Player profile: Dustin Marshall and Jace Redman
By Audrey Price, Richard Gootee, February 20, 2009
Dustin Marshall
Senior Dustin Marshall has been playing since he was able to hold a basketball. His dad, Chris, first introduced him to the familiar orange ball. After having played in school himself, Chris Marshall made basketball a family tradition that he passed down to his three sons.
“[The] first time I ever played a game [I] was probably five or six—it was in Bitty Ball,” said Marshall, describing the style of basketball where young players simply follow the ball around. “And then, organized basketball was probably third grade.”
Besides basketball, Chris also influenced Dustin in his career choice. He is an elementary school teacher, and Dustin said that because of his dad and a few of his own past teachers who influenced him, he became an elementary education major. After school, he plans to get a job near Franklin, hopefully teaching second or third graders.
Marshall attended Scottsburg High School, where he played basketball, ran cross country in order to stay in shape for basketball, and ran track for a year, but decided against it after being plagued with shin splints. While in high school, Dustin was also involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and a men’s Christian youth group.
After coming to Franklin College on his recruit visit, Dustin said he just knew it was the right place for him. He appreciated the home-like atmosphere head coach Kerry Prather and the fellow players provided, along with the beautiful campus, the convenient location (an hour from his hometown) and the education program.
Dustin said he has enjoyed his time at Franklin.
“I mean, anywhere you go on campus, you always see somebody you know, and that’s what I like about it,” Dustin said. “I like the small-school feel.”
When he is not playing basketball or studying, Dustin likes going home for church on Sunday, hanging with his friends and going to other athletic events on campus to support other teams. He especially enjoys the football and baseball games, but describes himself as an “all-sports guy” that will “watch anything.”
While in the basketball program, Dustin said he has had an exciting run.
“It’s been fun, I’ve had a lot of great memories and hopefully, we can finish it out with an even better memory,” Dustin said.
During his sophomore season, the Grizzlies won conference in the regular season, and last year, they won the conference tournament and went to the national tournament. This year, they are currently leading the conference with two games to go.
As a senior, Marshall gives underclassmen essential advice.
“Just enjoy your college career, because I’ve learned it goes by so fast,” he said. “Definitely enjoy it, and work hard while you’re here, because you only have one chance.
Jace Redman
Despite being a prep star at North Vernon High School, senior Jace Redman wasn’t highly recruited to play basketball at the college level.
“I didn’t get a whole lot of looks for basketball; I was also looking at playing baseball at a lot of places too... I just liked the fit here with [head] coach [Kerry] Prather,” Redman said. “He’s known my parents for a long time.”
His presence paid off immediately for the family friend. In his freshman campaign, Redman earned all-conference honorable mention accolades and played in every game, all but five of them as a starter.
Now as an upperclassman himself, Redman is one of a quartet of seniors who have led an otherwise young team to the top of the HCAC. Along with Redman, guard Dustin Marshall, and forwards John Yochum and Jared Catron are all four-year contributors, in which the Grizzlies compiled a 70-36 record including a 16-8 mark this season.
During their four careers, Franklin has never finished less than second in the conference, winning last season’s conference tournament, earning the automatic bid to the national tournament.
Despite all four of their individual accomplishments, Redman said they just want to the lead the team to a win and, in the big picture, back to the playoffs.
“I don’t think there is any jealousy or anything like that on our team… We just want to help each other achieve our goals. That’s what we are going to remember 10, 20 years from now,” Redman said. “We’re not going to remember ‘oh I scored 20 points that night.’"
Redman who is averaging 14.4 points this season has been one of Franklin’s best three-point shooters throughout his years in a Grizzly uniform. He is currently on pace to eclipse his 45 percent team leading mark last season and in HCAC contests has hit half of his three-point attempts this season.
A natural shooter growing up, the 5-foot-9-inch guard said he’s worked hard to improve his shot since coming to campus.
“My dad would go with me every day to the gym to shoot for an hour (over the summer),” said Redman who also used a shooting video for the first time after his freshman season.
Though Redman’s playing career is winding down, he hopes to coach at the college level. He said Prather has already placed some calls on his behalf. Also, he points out that playing for the coach who won his 400th career game last year has taught him a lot.
But Redman’s Franklin success extends beyond the hardwood. In addition to earning all-conference for his athletic accomplishments each of his three seasons, Redman was named to the All-Academic team the past two as well.
He’s also a two-sport athlete, though tennis rather than baseball is the other sport. Despite playing in high school, Redman only joined the team after tennis coach Rusty Hughes asked him to fill in for an injured player right before the conference tournament his freshman year. Just like in basketball, Redman has earned all-conference accolades on the tennis court as well.
Though basketball remains his No. 1 athletic priority, Redman called the tennis team, “a lot of fun” and said he is thankful for Hughes’ willingness to let him concentrate on basketball.
“For me, tennis is just an escape to do something competitive again in the spring so I’m not just sitting around… I’m fortunate enough to have tennis to look forward to [for] a chance to compete again.”
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