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Skylar Wright plays point guard for Casey County. (Hal Morris / January 7, 2013) |
LIBERTY - Being the point guard for the Casey County basketball team means Skyler Wright has the job of making it all flow.
“”I try to keep everything going the way it should,” the Casey senior said. “I want to keep everybody else going more than anything, try to get assists and stuff like that. I want to play for the team.”
And it’s that team-first attitude Wright brings that coach Darry Burkett said is a big reason the Rebels have already equaled last year’s win total, sitting at 6-7 going into tonight’s home game with Monticello (1-12).
“Skyler gives you all the things you don’t see on the stat sheet. He makes sure we’re in the set we’re supposed to be. He’s the guy who comes over and asks, ‘What defense you want next trip coach?’ He’s the only player I’ve ever had that’s taken himself out of the game because he wanted one of the other seniors on the floor at the end of the game, just a wonderful kid,” Burkett said.
Wright also helps anchor a Casey defense that is giving up 49 points per game. Wright said he takes special pride in playing good defense, whether it’s getting a stop or forcing a turnover.
“I like to play defense. I like getting turnovers and helping the team out,” he said.
Burkett said Wright’s leadership on both end of the floor is infectious.
“He’s just a leader. He has integrity, he has character, and all of our kids do,” the Casey coach said. “I’ve never been around a better group of kids. I’m just working hard to try and get their skill level up.”
Last year, Casey won just six games, and Wright admits it was a tough season. But he is more confident this season, and feels it is showing both in his play and the Rebels’ play.
“I felt more like I should be at the point guard this year because I’m a senior and I’ve had a lot more playing time under my belt,” Wright said. “I feel like I’m playing better.”
Burkett said he is pleased how Wright took the negatives of last season and turned them into positives going into this season.
“He took a lot of criticism as our point guard with the year we went through, and he never complained one time. He took the responsibility and he just keeps on playing,” Burkett said. “He’s getting better every game. I wish he was a freshman. But I got him as a junior and he’s getting better every game and I’m just awfully proud of him.”
“”I try to keep everything going the way it should,” the Casey senior said. “I want to keep everybody else going more than anything, try to get assists and stuff like that. I want to play for the team.”
And it’s that team-first attitude Wright brings that coach Darry Burkett said is a big reason the Rebels have already equaled last year’s win total, sitting at 6-7 going into tonight’s home game with Monticello (1-12).
“Skyler gives you all the things you don’t see on the stat sheet. He makes sure we’re in the set we’re supposed to be. He’s the guy who comes over and asks, ‘What defense you want next trip coach?’ He’s the only player I’ve ever had that’s taken himself out of the game because he wanted one of the other seniors on the floor at the end of the game, just a wonderful kid,” Burkett said.
Wright also helps anchor a Casey defense that is giving up 49 points per game. Wright said he takes special pride in playing good defense, whether it’s getting a stop or forcing a turnover.
“I like to play defense. I like getting turnovers and helping the team out,” he said.
Burkett said Wright’s leadership on both end of the floor is infectious.
“He’s just a leader. He has integrity, he has character, and all of our kids do,” the Casey coach said. “I’ve never been around a better group of kids. I’m just working hard to try and get their skill level up.”
Last year, Casey won just six games, and Wright admits it was a tough season. But he is more confident this season, and feels it is showing both in his play and the Rebels’ play.
“I felt more like I should be at the point guard this year because I’m a senior and I’ve had a lot more playing time under my belt,” Wright said. “I feel like I’m playing better.”
Burkett said he is pleased how Wright took the negatives of last season and turned them into positives going into this season.
“He took a lot of criticism as our point guard with the year we went through, and he never complained one time. He took the responsibility and he just keeps on playing,” Burkett said. “He’s getting better every game. I wish he was a freshman. But I got him as a junior and he’s getting better every game and I’m just awfully proud of him.”
