone, getting to know my teammates. It’s coming down to the wire, I’m kind of getting nostalgic about the whole experience.”
Q: Favorite moment as a Laker besides winning SUNYAC?
A: “Going to the NCAA Tournament, getting a couple extra weeks with the team, being around them a little longer.”
Q: What is the biggest thing head coach Jason Leone has taught you?
A: “Leone’s taught me a lot in my four years here. He helped me grow up when I first got here. Always preaches ownership and maturity. That is definitely what I will value most from all these years.”
Avellino headshot provided by Perkins via Sports Information.
Photos by Austin Dearborn | The Oswegonian
