Ex-Bell City star Bogan loses weight for freshman season at Southeast

At 6-feet-10 and about 290 pounds, Will Bogan will be one of the biggest players in the Ohio Valley Conference.

He just won't be quite as big as he was last year, when he was the area's dominant high school performer.

Bogan's loss of about 30 pounds since he graduated from Bell City High School, along with his overall improved physique, strength and stamina, are just a few of the reasons he is expected to receive playing time during his rookie college season.

And Southeast Missouri State coach Scott Edgar said at Tuesday's media night that he's hopeful the Redhawks' only scholarship freshman will be able to make an impact.

"If Will is going to help us midseason or later, we will have to get him some opportunities," Edgar said as the Redhawks gathered at the Show Me Center. "Anybody that has worked that hard deserves a chance to play."

Bogan said he played at about 320 pounds at Bell City during his senior season, when he averaged 22.2 points and 14.7 rebounds per game as the Cubs finished second in the Class 1 state tournament for the second year in a row.

Not only has Bogan dropped well under the 300-pound mark through intense conditioning, a strenuous weight program has helped transform his body.

"I lifted real hard. I can run up and down the court a lot better," he said. "I've noticed a big difference."

That difference includes the way his clothes fit, which a laughing Bogan said has forced him into something of a new wardrobe.

"Yeah, I've had to change my clothes," he said. "I needed smaller sizes."

Bogan's work habits since he arrived at Southeast have not been lost on Edgar.

"I'm very impressed. He's really worked hard," the Redhawks' second-year coach said. "He's really redistributed his weight and increased his stamina."

Bogan, ranked as the No. 6 prospect in Missouri by Rivals.com as a senior, was always the biggest player on the court -- usually by a wide margin -- during two dominant high school seasons that saw him average a double-double both years.

Bogan said getting used to the size and strength of some of his new Southeast teammates has been his biggest adjustment.

Often times during practice, Bogan will go up against 6-9 sophomore forward Calvin Williams, an athletic, long-armed transfer from Colorado.

"The biggest adjustment is going against another 6-9 player with arms longer than mine," Bogan said. "He's so good at blocking shots ... but he gets me better every day."

Bogan said the same goes for 6-9 senior center Mike Rembert, who is still recovering from knee surgery and has not yet practiced full-time, but he still gives Bogan plenty of advice.

"Mike tells me to be aggressive in the paint, to rebound, run the floor," he said.

With Rembert expected to miss the early part of the season, Bogan should receive more playing time than he might have otherwise.

Williams, who sat out last year under NCAA transfer rules but practiced with the team, will likely start at center before moving back to his natural power forward spot after Rembert returns.

But Bogan will be Williams' primary backup in the post for the time being.

"I'm real excited," said Bogan of the playing time he is likely to receive. "But there's a lot of pressure, me being the only [scholarship] freshman on the team.

"I know I'm going to make mistakes. I just have to do the best I can as a freshman and keep working hard."

As long as Bogan does that, Edgar believes the rest will take care of itself.

"He's been really committed," said Edgar, whose squad plays its first exhibition game Nov. 1 and opens the regular season Nov. 10 at nationally ranked Xavier. "If he can stay committed, he can develop into the type of player I know he can be."