Shuler shines at Savannah State

Making the transition from high school to college basketball is something that usually takes time.

For former Lake Placid standout Jovanni Shuler the adjustment period is over and the time to prove he belongs with the best players in Division I is at hand.

Shuler, who graduated from Lake Placid in 2006, is coming off a fine junior season at Savannah State University in Savannah, Ga.

Shuler averaged 9.3 points and 3.3 steals a game while playing at both guard positions for the Tigers.

Shuler's 3.3 steals a game ranked him 18th nationally in that department and he was Co-MVP for the Tigers and was selected as an All-Conference honorable mention.

"In high school each team has one or two guys that are good," said Shuler. "In college, everyone on the floor is good and it takes a while to adjust to the talent level you face and the quickness of the game.

"Adjusting to the game is one thing, but you also have to learn to budget your time because college classes are pretty difficult and you have to maintain your grades or you won't be eligible to play."

Savannah State played a tough schedule last season including visits to Notre Dame, Louisville, Marquette, Wisconsin, Illinois and Nebraska.

In his sophomore season, Savannah State traveled to Kansas State when sensational forward Michael Beasley was playing for the Wildcats.

"It's amazing to go into those big arenas that hold 18,000 to 20,000 people," said the Green Dragon graduate. "It's a lot crazier with all those people and the noise level is so high you can hardly hear anything.

"It's a great feeling playing in front of all those people and I'm looking forward to next season because we have some good road trips."

The Savannah State coach is Horace Broadnax, who played his high school basketball in Polk County and was a member of the Georgetown team that featured a center by the name of Patrick Ewing.

Ewing went on to have a solid NBA career with the New York Knicks.

"Coach Broadnax is tough and all about discipline," said Shuler. "We call him the general because he gives the orders and we follow them to the letter.

"I've learned a lot playing for him because he knows the game from playing it and from the coaching angle."

Savannah State will make its debut as a Division I team this year as a member of the MEAC Conference, which includes Florida A&M, Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T.

Savannah State, which will play the University of Central Florida this year, has a good nucleus of players coming back and Shuler is excited about the prospects for the fall.

"We only lost two seniors off the squad," the Tiger guard said. "I'm a team captain this year and Coach Broadnax told me I have to step up my game and be a leader.

"I'm looking forward to playing UCF in Orlando because my family will get a chance to see me play and I'm going to work hard on my game and in the weight room to get stronger so I can take the physical play and still be able to score."

Shuler, who is 6-foot-5 and weighs 180 pounds, will graduate next May with his degree in communications, but he still has the dream of playing basketball for a living.

"I would love to play pro ball," said Shuler. "To play in the NBA is my dream, but I wouldn't mind going to Europe and playing over there.

"The money is pretty good overseas and the experience would be invaluable, but I'll have my degree in case things don't work out in professional basketball."