The fans and the press love Jermaine Dearman, and why not?

He is the smiling star forward who gives promise to a much-anticipated season to come.

Dearman has been a big contributor to the Saluki basketball program for the past three years, but this season calls for him to step up to another level.

The improvement was evident in Dearman’s game last season, and it reached its pinnacle in the NCAA Tournament, where he exploded like a national star.

The media overwhelmed him during and after the season, drawn to his outgoing personality.

When he first arrived at SIU, Dearman struggled with the transition from high school basketball to college-level play.

The coaching was tougher, and the demands were much higher.

“I was hot-headed as a freshman,” Dearman said. “I had to learn that what the coaches were telling me was right.”

Dearman was born and raised in Indianapolis and went to Warren Central High School. SIU basketball head coach Bruce Weber attended a couple of Dearman’s high school games and decided to offer him a full scholarship to SIU.

After being overlooked by some of the bigger conference schools in Indiana, Dearman started looking at mid-major schools. He wanted to major in business, and finding a school with a good business program was important to him.

He discovered that SIU had a good business program and liked the University in general. The basketball program was good, and he liked the support the team received from the community, so he decided to make SIU his home.

His mother, Brenda Chambers, is his best friend. He lived with her before coming to SIU.

He was also extremely close to his grandmother, Thelma Young, who passed away five years ago.

He honors her with a tattoo that reads “In loving memory of Thelma” on his left arm. He also wears her name on his basketball shoes when he practices and during every game.

The 21-year-old senior has much to look forward to this coming season as the Salukis look to him to become a vital part of the program.

“We are going to depend on Jermaine a lot more,” said junior forward Brad Korn. “Defensively, he has to take on Rolan Roberts’ former responsibilities. Teams will know who he is and concentrate their defense on him.”

Assistant coach Rodney Watson said that he is impressed with the maturity and leadership that Dearman has brought to the basketball program.

“We need him to become an anchor for us defensively,” Watson said. “He has to manhandle the middle of the lane.”

Dearman knows that this is his year to shine.

Even with the pressure to excel weighing heavy on his shoulders, he is not sweating this season’s upcoming challenges.

“I am anxious; I want to play,” Dearman said. “I don’t like the off season.”

Star guard Kent Williams said this season should be a big year for Dearman.

“He’s improved from his freshman year until now,” Williams said. “He has stepped up and matured due to his work ethic.”

It was always a dream for Dearman to play in the NCAA Tournament, so last season was a great experience for him.

He doesn’t want people to think it was a fluke that the Salukis went as far as the Sweet 16.

“We didn’t go to the tournament just to say we went,” Dearman said. “We went to win games.”

The Salukis are working hard right now to prepare for the upcoming season.

Dearman said the team plays a pick-up game everyday Monday through Friday and conditions with the football team Monday and Friday mornings. They run on Tuesdays and lift throughout the week.

With most of the starters coming back this season and a strong group of newcomers, Dearman likes the solidity of the team.

“I hope the younger guys will play hard for the seniors,” Dearman said. “This season we want to win the conference outright and win the conference tournament, then shoot for the Final Four.”

This season will determine many things for Dearman’s future, and the Saluki star is ready no matter what comes his way.

“I want to follow in Roberts’ footsteps and get a degree first, then look at the NBA,” Dearman said. “I will play overseas if I don’t get drafted and work on what I need to improve, then give the NBA one more try. If that doesn’t work, I’m starting a family, working in business and taking up golf.”

Reporter Jack Piatt can be reached at [email protected]