Bedford North Lawrence is expected to challenge Jeffersonville this season for top honors in the Hoosier Hills Conference. The play of senior Braden Knight, alongside noted players Ryan Burton and Alex Pritchett, will likely be key to the Stars’ success.
HoosierHillsHoops.com: Bedford North Lawrence is expected to challenge for a conference and sectional title. Compared to recent seasons, is there a different feeling in the air this year about the Stars’ opportunity to succeed?
Knight: There’s a huge swirl going on. We have opened the season very well this year. It’s our best start since coach Hudson has been here, and we are all working hard day-in and day-out to get better.
HHH: You have a great cast of fellow standouts in Burton and Pritchett. How much responsibility has coach Jamie Hudson passed along to each of you?
Knight: (Coach Hudson) has given us — as upperclassmen — a huge responsibility. We are in charge of keeping things running smooth and keeping the team focused. All five seniors are very much a part of how well our team practices and plays, and what we do off the court.
HHH: Define your role on this year’s Bedford North Lawrence team.
Knight: My role is to do what is needed of me. If I need to score, I’ll score. If I need to play tough defense, I’ll play tough defense. We have such a great cast of players that on any night, someone will be on. Whether it’s me, Nik or Logan Bailey, Evan Deckard, Jay Thomas, Derek George, Burton or Pritchett (and so on),we’ll have somebody putting the ball in the hole. It just depends on the night.
HHH: I know that academics are extremely important to you. What are you hoping to accomplish academically this year and in college? What is your favorite area of study?
Knight: Academically I would love to graduate in the top-20 of my class. It would be a real honor for me to succeed and accomplish that. I think I’m No. 20 right now. As for college, I’m very undecided about my major. There are some options I’ve already crossed off, such as science or art. I’d be really interested in a career that deals with numbers like a statistician or accountant, but I’ve not yet ruled out a history major. I guess you could say I have some choices to make really soon.
HHH: Are you committed to playing basketball at the next level? If so, where does your recruitment stand currently?
Knight: College basketball is something that I would like to do, but I’m not sure if I’m committed to the whole concept yet. It just depends on which schools are interested, what degree I want and the cost of the school. I don’t have any Division I schools calling me, so money is a bit of an issue. I am being recruited by several Division III schools, such as DePauw (Ind.), Rhodes (Tenn.), Marietta (Oh.) and Hendrix (Ark.). Whether I decide to play or not is a decision I’m going to have to make after the season. My family has supported me through the whole process. They just want to see me get the best chance I can get to succeed in life. After all, it’s about getting a better education.
Each week a Southern Indiana senior is featured in HoosierHillsHoops.com’s Senior Spotlight. To suggest a senior deserving of recognition, e-mail info@hoosierhillshoops.com.
