Michigan State University Athletics
Javon Bess: Sticking To The Plan
1/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Matt Bontorin, MSU Athletic Communications
For freshman wing Javon Bess, timing is everything. Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, Bess was surrounded by some of the best basketball players in the country. With some of the nation's top high school programs just a few miles from home, Bess found himself competing for attention in one of the great basketball hotbeds in America.
Bess was thrown into the spotlight at a young age and played for some of the best AAU teams in the country. With a passion for the game and friends at all levels of AAU, Bess and his father often attended games throughout the Columbus area.
In the third grade, Bess attended his family friend's game; that friend was current Spartan guard Travis Trice. In a surprising turn of events Trice was late for the game which prompted head coach Benji Burke, father of former Michigan All-American Trey Burke, to turn to Bess in the crowd, to suit up in Trice's place. When Trice finally arrived, the two took to the court together for the first time.
This wouldn't be the last time the two played together. Bess and Trice's relationship continued to grow and when Trice came back to Columbus during his breaks from Michigan State the two would train together.
"We started working out together when I was in high school," said Bess. "He's been a brother to me. I'm really close with him and his family."
Bess, who is three years younger than Trice, looked to him for advice on the recruiting process. While Bess was a standout at Gahanna Lincoln High School, he was not recruited by any Big Ten teams. That is until Trice went back to Michigan State and informed Spartan head coach Tom Izzo about his potential.
"The summer going into my senior year Trav [Trice] and I had been working out together and I guess he told coach Izzo about me," said Bess. "I was working hard and sticking to the plan and that's when they started recruiting me."
With an athletic build and a style of play that mirrored Spartan great Draymond Green, Izzo was in disbelief as to why the 6-5 wing wasn't drawing more offers from schools around the conference. Izzo consulted former Spartan point guard Travis Walton, who also knew Bess from watching him play AAU with his cousin. Walton confirmed Bess's talent and urged Izzo to further pursue him.
With the opportunity to play Big Ten basketball alongside his hometown friend, it was a no-brainer for Bess, who accepted Izzo's scholarship offer midway through his senior season.
"It was a blessing," said Bess. "When I was younger, I dreamed of playing at this stage. All those hours in the gym finally paid off."
Bess arrived in East Lansing without the hype that came along with previous recruiting classes under Izzo, yet made an immediate impact in summer workouts and practices.
With the departure of Adreian Payne, Gary Harris and Keith Appling after the 2014 season, Bess saw an opportunity to make an immediate impact as a freshman.
As fall classes began and basketball season approached, the overwhelming consensus was that Bess had worked himself into a starting role. Less than a week until the Spartans exhibition season got underway Bess felt an uncomfortable pain in his right foot. After consulting with the team doctor, it was determined that Bess needed surgery to repair the fifth metatarsal on his right foot and would be out at least a month.
"When I found out I had to get that surgery it was very difficult," said Bess. "I worked so hard to put myself in that position. I was wondering why it had to happen." While Bess admittedly struggled with the injury at first, he received an overwhelming amount of support from his coaches and teammates. The encouragement propelled him to focus on improving his game in any way he could.
"At first it was hard to deal with," said Bess. "Eventually I moved past it and looked at what I could do to get better. What I needed to work on was being more of a leader; a vocal leader."
Bess eventually got back on the court and made his Spartan debut Dec. 17, against Eastern Michigan. With a second half injury to Brandon Dawson, Bess was forced into the lineup in a tight game.
The freshman made an immediate impact, picking up five rebounds in nine minutes, while also displaying his newly acquired communication skills.
"Sitting out helped me see things that I wouldn't have seen if I was on the court," said Bess. "Once I finally got out there I was able to talk more and help people."
Since his debut Bess has slowly increased his playing time and has now found himself firmly in Izzo's rotation.
"My first goal is to get healthy," said Bess "I feel like I haven't been 100% in any of the games I've played in. Then just knocking down open shots and doing whatever coach tells me to do."
While getting healthy is an important short term goal, Bess's aspirations reach far beyond Michigan State.
"The NBA is definitely my goal," said Bess. "I want to have a great career here at Michigan State and get a degree, but the NBA is the ultimate goal. I just need to follow God's plan and listen to the coaches and I'll get there."
Bess's goal of making the NBA has been embraced by his coaches and teammates, but one former Spartan has made a special effort to help him succeed.
"I have a really good relationship with Draymond Green," said Bess. "He's one of the greatest players to come through here and I definitely take pride in people comparing our games. He's a great guy and has helped me out a lot."
With the support of Green and the rest of Spartan nation, Bess looks to continue to do what has gotten him to this point.
"Whether coach asks me to go out there for two minutes or twenty minutes, I need to go out there work hard and stick to the plan. Everything else will fall into place."
