BALTIMORE, Md. (February 14, 2020) -- This season the Morgan State men's basketball program entered a new chapter.
On May 1, 2019 Kevin Broadus became the program's 16th head coach and the first Bears fans have seen in over a decade. While Broadus was in the midst of beginning his new chapter as a head coach for the first time in 11 years, there was a player looking to end his chapter on a better note.
Troy Baxter is that player and he's risen to the occasion in the later stages of his collegiate career.
Baxter is the son of Dianna and Troy Baxter Sr. The Tallahassee, Florida native bloomed and developed an impressive high school career.
He was rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals and was ranked 90th in the ESPN Top 100 as a senior in 2015-16. He averaged 17 points, 7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game his final year at Oldsmar Christian High School. He won the American Family Insurance High School Slam Dunk Contest in April of 2016 on national television during that stretch as well.
He even played against Josh Jackson and Miles Bridges; both now in the NBA.
Between playing on a nationally ranked team, winning numerous awards, and even throwing down dunks on ESPN; Baxter had a lot of attention. And with that, pressure rose.
When speaking about his recruiting process, Baxter said that he enjoyed numerous visits and interactions. He gained interest from Alabama, Arizona State, Kansas State, Texas Tech, UCLA, and almost every major power program in Florida.
But Troy is mature, and he cherishes being genuine. During his recruiting process, he was more inclined to coaches who didn't try to sell him a dream.
"I'm big on relationships," said Baxter.
When the dust settled, he took his talents to Las Vegas. Troy was a Rebel and looked forward to making his impact at UNLV. With his name in the bright lights, he felt like he "belonged" on the platform he was given. Troy recalls playing Duke in the new T-Mobile Arena in downtown Vegas. His team also played Arizona State and Kansas as well.
Many players dream about facing major opponents and just taking in everything. But as a 4-star recruit; Baxter wanted more. His playing time did not meet his expectations during his freshman season.
"...not playing, I kind of had a tough time dealing with that," said Baxter.
And as the Running Rebels missed the NCAA Tournament and only won four games in conference play; their momentum faded away. With that, Baxter had some decisions to make.
He transferred to Florida Gulf Coast. Precisely named "Dunk City", the Florida product returned to his home state with much anticipation.
He sat out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules. He remembered using practice as his gameday and did everything he could to make his presence known. After sitting out the season, he realized the benefits. Outside of keeping his body fresh, Baxter observed the game of basketball better during his time off the court.
"I got a better feel for a game."
He averaged 7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks during the 2018-19 season. Most notably, scoring 20 points against Michigan State on the road.
During this time, a massive rule change was made. College players could declare for the draft and return to school if they did not hire an agent. This ruling was massive, and Baxter took advantage.
But after not liking his chances, he wanted to return back to FGCU. Once again, Baxter was faced with a tough transfer situation. He felt like he needed one more year to really get his draft stock ready. When transferring came into play again, Baxter went through the recruitment process one more time.
And his request was simple:
"I wanted to go somewhere where coaches have experience [with sending players to the NBA]," said Baxter.
Enter Coach Broadus.
Broadus has coached and recruited five high school All-Americans and 12 National Basketball Association (NBA) players, including Austin Freeman, Jeff Green, Roy Hibbert, Vernon Macklin, DeJuan Summers, Patrick Ewing, Jr., Otto Porter, Chris Wright, Henry Sims, J.R. Pinnock, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, and Mike Hall.
Baxter was being heavily recruited once again, this time from schools like Virginia Tech and St. John's. But with an opportunity to play meaningful minutes and being coached by an established coach, it was a signal to take his talents to East Baltimore.
He wanted a coach that would challenge him.
"I had to get used to the playing style," said Baxter.
Earlier in the season, Baxter made his presence felt with dazzling blocks and destructive slam dunks. It was his first introduction to the new fan base.
But Baxter credits MSU's coaching staff for encouraging him to perfect his full game. He noticed his ability to post up or shoot jumpers more often than he has before.
And as the Bears are deep in MEAC play, he ranks second on the team in scoring (11.3 ppg) and rebounding (5.4 rpg), and is averaging 27.9 minutes per game.
He scored a career-high 30 points against Evansville earlier this season. The same team that defeated then No. 1 Kentucky. He scored 27 points and connected on five three-pointers in MSU's big win over Loyola Marymount in California. Defensively, he leads the MEAC with 53 blocks (ranks No. 39 in the nation).
And although his game has developed, the 6-foot-8 "skywalker" has not forgotten his dunking capabilities. He leads the team with 23 dunks.
Baxter is grateful for his opportunities and what he's faced in his playing career.
"I'm happy about everything I've been through," said Baxter.
Troy Baxter has risen to be a key piece to an NCAA D1 program. Through the changes, he's never forgotten his goal.
ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.