Journey Man

Belfor’s road to JMU as intense as his game

Carolyn Walser / senior photographer Jomo Belfor is averaging 9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game for JMU this season.

Jomo Belfor pumps a fist and lets out a short yell, eyes burning holes in the Convocation Center floor.

The junior point guard’s 3-pointer with 10:57 left in the first half has given JMU a 13-10 lead over in-state rival George Mason University.

The shot ends up being nothing more than 3 extra points in the box score. The Patriots go on a 10-0 run late in the first half and beat the Dukes 77-58. But Belfor’s intensity is crystal clear.

"Jomo is aggressive," JMU coach Dean Keener said. "He’s a guy that’s going to compete every minute."

Hence Belfor’s nickname.

"Coach Keener calls me Mo," Belfor said. "Means I can give more effort maybe, more intensity."

And the intensity Keener speaks of doesn’t just appear in games. Belfor is known to be a fiery player at practice, a player who stirs the dust. He’s not afraid to speak his mind.

"We were in conditioning and he kicked some water bottles because some guys weren’t making their times and he was," Keener said. "That showed early on that he was about working hard and trying to do things right."

That probably has something to do with Belfor’s long road to JMU. His journey covers more than 3,000 miles and three programs, and its roots are in a basketball-crazed community, 17 miles north of New York City.

The Beginning

In Mount Vernon, NY, basketball is king.

"You know how Philadelphia is known for its cheese steak sandwiches?" Belfor said. "Mount Vernon is known for its basketball."

And Mount Vernon High School is where Belfor played high school varsity basketball, in a town where everyone knew his name.

"It was fun to me," Belfor said. "I loved it; everybody knew you by your first name, and everybody knew you played basketball."

Everyone also expected wins.

"You have to uphold that rep that you’re a Mount Vernon basketball player and you come out of a traditionally great program," Belfor said of his high school team.

In Belfor’s high school tenure, he upheld that tradition admirably.

Belfor helped Mount Vernon go 83-10 in his varsity years. The Knights never lost a home game in those seasons and they reached the State Final Four three times. In 1999-’00, with current Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon leading the way, Mount Vernon finished 28-0, winning both the state and federation championships.

It was during that title run where Belfor’s toughness took center stage.

"We were in the County Center, playing Poughkeepsie in the section finals," Belfor said. "I got three teeth knocked out of the back row of my mouth from an elbow. My nerves were hanging. It was crazy.

"I wanted it bad. I figured, ‘I’ll go to the dentist later. I can play basketball now.’"

In the two seasons following Mount Vernon’s state title, Belfor’s future skyrocketed. In 2000-’01, he averaged 9.6 points and 6.0 assists per game. In his senior year, he averaged just under 18 points per contest.

Both seasons he led Mount Vernon back to the State Final Four.

"You have a good understanding of how hard you have to work," Belfor said of Mount Vernon’s basketball program. "The day after we won State in 2000 we weren’t celebrating, we were back on the court."

And while Gordon was finding his niche at the University of Connecticut, Belfor’s hard work had him being actively recruited by Division I programs. He chose Texas A&M, seemingly destined to play point guard in the Big XII conference.

But Belfor never made it to College Station. In the world where basketball was king, his path to the throne was blocked.

The Journey

"In high school I had good grades," Belfor said. "But I was never good at taking tests — it used to kill me. I was on the border of 800 [SAT], and I did that three times."

Belfor needed an 820 to play for Texas A&M.

"I was going to go there and lead that program," Belfor said. "But I just never got the score."

Belfor opted to attend junior college.

"It didn’t go downhill," Belfor said. "That’s where the learning began. Along with being a good basketball player, you have to be a great student."

Still, Belfor clung to the hope that he would get a second chance at playing Division I basketball.

"The journey," Belfor said. "I’ve been to Florida,from Florida to Kansas and from Kansas to Virginia. That prepared me for life, being in a different environment. It just made me stronger mentally as a person, that I can get through a lot on my own."

Belfor’s collegiate career started in Tallahassee, Fla., where he played point guard for Tallahassee Community College, earning conference All-Rookie honors.

The one-year stint in Tallahassee led him to Salina, Kan., where Belfor led the Ravens of Coffeyville Community College to a No. 5 national ranking. Belfor averaged 8.9 points and 1.9 assists per game as Coffeyville finished the season 31-7.

A few weeks later, halfway across the country, Dean Keener was announced as the new men’s basketball coach at JMU.

Keener wanted a point guard to replace graduating senior Chris Williams and help set the foundation for rebuilding the program. Belfor wanted in.

"He’s straightforward," Belfor said of Keener. "He believes we can win; he sold me on that during my visit."

Belfor packed his bags one more time and left for Harrisonburg.

Playing with Purpose

Jomo Belfor steps out of the locker room inside the Convocation Center in street clothes. Practice is over, but Belfor still is thinking about basketball and winning.

"I’ve played on great teams in high school and JuCo," Belfor said. "I have a good understanding about what it takes to win at certain levels."

Decimated by injuries, JMU sits at 3-12 overall and 1-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association. But Belfor is optimistic.

"We haven’t found it yet," Belfor said. "I think if we have all the pieces, we’ll put JMU back on the map."

His tough nature is as evident as it was in high school. Belfor’s game is intense, fast-paced and headstrong. He plays not just for the present, but also for his past.

"When I go on the court, I’m not just playing for JMU," Belfor said. "I’m playing for Jomo Belfor, his family and Mount Vernon basketball."

While that may seem like Belfor is carrying extra weight, his teammates think it adds fuel to his fire.

"Jomo Belfor’s a very confident kid," junior forward David Cooper said. "If there’s one thing I love about Jomo, it’s that he doesn’t care who you are, he’s going to take it to you."

That stems from Belfor’s pride more than anything.

"It comes from your soul and your heart," Belfor said. "It’s playing with respect, that’s where all my emotion and intensity comes from."

Cooper said there is one other source for Belfor’s intensity. It’s the same thing that willed him to play after getting his teeth knocked out at the County Center five years ago.

"His goal is to beat you in whatever he’s doing," Cooper said. "He can live with his mistakes as long as he beats you. He just wants to win."

And no matter where Belfor plays, winning is something he’s familiar with.