Boys Basketball Player of the Year: QHS’s Talton puts character, maturity and joy on display

QUINCY — So much of what Jeremiah Talton accomplished throughout his senior season boiled down to character and commitment, and his maturity as a player and a leader came to the forefront.

Yet, there was still a kid in him, just the way it should be.

Never was that more evident than after a Tuesday night victory against Galesburg.

Long after the stands had cleared and Blue Devil Gym had gone mostly quiet, the Quincy High School senior swingman met with University of New Orleans assistant men’s basketball coach Kris Arkenberg to discuss the possibility of Talton joining the Privateers program.

After a lengthy conversation, Talton broke away to handle a media request.

“Did you get it?” teammate Cameron Bergman asked Talton as he walked toward the bleachers in the south end of Blue Devil Gym.

Talton smiled a smile bigger than any he’s flashed all season.

“I got it,” he said.

What Talton received was a scholarship offer, one he accepted later that same week.

Pure joy and excitement splashed across Talton’s face and watching the interaction between he and Bergman as they celebrated the moment served as a reminder this process was indeed fun. Talton was giddy and smiling and bouncing around because a lifelong goal was being fulfilled.

Sure, it was proof the hard work pays off. But moreso, it revealed a kid who often keeps his emotions in check and goes about playing the game with a business-like approach enjoys the game and finds the fun in basketball more than anyone ever knows.

It should be fun when you have a record-setting career.

Talton finished his season averaging 18.5 points overall and scored 630 points, which ranks 12th in program history in single-season scoring. He finished his career with 1,487 points, which ranks eighth in program history and makes him one of 22 players all-time to score at least 1,000 career points.

Talton also set single-season and career 3-point records, making 104 treys this season and finishing his career with 229 3-pointers made.

In the process, he led the Blue Devils to a 28-6 record, a Class 4A super-sectional berth and the Western Big 6 Conference championship to go along with being named the Muddy River Sports Player of the Year.

Talton sat down with Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman to talk about the season, the Blue Devils’ turnaround and the impact of his family. Take a look: