Yoho got his shot from his mom

“My mom (Sandi Yoho) was a player in high school,” Yoho said. “She’s the second-leading all-time scorer on the women’s team at my high school. My dad (Jay Yoho) played freshman year, but everyone asks where I get it from and my shot’s definitely from my mom. From 15 feet in, she can still shoot.”

The 6-foot-6 Yoho, from Eastern Greene High School in Solsberry, Ind., has no idea where he got his height from, however. His dad’s 6-1, and his mom is 5-7. He has an uncle who’s 6-3.

Some things can’t be explained. Yoho’s performance in Wright State’s season-opening 80-70 victory at Idaho on Friday is a little bit less of a mystery — after all, he is Eastern Greene’s second all-time leading scorer with 1,504 points — even if he surprised even himself by scoring 17 points.

Yoho will try for an encore performance at 8 tonight when Wright State visits Eastern Illinois.

“I just wanted to do whatever it took to help our team win,” Yoho said. “If that involved me playing like I did, so be it. If it didn’t, I just wanted to go out and get the W, and that’s what happened. I went 6-for-8, so I did it efficiently, and my teammates found me. They got me the ball, so I want to thank them for that.”

Yoho played 24 minutes. He also had five rebounds and no turnovers. He shot 2-of-3 from 3-point range and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. It was hard to tell it was his first official collegiate game.

“It was a little nervous, but not as bad as I was against Central State (in an exhibition game),” Yoho said. “That helped me get the nerves out for the college level.”

After the game, Yoho said he had 20 text messages from family members. His friends congratulated him on Twitter.

“I called my mom and dad, of course, and my grandparents called me,” Yoho said. “Everyone was proud of me.”

Yoho felt right at home at Idaho’s Memorial Gym. The 2,500-seat arena opened in 1928. The Vandals play their early-season games there before moving to the larger Kibbie Dome, where the football team plays.

“It kind of looked like an Indiana middle school gym,” Yoho said. “It brought back memories. It was so small.”

Back in middle school, Yoho’s parents were his coaches. His dad was the head coach, and his mom was the assistant. They coached him through eighth grade.

The Yohos had a hoop in the driveway, and they were 10 minutes from the gym. J.T. developed his shot with years of practice.

“I’ve always been in the gym,” Yoho said. “I’ve always had the ball in my hand.”