Travis Perry focused on winning more than career scoring mark
EDDYVILLE, Ky. (BVM) 鈥� Next year, same place? That鈥檚 the situation Travis Perry and his Lyon County Lyons boys basketball team are in as the team won its second straight Region 2 championship to secure a spot in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Boys鈥� Basketball Sweet 16. This is the first time in program history that the Lyons have ever gone to the state tournament in back-to-back seasons, after making the field and winning a game in the tournament last year.听
鈥淚t obviously means a lot, it鈥檚 something that鈥檚 huge for myself, my teammates, our coaches and our community really. It鈥檚 a huge deal and something we鈥檙e very excited about,鈥� Perry said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e blessed with the opportunity we鈥檝e had, the traditions we鈥檝e put in and I鈥檓 glad we were able to make it back and play in Rupp [Arena] again.鈥�
While the star guard鈥檚 focus has and always will be on winning, much of the outside chatter is more about the individual accomplishment Perry may earn during the event. That鈥檚 because Perry, with his 4,317 career points, is just 20 points shy from tying the KHSAA career mark of 4,337 held by Wayland鈥檚 Kelly Coleman who set the mark all the way back in 1956.
鈥淓veryone is putting a lot of hype about it being at Rupp and that would be something really cool, something very out of the ordinary and something that I would be very thankful for,鈥� Perry said of the potential to beat the record. 鈥淚f it happens, it will be really cool and something that I鈥檓 very thankful for but first and foremost I鈥檓 focused on going up there and getting a couple of wins.鈥�
Dude is going after a 67-year-old scoring record in Kentucky 馃槫馃馃弨
— MaxPreps (@MaxPreps)
Though he may not be focused on the record, all eyes will be on the team鈥檚 opening-round game against Newport on March 16. That鈥檚 because Perry has averaged a whopping 32.2 points, second in the KHSAA this season, which sets him up to break the record during that first contest. The junior guard is grateful that, although most fans have come to see his incredible exploits, they have also been able to see his teammates, coaches, school and community.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been really crazy but it鈥檚 a huge blessing and great opportunity and something I鈥檓 very thankful for,鈥� Perry said. 鈥淲e have a ton of people at each one of our games, we have people coming up to me all the time wanting just to have a conversation about schools or anything in general about the scoring record. It鈥檚 something I don鈥檛 take lightly. I鈥檓 very thankful for the position I鈥檓 in, the opportunities I鈥檝e had and just really blessed with everything that鈥檚 happened throughout my career to take me to this point.鈥�
Perhaps no point was more hyped or highlighted than Perry鈥檚 game against Dawson Springs on Feb. 16. Perry played out of his mind during that contest, setting a school record with 61 points while shooting 24-of-37 (64.9%) with 15 rebounds in the lopsided 114-56 win.
鈥淚 just got hot early. I got a lot of offensive putbacks, a lot of buckets early then it just started clicking,鈥� Perry said. 鈥淚 started hitting some threes, getting some fast breaks, getting some steals, getting some rebounds and pushing the ball and just continuing to score the ball at a high rate and making most of my shots, not missing too many. Just having fun really, just playing basketball and playing loose and free.鈥�
馃煟馃馃弨RECORD BREAKER馃弨馃馃煟
After further review鈥�..
With his 61 pt performance tonight, Lyons Junior Travis Perry has broken the single game scoring record for LC 馃弨鈥硷笍
— Lyon County Athletics (@Lyoncoathletics)
His career night couldn鈥檛 have come at a better time for the junior. University of Kentucky head men鈥檚 basketball coach John Calipari was at the game to take in Perry鈥檚 masterful performance. While the moment was a memorable one for Perry, he made sure to point out that it was also a special one for Lyon County as a whole.
鈥淭hat was definitely very cool for myself, for my teammates, for our staff, our community and everyone there,鈥� Perry said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have Coach Cal in the gym every night and it’s something that not everyone gets to experience. I was very thankful for that and just glad I could put together a good performance while he was there and that my team was able to have a good game.鈥�
John Calipari went to watch Lyon County鈥檚 Travis Perry tonight
So he went out and scored 62 points
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio)
Coach Cal isn鈥檛 the only coach to pay attention either. After having just three Division I offers as of last March, Perry鈥檚 stock has exploded. Currently ranked as the No. 86 overall prospect in the Class of 2024 by , Perry has received 17 offers including from Kentucky, , , and , the last four which he has made visits to.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been really crazy honestly, it just blew up there really quickly,鈥� Perry said of his recruitment. 鈥淚 love basketball and I love talking basketball and getting to talk basketball with the greatest minds in the basketball world is something I don鈥檛 take likely and I鈥檓 very thankful for. Just all the opportunities I鈥檝e had and all the opportunities I continue to be blessed with I鈥檓 very thankful for each and every one of them.鈥�
— Travis Perry (@Travis_Perry11)
While everyone in Kentucky is eagerly waiting for Perry鈥檚 decision, he鈥檚 in no rush. He wants to make sure that the school and the team are the right fit for him and he wants to be able to cultivate a strong relationship with his future coaching staff before making his choice.
鈥淸I鈥檓] really just taking it all in as it goes. Building those relationships, seeing where I think is the best place would be for myself and for my future where I can help a school and where the school and the coaching staff and everyone involved can help me,鈥� Perry said. 鈥淛ust having the best relationship and the best opportunity and that鈥檚 what it鈥檚 going to be about for me, not really rushing it. Just taking it as it comes and enjoying the process.鈥�
With all eyes focused on the scoring record and his future, Perry has his eyes firmly set on this season. He knows he has a special team that could make a run at Rupp and hopes to give Lyons fans something they will remember forever.
鈥淚t would be a dream come true honestly just to have that opportunity [to win a state title] and to be able to do that would be amazing,鈥� Perry said. 鈥淗opefully we can put together a couple of good shooting games, have a couple good games out there, put on some good shows and hopefully win four in a row up there and make a historic season for Lyon County.鈥�
So if Perry does in fact break the scoring record this season, what could he possibly do as an encore as a senior? For Perry, he wants people to expect more of the same 鈥� winning.
鈥淭he main thing for me has always been about winning, it has not been about scoring or anything like that. It鈥檚 just been about going out there and taking care of business and winning ball games and doing it not for myself but for my teammates and coaches,鈥� Perry said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 obviously an awesome accolade to have and something I鈥檓 very thankful for but for me at the end of the day it鈥檚 about winning first. Hopefully next year we can come out and win a lot more games, but I鈥檓 focused on this year first.鈥�
