Break Update: Devin Haid and His Journey

It Only Takes One; The Story of Devin Haid and His Journey to Collegiate Basketball

By: Johnny Kilroy (Tri-C Student)

(Cleveland-OH) Sometimes all it takes is one shot, just one opportunity to reach your dreams. In basketball, that can mean just one tryout.

Just 6 months ago, Devin Haid was stocking shelves at a Walmart, traveling around from tryout to tryout, looking for that one opportunity.

Now he's the leading scorer averaging over 18ppg, 5.5 rebounds per game and 1.2 steals a night for a 10-2 Triceratops team. With Haid's help, Cuyahoga Community College is a team primed to win the Division II Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Championship, and have a deep playoff run.

But how did he get here?

Haid graduated from Wooster in 2017, he was a starting guard for the 17-7 Generals. Who won the 2016-2017 Ohio Cardinal Conference and advanced to the OHSAA Division I District Finals.

Haid, as well as two other Wooster players were nominated First Team All-Conference, with another three Wooster players on the 2nd team or honorable mention list. Wooster's Head Coach Michael Snowberger was also named Coach of the Year.

Even after an accolade winning senior season where he averaged over 16ppg and chipped in 5+ rebounds a night, Haid was overlooked and under-recruited. In fact, he wasn't recruited at all and graduated high school with no offers to continue playing in college.

But Haid certainly wasn't ready to call it quits. He spent the summer working out, playing high level competition, and improving his game. Eventually, Haid heard about a high-level summer league.

After a solid five games in the summer league, Haid averaged 21.2ppg and an outstanding 3.8 steals per game. Still, it wasn't enough to get him seen. The summer league ended in smoke, and then the Covid-19 virus struck the globe, putting most organized basketball leagues on hold for the time being.

"It was great competition it just could have been organized a little better," said Haid regarding the summer league "It was just open gym basketball with no plays or anything, but it definitely gave me some good experience."

As time passed, Haid kept training and improving his game. Lifting and practicing at any local gym or park he could find. Eventually traveling and meeting some great players in California who helped him meet even more connections.

It had been 5 years since he graduated high school, then came the summer of 2022.

"I was working at Walmart at the time," said Haid "just stocking shelves.

"I was looking for something to do with myself, and I was thinking about going back to school" added Haid, "A couple of guys from Wooster, David Nolen and Ezra Smith who also play here now were already communicating with Coach Nixon and they invited me to come play at an open gym."

"I saw this guy running up the floor, I saw his athleticism and I said" 'Who is this kid', said Tri-C's Head Coach Aaron Nixon "I asked him 'Do you play anywhere or are you looking for an opportunity?'"

"As soon as he seen me, he wanted to know who I was and if I wanted to play for him," said Haid "and that was exactly what I was looking for, a school to play for."

"It was like Christmas in the summer time," Coach Nixon recalled.

"Devin is a great player with a very sophisticated play style," said Tri-C's Physical Education Specialist Ty Hayes "he's a highflyer and has a different play style with a lot of pro-style moves, it might not be college experience, but he brings a lot of good experience to the team. I really like the way he plays ball."

Any experience is valuable to this year's Triceratops squad which boasts only one sophomore player on the 15-man roster, Jordan Persad from Toronto Canada.

"Junior college can kind of be a mismatch of guys and talents," said Tri-C's Athletic Director Tony Cipollone "you have some guys who are fresh out of high school, some with college experience, bad grades, some guys who are on their 3rd or 4th school trying to get it together.  They all are here to get that next shot and a great education."

Haid can score from just about anywhere on the court and has been lighting it up this season. He's big, athletic, and can get to the rim with ease. He also has the 2nd highest shooting percentage on the team clipping 52.7% from the field.

His best game of the year came in a 92-84 loss to Hocking College. Haid dropped 35 points and 12 rebounds on 61% shooting and nailing 3 of 6 triples. He displayed an array of elite finishing, midrange shooting, and ball handling to reach his 35.

"I'm just looking for Devin to improve his decision-making," added Coach Nixon "he's played in a lot of open gym and semi-pro environments. It's a league more built for scoring, and he knows how to score whenever he wants. He's just not used to having to run so many plays, having coaches gameplan for you, that's the kind of stuff you have to think."

Despite being the oldest on the team, Haid is always trying to learn as much as he can from everyone.

"Yeah I might be older but this is still my first year of college ball, Jordan [Persad] has the most experience, and I listen to him," noted Haid "Yeah I lead and I'll tell people what they need to hear, but I'm all ears too I like learning."

Haid's play this season has spoken for itself.

"Yeah, he's been getting some traction right now, coaches calling," noted Coach Nixon "I don't tell anyone to stay, I'll push them right out the door. If a kid gets offers and they're happy with them, that's it."

Haid is currently studying liberal arts and sciences, but "I haven't given much thought about what I would do after I'm done playing basketball," said Haid.

Haid is looking to receive an offer from a Division I school and eventually go pro. "I'm going to take basketball as far as it can take me," Haid said.

"I do it for my mom and my family that's my biggest motivation," added Haid "Basketball has taken me to some great places and helped me meet a lot of good people."

It's Tri-C's first season back after covid suspended the athletic program for the past two years, and Devin Haid has helped lead them to a great start. They plan to keep moving upwards and build on this hot start, and Devin Haid plans to keep moving upwards and make the most of every opportunity that comes his way. Looking for his next shot.

"Sometimes that's all it takes at Tri-C, we provide an opportunity," said Cipollone "it's what the player does with that opportunity that can determine their future. Devin is taking full advantage of this opportunity and I love watching him play."