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Michael Brysons signs a scholarship with UCSB

Michael Bryson signs a scholarship with UCSB with his family looking on. Photo by Ariana Birondo.

Bryson signs scholarship with UCSB

Years of dedication and practice has paid off for the four-year Mustangs star.

By ARIANA BIRONDO
fhspress.com Editor-in-Chief
Posted December 16, 2011

"I had taken an unofficial visit there with Coach [Drew] Hibbs," said Michael Bryson about UC Santa Barbara. "I was happy with the environment, the academic standards are really high, and the coach has a 99% graduation rate." Bryson, a senior, signed on with UC Santa Barbara November 11, and is receiving a full ride to become a Gaucho next year.

"It's not too far from home," said Bryson. "That way I'm able to have my own separation, but not too close where I feel like I'm still under my parents' supervision."

While at Santa Barbara he wants to major in kinesiology and sports medicine in hopes that he can take better care of himself, but if he does get hurt, he will be able to treat himself, instead of having to constantly rely on a doctor or a trainer. He is keeping up with his grades, and works every day to better himself before leaving Mustang territory.

"I don't feel that this happened over night, or one certain instance, but since I was little I've had a passion for basketball," said Bryson. His passion is certainly shown in his playing, practicing four to five hours a day and when he's not at school. He has made a total of 17.2 points every game and a total of 155 points up to this point in his high school career. Even though Bryson's statistics are good, he has not always been on the varsity basketball team. He was moved up from junior varsity to varsity his freshman year for playoffs. Since then, Bryson has played for the varsity Mustangs as a captain.

"The first team I played for was when I was in kindergarten; we were called The Flying Eagles," said Bryson, whose passion for the game started out early, beginning on an AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) team and traveling around the Sacramento area to play against other teams. "It looked like a big stage for me when I was younger."

Since then Bryson has been on many traveling teams, as well as school teams. His passion for the game and hours of practice has paid off.

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