NORTH ROBINSON — Braxton Baker is the prototypical gym rat.
The time he has spent over the years in the gym is now paying dividends more than cheese.
Baker, who played in the very successful Colonel Crawford basketball system under head coach David Sheldon since middle school, committed on Tuesday to continue his basketball career at Capital University in Bexley.
Baker chose Capital over other suitors, including Heidelberg, Ohio Wesleyan, and Muskingum.
“Coach (Damon) Goodwin seems like a great guy. He’s really honest,” Baker said. “He’s going to be really hard on me at times, but I’m kind of used to that with Coach Sheldon. That’s something I’ve been prepared for, but I know it’s not going to be easy.”
Baker helped the Eagles to an 18-8 record this past season, leading the Northern 10 Athletic Conference in scoring with a 19.4 ppg average. Colonel Crawford also made a regional tournament appearance.
His high school coach noted that Baker carried on what has become a basketball tradition at Colonel Crawford — continuing to play at the collegiate level.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have several in the 17 years I’ve been here,” Sheldon said. “Braxton is the epitome of self-made. He lived in the gym. He was in there working out, not just when our team was, on his own.”
Baker recognizes that even Division III college basketball is a huge step up from high school ball.
“I went to a few games and DIII is no slouch,” Baker said. “So, I’m really excited for this opportunity. I may not be ready to play right away. But I have to work really hard at it. That’s something I want to take pride in. Playing four years of college basketball could really set me up for the rest of my life.”
Sheldon is pleased with Baker’s choice.
“He’s going to play for a great program in Capital,” Sheldon said. “It’s in the (Ohio Athletic Conference), that’s an unbelievable conference, a very demanding coach in Damon Goodwin — he’s been around, he’s been coaching for a while.”
Goodwin has compiled over 400 wins in his 28 years at Capital. He has been named OAC Coach of the Year six times among his other accomplishments.
Capital academics fit well with Baker’s goals as well. While he has not committed to a major, he said it would be business related, perhaps finance or marketing.
“The location is really good too,” Baker said. “There are just a lot of opportunities that can be made from playing at Capital.”
While playing basketball will be important, he realizes that he must also maintain his academics.
“I have to work on not procrastinating,” Baker said. “When I have assignments, get them done now. If I don’t do them now, by the time I have a game or practice, I’m not going to be able to get them done on time. I have to manage my time well.”
Sheldon is not surprised that Baker is prepared to move on to the next level.
“He was a leader this year of this basketball team, scoring over 500 points and getting us to another regional,” Sheldon said. “This is a proud moment for a coach, a lot of hard work from down in the elementary level until now and seeing it pay off. It’s the greatest reward in coaching.”
Though Baker is athletic, he concentrated almost exclusively on basketball.
“He lived and breathed the game of basketball. That was his love,” Sheldon said. “That’s the great thing about basketball. You determine how good you are and how much time you put in.”
Baker noted that playing in a program such as Colonel Crawford has prepared him for college ball.
“It’s really going to help me because I’m used to success,” Baker said. “I can bring that winning mentality to Capital.”