All Out Warr

Saturday January 3^rd, 2015.  Olympus High School; Salt Lake City, Utah.  Boys Varsity Basketball; Timpanogos vs Highland.  With the Rams trailing the Timberwolves by eight and under two minutes remaining in the game, Timpanogos Senior Caiden Brown flies in to get an offensive rebound.  Out of control, he hits Highland senior Max Wilson’s face, and his momentum knocks him into Highland junior Rick Schmidt.

Angry because no foul was called, Schmidt shoves Brown, earning a technical foul.  Brown walks back down the court to shoot his free throws, gesturing toward the Highland players with his fingers as if to say: “come and get me.”  For Highland Senior Brandon Warr, this was a choice.

Brown had disrespected and offended his teammates in the midst of the heat of the game.  He could choose to retaliate and possibly start a fight, or use the player’s disrespect as motivation.

He chose the latter.

Flipping the negative energy into positive Highland energy, the Rams staged an incredible comeback in the last minute and a half.

With a few seconds remaining, Warr found himself with the ball in his hands, down by one.  He drove right, and threw up an off balance runner that went in, putting the Rams up by one.  Highland held on to the lead, and defeated Timpanogos 55-54.

Warr looks back on this moment with pride that he kept his cool.

“Being a captain and a leader on the team…you can’t let your emotions get to you,” Warr said.  “You have to show through example.”

Warr began playing recreational basketball at age six.  He quickly developed a love for the game, and joined a competitive league at age eight.  His skills increased as the years went by, and at age 14 he was invited to be a part of a traveling team competing in tournaments all around the country.  Playing against some of the best high school players in the country can be intimidating, but Warr believes that it greatly benefited him.

“Better competition means better success,” Warr said.  “It helps you get better as a player.”

But Warr does not let his success on the basketball court define him as a person.  He is constantly trying to improve his integrity and help others.

Twice a week he volunteers by himself as a part of the Primary Children’s Hospital “Kids Crew”, spending time with kids from two months to 12 years old.  They focus on bringing outside joy to the lives of pediatric patients who are currently not able to leave the hospital.  Whether it be making crafts, bringing supplies, or just playing around; the “Kids Crew” helps Warr to be more humble and thankful for the blessings that has received in life.

“When I go in there every day I am so grateful that I can drive myself home at night,” Warr said.  “It just makes me more grateful for what I have.”

Warr has also been greatly influenced by the LDS Church and his family.  He believes that you should never let someone’s criticism of you affect your self-integrity.

“My grandpa told me that life is like a bunch of stages, and each stage that you’re performing on; it’s just you,” Warr said.  “Those people out there…they’re not on stage with you.”

Applying these life lessons to the game he loves so much is what Warr strives to do.

Mental toughness is a huge part of basketball; but it goes hand in hand with physical.  Over the offseason Warr realized that he needed to increase his strength and weight to better succeed with the bigger, better players of the next level.  Nate Orchard, a well decorated defensive lineman for the University of Utah and former Highland Ram, introduced him to the BIFG Boxing Studio in Sugarhouse.  Instructor Eliza James has become a great motivator for Warr, helping him get bigger and stronger through boxing.

“It’s really pushed me emotionally…I know that I can get through certain things at practice,” Warr said.  “Being around a certain group of people that want to get better is huge.”

Warr has had moments of super stardom this season.  He put up at least 17 points in eight games so far this year; headlined by 21, 23, and 24 point performances in wins over Wasatch, Timpanogos, and East respectively.  But Highland Head Coach Jim Boyce says that Warr’s rebounding ability makes him incredibly versatile and well rounded.

“He has a unique ability to rebound the basketball,” Boyce said.  “Probably as far as that ability wise the best kid I’ve ever coached.”

Seven games with at least seven rebounds proves that Boyce indeed is correct.

Warr’s leadership will be put to the test as the Rams continue tough region play and eventually the state tournament.  The Rams are currently in a battle with Bountiful and Woods Cross at the top of region six.

After he wraps up high school, Warr plans on serving a two-year LDS mission, and hopes to continue his love of basketball at the college level along with getting his degree in Business