(Photo: Jordan Kartholl / The Star Press)
MUNCIE, Ind. — James Whitford felt as surprised as anyone Monday when Ishmael El-Amin elected to return to Ball State basketball.
The Cardinals’ head coach hadn’t cut ties with El-Amin, a junior guard for BSU this past season, when El-Amin decided to transfer away from the program. Whitford had continued to stay in touch with him since El-Amin’s announcement in March, mentoring him in terms of how he could improve as a player during the situation COVID-19 caused. The two, according to Whitford, have been close for a long time.