UMBC men’s basketball junior Ace Valentine recently chatted with PressBox about what he learned from his high school coach, why he loves playing for his college coach and more. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard averaged 8.0 points and 3.2 assists per game for the Retrievers in 2024-25. Valentine is a native of Columbia and graduate of Mount Saint Joseph.
PressBox: How did you first become interested in basketball?
Ace Valentine: Both of my parents, [Craig and Kacy], played. By like 3 years old, the ball was already in my hands, so it really was organic. I was playing early. I also played other sports, but once I got to the age where I really knew what I wanted to do, it’s all been basketball from there.
PB: What did you learn from your mom and dad?
AV: Basically everything. They always taught me about work ethic and stuff like that. I take something from both of them. From my mom, it was defense and attitude and stuff like that. From my dad, it was more like scoring and knowing when to be aggressive and things like that. It was really the best of both worlds.
PB: What did you learn from Mount Saint Joseph head coach Pat Clatchey that you’ve taken into your college career and your life?
AV: I feel like the stress he put on having a good attitude and trying to be positive. … Obviously, we had a lot of highs, but even through the lows, you can’t be all negative and stuff. Definitely just saying positive and having that good attitude about whatever situation is going on.
PB: Why did you choose to go to UMBC?
AV: Really, the way they recruited me, I knew they really wanted me here. I like the way they play. Just watching them when I was in high school I was like, “Oh yeah, I can definitely see myself in this system.” The proximity to home was always a plus. The coaches, the environment, the way they showed me love, I knew this was definitely a good fit for me.
PB: Why have you chosen to stick around with head coach Jim Ferry at UMBC?
AV: I feel like I didn’t really have a reason to leave. [With] the coaches and all the other guys that returned, seeing what we could do with the new guys coming in. I knew some of the new guys coming in. I played against some of the new guys coming in before even college.
PB: Why do you like playing for Ferry?
AV: I just thought he was a good dude and he wants the best for us, everyone on the team. I feel like he gives us a lot of freedom. When the offense is going well, it really looks good. I feel like that’s a main reason I will keep playing for him.
PB: Who did you play against prior to college?
AV: I played against Devin Ceaser [in AAU]. I’ve not played against but I’ve seen Caden Diggs. He was from around the area. Riley Jacobs, I’ve played against him in high school as well.
PB: Who’s your best friend on the team and what’s a story that underscores your friendship?
AV: I wouldn’t say I have a best friend, but the [player] I’ve probably been around the most is Tim Eze. He’s a returner. Our lockers are right next to each other. I take him to the airport when he wants to go back home. I also cut his hair and stuff like that.
PB: How do you plan to take a step forward this year with your game?
AV: Being more aggressive. I feel like a lot of my best games from the past two seasons I wasn’t being as passive, so just having the confidence in the work that I’ve put in and trusting myself that I know I’m going to make the right play. … Play hard on defense, especially off the ball. One of my problems is when I’m guarding a big and I don’t play hard enough. Just doing the little things — hustling, diving for loose balls, I feel that’s going to take my game to the next level.
PB: What advice would you give to younger players looking to play in college?
AV: The main thing is to stay level-headed. Don’t get too high, don’t get too low, just keep your head down. Keep putting in work. Work on something every day. Know your strengths. Also work on your weaknesses. Don’t try to do something that’s not [part of] your identity. Go hard with everything you do. I feel like defense is really slept on. Defense got me started my freshman year. I feel like doing the things that other people really won’t do took me to the next level, and coaches see that. They can see that all the time.
PB: What are your goals for after basketball, whenever it ends?
AV: I’ve been thinking about being a coach maybe, but if not, I feel like I can just get my degree and find a big, stable job — it might be athletic director or something, I don’t know. I just love sports. I feel like it’s going to be something in sports, even after I’m doing playing.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of UMBC Athletic Communications
Issue 295: October / November 2025
Originally published Oct. 15, 2025