Over the last three seasons, Amin Stevens has become a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court.
Stevens, the starting forward for Rattlers basketball team, has risen to become one of the team’s strongest players.
During his three years with Florida A&M, Steven’s has grown as a player, and that is visible in his stats. His turnover rate per season has increased by 1.7, and his average points per season have increased by 11.4.
Stevens, a junior from Roswell, Ga., said working out and improving in weak areas has led to changes in his performance.
“Taking off season training and weight lifting seriously, learning from my mistakes, and just from playing the game more is helping me continue to grow as a player,” said Stevens.
A highlight for Stevens during the 2011-2012 season was his performance against Morgan State on March 1. He scored his career-high of 32 points with 11 rebounds.
The 6-foot-6, 215 pounder has been playing basketball since he was 10 years old. He said he quickly developed a love for the sport.
Head coach Clemon Johnson said Stevens is an act to follow on the court.
“Amin definitely shows his ability lead on the court, by setting an example,” Johnson said.
In tough situations on the court, Stevens said he tries to make sure his teammates remain positive and believed in their abilities. He said that was a way to keep his teammates playing competitively.
“I try to lead by playing hard the whole time,” Stevens said. “Once I played hard, the whole team would catch on and we would begin playing with more intensity.”
Yannick Crowder, a 21-year-old business administration student from Stone Mountain, Ga., said Stevens’ physical stature gives him an advantage on the court over opponents.
“His height and length create a mismatch, which makes the other team make adjustments around him,” Crowder said. “He is also one of our teams’ most efficient and best scorers.”
Stevens said he is looking forward mirroring his strong performances during his senior year. He said hopes to continue growing as a player so that the team will have a better season.