Michael Beliveau was used to getting playing time and scoring points in the past but has had to adjust to a different role at Ventura College: more time on the sideline. 

However, this has only made Beliveau grow as a player.

This season, Beliveau is averaging 2 points, 2 rebounds and 3 minutes a game, while shooting 53 percent from the field. He has played in 12 games this season and has had a season-high of 10 points, and has a total of 24 points this season.

Playing high school basketball at small private school Ventura County Christian, Beliveau was a star on his team. He averaged 25.9 points per game and 11.6 rebounds per game.

During his senior year he was runner-up for MVP in the Omega league and received honorable mention in the county. He holds the record for the highest points per game during a season at VCC and second highest in the Omega league.

Although he has not received a significant amount of playing time at VC, he has learned more about basketball and its fundamentals by simply watching and observing, as opposed to physically playing.

“I grew a lot, I learned the game a lot more,” he said.

“College basketball is a lot different than high school. 

“Most players on college teams are all-star athletes,” he said.

“There’s star players on each team so it’s a hard transition to come from getting forty minutes of playing time in high school to getting three or four minutes. But you learn the game a lot better it’s a lot faster pace and you develop your skills a lot quicker.”

 Beliveau also believes he has improved his game in college. 

“My jump shot became better; my basketball IQ grew a lot, just the whole aspect of the game I grew in.”

His goals for next season are to become a starter and get more playing time. He says he will be working hard this off-season, attempting to develop his running, shooting, and dribbling skills.

Beliveau’s ultimate goal is to play Division I basketball, particularly Eastern Washington University.

“It’s a school [Eastern Washington] I’ve been wanting to go since I was in high school,” he said. “[I] visited the college and saw a basketball game and really like how the program was played.”

The Eastern Washington basketball program has produced current Detroit Pistons player Rodney Stuckey.

Pirates’ head coach Will Cowen appreciates Beliveau as a player.

“I think he is a really good player, he works hard every day,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for him.”

With goals for next season established, Beliveau hopes to perfect his craft and consistently play at a high level.