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Jason Meyer steals the ball from an Ohio State Player. Photo by Gary Carnes

2001-02 Season 2001-02 Covington Buccaneers 2001-02 Buccaneer Cheerleaders Jason Meyer goes on to college...

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December 28, 2003 – COLUMBUS
It was like living a childhood dream. Except, maybe for the green uniform. Which didn’t lessen the experience one bit.

Former Covington basketball standout Jason Meyer found himself on center stage Sunday afternoon at Value City Arena as the Dartmouth Big Green played Ohio State in men’s college basketball action.

"I used to dream about playing for Ohio State," Meyer said with a smile after the Big Green’s 71-58 loss to the Buckeyes. "But, to be able to come back and play in Ohio...in front of family and friends. Sure, this was great."

And the Covington faithful made sure he felt right at home. More than 100 Bucc fans were in the arena and made themselves heard when Meyer was introduced as a starter for Dartmouth.

Included in the Bucc entourage was the boys basketball team, with a Covington bus visible in the media parking lot.

"I had a pretty good idea all those people were coming," Meyer said. "But, it doesn’t really hit you until it happens. They were awesome. It was great the way they came out and supported me."

The sophomore did not disappoint. At one point in the early going, it was Ohio State 7, Jason Meyer 6.

Meyer, one of three Ohio players on the Dartmouth roster, made his first three 3-point attempts, all in the first 11:52 of the game.

"The guys from Ohio, we came ready to play," Meyer said. "We wanted to show Ohio State we could play with them."

They did.

He started with a steal and a three from the top of the key at the 17:09 mark over 7-foot Velimir Radinovic.

"We started with Radinovic on a 6-5 guy (Jason Meyer)," Ohio State coach Jim O’Brien said. "He came out and hit a couple threes."

He followed that by burying a shot from the left corner at the 16:09 mark and was fouled. He was unable to convert on the four-point play, but followed with a three from the right corner with 8:48 remaining in the half.

"They started with the big guy on me," Meyer said. "I don’t think they were expecting me to shoot from there. It always feels great to hit a shot like that. I knew they would make an adjustment and wouldn’t keep leaving me open."

And while the rest of the game didn’t pan out the way Meyer and his teammates may have hoped, they certainly made their point by being down just 30-29 at halftime.

"We always seem to have one bad stretch," Meyer said. "Some of these games are going to start going our way."

While Meyer didn’t score again, he continued to contribute. He finished with three steals, three rebounds and one assist.

"Anything I can do to help my team," Meyer said.

Now he faces the most challenging basketball season of his career. He has been playing with a tendon injury in his left leg and will have season-ending surgery...so while his teammates finish out the season, Meyer was playing his final game in a red-shirt season Sunday.

"It is going to be real tough," Meyer said. "It is very frustrating. We (Dartmouth) are coming along. The Ivy League starts next week and we have a chance to start 4-0 and surprise people."

The frustration comes from having to wait to see all the work he did in the off-season come to fruition for another year. Meyer had made great strides from his freshman season, scoring 15 points in a game earlier this season.

"The thing is, I am not able to play my best," Meyer said. "Don’t get me wrong...I can still shoot. But, I can’t move and do the other things like I normally would. Today, it (the ankle) started to tighten up on me. I wasn’t able to move like I normally would. Every ligament is being stretched as far as it possibly can be."

At the same time, Meyer knows the surgery is for the best.

"The doctors told me if I kept playing on it, I could blow it out and have to have even more major surgery," he said. "I will have another year of eligibility and it is for the best."

The surgery will have Meyer at home for the rest of the winter...which will be another blessing in disguise. He will be able to watch his sister Michelle, a sophomore standout for the unbeaten Covington girls basketball team.

"If it wasn’t for this, I would have never gotten to see her play," Meyer said. "I am looking forward to that."

And getting back to playing the game he loves so dearly.

Story by Rob Kiser