Despite basketball being a star-studded sport, all players on a team must know their role in order to succeed. With the Perry Meridian boys basketball season coming to an end, players have to find their place down the stretch.

Riley New got put on the varsity team despite being a freshman this season. “I don’t take it for granted but I don’t really think about it. I just try to do what coach tells me to do” New said, “He wants me to be a leader even though I’m young.”

Senior Colton Barker has been on the team the longest and views himself as a guide. “My role is just to help everyone else because I’m a senior and I’ve been here the longest. Especially the younger people who just help them do their best,” Barker said.

Sophomore Jaden Porter is the team’s leading scorer yet he remains team-oriented. “I think I’m one of the leaders on the team. I try to help people when they don’t know what to do and on the court I’m not the best at anything and I’m not the worst at anything so if coach needs me to do anything I can fill every position,” Porter said.

These players commit to basketball outside of the school as well. “For a while I was going to extra training,” Barker said. Porter also takes out of school measures. “I have a lot of personal trainers I go to and I play for an AAU team,” Porter said.

These players find inspiration from the NBA. Porter compares himself to Oklahoma City Thunder player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “Our playstyle is similar because he is a three-level scorer and a decent defender.” New hesitantly compares himself to Anthony Edwards. “I just don’t have as much bounce, that’s it.” Barker compares himself to Indiana Pacer TJ McConnell. “Small and white,” Barker said.

Barker looks to the future of the program after he leaves. “I think it’s definitely going uphill. I think a lot of the younger people are catching on and they will bring the program up. We build team culture by doing stuff outside of practice which brings us together,” said Barker.

New is looking forward to his future in basketball, “Hopefully going to college to play some basketball. Hopefully Auburn.”

Everything these players do, whether it is work outside of practice or aiming for future goals, they all derive their success from team accomplishments. “I’m there to do what coach says,” said Porter, “I’ll do anything we need to do to win.”