College basketball has its first openly gay player. Jallen Messersmith, a shot-blocker from NAIA Division I Benedictine College, has announced that he is gay, making him the first openly gay player in college basketball history.
The big thing for me, why I wanted to do it, before the whole Jason Collins thing, is there weren't a lot of basketball-related stories like this," Messersmith said. "When I started coming out, I didn't have anyone to look to for advice or to see how their story went. People can look to see what happened to me - and there are positive things going on."
Messersmith said he told his coaches about his sexual orientation last summer, and revealed his homosexuality to his teammates before the season began. The 20-year-old Messersmith opened up to Outsports.com about why he decided to let the world in on his sexuality.
Messersmith admitted anxiousness and nervousness about revealing his secret to the masses, but said the reaction to his coming out has been overwhelmingly positive.
Messersmith started eight of the 28 games he played in last year as a sophomore, averaging 4.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.89 blocks per game. His nearly two blocks a night ranks him third among all NAIA Division I players in the category.
Benedictine athletic director Charlie Gartenmeyer and head basketball coach Ryan Moody referenced the school's statement when asked about Messersmith's revelation and declined further comment. In the school-issued statement, the college's official position is one of support.
"We support Jallen as a Benedictine College student and as a member of the Raven basketball team. Obviously, it would be inappropriate for us to discuss the private lives of students," it said. "As an institution we treat all students with respect and sensitivity."
Messersmith claims he spoke to Outsports.com about a month before NBA center Jason Collins became the first openly gay athlete in the history of American team sports. Messersmith said Collins "wasn't a buffer for me," but also said, "It's awesome to have another person in my sport to come out (nationally) beforehand.
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