It was a natural move for Naperville North senior Myles Barry, something he has done many times before on a soccer field.
It also caused a delay to his basketball season.
In a Sept. 7 game against Benet, Barry came down awkwardly after elevating for a header. He felt a sting, but played out the final minutes.
Barry later discovered he fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot.
As a junior, Barry started every game, totaling three goals and three assists as the Huskies went 26-0 and won their third straight state championship.
Now, his soccer career was over. And his basketball season was on hold.
“That was definitely tough after what we did the last two years,” Barry said of being injured as the Huskies lost 4-3 in penalty kicks to Morton in the supersectional.
The return of Barry, who was all-area last season in basketball, has given Naperville North (8-7, 1-2) a boost.
The 6-foot-3 point guard combines size, vision and athleticism for the Huskies, who are 6-2 in their last eight games. He orchestrates the offense.
“My game is more of a facilitator,” Barry said. “I like to get my teammates involved and get them open looks. That is my first priority. Scoring happens as a result of that.”
The Barry family have a profound connection to the basketball and soccer programs at Naperville North.
Barry’s older brother Jack scored the winning goal in 2016 as the Huskies topped Barrington for the Class 3A state title. He assisted on the winner in 2017 as the Huskies beat Libertyville to repeat.
Jack, who’s now a sophomore soccer player at the University of St. Thomas, also started at guard for Naperville North in basketball. Younger sister Norah is a sophomore for the Huskies’ girls soccer team.
“Growing up, I always followed both programs,” Myles said. “With my brother, Chris Sullivan, Jack Hill, I had a ton of good role models that played both sports.
“The coaches here always advocate playing multiple sports. When it was soccer season, I focused on that, and the same with basketball. It was a great experience.”
The elite soccer success paved the way for his rise in basketball.
Naperville North coach Gene Nolan said Barry brings great intangibles to the table.
“Myles’ best traits as a player are those things that are hard to quantify,” Nolan said. “The performance of others is always better on the floor with him.
More Top Picks Best Bench Grinders For Home Workshops
“He is a strong kid, a tough kid, a very good ballhandler, very good shooter, very good defender on and off the ball. He is never out of position. He is such a smart kid.”
Conference showdown: The game of the week is on tap at 7 p.m. Friday as Naperville Central hosts Waubonsie Valley.
The DuPage Valley Conference features a logjam at the top with the undefeated Redhawks (10-2, 3-0) and league newcomer DeKalb (11-3, 3-0).
DeKalb also defeated Naperville Central in the championship game of its own tournament on Dec. 30.
“We have learned some things after that game,” Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer said. “We felt like we let one slip away.”
Waubonsie (14-1, 2-1) has won seven straight games since losing to DeKalb.
Senior guard Marcus Skeete scored 14 of his 22 points in the first half Saturday as the Warriors defeated Marian Catholic 70-49 in Moline.
Different streak: Testifying to the strength at the top of the DVC, Neuqua Valley has a 9-1 record against nonconference competition.
Neuqua (10-4, 0-3), which has faced DeKalb, Waubonsie and Naperville Central, seeks its first conference in at 7 p.m. Friday against Metea Valley (5-10, 0-3).
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.