Jordan Bachynski must have been quite the sight.
In the two years before he arrived at Arizona State, Bachynski put his college basketball ambitions on hold to serve a mission in Miami, Fla. for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
With the Sun Devils, he blends in among the game’s giants. On the court in Miami, he would stick out like a sore thumb.
Bachynski joined his fellow missionaries for pickup basketball on Mondays, and at 7-foot-2 with NBA potential, it’s safe to say he would always be the first pick when drawing up teams.
“It was fun,” Bachynski said, “but it wasn’t anything that would prepare me for college basketball.”
Bachynski’s two-year detour is typical for Latter-day Saints members, and East Valley high school juniors Jake Toolson (Highland) and Payton Dastrup (Mountain View) are choosing a similar path.
Toolson and Dastrup both plan to play college basketball for a season, but will then ship off to unknown destinations and focus almost solely on their missionary work for two years.
In an instant gratification world, it’s an atypical step back.
“There’s not really any way you can prepare for it,” Toolson said. “It’s just a thing I’ve always wanted to do. Ever since I was a little kid it was like, ‘I’m going to go on a mission when I turn 19.’ I’m not really worried about basketball on my mission. That’s not where I’m supposed to be (mentally) at that time.”
Bachynski could usually only squeeze in a pickup game once a month, and basketball may not be an option at all depending on where Toolson and Dastrup end up.
Jake’s brother, Connor, for instance, is in Nicaragua, where baseball reigns.
Even if there is a court nearby, it will take tremendous dedication to simply make time for practice.
“On the mission you probably have to get up at 6:30 a.m., so I’d need to get up at 4:30 or 5 just to get up some shots and work out,” Dastrup said.
Both players have bright futures on the hardwood.
Dastrup is ranked as one of the nation’s top centers among current high school juniors with offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, Virginia and Southern California, among others. Toolson, a small forward, is one of the best shooters in Arizona and whose offers include Arizona State and Boston College.
The pair has told schools recruiting them that they have every intention of serving the mission. Payton Dastrup’s father, David, said the declaration has been met with some resistance.
“When they coach against (Brigham Young) the mission is an advantage to (the Cougars),” David Dastrup said. “Yet when they recruit LDS kids who want to serve a mission, they aren’t as open or embracing of the process. So you scratch your head over that, thinking, ‘Wait a minute, you can’t have it both ways.’”
Payton said a coach’s understanding of his personal beliefs will be an important part of him choosing a school.
“If they don’t support the mission, maybe in a way they’re not giving me (full support),” he said.
When Bachynski returned from Miami, he had missed three years of organized basketball because an ankle injury cost him the season before he left.
It didn’t take long to realize he had fallen behind.
“It was hard to get the timing back,” Bachynski said. “That was the biggest thing for me. There would be a play on the court and I’d know what I needed to do, but my body would be a half-second late.”
Toolson has resigned himself to that fate.
“It’s going to be rough coming back,” Toolson said. “I’m not expecting to be the same player I was before I left on my mission.”
But the time away can pay dividends.
It’s common practice for many missionaries with athletic futures to leave in May, immediately after school ends, so they can return in the same month two years later and have time to acclimate for the following season.
By that time, they are 21 years old with a wealth of life experience, while still only a freshman or sophomore in class standing.
“Going on the mission gave my body time to mature and my mind time to mature,” Bachynski said. “When I came to college, it wasn’t an eye-opening experience being on my own. I’ve known a bunch of guys that have come to college and gone crazy because they don’t know how to be alone and they don’t know how to deal with the responsibility. They basically lose their first year of college because they’re not prepared for it.”
In hindsight, Bachynski saw the mission as a net positive, but he knows there can be trepidations before a player leaves.
In a win-now culture, college coaches take a risk when recruiting a player who will be gone for two seasons. Some may get fired within that time span, and the players can also decide to transfer schools without penalty after returning.
For Toolson and Dastrup, leaving for two years can feel like forever, especially if they excel as freshmen.
But Bachynski said it’s a decision that goes beyond the hoop ramifications.
“Going on a mission is not an easy thing,” Bachynski said. “It’s not just putting basketball on hold, it’s putting life on hold. We don’t get to date. I only got to call my parents four times over two years. But you learn life lessons that are invaluable and you meet people that change your life. Leaving basketball — and I love the sport — was not an easy thing to do, but I wouldn’t trade my mission experiences for anything.”
