Van Buren senior Brodie Myers uses basketball knowledge to flourish

Van Buren basketball player Brodie Myers plays in the frontcourt, both at center and at forward. However, he isn’t necessarily stationed around the basket. Myers is versatile from any spot on the court, both offensively and defensively. For that, Myers gives credit to his knowledge of the sport.

“I can also stretch the floor and handle the ball confidently. … I’m dangerous from anywhere and I can do a lot,” said Myers, a senior. “Though I haven’t been effective from (3-point range) this season, I have a good handle on me and will attack your chest and make you stay in front of me, which doesn’t end well for the defender 90% of the time. My IQ, I would say, is the top of my game though. When you play basketball for 14 years of your life, you understand the game better than most guys.”

And there’s also times Myers wants the ball in hand not necessarily looking to shoot it but to help run out the clock whenever the Pointers have a lead in a tight situation down the stretch.

“When things get hectic and out of control, I’m gonna get the ball and calm everyone down,” Myers said. “I’m gonna slow the game down and make sure everyone is composed to finish tight games.”

Myers is also taking advantage of his first season as a varsity starter, after seeing limited playing time as a junior. As of mid-February, he was averaging 14 points and 6 rebounds while making 53% of his field goal attempts. But another stat which was pointed out by his coach, Brad Autry, is that Myers leads the team in both charges attempted and charges taken, as well as a 2 to 1 assists to turnover ratio.

His accolades include being named the MVP of the Lendel Thomas Tournament in Harrison and being named to the All-Tournament team at the Foster Roofing Tournament in Fort Smith and the McDonald County (Mo.) Tournament. Myers also had a 27-point performance in a decisive conference road win at Greenwood.

But while he’s enjoyed a solid senior season, Myers also takes a great deal of pride in seeing several underclassmen do their part.

“We have two sophomores that start in our starting lineup and a sophomore that comes off the bench that plays significant minutes,” he said. “It has been a blast to see those three guys grow together as sophomores and see their maturity as the year has gone on.”

Myers is equally grateful to be playing for Autry.

“I could go on for days on how Coach Autry is,” Myers said. “He is, if not the most, intense person I know. He just wants to win games, and he loves every single one of his players and that’s why he’s so hard (toward) us. Coach Autry has impacted my game, in ways people wouldn’t understand. He has such high expectations for everyone, and stays on your butt because he knows how much potential every one of his players has.”

While the 27-point game in the Pointers’ recent win at Greenwood was Myers’ best game, it wasn’t necessarily his most memorable one. In fact, it didn’t involve any points, but a rather freak on-court injury.

“We played Harrison at Harrison, and I got knocked unconscious from my own teammate, then busted my head open and had to get six staples,” Myers said. “That wasn’t fun, but a fun memory to look back on.”

While he also played football and baseball, Myers believed his future was in basketball and eventually stopped playing the other sports to concentrate on playing basketball on a full-time basis.

Following his senior season, Myers – who has a grade-point average around 3.5 – is heading to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, where he plans to major in sports management. But he’s not ready to give up playing basketball just yet as Myers attempts to steer Van Buren to a spot in the upcoming 5A State Tournament.

“My goal for the rest of the season is to win,” he said. “Plain and simple.”