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Left to right:
Brandan Stith,
brother B.J. Stith
and father Bryant
Stith during the
trio's championship
run at Brunswick
County (VA) High
School. Brandan is
making a mark for
East Carolina as a
freshman forward.
B.J. has signed with
Virginia and will
join the Cavaliers
next season. Bryant
starred at UVa and
in the NBA and went
on to blaze trails
in the high school
coaching ranks
before assuming his
current position as
an assistant coach
at ECU's Saturday
night opponent, Old
Dominion. (Photo
courtesy of
The South Hill
(VA) Enterprise. |
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By
Al Myatt
©2013 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
View the Mobile Alpha version of this page.
There will be any number of intriguing circumstances as
East Carolina hosts Old Dominion in the Conference USA basketball opener
for both programs on Saturday night at 7, the most compelling of which
may be the father-son dynamic of Bryant and Brandan Stith.
Bryant Stith, the former Virginia star and NBA veteran,
is an assistant coach for the Monarchs. His son, Brandan, is a
productive freshman forward for the Pirates.
"Just friendly competition," Brandan Stith said Thursday.
This will be the first time Bryant Stith has seen his son
play on the college level in person, although he did watch ECU play Duke
on television in November.
"I don't think it will be a distraction," said the
younger Stith, who is averaging team highs in rebounds (9.5) and blocked
shots (1.6). "It will probably be more motivation than anything else. I
would just like to show my dad that everything he's taught me I'm trying
to incorporate into my game right now.
"There wouldn't be a better time to prove that than with
him on the sideline."
This is Bryant Stith's first season at ODU. He's working
for Jeff Jones, who coached him at UVa. The elder Stith guided Brunswick
County to three straight Virginia state Class 3 high school basketball
championships with Brandan playing an increasingly-prominent role in the
Bulldogs' success. His younger son, B.J., will join the Cavaliers
basketball program next season.
Bryant Stith was a freshman at Virginia when Pirates
coach Jeff Lebo was a senior in the UNC-Chapel Hill program. Lebo,
coincidentally, played for his dad, Dave Lebo, on the high school level
in Carlisle, PA. The senior Lebo assisted his son at Auburn and
currently helps out with the program at D.H. Conley High School in
Greenville.
Stith was ACC Rookie of the Year in
1989 when ECU athletic director emeritus Terry Holland was coaching the
Cavaliers. Stith completed his college career under Jones and became
Virginia's all-time leading scorer. Jones' son, Jeff, is currently
playing for the Cavaliers.
Bryant Stith is looking forward to ODU's first C-USA
hoops contest.
"I'm ecstatic to have an opportunity as a father to see
him realize his dream," said the Monarchs assistant. "He's loved the
game of basketball since he was six years old. He's worked hard to be
the young man and basketball player he has become. I'm so happy he has
the opportunity to show the world what I had the opportunity to see as
his basketball coach."
Brandan Stith said he beat his dad
once playing one-on-one. Their matchups in Horse are another story.
"He still has his shooting skills," Brandan said.
Brandan said he talks to his dad
about every other day on the phone.
Bryant Stith played in 601 NBA games. He has considerable
perspective to offer.
"No matter what happens on the scoreboard, it's a no-lose
situation for me," he said.
The Pirates play ODU again on March 6 in Norfolk.
