The sky is the limit

When asked to present the best player of the Eastfield basketball team, the sport director Anthony Fletcher didn't have to think twice who to present.

Does the name Marcus Brister sound too familiar?  Well, it's probably no surprise if you the real man behind the name.

He is an acquired transfer student from Iowa State University, a native of Dallas, and is no stranger to the present spotlight now shined on him.

Strolling down memory lane, Coach Fletcher expressed his fondest memories of the remarkable Brister.

"He got attributes and he is third in the nation for assists," Fletcher recalled.

His attributes could be the result of the upbringing he had and the now entourage he has.

The now twenty two-year old Duncanville High School grad shared some of his personal life not known to the public, and credit his mother to his success.

"My childhood was rough but I had a strong mother," Brister said."If you do right, you won't struggle forever," his mother used to tell him.

He took those words to heart and decided to play basketball.

The mystery is still unknown as to how one of the nation's best athletes landed on Eastfield's campus, and what values does this upcoming acclaim star possess?

Recalling his teen's years, Brister said him and his grandmother used to spend a lot of time at park, playing basketball everyday.

While in high school though, the jovial cookies and milk lover, Brister, played football.

He later went on to play basketball for Iowa State and then moved back down to Texas where his family resides, his two kids, one year old Londyn and five months old Marcus Jr. 

After touring Eastfield and meeting the basketball coach, the 6 foot 4 couldn't hide his desire to play.

"After seeing the team, they made me want to play for Eastfield," Brister admitted.

Being the new kid on the block, so to speak, Brister put up a show with coach Fletcher till today.

"In his first game," Fletcher recalled, "He scored 20 points, had 13 rebounds and 9 assists. He was only one point short from a triple double."

Apart from impressing teammates and coaches on game nights, Brister has other priorities and a life off the court. The family oriented and Christian man has his life sorted out on what and whose approval comes first.

"On my spare time, I go send time with my beautiful little girl and boy! Londyn and Marcus Jr."

Having the three most important things for him in view and the popularity of being a basketball player still does not obstruct his view on people in the world.

 Brister said "that Jesus come first, family second and basketball third."

 "A character I like in people is a person with a good heart and always willing to give," Brister said, "and I dislike when people try to take advantage of a good hearted person."

Hopefully teammate Gene Baker is a "goodhearted" teammate who is also a fan of Brister's style of play but also his personality off the court.

"I like him and he is a good entertaining guy," Baker said, "He can be successful off the court."

"We play as a team and I would like him on the court during the championship game," Baker said, "but if he is on the side line he is a big time cheerer for us when we're playing and I like that type of guy."

Speaking like a man who has been bitten by hypocrites before, Brister came up with his own quote that he calls the "four S's".

I always remember that I will go through things in life that will cause me to Struggle and Stress, but if I believe in God and stay Strong, I will Survive."