How Are St. Louis Rookies Impacting the OVC

(St. Louis, MO) – What do Cornell Johnston, Josh Robinson and Darreon Reddick have in common? They are three St. Louis area rookies making a big splash in the Ohio Valley Conference.

This week Johnston received his third ‘freshman of the week’ award from the OVC. That wasn’t good enough for the Ladue High School graduate. He was also named the OVC’s ‘player of the week’. Johnston has been a key ingredient to the historic start for Eastern Illinois. Last season, he led the St. Louis area in assists.

The Panthers are on a nine game winning streak and that includes their first six in league play. Both of those streaks are Division 1 firsts for EIU. Head Coach Jay Spoonhour told me, Johnston is a key ingredient to their recent success.

 

Johnston’s numbers (7.8 points; 2 rebounds & 4.2 assists per game) aren’t gaudy, and aren’t as important as his influence. He has helped his team learn how to win. He’s only 5’7” but Spoonhour is playing him over 33 minutes per game.

Josh Robinson’s rise to prominence at Austin Peay has been a little slower in coming, but the St. Mary’s High School grad has become a ‘go to’ player for the Governors. Robinson led the St. Louis area in scoring last year and has recently joined the starting line-up.

Robinson averages 8.6 points per game, but it’s in the last three games that the 6’3” guard has made his mark. Robinson has responed to getting more playing time by reaching double figures in each of those games and averaging 14.5 ppg in his two starts.

Head Coach Dave Loos says Robinson is their best option for getting the ball in the basket.

 

Robinson won a ‘freshman of the week’ award in December.

Tennessee State’s Darreon Reddick won the freshman award two weeks ago and has started all but three of the Tigers’ games. The Belleville East graduate was not as highly rated as his St. Louis area friends, but is TSU’s third leading scorer (8.2) and second in minutes played (27.0).

Head Coach Dana Ford is an Illinois native and has reached into the powerful Southwestern Conference to rebuild the Tiger talent base.

Other St. Louisians are making their marks in the OVC, like two Jacksonville State players Darion Rackley (CBC) (who leads Jacksonville State in scoring) and JaQuail Townser (Alton HS). One of Johnston’s teammates Trae Anderson (Hazelwood Central) is also contributing. But this collection of freshmen is a unique trio and worth the watch by the St. Louis prep fans.

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