Recruiting Report: Brandon Styers (2018)
Holy Name 6’3” guard Brandon Styers (2018) is averaging 17 points and connecting on 47 percent of his 3-pointers. Styers, in true team captain form, will tell you that those numbers are a credit to those around him.
“My success as a player definitely comes from my teammates, my coaches.” Styers continued, “Most of all, I’d like to thank my dad and my parents. They push me every day to be the best person I can be.”
On his teammates and coaches, Styers humbly noted that without his team, “I wouldn’t have the opportunity to eventually possibly go to college to play basketball.”
That next step in his basketball adventure is something he’s taking very seriously. For now, his search has been narrowed to five Division III opportunities.
“There’s about five schools that have shown the most interest in me. And that would be, in no order whatsoever, Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan, Bluffton, Franciscan University, and Westminster in Pennsylvania,” Styers told Prep Hoops.
His recruitment process involves visits to each of those schools, with three of them already completed. Styers will finish the list with campus visits to Westminster and Franciscan in the near future.
Over time, Styers has built an idea of which qualities he’s looking for in a university.
“First thing is first, it’s definitely academics. That’s my strongest desire. That’s the whole reason to go to college, to learn a lot and hopefully develop it into a career. So that’s obviously most important.”
“Secondly would be if the college demonstrates a family environment. When I visited a lot of these colleges, people were very nice, they were very welcoming, helpful with everything and showing me around campus. The students were awesome.” Styers continued, “Basketball would just be a bonus once I decide where I want to go.”
Styers carries a 4.1 GPA and scored a 25 on his ACT. He’ll enter a pre-dental program in college, which is an option at all five of the schools mentioned in the interview.
But, his current focus is on the high school basketball season. At 14-2, the Green Wave is poised to defend their District Champion status in the D-II postseason.
Following a loss against Elida in the Regional Semifinals in 2017, Styers and company are hungrier than ever. He spoke on the level of motivation they’ve felt since that disappointing exit.
“Three days after we lost, we were all back in the weight room and started working out. Each day, we take it day by day and game by game to work hard and keep our eyes on the future,” Styers said.
A sense of togetherness has been the key for this experienced, up-tempo team in Northeast Ohio.
“It starts with our team chemistry. Each guy, one through 16, we all trust each other. We’ve learned to play with each over the last couple of months and it’s really been a lot of fun,” Styers said.
Styers will look to continue the joy ride as deep into March as possible in his last season of high school ball. For now, they’ll take on Parma at home Friday.