By Adam Spears, SAC Media Relations Office

This is the tenth in a series of articles for 2005-06 that will periodically feature student-athletes from the league's member institutions who have distinguished themselves.

Wingate University redshirt sophomore Bryan Grier is one of the top shot blockers in NCAA Division II men's basketball. Bryan spoke with SAC intern Adam Spears recently about his impressive shot blocking ability as well as his team's chances for success the remainder of the basketball season.

Q: First of all, I noticed that you are a red shirt sophomore. What type of injury did you sustain, when did it happen, and how long did it take you to rehabilitate it?

Bryan Grier (white jersey) didn't start playing competitive basketball until his junior year in high school. Once at Wingate he suffered a foot injury. But this year he's making up for lost time, leading the nation in blocked shots and the SAC in rebounding. Photo courtesy Seth Mette and Wingate University

A: I’m not sure the exact name, but I tore ligaments in the middle of my foot. I had three screws placed in there and I still have one left. It happened at the beginning of my sophomore year at the beginning of a scrimmage in October and was out for nine months until July.

Q: What would you say has been the main reason you have been so successful in blocking shots and getting rebounds? You are currently leading the SAC, as well as Division II in blocked shots and are also leading the SAC in rebounds while standing only 6-foot-5.

A: I just have the will, the drive to do it. That’s what I want to do. If you’re athletic and tall you have the ability to do it on the offensive end as well as the defensive end.

Q: What parts of your game do you feel the most confident in and what parts do you feel you need to spend more time on?

A: I feel confident in blocking shots as well as having the ball in the paint so I can use my athleticism. As for what I need to work on, I need to improve my free throws, ball handling, and jump shots.

Q: Wingate is currently 2-3 in the SAC. What do you feel your team needs to do in order to win the regular season SAC title?

A: We need to stop turning over the ball and play a whole 40 minutes, just not in spurts, and then we can win it.

Q: Ok let’s say the Wingate is playing Catawba in the championship game of the SAC tournament with the Indians up by one and you are at the free throw line with no time left and are shooting two….what would be going through your mind then? How would you approach that situation?

A: I’m only thinking about how, during practice, coach (Parker Laketa) tells us we have to hit five free-throws in a row, or else we have to run the entire time until we make them. I try to use that as motivation to make them so I will not have to run.

Q: What do you enjoy most about playing in the SAC?

A: The ability to go to different places that did not recruit me. It’s personal to play against the schools that did not recruit me or were not interested so I can show them what I can do.

Q: Why did you decide to play at Wingate?

A: They were the first to heavily recruit me. The other schools were waiting to see where the “superstars” were going to go and play. Wingate gave me the chance to play right away. It’s also close to home.

Q: What type of basketball career did you have in high school?

A: I didn’t start playing high school basketball until I was in the 11th grade and just sat the bench. My senior year I was second in scoring, second in rebounding, and first in blocked shots and my team won the state championship.