Treydon Rackley already made one transition as a basketball player. Now he’ll get to make another.
Rackley, a two-year starter for Republic after moving from Gainesville after his sophomore season, will play college basketball at College of the Ozarks under 15th-year coach Steve Shepherd.
Republic head coach Trevyor Fisher, says Shepherd is getting a good one in Rackley.
“Treydon is a coach’s dream. If you tell him to do something, he’s going to do it. He’s going to shake your hand after every practice, say ‘Yes, sir,’ ‘No, sir,’ and just does everything that you’d want a player to be in your program,” Fisher says.
Rackley says he fell in love with the C of O campus after a visit, and has heard “only good things” about Shepherd. He’s also looking forward to meeting up with some old friends when he arrives.
“I’ve got some buddies that go to school down there, and another buddy that is signing as well down there, who I’ll be able to play with,” Rackley says.
In addition to the campus and the coaching staff, Rackley says he was attracted to College of the Ozarks because it’s the host for the NAIA national tournament for at least the next two years. As the host school, the Bobcats get an automatic bid.
Despite earning all-state honors, being Player of the Year in the Central Ozark Conference, and winning several other awards, the on-court accomplishments aren’t the best thing about Rackley, according to Fisher.
“If you ask his teammates, they all love him. He’s a great guy a great teammate, and we will definitely miss him as part of this program.”