Ex-Eagle Star Petros Learns on the Job at OU

Corey Petros, Eisenhower’s 2010 Macomb County Player of the Year, isn’t getting restless as he watches his Oakland University teammates play his favorite game.

Instead, the OU freshman is getting more excited every day at the prospect of formally beginning his college basketball career next season on the championship team.

OU clinched first place in the Summit League regular season Thursday evening.

Petros has already bought his books, hustled to class and practice each day and lived through the hardest part of any freshman’s introduction to university life–those first final exams, which he successfully negotiated back in December.

At the same time, he’s redshirting on the basketball team, which means he practices daily with the rest of the Golden Grizzlies, but he won’t compete in any actual games until next winter. When the time comes, the 6-9, 243-pound Petros will have the usual freshman’s four seasons of Division I eligibility still remaining, even with a year of college life and experience under his belt.

Would he have preferred to see some game action this year instead of watching as the Golden Grizzlies marched through the season in first place in the Summit League standings? Sure, but Petros understands that sitting out and preserving all of his basketball eligibility is, by far, best for his career.

 “I knew they had a lot of guys at my position, but I’m happy here. I’m enjoying it,” said Petros, who led Eisenhower to a 2010 district championship and a berth in the regional finals as a senior.

 “I’m playing against better players every day (in practice) than I did in high school. The older guys on the team are making me better. They all do different stuff on the court and they’re teaching me. I’m getting a lot out of it right now.”

 Grizzlies coach Greg Kampe feels the same way.

 He’s a fortunate man, armed with a tall, talented and experienced frontcourt that features 6-9 Will Hudson, 6-11 NBA prospect Keith Benson–both seniors–and 7-0 junior Ilija Milutinovic. He knows that Petros is able to learn from the OU Big Three on a daily basis and the lessons will be applied regularly in seasons to come.

 “We wanted the redshirt for him because he’s still young, barely 18,” Kampe said. “When we recruited him, we talked all about him sitting out this first year. He knew we already had Benson, Hudson, Ilija. We decided that his fifth year in college as a full-time player was better for him than being a substitute as a freshman right now.”

Between his older teammates and his coaches, Petros feels he’s learned a lot already. He’s picked up some tips on how to handle rebounding battles around the rim. He rarely faced those at Eisenhower, almost always playing against smaller opponents. He’s added a few offensive moves in the post, too. Going with what a defense gives him is a growing ability.

He says he’ll miss Benson and Hudson next year, but definitely plans on applying what they’ve been teaching.

“I want to help the team as much as I can. I wanted to go to a winning program and help keep it going, hopefully,” said Petros, who averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds a game last season under Ike coach Brandon Lemley. “I’m sure I’ll be ready to go when they’re gone.”

Kampe has no doubts.

“He’s getting better and better. He’s getting to play every day against a guy (Benson) who’s going to be a first-round draft pick and because of that, he’s learning a lot. He’s had his days against them where he’s done very, very well. We’re really pleased and excited about him next year.

 “He has a chance to be a very good player at our level and the good thing is, he’ll still have four full years left with us.”

So watch for the former Eagles star. At 6-9, he’s hard to miss.