PressBox recently chatted with Morgan State men’s basketball graduate student Wynston Tabbs about the influence of his late father, bouncing back from persistent knee issues and more. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard averaged 12.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game for the Bears in 2023-24. Tabbs is a native of Suitland, Md., and graduate of St. Mary’s Ryken School.
PressBox: How did you first become interested in basketball?
Wynston Tabbs: Really, I’ve been playing since I was 7 or 8. Basically, my whole family is definitely a big sports family. You either play football or basketball. I just chose basketball because I had more fun with it and I just love it.
PB: Who was the biggest influence on your game growing up?
WT: Definitely my dad, [Thomas]. We used to work out a lot. He just motivated me to become better each day. … He passed away [on] Oct. 21, 2016.
PB: What did your father mean to you as a person and player?
WT: He meant a lot, really, because he was really the one who instructed all of my workouts and lifting. I was doing all of that through him. I didn’t really have to go out and have a trainer until he passed away. He was a big influence — definitely the biggest, I would say. I had 17 years of life with him.
PB: Is there anyone who picked up where your dad left off?
WT: [Former Niagara guard and D.C. native] Stanley Hodge. We actually met my ninth grade year, just when I was getting into the AAU circuit in high school. I was playing with an organization called DC Thunder. Basically, the organization collapsed. Me and Stan started to get in the gym on our own. We kind of just built a relationship since then. It’s been up from there. … He was a personal coach. Our relationship definitely grew more into a family member, more of a father figure.
PB: What memories do you have from St. Mary’s Ryken School?
WT: That was when I really started to [realize] that I could go D-I. I knew that my future was bright. That’s really where I kind of found my dog mentality and my scoring mentality and knowing how to bring it all together. Ryken has a history of being the bottom, lower, middle of the pack [of the WCAC], so it gave me an opportunity to pave my own way and make a name for myself.
PB: Why did you choose to go to Boston College after high school?
WT: Originally, they actually came in the recruiting process a little late. There were two good guards there — Ky Bowman and Jerome Robinson. The year I was coming in, Jerome went to the draft, so they needed somebody to fill in that spot. Boston College is a good academic school, so it was kind of a no-brainer for me.
PB: What player did you look up to early in your college career?
WT: Definitely Ky Bowman. He played with the Warriors for a year, ended up tearing his ACL and then going overseas. Being under his wing my freshman year definitely gave me some more confidence. Just the knowledge that I got off of him that early helped me mature my game a lot earlier than most freshmen and sophomores.
PB: You missed the 2019-20 season at Boston College with a left knee issue and the 2021-22 season at East Carolina with a right knee issue. What happened?
WT: I needed cartilage [in both knees]. So what they did was they took some cartilage out of my bone, put it in the lab, multiplied it and injected it back into my knees where I needed the cartilage. The doctor said it happens over time, probably overuse or not proper mechanics.
PB: You played just 27 games in your first four years of college ball. How frustrating was that?
WT: It definitely opened my eyes up to how close I am to the real world, especially going through multiple knee injuries. It just really made me ask myself, “What do I really want? Do I really want to still play this game?” There were times I thought I would stop, definitely after the last surgery. I had a talk with my family and friends. I didn’t know. I really was going to stop playing basketball and just try to get something going for myself career-wise other than basketball. I’m glad I stuck with it, though. Now I’m seeing the other side.
PB: Why did you choose to transfer to Morgan State from East Carolina following the 2022-23 season?
WT: I had a connection with Keith Goodie on the coaching staff. That was definitely my first reason. I knew I wanted to go to a school where I knew somebody on the coaching staff was rooting for me. That’s just a good thing to have in today’s college basketball. I’m back home, not too far from my mom. My mom’s moving to Ghana in 2025, so it’s good for me to be back home and spend this last year here before she moves back.
PB: How did you feel health-wise last season?
WT: I felt great. It was my first year really putting everything back together and being able to showcase it. I ended up getting a little banged up, but looking back at it now, I know what I need to do as far as taking care of my body — and it wasn’t my knees. That was the big thing. … I ended up breaking my finger and I had a non-surgical tear in my shooting arm. Both were on my shooting arm toward the end of the season. … Just bringing everything together — trying to eat healthier and just getting as strong as possible so that I can stay strong during the season.
PB: What was your favorite memory from last year?
WT: Favorite memory from last year would definitely be the dagger I hit to put Howard away at home [in an 85-79 win]. That would definitely be my favorite memory.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about Morgan State?
WT: My favorite thing about Morgan would be it being an HBCU. I feel comfortable in my surroundings. And I’m back home, so that’s a plus.
PB: What advice would you give to younger players?
WT: Just know that you’re going to hit some adversity at some point. You might really get to a point where you’ve got to question what you want more and what you want to get out of it. Just stay on your path.
PB: What are your goals for after basketball whenever it ends?
WT: I’m still really trying to figure that out. I’m looking into coaching. I definitely could see myself coaching or in player development. I’m always in the gym and I feel like I can help other people, especially either coming off an injury or just trying to tighten up their game.
Photo Credit: Jadon Pace
Issue 289: October/November 2024
Originally published Oct. 16, 2024