Union Springs has been dominating this season, and with a record of 12-2 overall, their performance has been undeniable.

Helping lead the way is senior Devon Brady. Coach Tim Darnell said that Brady's skills were evident early on.

“I've coached him ever since I've been here,#” Darnell said. #“I've been here six years. He came all the way up through our program beginning with CCYO and the youth programs all the way up to varsity. He has always been a good fundamental player. He has a great basketball IQ and we look to him to be one of the leaders of this team when we are out there on the court.”

With a father that was a basketball player and growing up watching games on TV, there is little wonder why Brady got into the game, but he also had another added advantage.

“I just wanted to play, so I gave it a try and I've been playing ever since fifth grade,” Brady said.“ I was always tall for my age. I was six feet by the time I was in seventh grade so that helped too.”

But height isn't everything. Brady worked tirelessly on his game from CCYO to modified and JV.

“I just always wanted to get better,” Brady said.“ When I was a freshman and sophomore, I'd be in my driveway every night until 10 or 11 playing. We had a lot of good players here then and they really helped to push me to get better.”

Brady said that he also participated in numerous camps and clinics along the way and participated in AAU from freshman to junior year.

“This year I worked with my coach a lot in the summer and fall,” Brady said.“ I wanted to be able to help lead my team. We have a tendency to fall apart and I wanted to help keep us together.”

Averaging 14 points, seven rebounds per game and going 79 percent from the line, Brady has certainly demonstrated that he has the qualities to be a leader.

“He can be a quiet guy,” Darnell said. “He leads more by his play on the floor. I think if he keeps playing the way he has been and we keep playing the way we have been as a team he has a good shot at being named an All-Star. If he continues to play like he has been, he has the ability to do anything he wants to.”

While he has some strong personal stats, for Brady it is very much about the team.

“I try to keep everybody involved,” Brady said. “I don't want to be the guy that just scores all the points. I like to be able to score when we need it, but I like to pass and get rebounds and get the ball to the other guys and get everybody involved in the game.”

For his efforts, Brady was named MVP of the Cayuga County Holiday tournament this year.

“That was amazing,” Brady said.“ I was confident I did well, but I didn't think I was going to win that or anything. I actually thought my teammate was. That really felt like winning a championship or something.”

With the way the team has been playing, Brady would like to see another kind of championship.

Brady said he got called up briefly his freshman year when Union Springs made it to the sectional finals.

In his past two seasons with the team, they've made it as far as the semifinals, but this year Brady would like to see that change.

“I'm confident we can win the division,” Brady said. “We've been playing really well. I think we can make it at least to the sectional finals. We haven't been there since my freshman year and I think we can make it that far this year.”