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Ohio Valley Basketball: 2023 Conference Tournament preview and predictions

By Harry Schroeder

CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 15: Head coach Preston Spradlin of the Morehead State Eagles looks on during a college basketball game against the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center on December 15, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 15: Head coach Preston Spradlin of the Morehead State Eagles looks on during a college basketball game against the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center on December 15, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Jr. Clay #4 then with Tennessee Tech (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images)
Jr. Clay #4 then with Tennessee Tech (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) /

Key players for the Ohio Valley Basketball Tournament

During the Ohio Valley Conference’s season of transition, new stars have emerged and programs have made historic strides. Selecting key players is more difficult than ever. Naming the league’s player of the year had to be difficult for conference media members. Often ‘the best player, from the best team’ is the formula used, but when a four-time all-conference player (Clay) has the best season of his career, voters take notice.

Meaning no disrespect to the big men, this is a guard’s league. Last year, writing this article we highlighted centers because that season post players Johni Broome, Nick Muszynski and K.J. Williams were dominant forces. While USI’s Polakovich and Morehead’s Alex Gross had outstanding seasons, the guards ruled.

Jr. Clay – Tennessee State

Clay capped off a historic career with a historic season. The 6’ senior led the league in scoring, and assists, grabbed 4.8 rebounds per game, was tenth in free throw percentage, sixth in steals, ninth in made three-pointers and led the league in minutes played. He did everything for TSU.

Clay will become the first-ever, five-time all-conference player in OVC history. After four seasons at Tennessee Tech, the Chattanooga native has accumulated over 2,200 (2,207) points, 500 rebounds (524), 600 assists (613), 200 triples (263) and 200 steals (245). After four straight years of being an OVC second-teamer, he will be first-teamer this year, if not the player of the year.

Parker Stewart – UT Martin

Stewart ‘came home’ to play his final season of collegiate basketball. Stewart started his career at Pittsburgh and then came to UTM to play for his father Anthony Stewart. After the elder Stewart’s sudden and tragic passing at the beginning of the 2020 season, Parker sat out a year and then played at Indiana. Coming home, where his mother still lives was move that worked.

Stewart finished third (16.7 ppg) to Clay and Russell in the scoring race and grabbed 4.7 rebounds per game. The 6’6 wing can be a defensive stopper and was second to Lakes with 83 long-distance connections. He is the one player in this league that can win a game on his own.

Mark Freeman – Morehead State

Freeman ‘came home’ a little bit too. The former Tennessee State guard left the OVC and played at Illinois State, only to come back to the league and star at Morehead State. Freeman made the right move.

Freeman gave the Eagles the veteran backcourt presence they needed and some offensive firepower. The 5’10 guard finished eighth in scoring (14.8 ppg), fourth in assists (3.8) and third in free throw percentage (.865). He was Morehead’s ‘Mr. Outside’ to Alex Gross’ ‘Mr. Inside’.