Being the new guy on a basketball team can be a hard transition for some, but that doesn’t seem to be the case for the newcomers to the Wildcat men’s team.
“We have two transfers this year – junior Taylor Parker and sophomore Ryan Highfill,” head coach Rick Weaver said.
Each player had similar reasons for choosing Baker over his previous school.
Parker, a Johnson County Community College transfer, said his main reason for wanting to be a Wildcat was the coach.
“I chose Baker because of coach Weaver,” Parker said. “I heard he had a great reputation, and I knew a lot of the guys from last year, which definitely influenced my decision.”
Knowing the guys already on the team played a major role in Highfill’s choice to attend Baker, as well, he said.
“I’m from Washburn University, and I chose Baker because I like the school, the program here and I also like all the guys we got on the team,” Highfill said.
Parker said his teammates have helped him make the switch.
“The transition has been very easy, mostly because all my new teammates have been very helpful,” Parker said. “They are all really caring.”
Weaver has also helped make the newcomers feel at home on their new team, Parker said.
“I really like coach Weaver,” Parker said. “He is easy to respect because of the way he treats his players. He really helps them to improve on and off the court.”
Weaver said he has already set his expectations for these two athletes and expects a lot from them.
“Parker is a point guard, and we hope he can take care of the ball and run the offense,” Weaver said. “Highfill is a combo-guard, mainly a perimeter shooter and backup guard. We need him to provide a little offense and play solid defense.”
Working as a team, rather than individually, is an evident goal for the Baker basketball team, Highfill said.
Highfill said he plans to do what he can to help improve the team.
With the high expectations these two players have for themselves, Weaver said he is excited to have them on the court this year.
“We’ve got a lot of returnees this year, but (Highfill and Parker) will be in the mix,” Weaver said.