This year's boys basketball team was the most successful they have been since 2005. With a talented roster and dedicated coaches, the team was able to achieve an 18 win to 5 loss record. This hardworking team had great chemistry which was partially thanks to freshman point guard Brandon Gibbons.
“Brandon took us from being a good team to being a great team.”
In an interview, head coach Craig Moses spoke about Brandon's role on the team. He shared that “Brandon took us from being a good team to being a great team.” As a player, especially a freshman, it was a lot of pressure. Brandon, however, took the job head-on and helped the team make their way to the semi-finals. When asked what he was feeling coming onto varsity with one year of JV experience, he expressed that “I didn’t know what to expect at first because I knew the guys I was playing with were bigger.” Brandon shared that it was intimidating at first, but his relationship with his fellow players helped out a great deal.
“It was great. They almost treated me like a little brother.”
As a younger player on a team full of upperclassmen, he was faced with the worry that he wouldn’t have the same respect as other players. But for Brandon, this didn’t turn out to be an issue. As he participated in the team's summer league, Brandon had the opportunity to not only get used to the pace of the game but also to form early relationships with the guys on the team. He shared, “It was great. They almost treated me like a little brother.” While this could be belittling to some, Brandon took it as a boost of comfort and confidence.
“Brandon’s basketball IQ is way ahead of his age. While every player makes some mistakes in their first experience with varsity basketball, Brandon really learned very quickly.”
As Brandon’s confidence heightened, he greatly improved as a player. On a team filled with skilled athletes, it helped him learn to play under pressure, have composure, and improve his teamwork skills. While these were some of the things he pointed out, Coach Moses seemed to have a slightly different outlook on how this experience aided him as a player. Moses said that “Brandon’s basketball IQ is way ahead of his age. While every player makes some mistakes in their first experience with varsity basketball, Brandon really learned very quickly.” From this, it became apparent that along with improving on his skill, he also had to work on not allowing pressure to affect his game.
“He’s a gym rat. His commitment to basketball is unmatched and he’s always putting in the extra time to take his game to the next level.”
As his hard work started at a young age, Brandon’s skill looks very natural. He always liked basketball and started playing at around the age of six. His love for basketball grew over time, so he began playing competitively outside of school at the age of eight. Throughout the years, he has played on a few competitive teams. He currently plays for NY Skyscrapers. Playing for so many fast-paced teams has helped his skills flourish, making him the player he is today. Coach Moses acknowledged this in saying his favorite quality of Brandon’s is that “He’s a gym rat. His commitment to basketball is unmatched and he’s always putting in the extra time to take his game to the next level.”
“Making Brandon the most improved player this year was a really easy decision. He went from being on JV to starting at PG for Varsity and helping take us to an 18-5 record this season.”
Brandon’s commitment to the sport was rewarded at the Winter Sports Awards event. With all the teams gathered, Coach Moses delivered a speech praising Brandon as the Most Improved Player. He revealed that he believes Brandon has “Ice water in his veins.” Coach Moses seemed confident in awarding this honor to Brandon. When asked what went into this decision he replied by saying, “Making Brandon the most improved player this year was a really easy decision. He went from being on JV to starting at PG for Varsity and helping take us to an 18-5 record this season.”
As Brandon spoke about the support of his teammates and coaches, he readily mentioned one part of the whole season. He gave a special shoutout “To the best bench mob in the nation,” who he believed brought the energy. Not surprisingly, at larger games like Homecoming and the playoffs, the student section gave Brandon the same type of support. With chants like “he’s a freshman” rolling through the crowd, the Edgemont students were in awe of Brandon and his skill. Having teammates and the crowd cheering him on in times of stress may have been a large factor in Brandon’s success, and by extension, the team’s. After a stellar freshman season, it seems like this is only the beginning of what could become a fantastic high school career for Brandon.