Senior Jon Perry’s career has been full of ups and downs, but it has included highlights that will last a lifetime.
The fifth-year senior walk-on started the first game of his career on ETSU’s Senior Night on Feb. 16 against Western Carolina and may not have had the type of game as fellow senior Dimeco Childress, who scored a career-high 42 points, but Perry enjoyed the experience none the less.
“It was really exciting. There was nothing more I wanted than to be able to start and get out on the floor and play with those guys,” Perry said. “Meco and I have been here and been friends forever . and it was a real exciting time for me to be able to get out on the floor and play.”
Perry came up with an assist on the games first basket and a steal in the Bucs’ 91-77 victory over the Catamounts.
The Bucs’ senior has also seen his role increase this season. With the lose of Cliff Decoster, who was the team’s vocal leader, Perry knew someone had to step up vocally and welcomed the role of encouraging and teaching the younger players.
“Once Cliff was gone, he was our vocal leader on the court, and Meco’s not really as vocal on the floor . he does his leading in other ways,” Perry said. “I felt like I needed to step up and let the guys know how hard they need to work each day and how intense it is.
“We have a lot of younger guys who got thrown into the fire early in the season and I tried to stick with them, encourage them and help them keep their confidence. Once you lose your confidence you’re dead in the water. I tried to keep encouraging them and keep the guys in good spirits.”
Perry has had a difficult career here at ETSU, which has included two knee surgeries that put some doubts in his mind on whether to continue his playing career.
“Coming back from two knee surgeries a lot of people told me to quit and I should just give it up and that I would have to have my knee replacement when I’m older,” Perry said. “I love to compete, I love to be out here, I’m trying to get experience for coaching later in my life.
“I just love to compete and be out here with these guys and there is nothing better for me than to be out here practicing and help make them better. I’m glad Coach (DeChellis) gave me the opportunity to stick around and get my knee right.”
Perry has learned that his knee will never be the same after the surgery, but that has not deterred him from sticking with the basketball team.
“You’re never the same, they always tell you that you’re gonna be stronger, faster, but it’s not that way,” said Perry. “Coach DeChellis was supporting me, my parents were supporting me, the guys on the team were supporting me and all that builds character and I think I grew a lot through my injury.”
Perry has seen the improvement over the past five years after the team went 11-16 and 6-9 in the conference his freshman year and now has finished atop the North Division the past two seasons, going 24-8 in conference action.
“I felt like I’ve been part of building a tradition here and getting back what they had in the early ’90s,” Perry said. “We started something here and want it to keep going.”
Perry looks forward to the SoCon tournament action and like his teammates can think of nothing better than to finish out this season’s turnaround with a berth in the NCAA tournament.
“There’d be nothing better than to go to the NCAA tournament, just to be a part of it,” he said. “We’re a good team and we wouldn’t roll over for anyone.”
After his career at ETSU is over Perry plans to go into a career in coaching.
“I’ve had a great time here, a great career here and I’ve learned a lot,” he said.

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