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Kingston athlete makes county history -
Kingston alum, Brady Brister, was named All-State basketball and All-State baseball in his senior year of high school. He is the only athlete in Marshall County history to achieve this feat. Photos courtesy of Linda Holmes
All-State recognition is so rare most schools can count them on one hand. It is even more rare when one athlete can accomplish being named All-State in two separate sports.
Kingston High School graduate Brady Brister accomplished that rare accolade. Earlier this year, Brister was named to the All-State basketball team.
Then, here recently, the news arrived that Brady was named to the All-State baseball team making him the only Redskin to ever to achieve such an honor.
With the state baseball runner up trophy now inside the KMAC, baseball was on his mind. He has one more game to play as a high school athlete, the upcoming All-State game.
“I’ve been working out and trying to keep my swing so Iwill be ready,” he said.
Redskin Head Baseball Coach, Darren Henson, said he saw the potential that was in Brister from a very early age. He thought that if Brister chose to focus entirely on one sport that he could achieve great things.
With speed and a 6’5” frame, Brister can cover a lot of ground in the outfield. He also was in the pitching rotation, and his clutch hitting all season long solidified his spot on the All-State team.
Even though he is good at baseball, he said basketball is his first love. That is where he sees himself if he goes on to be a college athlete.
His road as a basketball player has not been easy. As a junior, his world was rocked as health problems within his immediate family were constantly on his mind.
His sophomore year, the injury bug came calling by way of a broken bone in his foot that held him out of a few games. He did not let it stop him. In his first game back, he scored 27 points against a solid 5A Durant Lion team to win the Atoka tournament.
An athlete’s senior year is where everything is supposed to come together. However, it came in the way of tragedy as his family dealt with the loss of someone very close to them. He pushed through and played on as a leader and the Redskins again made a state tournament appearance.
His basketball career went full circle. As a freshman, he watched his older brother, Conner, win the 2019 State 3A Championship. He witnessed firsthand the work ethic and sacrifice required to reach that goal. He said is fully aware of what it takes. He said his support system at home has been a crucial component that made achieving his goals possible.