A collegiate athlete who does not play much at their career's start usually develops into a decent player, but Ronn See did the unusual, becoming his team's respected leader by the end of four years.
See, the University of La Verne men's basketball team's starting point guard, used a strong work ethic and stronger mind to persevere his way from not seeing the court in his first years to becoming the team's leader in points and assists in his final year.
He was ultimately rewarded by earning First Team All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors this season, the first all conference award of his career.
"I think Ronn, by the time it was all said and done, became the heart and soul of our team this year," head coach Richard Reed said. "His teammates really looked up to him and respected him, and he taught them a level of work ethic that they can look back on and take with them into future seasons."
The 23-year old began his basketball career at the age of seven. But his love for the game did not come until his senior year at Palm Desert High School, when he garnered Second-Team All-Desert Valley League.
However See also played soccer, and knew he had to make a decision when it came to playing a sport in college.
"I thought I had a better love for the game than soccer," See said.
Looking forward to playing at the collegiate level, he knew he wanted to go to a school where he could play while also being able to pursue a business administration degree.
See then met with Reed, who told him he saw him play in a tournament and he really liked the way he played. He came on a recruiting trip and bonded well with the players and liked the school itself.
But things did not go as planned right away as he soon found out he did not want to pursue a business degree, nor did he see any playing time. In fact, the fifth-year senior hardly played during his first two years.
After a season-long injury in his third year, he finally found time in his fourth, although still technically his junior season of playing, going on to lead the team in assists. That newfound success did not come by itself though.
"I can always look at my guys and say for three years he was a guy who bought into our program, he never once complained, he never whined, he never came to my office and said 'I should be playing,'" Reed said. "He's kind of a shining example of what we preach to our guys everyday, which is work ethic and daily improvement."
See cites his parents' as the ones who kept him mentally tough and helped push him through those tough times.
"My parents kind of keep my level head because I always have them to talk to," See said. "I always have them to fall back on and ask them questions and learn from them."
See, dubbed "Ronny Basketball" by his teammates, earned their respect through that same desire that led him to have the second highest assists per game in the SCIAC this season.
Junior center Niall Harrison has spent the past three seasons with See, and has seen him transform from a friend on the bench to a starter and team leader to take after.
"He leads by example. He really knows how to get the most out of the people he plays with," Harrison said "Game-wise he's a crazy driver, he can make the toughest shots consistently and I don't know how he does it."
See, now a kinesiology major with a psychology minor, looks forward to graduating in the spring, and moving to Washington or Oregon in search of a coaching job and potentially a graduate degree.
"He's family, he cares about you off the court and on. If you ever need anything he'd be there for you," Harrison said. "He is a really great guy and I am going to miss having him around."
"He is so unique, I cannot compare him to anyone else that we have ever had, he is who he is," Reed said. "I am really proud of him and I think his legacy speaks for itself."
