Ian Franks

Recruiting is the lifeblood of college athletics, and tracking down diamonds in the rough often times is the key to success at the NCAA Div. III level. Some times, those rare gems find you, and that was the case for the most recent standout men's basketball player at The College of Wooster, Ian Franks.

"(Ian's) high school coach called us early in his senior year and said he had a player with good potential, but probably wouldn't be an impact player," recalled the Fighting Scots' veteran coach Steve Moore. "Ian and his mom visited. We thought if he came out, it would be OK, but we didn't even go to really see him play or anything."

The baby-faced Franks quickly and quietly decided that Wooster was the right fit for him both academically and athletically, but his personal expectations for basketball weren't that high either at first.

"We weren't very good in high school. I wanted to play for a program that had been successful. I looked at Coach Moore's record and visited, and thought this is for real. These guys are good. Really good," he explained. "I kind of planned to play jayvee for a year, maybe two, before I worked my way into the rotation."

The coaches took notice much sooner, pleasantly surprised to land a player discovering his untapped potential and talent. Franks steadily developed during jayvee games and practice as a freshman, and he was promoted to the varsity's regular rotation for the year's final nine contests while garnering the team's Most Improved Player award.

While that improvement seemed impressive, it was nothing compared to the progress Franks made for his sophomore season.

"I realized that I could play at this level," he said. "After my freshman year, I thought 'I can do a lot of things to help the team win.' It came down to me being more aggressive, and a better defender."

Thanks to an assist from his mother, who as a teacher possessed keys to his high school gym at tiny South Central in Greenwich, Ohio (halfway between Norwalk and Ashland), Franks transformed his game, spending countless hours honing his shooting skills, lifting weights, and executing lots of individual drills.

All that hard work paid off, as the 6-4 Franks took over the point guard duties from injured starter Brandon Johnson, and led the Scots to the first of three-straight sweeps of the North Coast Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships, a feat that has not been accomplished previously. Using an array of offensive moves, often driving into the paint, which resulted in frequent trips to the free throw line, he averaged 15.5 points as well as 4.2 boards and 3.4 assists en route to first-team all-NCAC and third-team all-Great Lakes (D3hoops.com) honors.

Not satisfied, Franks continued to get better, improving his outside shot among other areas, and his numbers increased to 17.9 points and 5.1 rebounds to go with 3.3 assists as a junior, and more accolades came rolling in. He was voted a first-team all-American by the coaches and fourth-team by D3hoops.com, while picking up Great Lakes Player-of-the-Year recognition from both and the NCAC Player-of-the-Year trophy, an award he arguably should have taken the season prior as well.

Most important to Franks, though, has always been winning. After all, that's why he chose Wooster, and as Moore noted "behind (that) quiet exterior is a fiery competitor ... and a very intelligent player." While the NCAC championships and advancement to the round of 16 in the 2010 NCAA Tournament were significant accomplishments, Franks and fellow seniors Nathan Balch, Kaleb Reed, and Bryan Wickliffe kept getting reminded by alums of the program that they were the only class of the 2000s to not earn a trip to Salem, Va., for the "Final Four."

With Franks carrying the team on his back at times this past season, the Scots continued that streak and then one-upped every previous group to wear the Black and Old Gold. His averages bumped up a bit again to 18.3 points, 6.4 boards, and 3.4 assists, leading Wooster in each category, but it was his determination, leadership, and will that keyed the school-record 31 wins (31-3) and first spot in the national championship game.

During the run, the awards and statistics piled up. He was again selected as a first-team all-American, this time by D3hoops.com, and repeated as the Great Lakes and NCAC Player of the Year, and most impressive, he was selected as one of 10 finalists for the Josten's Trophy, the NCAA Div. III Player-of-the-Year award, which takes into account academics and service as well as basketball ability.

Now that Franks's career has come to a close, it's incredible to think back that the best player on the best team in history was once a lightly-regarded recruit and jayvee player.

"Pretty remarkable story," summed up Moore. "We've had a lot of guys improve over the course of their careers, but nobody ever improved as much as Ian."