By Kaleb Knowles
Brewster Academy (N.H.) is one of the best high school basketball programs in the country. Its dominance over the last decade has earned it a spot on the floor of the Panini Hoophall Classic for years. This year is no different. Brewster was back in the action and put on a show twice.
However, the dynamic of the team may be a little different than those of teams in the past. Now, at the pinnacle of their dominance, they are propelled by a much younger roster than many of the other teams competing in Hoophall.
“I think the reason we have performed so well over the two seasons has been primarily because of team chemistry,” Brewster’s head coach Jason Smith, said. “I think that even looking back at last year, no one anticipated us making a run to the Chipotle semifinals. And this year too, no one expected us to start the season 18-1.”
While it may not have been expected by some, the squad is back to the peak of college basketball. Now with an 18-2 record on the season and led by their head coach of 26 years, they have propelled their way to another impressive showcase at Hoophall. Its win in Blake Arena came in the first of its two games, Sunday afternoon against Oak Hill (Va.) by a score of 69-60. During this performance, the Bobcats were propelled by play from much of their young talent. Juniors Markus Kerr and Antonio Pemberton led the scoring charge with a combined 37 points. Sophomore Michai White added 10 points to go along with great defense from the guard position.
While the sustained success of Brewster’s season speaks for itself. The future could not look any brighter for the young team. Both White and fellow sophomore on the team, Kevin Wheatley Jr., are ranked in the top 25 in their class according to ESPN.
“Michai is ultra talented and has a very bright future,” Smith said. “He plays the same spot that Ebuka Okorie played for us, who is having a phenomenal year at Stanford.”
The track record of top-notch guards to come out of Brewster Academy speaks for itself. 2015 brought Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Donovan Mitchell, and three years before that, TJ Warren graduated from Brewster as well.
Despite all of the starpower that has put a uniform on for Brewster, and the high potential of prolonged success in the program, White makes sure the lights do not get too bright.
“I’m a very focused person,” White said. “I can’t allow the spotlight to get to me too early. I still have three more years of high school to play before I go to college, I am just focused on that and keeping the main thing the main thing at all times.”
The main thing has been nothing short of astonishing on the court for the young Brewster, and the future looks just as bright. Yet with a younger roster, some teams can struggle with finding out who is going to be the leader on the court, something that hasn’t been a problem for the Bobcats so far.
“I’m just learning people’s personalities,” White said. “Last year, I was at a different school, so coming to a new school, everybody handles criticism in different ways,” White said. “You can’t talk to everybody everywhere, so learn how to talk to people when they mess up and what to do next time.”
While Brewster may not have closed out the tournament the way they wanted with a 60-47 loss to Spire Academy (Ohio). Their season has been one for the ages to this point. White tallied another 16 points in the loss and proved more in front of college scouts that he needs to be on their radar throughout the next three years.