Brandon Phillips brings a lot to the table for Waukegan.
The senior wing can score in different ways and guard multiple positions. But most of all, Phillips wants to give the players around him opportunities to thrive. Team success, not any individual accolade, is his goal.
“I’m the type of player that tries to set the tone for my teammates, especially by bringing energy,” he said. “I try to get going early, and hopefully everyone can feed off me. We have a lot of good players, so if we get going, we’re hard to stop.”
That has been illustrated as the Bulldogs (12-9, 2-5) have navigated the first two months of the season and the North Suburban Conference, already matching their 2022-23 win total. The versatile 6-foot-2 Phillips is a big reason for that success.
Phillips, whose junior season was cut short by a knee injury, entered the week averaging 10.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals. He is efficient offensively, connecting on 56% of his field-goal attempts, and fills passing lanes on the other end.
“We tell the players that they all have to be individually better for us to be collectively better, and Brandon exemplifies that with all the things he does well,” Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw said.
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As Phillips mentioned, he likes to be productive early in games. There are subtle ways to do that, like locking in defensively, grabbing a well-timed rebound to spur a transition basket or hitting a couple of shots.
“I have a spot on the court where my teammates and I know that I can always make shots,” Phillips said. “I try to go to other areas, too, but that’s my go-to spot if we really need a basket.”
As the season has progressed, the list of things the team needs from Phillips has grown. The Bulldogs know they can count on him.
“Above all, Brandon is a great teammate and a hard worker who’s very conscientious of what we’re trying to accomplish,” Ashlaw said. “He’s concerned about the team and the team’s performance before his own.”
Helping the team reach its potential starts with productive practice time, and Phillips has occasionally employed a unique way to ensure everyone stays up to speed.
“If I have to, I’ll have them take my spot for that rep so they know exactly what’s going on,” he said. “I encourage my teammates to get on the court as much as possible. I’d rather my teammates have a good night instead of me.”
Phillips’ selfless approach shows in different ways. Ashlaw points to Phillips’ renewed effort to rebound in the past few weeks.
“We really need the boards,” Phillips said. “We’re not that big, so we need as much athleticism there as possible. I noticed that’s an area where I could help.”
Phillips also helps by displaying the type of work ethic that others can easily emulate. Senior wing Ethan Rodriguez chuckled as he recalled arriving for voluntary workouts last summer and seeing Phillips was already done with his session.
Phillips’ dedication was also evident after Waukegan’s 73-72 overtime loss to Christ the King on Saturday.
“He missed what would have been a game-winning three in the corner, and after the game, you could hear the ball bouncing, and he was practicing the same shot,” Rodriguez said. “We all see that, and it’s easy to look up to him.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.