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02/14/2018 11:00 PMJames Hyman grew up playing basketball and soccer and then started to play hoops on a highly competitive level right before he entered Guilford High School. James decided to continue his basketball journey with the Indians and, now a senior, he’s lending a helping hand for the team off the bench this season. James is a shooting guard/small forward for the Guilford boys’ basketball squad, which has a record of 15-1 on the year.
“It took me a while to get good at basketball. I didn’t make the travel team until 8th grade,” says James. “One of the great things about this team is that everyone knows their own roles. The only thing everyone cares about is winning as a team. I want to provide a spark in any way I can. My goal is to help my team win. If that means not touching the ball one night and playing good defense, that’s fine. You always want to go out there off the bench and prove to your opponent that you can hold your own. You have to keep your head up no matter what.”
James says that his rise up the ranks in Guilford doesn’t necessarily stem from him having a stronger shot or better dribbling skills. Instead, James feels that he’s improved largely as a result of keeping a clear view of all ends of the court.
“Most of my improvements in basketball have been mental. It’s about being in the game and knowing when someone will be open,” he says. “I love getting assists. Setting people up is my favorite thing to do in basketball. I’ve just improved with my awareness.”
James believes that the Indians’ tight-knit chemistry is one of the biggest reasons behind their success this year. James says that he and his teammates never stop trying to outwork both their opponents and one another.
“This team has been strong this year because of how close this team is. It’s a brotherhood, and we all want to win for each other. We know how much winning means to this town,” James says. “Even in practice, we will talk about what guys do on the court and what does or doesn’t work. Our practices are also competitive between the guys. The teamwork and competitiveness have been the keys.”
Guilford Head Coach Jeff DeMaio says that James is always helping the Indians stick together, regardless of how many minutes he plays in a given game.
“James is an unsung hero who doesn’t always get a ton of minutes, but he’s a solid player and team-first guy. He is what I call a ‘glue guy,’ and these kind of guys are what makes teams extra special,” DeMaio says. “He gives us quality minutes off the bench when we need him. He knows the game, and he is always actively engaged at all times. He’s an absolute pleasure to coach. He never hurts us when he’s out there.”
With SCC and state tournaments berths already tucked away, James and the Indians want to make sure that they stay focused as the postseason approaches. James knows that maintaining concentration on a daily basis is often what separates contenders from champions.
“We definitely have the one-game-at-a-time mantra,” says James. “It’s really hard to predict what will happen in the SCC this year, so we can’t take any opponent for granted.”