The stat sheet on Elias Ramirez showed one shot.
In two seasons with the Northwood University men’s basketball team, Ramirez was officially 0-for-1 from the field – courtesy of one red-shirt season followed by one entire year on the bench.
But that stat sheet may have been off by a million.
Known for his over-the-top commitment to his game – firing up about 1,000 shots per day – the former Bay City Central standout never stopped working. He knew his true shot was coming.
“That’s what made me who I am as a player,” he said. “I know what it’s like to be the last man on the bench and I also know what it’s like to be the star. You have to find a way to contribute either way.
“You have to recognize that it’s a marathon, and your time is coming. Keep putting in the work and the basketball gods will send something your way. It’s all right if your time isn’t now. It’s coming.”
Goshen College gave Ramirez a second shot at college ball, and this time he found nothing but net.
Just 16 games into his career at the NAIA school located in Goshen, Indiana – less than 20 miles from the Michigan border – Ramirez is already making his mark. The 6-foot guard has drilled a team-high 46 3-pointers on the year and is second on the Maple Leafs at 14.4 points per game.
“Without question, he’s our hardest worker off the court. He loves to put in the time,” Goshen head coach Jon Tropf said. “He’s certainly maximized his shooting ability. Guys who work that hard tend to be able to maximize their gifts.”
Ramirez parlayed his relentless work ethic into big things at Bay City Central. The starting point guard since his varsity arrival as a freshman, he led the Wolves in scoring all four seasons and finished with 1,152 career points – second in program history to Eric Devendorf.
He led Central to its best record since 2004 as a senior, earning his third Bay City Times Dream Team selection and 2019 MLive Bay City Player of the Year.
“I would get up before school, come in bright and early and get my shots up,” he said. “Then after the volleyball team left, I’d get back in there at night. It was pretty much a 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. thing.”
Ramirez has stuck with that routine at the collegiate level. He said he and teammate Michael Johnson are regulars in the gym before sunrise, working on the individual skills needed to make Goshen a stronger team.
“If I don’t do it, I feel guilty,” he said. “If I miss a morning workout, I feel bad the rest of the day. I see it as my responsibility to be more prepared than anybody on the floor. I wouldn’t feel right any other way.”
Ramirez signed with Northwood coming out of high school and red-shirted his first season at the NCAA Division II school that competes in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. When Jeff Rekeweg moved from head coach to administrator at the Midland-based school, Ramirez said he lost his expected role with the team for 2020-21. He saw action in just two games, playing three minutes and taking just one shot.
Bay City Central graduate Elias Ramirez signs with coach Jon Tropf and the Goshen College men's basketball program.
In looking for a new school, Ramirez connected with Goshen assistant Kyle Capps, who had recruited him out of high school. After making an official visit to Goshen, he was offered a chance to attend the private, liberal arts college across the state border.
“I just wanted to go to the right school, it didn’t matter the distance,” said Ramirez, who is pursuing a degree in sports management. “I was looking for the right fit and this was the spot for me.”
As a new guy and a freshman – albeit at 20 years old – it was up to Ramirez to mesh with his teammates and fulfill his role. As the team leader in minutes played, he’s quickly become a vital member of the Maple Leafs.
“Whenever you bring in a transfer, the ability to adapt and fit into the scheme is something important,” said Tropf, in his fifth season as head coach. “He’s done a pretty good job with that. He’s well-liked and his teammates enjoy playing with him.”
They especially enjoy the way Ramirez shoots. Playing the role of shooting guard to a tee, he is knocking down 43 percent of his shots from the floor and 39.7 percent from 3-point range. He’s also connecting on 77.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Goshen has had its struggles during a 5-13 start, but it has already won more games than the past two seasons. Playing in the Crossroads League, which features foes such as Spring Arbor in Michigan and nationally-ranked Grace, Marian, St. Francis and Indiana Wesleyan, comes with its challenges.
But Ramirez said he is up for a challenge, and he won’t short-change himself when it comes to his passionate pursuit of the game he loves.
“I read a quote from Kobe Bryant that said ‘Stop negotiating with yourself. You already signed a contact with yourself and now you have to go out and do it,’” he said. “I know I have to put in the work, so I’ve just made it a habit.”
Ramirez and the Maple Leafs return to the court Wednesday when they host No. 7-ranked Grace College in their first home game in more than a month.
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