Pollock

RIMERSBURG — While some of his friends were doing typical summer stuff — going on vacation, going to the beach or hanging out with friends — Brody Pollock was playing basketball.

“That’s all I did,” Pollock said. “It’s my favorite sport. I shot every day. I played every day.”

It has paid off this winter.

Last year as a sophomore on the Union boys basketball team, Pollock was unsure of himself and often yielded to senior Scott Booth, who averaged 23.3 points per game.

Pollock still had a good season — he hit 27 3-pointers — but he said he felt he could have done much more.

He wasn’t going to leave anything to chance as a junior.

“This year, I was prepared,” Pollock said. “A senior last year, Zac Smith, told me I could be the leading scorer this year, so he worked me hard this summer. He knows what he’s doing.”

Pollock has played his biggest in the big games.

Against Clarion in a first-round District 9 Class A playoff game Wednesday night, Pollock scored 25 points and hit several clutch shots in the Golden Knights’ 67-55 win.

“He’s just such a great player, just so composed,” said Union coach Karen Davis. “I just don’t know how to describe him and what he’s meant to us.

“I love watching him play. It’s just like he’s wise beyond his years, like he was born to step into this role,” the coach added.

Pollock was averaging 19.7 points and had drained 42 3-pointers heading into the playoffs.

He doesn’t want to stop now. He’s just getting started.

“We want to play at Clarion University (for the district championship),” Pollock said. “That’s all we’re thinking about.”