Kyle Poynter is getting his first taste of college basketball this summer by facing some of the region’s top players.
Poynter, a senior-to-be at Houston High School, plays for the Bears in the annual St. John’s Sports Medicine Pro-Am League at The Courts in Springfield. The league consists of former, current and future college basketball players from the area.
Poynter, who landed in the league with the help of his uncle, plays on a roster that includes Missouri State University players Justin Fuehrmeyer, Jermaine Mallett and Isiah Rhine.
“There are really good players there,” Poynter said. “Getting experience and seeing how good they are at the college level is helping a lot.”
Poynter, who is 6-foot-3, said he was surprised how big the players in the league are. He said he’s usually the smallest player on the court.
He was a big-time scorer this past season for Houston, averaging 23.6 points per game. But in three summer league games, Poynter has scored a total of five points on a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws.
“It’s difficult to get an open shot,” Poynter said. “I’m hesitant at times to shoot it – just not knowing the guys and being afraid to miss and making them mad.”
He may not be scoring at his usual pace, but Poynter said he has found ways to contribute in other areas.
“I was surprised at how many rebounds and loose balls I could get if I worked at it,” he said.
It’s been a busy summer for Poynter as he tries to squeeze in time with the Bears between baseball and his own high school team. Poynter played with the Tigers in a league at Plato and July 16-18 will be with the Tigers at a shootout in Branson.
With the baseball team, Poynter has traveled to Alabama and Omaha, Neb., as well as weekly local games.
Poynter, who also has his second football camp July 27-31, said it hasn’t been too difficult juggling the sports.
“I think I can perform well,” he said. “It’s just the fact of trying to figure out which sport I’m playing on which day.”
