Fifteen former Whiteland boys basketball players require a comma when it comes to their career point totals.
The likely 16th, Warriors senior guard/forward Brennan Neal, isn’t part of the 1,000-point club yet, but he’s on pace to be by the time the 2018-19 season is over.
“It would be something to look back on, I guess. A big accomplishment for me,” the 6-foot-3 Neal said. “I’m basically known as a scorer, but I think I’ve grown being a team player and not just focusing on one element of the game.
“It’s trying to find the open person, crash the boards and just all-around do a better job.”
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Neal, a starter for coach Matt Wadsworth since midway through his freshman season, takes the court for tonight’s home game against Center Grove with 883 career points.
The senior averages 11.5 points and 2.3 rebounds — numbers down from a junior campaign in which Neal led Whiteland in scoring (17.9) while grabbing 3.9 boards. The discrepancy is traced to bigger numbers being put up by classmates Carter Crowe and Luke Helton and the arrival of freshman starter Max Sullivan.
If any player is qualified to advise the 6-4 Sullivan about handling the rigors and expectations of varsity competition as a freshman, it’s Neal, who broke into the Warriors’ starting lineup the 10th game of the 2015-16 season. His second and third starts took place against Indian Creek and Center Grove, respectively, in the semifinal and final of the Johnson County tournament.
Whiteland went on to win county in both 2016 and 2017; its record with Neal in the starting lineup is 38-28.
Neal is also closing in on a second milestone. He’s hit 95 3-pointers in his career, only five shy of the century mark. But he’s far more than just an outside shooter.
"Whether it’s at the offensive end or the defensive end, Brennan’s body control allows him to maneuver around players," Wadsworth said. "It makes him difficult to guard. Defensively, it gives him the ability to come up with a big steal or force a turnover.”
Wadsworth said all his seniors lead by example, but Neal’s personality often sets the tone as to what kind of practice the Warriors are about to have.
"Brennan’s smile and laughter are infectious," Wadsworth said. "When he comes to practice and is upbeat, that really changes the mood. Brennan, along with the other seniors, Luke and Carter, I just feel as if they’ve stepped up their effort this year.
“All of our seniors have done a good job from a leadership standpoint."
Neal isn’t thinking about the 117 points needed to become the next Whiteland player to reach 1,000. He wants to help the Warriors become as dangerous as possible once the Class 4A sectional at Center Grove starts on Feb. 26.
If he’s able to somehow extend the second half of his final season, well, all the better.
“I’m going to miss this,” Neal said while watching teammates shoot free throws and jumpers prior to a recent Whiteland practice. “It’s crazy I’m a senior right now. It was definitely a blur.”
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Whiteland boys basketball players who have scored at least 1,000 career points:
Name;points
Bob Hasty;1,689
Ryan Glidden;1,487
Scott Faulkner;1,450
Tony Lipps;1,274
Tom Ohl;1,180
Ed Tichenor;1,110
Steve Randall;1,096
David Inabnitt;1,095
Brad Edwards;1,075
Tom Lawrence;1,051
Ray Helton;1,040
Michael Valle;1,027
Tom Bowman;1,022
Jim Means;1,014
John Means;1,013
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