DETROIT (10/27/2024) -- If there is one Titan who is used to adapting to a new situation, it is Detroit Mercy junior Jared Lary. 

Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lary's journey to the Motor City has been anything but a simple two-hour drive. He attended three different high schools, the last of which took him out of state, and two different colleges before arriving and finding a home at UDM. 

"When it comes to bouncing around a few different stops, that is basically me," said Lary. "I went to three high schools and now three colleges. Nothing was ever wrong where I was, just always seeing a better opportunity to showcase my talent."

In high school, he started to shine at Grand Rapids Christian before transferring to Lutheran East in Cleveland, Ohio, where he won a state championship and began to receive college basketball offers. 

He chose Lincoln Memorial and played in 18 games as a sophomore after redshirting as a freshman, but suffered an illness that saw him transfer closer to home to Aquinas. 

"I went from Grand Rapids Christian to Lutheran East and won a state championship and that is where I received my first offer," said Lary. "I went to Lincoln Memorial and played two years there, but I had an illness and had to come home. I ended up playing at Aquinas last year and having a good year. It was a big development year, I got healthy, and now I am here."

The timing was right for Lary to be a Titan as Mark Montgomery was just named head coach. 

"When I entered the portal, coach Montgomery and the coaching staff allowed me to work out. They liked my style and I loved their plan for the program. I loved the school. It is a close-knit community. Everything about here just says family," said Lary. 

Lary has been on campus every since, working hard with the rest of the team since the summer. Going to school and basketball was the norm during those months and he knows it will pay off. 

"You have to trust the coaching staff," said Lary. Last year doesn't have much to do with me or a lot of us, but you have to have that chip on your shoulder because you know what people are thinking about us. I know that we compete every day, and I think we are the hardest-working team in the conference. We just play hard, we crash, sprint the floor and just compete. That comes from the top. We see how hard the coaches work, and that trickles down."

Lary was tabbed All-State in high school. At LMU, he tallied 3.6 points and 1.7 rebounds, but last year at Aquinas, he upped those totals to 11.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 30 games. 

"I am someone who likes to get everyone involved. I am going to play hard, play defense, guard my guy and just be solid and exciting," said Lary.

With those three years in college, he is already a veteran and a leader for Detroit Mercy, which has six true freshmen to go with a pair of redshirt freshmen on its 15-man roster. All of them are trying to come together, but he knows leadership will be important. 

"We are a young team, but we do have some veterans that have been through the college season like myself," said Lary. "That experience for us should help everyone. We are here every day, putting in hours as a team and individually. It seems like just last month I got here, but we have been working hard all summer."

As for outside of college, Lary would love to pursue a career as a professionally, but he is also taking advantage of the education he is receiving. 

"I am a business marketing major and I am on pace to graduate next year. I want to play professional basketball, that is my mindset, but with that degree, I want to get into real estate at some point," Lary said.