DEEP RUN — Ishmael Baldwin knows what it’s like to miss out on an opportunity.
That’s why he’s doing everything he can to make the best of his newest one.
Baldwin, South Lenoir’s dominating 6-foot-6 forward, has bounced back from academic troubles as a junior to sign to play college basketball next year at Sandhills Community College.
Poor study habits caused Baldwin to miss out on playing hoops two seasons ago, but he bounced back to average 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game as a senior and earned first team all-area honors.
Baldwin learned from his mistakes, and vows to never make the same ones again.
“It can all be taken away just like that,” he said. “I’ve got to work as hard in the classroom as I do on the basketball court.”
It didn’t take long for Baldwin to assert himself with the Blue Devils after not playing competitive high school basketball for more than a year. He immediately made his presence known, earning all-conference honors and leading the team in scoring.
But it was never about how many points he scored or how many rebounds he grabbed. What Baldwin learned was how to do the right thing, self discipline and how quickly it all can be taken away.
“If I don’t go ahead and get it done it’s not going to get done,” he said. “I can’t wait for someone else to push me, I’ve just got to knock it out of the way.”
Blue Devils head coach Jeremy Barnett was Baldwin’s junior varsity coach when they won a conference championship his sophomore season, and he knew the potential his prized forward had.
But then that potential came to a screeching halt, yet Barnett — and many others — never gave up on Baldwin, and Baldwin didn’t give up on himself.
It landed him a spot on a college roster, and Barnett feels Baldwin will do great things, both in the classroom and on the court.
“With better decisions he could probably have been in a better place, but he knows this is the route we’re in,” Barnett said. “The coach at Sandhills is excited about him. We both expect, and if he goes up there and works like he’s supposed to, he’ll be where we both felt he should have been to begin with.
“Since all of that happened he’s matured 10-fold. … Two years from now, these four-year schools will still be there.”
Baldwin said he passed up offers to other schools closer to Lenoir County — Barton College, St. Augustine’s, Lenoir Community College, Pitt Community College — but a sister who lives near Pinehurst, plus a chance to start over fresh academically made the Flyers the most appealing program and school.
“I feel like it’s a good fit,” he said. “I feel like there’s a good opportunity there — to start over.”
Baldwin, who plans on majoring in business management, said he plans on using Sandhills as a spring board to something bigger.
“I want to try to better myself as a person and a basketball player,” Baldwin said. “My dream is just to keep going.”
Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.
