Short in stature but not grit

Basketball is not necessarily a big man’s game – if you follow the NBA, for example, the past and present exploits of diminutive guards Spud Webb, Muggsy Bogues and Earl Boykins, none taller than 5-foot-6, aren’t unfamiliar to you.

But what it takes to be successful for players who are, shall we say, vertically challenged are an uncommon work ethic, an extra helping of self-confidence and the resolve never to be satisfied with their performance, simply because so many others will doubt them.

So one shouldn’t be surprised that Mead High School coach Glenn Williams calls Panther captain Mike Hoover, his 5-foot-6 point guard, “maybe the hardest worker I’ve ever coached, a guy who brings as much determination and energy to the court as anyone I’ve ever seen.”

After a while, Williams runs out of good things to say about Hoover – and then thinks of a few more.

“Mike’s a great student and a great kid, 4.0 in the classroom, diligent in his schoolwork and on the court. He is gifted in many ways. A young man who will be successful in life because of the attributes he demonstrates every day at school and on the basketball court.

“He’s completely involved in the school, not just in athletics. Mike is respected and loved by his peers. He’s such a people person. One great example is his work with Ignite, a group of upperclassmen who work as role models with our freshmen.”

Williams is also quick to point out that, at Hoover’s position, his size isn’t all that much of a disadvantage. His quickness at the point fits the Panther match-up zone perfectly, says the Mead coach, and offensively he’s got his foot on the throttle in the Panthers fastbreak offense.

Hoover is more reluctant to talk about what he brings to his team, concerned that he might come across as a me-first kind of guy. He need not worry.

“As long as I’ve played, I’ve tried to put the team first,” he said. “I imagine I learned that from my parents.

“I’ve always tried to accept the role bestowed upon me, and I try not to let bad breaks keep me down. It’s important to accept what you’ve been given. And especially if you see yourself as a leader – you can’t worry about yourself, because there are 11 other guys around you whom you need to inspire. Our success is a team effort.

“I do see myself as a leader,” he continued. “I’ve always wanted not to be just another face in the crowd. I enjoy the feeling of helping out and being a role model.”

Hoover’s also a varsity soccer player at Mead, but there’s no doubt where his heart is: “I’ve played basketball for a long time,” he said, “and there’s no greater feeling than being out there in front of all those people.”

And, in the end, how much does size matter?

“I suppose you can make the case that it does,” he said, “but when I get out there, I just like to play and not leave anything on the floor. It’s difficult when I find myself under the basket with all those Goliaths, but that’s just another challenge which makes playing all the more enjoyable.”