Mark Heller is the East Valley Tribune sports editor. He can be reached at mheller@evtrib.com or (480) 898-6576.
Engaged Voter posted at 12:26 pm on Fri, Jul 13, 2012.
“Going on a mission is not an easy thing,” Bachynski said. “It’s not just putting basketball on hold, it’s putting life on hold. We don’t get to date. I only got to call my parents four times over two years."
Wow, was he forced to go?
I thought it was 100% voluntary.
And if that's the case, why whine about the consequences of your own voluntary personal decisions and choices?
downtownresident posted at 2:13 pm on Fri, Jul 13, 2012.
So, normal people are supposed to change the way the live, bow down and make concessions to some cult who demands two years of every cult members lives be dediacted to recruiting new cult members??????
That's insane!!!!!
The Mormon church already has hordes of BILLIONS OF DOLLARS in gold, art and real estate and they want more?????
DT posted at 11:18 am on Sat, Jul 14, 2012.
downtownresident:
Calm down!
I'm sure our Lord heard those same complaints as he called disciples and Apostles and sent them out "unto all the Earth". Most Churches send missionaries of one kind or another out into the world. Thousands of young Baptists to 2-6 month missionary service assignments in and around the USA.
Your last accusation about "Billions of Dollars" is so patently ridiculous as to be
unworthy of comment. If you want to know the about the Mormon Churches finances, check this out: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-financial-independence?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LDSNewsRoomTop15+%28RSS%3A+LDS+Newsroom%29
samkat posted at 5:41 pm on Sat, Jul 14, 2012.
DT: I am inclined to believe the LDS church does not publish a complete list of its financial holdings. I actually side with downtown. You folks do have one of the most regimented organizations in the world. You are told where to go to church, the number of days and times you will attend, etc. Missionaries are pretty much obligated to to go on a mission. You folks are required to tithe a certain amount of your earnings or face the wrath of the church. You dare not criticize the church or face excommunication.
I am not knocking the young men in this article as they did what any LDS member is expected to do.
Most Mormons are republicans and I have yet to hear you folks demand the church reduce its tithe amount while at the same time, you are demanding lower state and federal taxes. I could go on and on but I am sure I will get scorched for my comments already.
PS: You folks could do 3 or 4 years in the military instead of a mission.
JMJ posted at 6:45 pm on Sat, Jul 14, 2012.
I agree. Give two years to the military. Give back to our country.
downtownresident posted at 8:33 pm on Sat, Jul 14, 2012.
DT,
You've never been in a Mormon temple, have you?
I have. I've seen the baptismal pools supported by solid gold oxen. The artwork is priceless, too. Either that, or the person who took us through the temple and pointed this out was lying. Would the Mormon church put gold plated bulls in their temple basements?
Billions!
btbeme posted at 10:41 pm on Sat, Jul 14, 2012.
I am tired of reading about this cult and its members.
Last week, I was supposed to feel sorry for their mothers, who formed their own support group. Now, I am supposed to be concerned about their athletic futures.
Quit knocking on my door and go home. That solves both issues.
btbeme posted at 10:50 pm on Sat, Jul 14, 2012.
Last week a couple of missionaries knocked on my door and asked which religion we "regularly practiced". I was fed up - we live in a nice high-income neighborhood which seems to attract Mormon missionaries like a magnet - we get "tracted" about every two months.
I told them we were Aztec, and invited them to come back during the next full moon.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 8:28 am on Sun, Jul 15, 2012.
LOOKS LIKE THOSE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR...."I AM MORMON"...TV ADS DIDN'T DO MUCH GOOD FROM THE....."COMMENTS".
NOTHING WILL CHANGE UNTIL EITHER.
VIETNAM VETS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME VOTING FOR MITT ROMNEY AS PRESIDENT WHICH ALSO CARRIES THE POSITION OF...."COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF" OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES. MITT "DODGED" THE DRAFT BY GOING ON A MISSION TO PARIS, FRANCE. SOMEONE HAD TO......"TAKE HIS PLACE"...DID THAT SOMEONE WHO PROBABLY (90%) WENT TO VIETNAM GET WOUNDED, HAS PTSD FROM THE WAR ???
OR MAYBE EVEN END UP AS A NAME ON THE VIETNAM WALL.
