Centre College freshman Izayiah Villafuerte can score but he's also a willing defender.
When Warren Central won the Kentucky state championship last season coach George Unseld said guard Izayiah Villafuerte was the “one who stirs the drink” and that he couldn’t afford to lose off his talented team.
His unselfishness on a team loaded with scorers impressed his high school coach but also made a big impression on Centre College coach Greg Mason.
“I think toward the middle of last season Coach started telling me Centre was interested in me and I just kept an open mind,” Villafuerte said. “As the season progressed, they got in touch with me more. I had never heard about Centre but everybody was telling me what a great degree I could get.”
He still visited other schools but the Centre basketball culture and how the academics could help with his future sold him on the Colonels who open their season tonight at Asbury.
Villafuerte already knew Centre players Cade Stinnett and Jaxson Banks, who are also both from Bowling Green.
“I knew how much they enjoyed being at Centre College, so that helped me make my decision,” the Centre freshman said.
He averaged 8.9 points and 2.0 rebounds per game last season when Warren Central went 36-1 — seven players on that team will be playing college basketball this season. He shot 48.8 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3. He was a rare four-year player for Unseld. He played as a freshman on a team that had 11 seniors and became a starter this sophomore season. He was the team’s point guard/leader his last two seasons.
“The talent level here is a little bit different. There are a few players at Central who were more athletic but the skill level is almost the same. We just have to come together and once we get our connections made I think we can be one of the best teams in the conference,” Villafuerte said. “Our freshman class is good but the older guys will lead us and show us how to make the next step at this level.”
He knows the challenge ahead of him. He understood how difficult it would be to play as a freshman at Warren Central but feels he learned lessons under Unseld that will help him this season, too.
“A lot of players are good but not great teammates and leaders. I want to be vocal and lead in the right direction,” he said. “I want to be that teammate who is there when things go right or wrong to lead my team.
“I can score if needed but whatever role I have I know I need to work and excel. You have got to work for everything. I am a good defensive player. Coach Unseld always told me if you could not guard anybody you would not get on the floor. If you can play good defense, you are most likely going to get to play.”
Villafuerte has always been competitive. He’s played golf since his sophomore year of high school and says he is “better than average” most rounds.
“I am one of the best golfers not the basketball team,” he said. “I know one of the golfers here and told him I am feeling good about my golf game. In the summer I work at a golf course. I may even try to walk on the golf team here next year.”
He’s not sure about his career path or goals quite yet.
“I am probably going to try to go into business,” he said. “I want to get a nice job after I finish college. I am still open to everything. I figure I have got four years to figure out what to do in life. Right now I just want to enjoy life here at Centre College.”
