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Walk-on Rebillot proves his worth
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CAREER OPPORTUNITY: Senior Zack Rebillot walked on to the team three years ago and has earned the most minutes of his career this season.
By Pete Mollica
Now a senior, he was discovered while playing a pickup basketball game.
YOUNGSTOWN — When Zack Rebillot enrolled at Youngstown State four years ago he had no intention of playing varsity sports.
Rebillot, now a senior, came to YSU out of Canton McKinley High School where he played basketball and golf.
The 6-6 forward is now in his third season with the YSU men’s basketball team.
“I really had no intention of playing basketball here,” Rebillot said. “I thought that I might try and walk on with the golf team, but really had no thoughts about basketball.
Then one day during his freshman year Rebillot was playing some pick-up basketball in the gym when one of the basketball coaches talked to him about possibly walking on to the program. He decided to give it a try and he’s been with the Penguins ever since.
“I’ve always had fun playing basketball and to get this opportunity has really be great for me,” Rebillot said. “Like coach said, each day you come into the gym and it’s not what you have to do, but it’s what you get to do and playing basketball is just a great time for me.”
When Rebillot walked on as a sophomore, he knew what he was facing.
His first season he served primarily as a member of the scout team and got to play in four games, scoring two points and grabbing three rebounds while logging a total of six minutes of playing time.
Last season Rebillot found himself in the same situation, although he doubled his point total with four, while grabbing five rebounds and played just over 10 minutes.
“I feel that I’ve really learned a lot these past two seasons and it has helped me going into my final season,” he said.
Recently Rebillot became only the second walk-on for the Penguins to start a game. The other one, Billy Clapper, started only senior night several years ago, while Rebillot has made four starts this season and already has logged 67 minutes of playing time, an average of 7.4 per game.
He’s scored 15 points and pulled down 17 rebounds.
He has started in two of the Penguins’ four victories this year, including their lone Horizon League victory at Detroit.
He and the rest of the team were disappointed last Saturday in the 60-59 loss at Wright State, a game they felt they should have won.
“We had been playing very well for two straight games, but then it came down to us not finishing the job we set out to do,” Rebillot said.
“During our final media timeout coach looked at us and told us that this is where we want to be, right in the game in the final minutes, but we just didn’t get the job done.”
Rebillot said the Penguins are anxious to get back home this week, where he feels that success will return to the program.
“It will be good to get back to our court and our fans,” he said. “We know we are capable of winning a lot of games, now we just have to go out and do it.
The Penguins will be at home Thursday when they host UIC in a 7:35 top off at Beeghly Center. It will be the second game of a doubleheader as the YSU women will play Milwaukee in the opener at 5:15.