Player Highlight: Matthew Bryant, Men’s Basketball

On a rising team of stars, the Rustlers can count on Matthew Bryant taking care of the dirty work.

The fourth year forward has had another great season for the men's basketball team at Lakeland College, averaging roughly 10 points and 7 rebounds a game and playing a ton of minutes for a team that heads into this coming weekend with a chance at first place in the North Division. His rebounding, energy and effort have had a direct impact in their eight victories.

"I'm taking more pride on the defensive end when we have so much offensive talent," Bryant said. "I'm fitting into my role nicely, as that guy who takes on those roles."

"He's not somebody you have to worry about coaching his energy," Head Coach Sheray Thomas said. "He rebounds [relentlessly], and his being able to guard all five positions, while being able to score and facilitate when he plays the four and five, is huge."

Bryant came to Lloydminster after several years of collegiate training, including a two year period with the University of PEI, winning conference silver. He said that experience had similarities to being a Rustler that have made the past year and a half a smooth ride.

"It was a cool campus and great learning experience," Bryant said. "There's a similar vibe here to living in Charlottetown."

Off the court, the veteran big man is more soft spoken than some of his teammates, yet Bryant said this year he's made it a focus to become a more prominent voice.

"Just being more consistently vocal, giving high fives all the time, providing positive energy and leadership," he said.

"Both Matt and Taleh [Wade] are low key, guys that are focused on ball," Thomas added. "If you have too much of one or the other it's not a good balance, right now it's a good balance."

Bryant agreed that the group's structure and energy was solid, even as they continue to build chemistry with several moving parts and new additions. Having a shared motivation is one of the keys.

"All of our guys want the same thing, the same goal," he said. "When that's your main goal, it makes the process more enjoyable and practice more competitive."

Outside of practice and school, Bryant devotes much of his time to volunteer work, primarily in coaching. He's spent many hours this year working with athletes in the Lloydminster Public School Division, in addition to other ventures the Rustlers have interacting with children in elementary and kindergarten classrooms. Prior to the season, he ran a youth group at Elam Church in Saskatoon, where 30 plus kids would come out to scrimmage on Friday nights. 

"Grade seven and eight, that's probably my favourite age group," Bryant said. "I've done a lot of volunteering, coaching, even cabin leading in the summer. I love kids and have always been drawn to those roles, so it's always been a natural thing for me to do."

"I'm definitely going to do this after competing, whether it's head coach, assistant coach, etc. There's bonus of all those kids that come to the games, but it's something I genuinely enjoy doing."

Matthew Bryant is in his fourth year of competition and second year at Lakeland College, taking business through the University Transfer program. He and the rest of the Rustlers men's basketball team are back in action Friday night, when they fight for first place against the Keyano Huskies at 8:00 pm in the Lloyd Campus Gym.