— Last season was a tough one for David Beasley — not that it took him by surprise or anything.

Thrust into a lead role as point guard  — on a Muskogee High School team that graduated its top eight players who ended a three-year run that included two state tournament appearances — and as a sophomore at that, was going to be an uphill climb.

Muskogee went 8-15. The 6-2 start came against a schedule made for a young team to find its footing. The 2-13 finish showed it wasn’t quite comfortable with their shoes.

The Roughers won just twice against Class 6A competition, sweeping Sand Springs while going 2-12 in Frontier Conference play. Taking a little of the sting off that was his team-leading 17.1 points and three assists.

“It was frustrating at times but it was also a great learning experience,” the 6-foot-1 junior-to-be said. “My stats were good, but I learned I have to be a leader. I wasn’t. As point guard I know it’s my team to lead, in practice and in games, to go hard all the time. I didn’t go hard all the time. That’s one change I’ve made.”

Roughers coach Lloyd Williams has seen it.

“He’s worked harder than anybody,” he said. “He’s watched film, spent time in the gym, in the weight room, and he’s maturing mentally. He was a little disappointed in himself but this is all a good reaction from someone who really had a pretty good year.”

Beasley is also spending some time honing his playing skills, playing for the Kansas Heat Elite, a 16-under AAU team out of Coffeyville, Kan., which has been listed in the “best of the rest” outside the top 25 national rankings on fivestarbasketball.com.  

On top of that, Beasley has spent some time working with former Rougher and Northeastern State standout Darnell Hinson, who most recently has played professionally overseas.

“He’s worked with me on taking contact on the dribble and has taught me the Euro step,” Beasley said, referring to a term for a move in which an offensive player picks up his dribble, takes a step in one direction, and then quickly takes a second step in another direction. It is intended to allow the offensive player to evade a defender and attack the basket and was popularized in this country by San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili.

Of course, Beasley has taken notes watching the exploits of Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook.

“He gets to the hole quick and he’s good about dishing it. He creates. He’s fun to watch,” he said.

There’s also the tutelage he got from playing with his brother Jerome, who was a starter at the point on Muskogee’s 2009 state semifinalist who had a knack for his defensive play.

“He took defense to heart,” Jerome said. “He never liked to get scored on, whether it was in a game or at home one-on-one. I’ve taken that to heart.”

Beasley is eager to atone for last season along with fellow returning sophomore starters Tramal Ivy, a center named to the All-Phoenix team a year ago, and guard Anthony King. All three will be juniors.

“I’ve played with Anthony and Tramal since fourth grade except for a couple of years in middle school,” he said.

“We have chemistry. I know it’s important to know what they can do, but Anthony’s always been a shooter and Tramal has always been big and athletic.  I know what they’re capable of. If we can mix in some role players I think it will be a big difference for us.”