Brimmer & May Star Making Most of Opportunity
The game of basketball has always come pretty easy for Kyle Casey. He has been blessed with the size, skills, and athleticism to be a dominant force at virtually every level he has competed at. But basketball is one of the few things which has come easy for Casey over the years.
Kyle is one of three boys to be raised by a single mother in the town of Medway. Money was often tight growing up, as his mother worked long hours to keep her boys safe and fed. Education wasn’t easy to come by either as the public school system lacked both the resources and infrastructure to provide what someone as bright as Kyle really needed to develop.
It was just after his second year at Medway High School that Kyle and his mother decided they needed to try something different.
“We were looking to make a change,” Casey conceded. “It wasn’t just about basketball. Of course I wanted to find a competitive program, but most of all I wanted a better education.”
With no suitable alternative programs available nearby, Kyle and his mother decided that Brimmer and May would be a good spot, despite the fact that the school was located 45 minutes away from their home.
“My Mom was initially working in the opposite direction of the school. But she changed jobs so she could drop me off on her way to work,” he said. “She works long hours…leaves early and gets home late…all to give us the best life possible.”
But Mom obviously raised a good young man as Kyle saw the sacrifices his mother was making, and was determined to make the most of the opportunity she had created for him.
“She’s always worked so hard to make sure that I have the best education possible, so I just take that as a blessing and I always work as hard as I can in school and on the court so that I can hopefully provide a better life for her someday.”
When he first arrived at Brimmer and May, his reputation as a major basketball talent had already preceded him. But what many of his peers and teachers quickly learned is that he was a young man with interests and potential that exceeded basketball.
Not only has Kyle consistently earned outstanding grades since arriving at Brimmer, but he has also become involved in a variety of different clubs and organizations ranging all the way from the school’s chorus to a culture club that helps to promote diversity and understand different cultures.
“Kyle’s impacted the school in so many different ways,” said his high school coach Greg Kristof. “He’s just a natural leader with a captivating personality. He’s well liked and respected by everyone, and the other students genuinely look up to him.”
While Kyle has certainly made his presence felt off the basketball floor, he has thrived on it. It is no coincidence that his three years at Brimmer & May have been by far the most successful in the school’s history. It began with a run to the class D finals in his sophomore year, than to the class C semi’s last season. This year Brimmer has made the jump all the way up to class B, where they are again expected to be one of New England’s best. Casey has served as the team’s captain for all three seasons.
“I was really hesitant to give him that tag in just his sophomore season,” said Kristof. “but ultimately I didn’t have much of a choice. It was obvious he was the team’s leader from day one. He was just a magnet for the rest of the guys.”
Kristof is also quick to point out that Casey’s many accomplishments on the hardwood are not just a consequence of his size and super athleticism, but also a result of hard work.
“Kyle’s spent countless hours working on his game,” he said. “You can’t teach his size and athleticism, but the skill set that he has been able to develop over the years is a testament to the amount of work he’s put in.”
With just one season left to play at Brimmer & May, the end of his high school career is in site while the beginning of his college career lies in the not too distant future. And it should come as no surprise that despite getting recruited by a variety of programs from around the country, Casey is only willing to consider schools with outstanding academic reputations. Davidson, UPenn, Harvard, Stanford, and Penn State are just a few of the school’s who have actively recruited the talented forward.
Regardless of where he ends up in the end, two things are certain. First, he’ll make a tremendous impact both on and off the floor, and second, that he’ll make the most of his opportunity.
Kyle Casey