Brunson making immediate impact for Grizzly Cubs

<p><strong>T</strong>he jump from middle school basketball to varsity competition is supposed to include time to adapt to the world of taller, stronger, faster.</p><p>Franklin guard Kuryn Brunson squashed this theory in the Grizzly Cubs’ season opener. The 5-foot-10 freshman wing started at Mt. Vernon, scoring 11 points — all in the second half — in a 46-44 loss.</p><p>Brunson averages 13.8 points a game and is either first or second on the team in several other statistical categories. All this from a young lady who, as a second-grader, was more interested in rooting for sports teams rather than playing on one.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>“I was forced. I wanted to be a cheerleader, but my parents were like, ‘You’re tall, so you need to play,’” Brunson said with a laugh. “I thought it would be fun. I liked to run when I was little, so it was fun for me. I was a decent player then. I wouldn’t say I was good.”</p><p>The evolvement of Brunson’s basketball skill set the past seven years is evident in her ability to drive to the basket, find the open teammate when necessary and be a pesky defensive presence, whether on the perimeter or closer to the basket.</p><p>Perhaps most impressive is Brunson’s consistency. She followed her debut at Mt. Vernon with 18 points against Southport, 16 against Greenwood Christian Academy and 14 in a Johnson County tournament semifinal loss to Whiteland. Her career best (so far) is 27 points in Franklin’s 64-55 win at Perry Meridian in the Cubs’ Mid-State Conference opener.</p><p>Franklin is a junior-dominated team — swingman Hailee Robbins leads the Cubs in scoring, while classmates Abby DeArmitt and Kiki Crabtree also start — with its lone senior, forward Bayleigh Torrance, providing a spark off the bench with her scoring and rebounding.</p><p>Brunson’s personality and work ethic make it difficult for older teammates to be threatened by a first-year player making such a significant impact.</p><p>“The first thing is, Kuryn loves the game. She follows it, she works extra at every practice and does stuff on her own. The second thing is she has this infectious smile and personality about her that it really draws people to her,” Josh Sabol, Franklin girls basketball coach, said. “Her teammates love playing with her.”</p><p>Brunson’s family — she’s the second of Jay and Sarah Brunson’s four children — moved from Chicago to Franklin when Kuryn was halfway through her first-grade school year (2010-11).</p><p>“We knew about her pretty early, so we were definitely looking forward to having her with us at the high school,” Sabol said.</p><p>On the court and off, Brunson, who carries a 3.2 grade-point average, is making the most of the experience.</p><p>“I just do whatever is going to help my team. I feel the best part of my game is facilitating. I like to get my teammates open so that they can gets looks,” Brunson said. “My teammates have made it easy for me with their support.</p><p>“They talk to me and help me through situations. They back me up. We all want to win, so we do what we have to do.”</p>