OLEAN, N.Y. (WIVB) — St. Bonaventure mined a gem from the transfer portal in Melvin Council Jr. The 6-foot-4 guard from Rochester brought championship experience to the Allegheny foothills, and Council's sterling play of late has been a crucial element to the best start to a Bona basketball season in 55 years.
Council was selected as one of five national players of the week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, as well as Atlantic 10 player of the week after leading the Bonnies in two conference victories that improved the team's record to 14-1.
"He's our alpha," St. Bonaventure coach Mark Schmidt said. "As he goes, we go."
Bona goes to St. Louis on Wednesday night tied for the second-most victories in Division I and one of eight teams with one loss or fewer. On an eight-win streak tied for the fourth-longest in the country, the Bonnies are the 12th team receiving votes outside the AP Top 25, ranked 52nd in the NCAA NET, and 67th in the KenPom ratings.
"Still a long way to go," Schmidt said about the prospect of Bona playing in the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in 14 years. "We're only two games into Atlantic 10. We've got a tough one coming up at St. Louis. We try to take it one game at a time and work for the next game."
"It starts every day in practice," Council said, "we can't be soft at all, because it's going to come down to that." Together with Bona's big man and co-captain Noel Brown, "we preach it to the younger guys and make sure they are ready too."
Last season, Council was an all-Northeastern Conference selection for a Wagner team that won a league title and reached the NCAAs. There he became the first player in tournament history to have 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a game, while playing all 40 minutes, shooting better than 50% and not committing a foul. Advancing out of the first four games as a No. 16 seed, the Seahawks got 18 points and four rebounds from Council in a loss to No. 1 North Carolina.
Council is averaging 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists this season, just about what he produced at Wagner, now against stronger competition. And he's been even better in an unfamiliar position since starting point guard Dasonte Bowen got hurt.
A natural swingman, Council made an adroit move to the point. Playing all but nine minutes of the past five games, he's averaged 19.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, while shooting 50% with 18 steals and a scant six turnovers.
"I'm getting the hang of it and my teammates trust me with the ball," Council said.
Scoring 20 points with eight rebounds and four assists against VCU in Bona's A-10 opener, Council drove for the winning basket with 3.5 seconds remaining. He had nine of the Bonnies' 13 points in the last six minutes against the preseason favorite to win the league.
Council then became the only player to compile 24 points, eight assists and five steals in regulation D-1 game this season Saturday at Fordham.
"He's our personality," Schmidt said. "The enthusiasm, he gives everybody courage. He plays with joy. He's competitive. The guys listen to him. He's our leader. He's been playing really, really well. Taking care of the basketball. Playing out of position. He's really accepted that role."
After winning 20 games and declining an invitation to play in the NIT last season, the Bonnies turned to the transfer portal in search of more length and athleticism. Council provided both. His springy legs and long arms are weapons on the wing. At point guard, he's a special force.
Along with leading scorer Chance Moore, a transfer from Missouri State, and junior college recruit Lajae Jones, Bona also found the personality types they sought from the portal in Council.
"We’ve got guys that are buying into the team concept," Schmidt said. "I think in the portal era, there are a lot of guys that are transferring for their own good, for them. My assistants have done a good job of getting guys in who are team guys who want to win."
***
Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.
