Former Triton High School star Clay Yeo throws one down for Bethel College last season. (Photo provided by the Bethel College Sports Information Department)

MISHAWAKA – What to do for an encore?

That’s the question that awaits Bethel College standout Clay Yeo as the 2015-16 college basketball season quickly approaches.

You can bet that the junior guard will have an answer too.

Yeo, the former star at Triton High School, made his mark in a big, big way a year ago with the Pilots after transferring in from Valparaiso University.

The versatile 6-5 Yeo sees an even bigger role for himself this year after leading the Crossroads League in scoring last season at 21 points-per-game and earning second-team NAIA All-American honors.

“My role has increased a lot this year with us losing Matt (Schauss) and Zach (Miller),” said Yeo at Media Day for the Pilots Tuesday afternoon in the Wiekamp Center. “I want to lead by example and also by being vocal. Last year I came in and was figuring things out.”

Yeo, who led Triton to a Class 1-A state runner-up finish as a senior in 2013, figured things out pretty well. He shot 52 percent overall from the field, including 45 percent on 3-pointers, and was 84 percent at the line while also averaging six rebounds and two assists per game. Yeo also led the Pilots in steals and blocked shots last season as well.

“I’ve just tried to work on my ball handling skills and getting stronger,” remarked Yeo of his focus in the offseason. “This is a tough league that we play in with a lot of strong guys who can defend.”

Yeo, who just celebrated his 21st birthday last week, sees plenty to like so far in the preseason on a Bethel team with just one senior.

“It’s a really talented group that we have this year,” stated Yeo. “Our young guys are going to have to step up. Right now, my focus is on making the team better and helping us mesh. We went to the Dominican over the summer and played six games there so we know how guys play. We are bigger this year and our big guys have improved.”

Bethel coach Mike Lightfoot, the owner of 739 wins and a total of seven national championships in his 28 seasons, has high expectations for his star guard.

“I want him to dominate,” said Lightfoot of Yeo. “I want him to be the best player in our league and not just a scorer, but to rebound and defend. We will push him to do that.

“Great players make their teammates better and rise to the challenge and I know that Clay will respond with a target on him. I think that we have more inside this year to help Clay and we will be more diverse in how we score.”

Yeo, the leading scorer at Triton and in Marshall County boys basketball history with 1,992 points, is not worried about personal stats or accolades.

“I’m concerned about us getting better as a team and not the attention I get,” said Yeo, who was tabbed as a first-team pick to the Crossroads League Preseason Team after earning all-league honors last season. “I’ve learned that as your team has success, all that other stuff will come with it.

“I was pretty pleased with my season last year, but I want to keep building on that. I want to have the ball when it counts and the game is on the line. That’s the confidence you have to have and the way I have always tried to play.”

Bethel, which finished 27-7 last year, opens the season by hosting IUSB on Oct. 27. The Pilots host Grace College on Dec. 5 and play in Winona Lake on Jan. 23 in Crossroads League matchups.

Yeo is comfortable with the move from NCAA Division I Valparaiso to one of the top programs in the country in the NAIA.

“I’m happy here and really glad with how things have worked out,” said Yeo. “Valpo made the tournament last year and I’m happy for those guys there too.”