Victor Earns Spot
Chester Victor didn’t see it coming.
A little more than a week ago the 6-foot-1 guard from LaPlace, Louisiana – who spent a post-graduate year this past season at Tilton School – was patiently waiting for a chance to showcase his skills to a Division 1 program.
Only a potential tryout with Southern University loomed.
But then his phone rang on Sunday, Aug. 18 and another Southwestern Athletic Conference school, Jackson State University, was on the other end. A brother of one of JSU’s assistant coaches had learned Victor was unsigned after seeing a story on NERR and suggested that JSU start recruiting him.
By the time Victor hung up, he had been invited to a practice four days later with the potential of earning a recruited walk-on offer.
“I met the coaches and the players,” Victor said, “and we balled out. During the second game, the coaches got up and walked out. I didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. After my fifth game, the assistant coaches and the recruiting coach returned and said that they wanted me to be there. That they wanted me to play ball there.”
Victor accepted immediately with the understanding that he will have an opportunity to earn a scholarship moving forward. He admitted to being both excited and thrilled, all while crediting his faith and family for helping him stay strong through the lengthy and, at times, draining process.
“It feels real good to be on the team down here in the South, close to home and playing D1 ball,” he said.
For JSU and its head coach Wayne Brent, bringing a player of Victor’s caliber – someone who averaged 17 points, three assists and three rebounds per game at Tilton – is an unexpected coup so late in the recruitment cycle.
“The recruiting coach felt like I was a steal,” Victor said. “Even when he was watching my highlights (online) he was amazed that I wasn’t already signed. He was more than happy to have me come up and play and want to be there.”
Paul Lazdowski can be followed on Twitter: @plazdow
Chester Victor