SLIPPERY ROCK - Glenn Reepmeyer was lost in the shuffle on his high school basketball team in Ballwin, Mo. - if a 6-foot-7, 215-pound guy can get lost anywhere.

But Reepmeyer was. Playing among Division I prospects at Parkway West High School, he was content to fill his role - rebound, score some, but mostly take up space in the lane.

And why not? Basketball was his second sport.

Water polo was his first love, and he excelled as a goalie. When it came time to search for colleges, Slippery Rock University jumped out at him.

But when the call to play basketball as well as water polo was too loud to ignore, The Rock obliged.

"I kind of wanted to go to a school that had both (water polo and basketball)," Reepmeyer said. "I knew I could play basketball at this level."

Now he is proving himself right, leading struggling Slippery Rock in scoring, rebounding and presence during a dismal season.

The Rock is 0-8 - its worst start ever - but Reepmeyer has been a bright spot, playing like the go-to guy he always knew he could be.

He is averaging 15.8 points and nine rebounds per game. Against Mercyhurst College Dec. 22 in the home opener, he notched his fourth double-double of the season.

He just wishes his efforts would bring more wins.

"It's frustrating," Reepmeyer said after the loss to the Lakers. "Right now we are looking for a team leader. A lot of us don't say much, including myself. Personally, I'm not big into speeches."

Instead, he does his talking with his play during games and in practice.

Slippery Rock coach John Marhefka said Reepmeyer's effort in practice is unparalleled.

Marhefka saw that work ethic and latent basketball ability early on, when he allowed Reepmeyer to walk on to his first team two seasons ago.

"I thought Glenn had some raw ability," Marhefka said. "He's been solid for us every game."

During his first season, Reepmeyer averaged 4.2 points and 4.6 boards per game. Last year, as his playing time increased, so did his production.

He played in 27 games and started 22, averaging 7.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest, but he got stronger as the season progressed.

It was a change for Reepmeyer, who was always a bit player on the court but never a star. Toward the end of last year, he was emerging as one.

"I never really had to score much in high school," Reepmeyer said. "I had a lot of good teammates. I guess now the secret is out on me in college."

There was no secret, though, about his skill in the pool.

He was a state-recognized water polo player in high school.

This season, Reepmeyer was named to the first team of the Division II Eastern Regional Tournament and finished the year with 281 saves.

When he walked on the court during his first season for the basketball team, things didn't fall so neatly into place.

"My freshman year, I came in here and Coach Marhefka told me I had that deer-in-the-headlights look," Reepmeyer said. "Last year, I did almost the same thing, but this year, I looked around and I knew I had to step up."

Marhefka only wishes he could clone Reepmeyer.

Teams are becoming wise to Reepmeyer now and heaping more and more attention on him.

Mercyhurst made it a point to double him every time he touched the ball, yet Reepmeyer still managed to score.

"He's good," said Mercyhurst coach Gary Manchel. "We wanted him to work for every basket. Our No. 1 goal was to push him off the block and double him. The points he got, he earned."

That could be the story the rest of the season for Reepmeyer.

"I'm going to get beat up a little bit," Reepmeyer said. "It's going to be harder and harder to score now."