1. DAILY NEWS | B1
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2017GOODLIFE
CARRYING ON
THE NAMEAthletic abilities passed down through generations
for theseWildcat basketball players
STORYANDPHOTOSBYTURNERBLAUFUSS•
DAILYNEWS
sports@wahpetondailynews.com
B
eing named after a father
or a grandfather is a tre-
mendous honor and sev-
eral of the North Dakota
State College of Science
basketball players didn’t just get
their names from their ancestors,
but also their athletic gifts. Judg-
ing by the Wildcats’ 17-1 record, the
players are more than living up to
their names.
JAMES BATEMON III
The star point guard for NDSCS
is averaging 22 points, six rebounds
and six dimes a game, but accord-
ing to him he’s not the most athletic
James Batemon.
“My dad was way more athletic
than I was. He said he had a better
jump shot, but he’s going to have
to get some more guys to vouch for
him on that,” Batemon said with
a laugh. “My granddad had a nice
jump shot.”
Although his name ends with
“III,” Batemon is actually the fourth
family member to take on the title.
Batemon’s great-grandfather James
Batemon had a son, whose name
was James Batemon I. If you ask the
newest Batemon, he prefers a III at
the end rather than IV.
“James Batemon III is a cool,
catchy name,” Batemon said.
The sophomore guard picked up
the game from his family and they
support him as much as they can.
James’ father and grandpa, along
with several other family members,
attended the Wildcats’ first two
games this season to cheer on JB 3.
“They didn’t play college ball,
but they were pretty good in high
school. All of them played ball and
I’m just following the trend. I’m the
first one to go play college ball so
they’re going to root for me,” Bate-
mon said. “My grandpa and my
father both came to the first game.
We had JB 1, JB 2 and JB 3 all in the
same place.”
TARON PICKFORD JR.
Pickford is one of the new faces
for NDSCS this year and he’s scor-
ing just under eight points a game.
His father Taron Pickford Sr. was a
standout basketball player in high
school. He used his past experienc-
es to help his son improve his game
and also helped Taron Jr. work out.
“I’m more of
a guard and he
was a post. From
what I heard
from his friends,
they said he was
really good. He
wanted to play
in college, but
it didn’t really
work out be-
cause he couldn’t
afford it,” Pick-
ford said. “He
gave me an example when I was 7 or
8. My dad would get my cousin, who
lived in Maple Grove, and I in the
gym every morning to work out, so
he’s stayed around the game.”
The eldest Taron goes by “Hoo-
tie,” so when the father-son duo are
together they’re “Big Hootie and
Little Hootie.”
“We’ve got a good relationship on
and off the court. Sometimes we’ll
play one-on-one or HORSE and he
always gives me advice on my game
and what I should do and what I
shouldn’t do on the court,” Pickford
said. “It’s always fun to have a good
relationship with your dad. I’m re-
ally proud to have his name.”
GACH GACH
The only player named after a
relative, but doesn’t have a Jr. or a
III at the end was named after his
grandfather, who was also Gach
Gach. Although most people might
find themselves complaining about
having the same first and last name,
Gach is proud of it.
“It’s a big name to live up to. He
lived in Africa most of his life and
I had the opportunity to be born in
the United States and I made the
most out of it,” Gach said.
Although none of his ancestors
ever played basketball, the family is
still loaded with talent. Gach’s sister
is suiting up for Lake Region and
his two younger brothers are also
heavily involved in the sport.
Melvin Newbern Jr.
First-year forward Melvin New-
bern Jr.’s father is one of the all-time
great Minnesota Gophers. He once
led Minnesota to the Elite Eight and
he also set the all-time steals record
at the Big Ten university. His father
loves offering advice, especially
when it’s on defense.
“(Melvin Newbern Sr.) showed
me some things on defense like em-
phasizing passing lanes and how to
cheat. I don’t use that here because
we actually play defense, but he
showed me some ways to cut cor-
ners and get steals,” Newbern said.
“I know I can come to him with
anything basketball-related, espe-
cially defensive stuff. He knows
I lead the team in fouls so he says
stuff like, ‘I know I taught you bet-
ter than that!’”
Not only does his father help him
hone his skills, he also helped with
the young Wildcat’s recruiting.
“(Melvin Newbern Sr.) helped me
a lot through the recruiting process
and then a lot my last couple years of
high school because he got to coach
me on the staff,” Newbern said.
Newbern’s uncle also played Divi-
sion I basketball at Bowling Green.
“I hope to carry the name on to a
four-year school after this,” New-
bern said. “There are big shoes to
fill, but I’m used to it.”
JOHNNIE TURNER III
Vikings fans probably remember
Johnnie Turner III’s father, John
Turner, who spent most of his play-
ing career suiting up in purple and
gold. Although he made his living
on the gridiron, the original J.T.
was being recruited to play Division
I college basket-
ball.
“My grandma
actually really
wanted him to
play basketball.
She hated foot-
ball and hated
seeing him get
hit. My dad was
like, ‘I’m going
to play football
for Miami Uni-
versity,’ and she
just started bawling,” Turner said.
“I think he told me he was getting
recruited by Illinois, which was
smaller then, but it was still a Big
Ten school.”
Turner credits his dad for his ath-
leticism and said his dad is still far
more active than most men in their
60s.
“I’m a little bit athletic here and
there. My dad is a super athletic
guy and still plays. He’s like 62 and
he runs around playing racquet ball
and stuff like that,” Turner said.
“(His basketball playing style) is old
school. He talks trash in his old man
games now. He used to tell me he’s
really quick and he could take me
one-on-one.”
His dad nabbed over 20 intercep-
tions in the NFL, so it’s only fitting
his son prefers the defensive aspect
of basketball.
“I like to play defense a lot, get
steals, work hard and let the game
come to me,” Turner said.
Being named after a former pro
athlete may set the bar pretty high
for the younger J.T., but when asked
if he was happy to be named after
his ancestor, he said,
“Oh yeah, of course. I’m not wor-
ried about (living up to the name).
I’ll get there eventually,” he said.
MelvinNewbernSr.
JohnTurner
James Batemon III is
actuallythefourthJames
Batemon in his family.
Johnnie Turner III’s
father suited up for the
Vikings and also used to
play basketball.
Melvin Newbern Jr.’s
father led the Minne-
sota Gophers to the Elite
Eight.
Taron Pickford Jr. had
plenty of basketball wis-
dom passed down from
his dad.
Gach Gach was named
after his grandfather,
Gach Gach.