Photo courtesy of Tarleton Athletics
The 2018-2019 season will be senior point guard, Corinthian Ramsey’s, second season on the Tarleton State University Texan Basketball team. Ramsey’s first season was highlighted with 28 starts for the Texans, a Lone Star Conference (LSC) offensive player of the week award, newcomer of the year award, 18.6 points per game which led the team and was ranked fourth in the LSC and led the team in assists with four per game. In 27 of the 30 games Ramsey played in he scored double figures and topped 20 points 12 times with a career high of 40 points, according to Tarleton Athletics. 

Before transferring to Tarleton, Ramsey played two seasons at Angelina Junior College in Lufkin, Texas. While at Angelina, Ramsey stated he was focused on improving his grades and learning how to better be a point guard. 

“The program at Angelina really needed a point guard and I still had a lot to learn so it was a great school for me to go to,” Ramsey said. 

His dedication and concentration paid off as he was rated a Mullens JUCO Top 100 prospect at the end of his career there. 

Tarleton was always in Ramsey’s sights as he grew up in Arlington and wanted to stay close to home. Ramsey had a successful high school career as well as a four-year letterman and was named the offensive and defensive player of the year. He admired the competitiveness that the men’s basketball program consistently brings and wanted a chance to be a part of it. 

Ramsey expressed his love for the school in that “it is a great place to be for college, there is a great atmosphere here, and lots of people come to the games.” 

Ramsey feels that he made his mark last year in his first season as a Texan and expects other teams to come gunning for him this season. 

Ramsey grew up playing basketball but didn’t start playing organized ball until seventh grade. 

“I always had a ball in my hand when I was a kid” stated Ramsey. 

He also played football until his sophomore year of high school.  

The number zero that Ramsey wears on his chest represents his start to him. 

“I wear the number zero because I come from nothing, so I don’t want to change my number until I feel like I have made something of myself,” Ramsey stated. Ramsey is off to a good start at that feat as he had an outstanding showing under new head basketball coach Chris Reisman this past weekend. 

The Texans took on Missouri Western State University and William Jewell College in St. Joseph, Missouri at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. As reported by Tarleton Athletics Ramsey was an offensive key to winning the first game of the weekend against the Missouri Western Griffons scoring 16 of his 20 points in the second half after Missouri Western had taken the lead with 12 minutes of the game left. The Griffons quickly bounced back and took the lead once again with only 42 seconds remaining. The pressure then came down to Ramsey and teammate Josh Hawley as they made the final four free throws to lead the Texans to their season-opening win. In their next game against the William Jewell Cardinals, Ramsey had nine points 

Ramsey has set steep expectations for himself and his team leading into the season. 

“For the team I want to win the National Championship, nothing less,” Ramsey stated. 

As for himself, Ramsey aspires to be the best point guard the league has ever seen and the best point guard in Division II. When looking at professional players he strives to mirror his game after players like Kemba Walker, Pierre Jackson, Chris Paul and Isiah Thomas all who are point guards who were big time scorers for their respective teams. He especially admires how Chris Paul of the Houston Rockets is a “floor general” as he can effectively move the ball around and score. 

After graduation Ramsey plans to continue playing basketball. Ramsey is not yet sure where he will end up, but basketball will continue to be a large part of his life wherever that may be. 

The Texans will be at home this Friday as they will host University of Colorado Colorado Springs who had a 12-10 finish in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference last season and The University of the Southwest on Saturday both games at 7 p.m. at Wisdom Gym in Stephenville, Texas.