BRADY NEAL
Haskell Haymakers
Haskell two-sport standout Brady Neal is hoping for a strong finish for the Haymakers’ basketball team, but is also eyeing baseball in the spring.
Haskell hasn’t had the kind of season it hoped for on the hardwood, but Neal thinks he can help aid a string of wins down the stretch.
“This year’s basketball season has not turned out like we hoped, but we are looking to finish strong,” Neal said.
Neal is averaging 15 points, five rebounds and three assists under first-year head coach Christian Smith. With multiple double-double performances, he is closing in 1,000 career points and poured in a career single-game high of 25 points against Hulbert on Jan. 3.
“This year I have had to become more of a scorer for my team,” he said. “I feel that my ability to get to the rim and knock down the mid-range jumper has been where I have improved my game. Knocking down my foul shots has also been an improvement.”
“One of my proudest moments was when we got our new head coach his first win of the season.”
A big fan of the University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Neal grew up around the game of basketball from an early age.
“I don’t really have a major influence in why I play the game. I love sports in general, but I did love watching the Oklahoma City Thunder and Oklahoma Sooners as a kid, and I still do,” Neal said. “Most of my family played the game when they were in high school, so it just feels natural to fall in line.”
As for baseball, Neal already has team goals and personal goals established.
“The main goal for this season is to win. I want this team to make a deep playoff run,” he said. “A personal goal for me is to make the small schools All State team.”
Last spring, the Haymakers’ first baseman produced a .404 average at the plate, driving in 25 runs and delivered an impressive .980 fielding percentage at first base for the Haymakers.
Neal has already decided to pursue baseball on the collegiate level where he plans to begin his career at Seminole State College.
“Although I do love basketball, I will be trying to play baseball next fall at Seminole State. I plan to major in business over there for two years and see where else baseball might take me,” Neal said.