DURING THE VIETNAM ERA DRAFT....4 OUT OF EVERY 5 MORMON YOUNG MEN THAT WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DRAFT WERE........"DEFERRED DUE TO RELIGIOUS REASONS"........4 OUT OF 5.....WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF MORMON YOUNG MEN........NOT JUST A FEW HUNDRED. JUST AS IN MITT ROMNEY "DEFERRMENT" = SOMEONE ELSE HAD TO FILL THESE 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF DRAFT SLOTS THAT THESE MORMON YOUNG MEN WERE DEFERRED FROM.......JUST BECAUSE THEY HAPPENED TO BE CATHOLIC, PROTESTANT, AGNOSTIC OR JEWISH YOUNG MEN AND WERE NOT ALLOWED TO CLAIM A..........."RELIGIOUS DEFERRMENT"...LIKE THE MORMON YOUNG MEN WERE ALLOWED TO DO.
LOOK AT MITT ROMNEY'S 5 BIG STRAPPING, INTELLIGENT SONS = NOT A DAY OF MILITARY SERVICE AMOUNGST THEM.............NOT A DAY.
IF THE MORMON CHURCH WANTS RESPECT...THEY CAN GET IT THE OLD FASHIONED WAY = "EARN IT".
downtownresident posted at 10:05 am on Sun, Jul 15, 2012.
Leon,
Good observation.
How could any reasonable person vote for someone who has never had ANY normal human experiences.
This will be his "Bain".
jacobugath posted at 7:30 pm on Sun, Jul 15, 2012.
Wow! I find it amazing that an article about some really good athletes who also want to serve the Lord would elicit such negative responses. And I failed to see where Jordan Bychinski was "whining" about how tough his mission was. Engaged Voter took the quote out of context, leaving out the part where Jordan mentioned how much he matured and learned from his experiences, and that he wouldn't trade his experiences for anything.
As a scholarship athlete myself I can relate to these young men's stories. I once had to make the decision of keeping my four year scholarship or going on a Mission. No one from the Church forced me to decide, in fact, most thought I would be better off to keep my scholarship. But the decision was between me and the Lord, and I chose the mission. I have been forever grateful. As Jordan mentioned, the experiences a missionary has, and the things they learn are things I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. It still remains the smartest decision I ever made. As for the scholarship, when I got home I went to another University, earned a scholarship there, graduated with honors, and then graduated from dental school. The Church has been nothing but a positive influence in my life. The programs it sponsors for young people trying to find their way in this life are the same programs that helped me make wise decisions as a youth, and helped me see the importance of living by good, moral, Christian values. If everyone were taught these values, and lived them, what a much better world this would be.
Engaged Voter posted at 1:37 pm on Mon, Jul 16, 2012.
"Engaged Voter took the quote out of context,"
If I had a nickel for every time a religious nut used this lame excuse on me, I would be...well, a lot richer than I am now!
"But the decision was between me and the Lord"
Yes, the decision was between you and your imaginary friend...which means it was your decision.
"Christian values. If everyone were taught these values, and lived them, what a much better world this would be."
Actually, the world is much better now that Christianity is no longer forced on people using threats and violence. We've still got a long way to go, just look at the way your cult demonizes gays and degrades women!
But if you would like to see what a world would be like where Christianity rules over all, just do an internet search, and use the keywords "DARK AGES".
Leon Ceniceros posted at 12:40 pm on Sat, Jul 21, 2012.
I NOTICED THAT NOT ONE MORMON COMMENTER HAD ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE FACT THAT THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MORMON YOUNG HEALTHY MEN WERE .......DEFERRED FROM THE VIETNAM WAR "DRAFT".
THAT YOUNG, HEALTHY, CATHOLIC, BAPTIST, EPISCOPAL, ANGLICAN AND METHODIST ....MEN WERE DRAFTED IN PLACE OF THE...."MISSIONARIES".
HOW MANY OF THESE YOUNG "GENTILES"....DIED, BECAME P.O.W.s, WERE WOUNDED, MAIMED, LOST LIMBS OR THEIR EYESIGHT......BECAUSE THE YOUNG "BROTHERS" WERE DEFERRED TO GO ON A....."MISSION" ???
HOW MANY OF THESE YOUNG....."GENTILES"....HAVE THEIR NAMES ON THE VIETNAM WALL...........HOW MANY ???
downtownresident posted at 8:34 pm on Tue, Jul 31, 2012.
It's time for this propaganda piece ti die!
wangly posted at 6:58 pm on Thu, Nov 8, 2012.
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