By R. Max George
Special to GoHolyCross.com
“Everything happened so fast,” explained Holy Cross senior forward Jehyve Floyd, reflecting on his basketball journey. Beginning as a 5'9” freshman at Sayreville War Memorial High School in New Jersey, Floyd never thought “to take basketball seriously.” It was not until his junior year, when he grew to 6'5”, that he started to believe he had true potential and a legitimate future in the game of basketball.
As a senior, Floyd found himself playing AAU ball, serving as high school team captain and earning first team All-Conference honors. However, still unsure of his collegiate basketball career, Floyd began visiting Division III schools without making any immediate commitments. It wasn't until Holy Cross coaches observed one of his AAU games and expressed interest in him that he believed Division I athletics was a realistic possibility. Floyd proceeded to attend camps in Worcester, and after a tour of campus, he knew it was the right place for him. As his first and only Division I offer, Floyd took the chance to join the Crusaders right away, excited by the opportunity to play in such a prestigious program.
In his freshman year, Floyd and the Crusaders made their improbable run to capture the Patriot League title and advance into the NCAA Tournament, where they defeated Southern in the First Four before falling to No. 5 Oregon. “I immediately learned how to win,” said Floyd, reflecting on his past experiences as an underclassman. “Seeing that higher, elite level of competition and playing against future NBA guys, I fed off of that,” Floyd remarked after recalling games against the likes of Kansas, South Carolina, Syracuse and Oregon over the course of his first two seasons. With big games came the international coverage and analysis Floyd had never experienced before, explaining, “they saw potential in me that I didn't see myself.” Experienced, motivated and with a knowledge of winning under his belt, Floyd seemed poised for a breakout season at Holy Cross soon rather than later.
In the midst of a 2017-2018 season that saw Crusaders finish 12-19 and advance to the Patriot League semifinals, it was Floyd, now a junior, who truly took a giant leap forward. With the graduation of many veteran teammates, Floyd was forced into a leadership role on the team. The forward was inserted into the new starting lineup, gained the trust of head coach Bill Carmody and responded with career highs across the board. Floyd averaged a career-high 12.2 points per game and increased his rebounding to 5.6 boards per contest. Most notably, Floyd's 2.16 blocks per game ranked him 30th in the nation while his field goal percentage of .668 placed him fourth in the country. Floyd topped off his stellar season with several accolades, including 2017-2018 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Patriot League All-Defensive Team and third team All-Patriot League. Heading into this season, Floyd was one of five players named Preseason All-Patriot League.
After a strong 2017-2018 campaign, Floyd focused on “being a better version of me” over the summer. The training was primarily mental, as Floyd was most concerned with what more he could do to help the team win. While many players look to force new elements into their style of play, Floyd believes that a successful player shouldn't drastically change their game. Therefore, the forward worked further on what brought him success in the Patriot League, primarily focusing on passing, defense and scoring in the paint, whether in the post or on the drive.
Floyd, who prides himself on defense, looks to repeat as the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year this season. An efficient, all-around player who can impact the game on both offense and defense, Floyd should also be a legitimate candidate for Patriot League Player of the Year honors. Now a senior, Floyd also hopes to improve as a leader, especially in a more vocal manner. With five freshmen and six sophomores, coach Carmody will likely look to Floyd and his fellow veteran teammates to help steer the young team in the right direction. Still adjusting to his leadership role, Floyd hopes he can lead the team's underclassmen through example both on and off the court.
Always focused more on the team than himself, Floyd is excited about what the Crusaders are capable of accomplishing this season. “The ultimate goal is to win another championship,” Floyd said. After coming up short in the Patriot League semifinals last year, Floyd and his teammates believe that the Crusaders have unfinished business. This year, the team has a motto of “one more,” as in one more rep, one more defensive stop, one more win, or one more Patriot League Championship. In this way, Floyd hopes that his career at Holy Cross will come full circle, both starting and ending with an NCAA Tournament appearance.
While the team is obviously motivated to extend its year into postseason play, few analysts are picking the Crusaders to win the Patriot League. “Throughout my life everything has always been against the odds, so I'm used to it and those predictions just motivate me,” said Floyd. Playing with an underdog mentality, Floyd and the Crusaders look to exceed all expectations during the 2018-2019 season.
Addressing his goals for his senior year outside of basketball, Floyd is a member of the Men's Involvement Coalition (MIC) and is currently involved in a leadership project with the Men of Color Athletes (MOCA) on campus. Using a video series called “The Hub,” Floyd and other athletes of color at Holy Cross hope to build off of last year's panel and use their platform of Division I college sports to discuss the overlapping experience of being a minority and an athlete on a college campus.
While his senior year is still main the focus, Floyd has thought about his plans for the future and discussed his intentions to pursue a professional basketball career. Connected to players, coaches and scouts around the world of professional basketball, Floyd exclaimed “the process is exciting. I'm open to any opportunity that comes my way.” With a growing collection of conference accolades, highlight blocks and thunderous dunks, the entire Holy Cross community is excited to see how the electrifying player builds on last year's career season moving forward. Complete with a dedicated Crusader fan-base behind him, Floyd is looking not only to prove himself and shape his basketball future, but ultimately help bring a Patriot League Championship back to the hill.
