Junior guard Logan Willoughby drives the ball to the basket for Manchester’s men’s basketball team.
Submitted photo
Logan and Austin Willoughby didn’t originate the concept of siblings being part of the same basketball team.
They are, however, perfecting it.
Born nearly 22 months apart, the two were teammates for two seasons at Whiteland before Logan, a 6-foot-2 guard, chose to attend Manchester University, a Division III school and a member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
And now Austin, a 6-4 forward, is there too.
“We’ve been close all the way through since we were younger,” said the 20-year-old Logan, now a junior for the Spartans. “We never really argue, either. We’re pretty much like the same person. Both kind of laid back, and like to joke around and have fun.
“It’s pretty weird (Austin) is in college now, but pretty cool having your brother on the same basketball team as you. Just seeing him on campus, it’s nice having family around.”
The Willoughbys are putting their years of on-court chemistry to good use for Manchester, which takes an overall record of 8-6 into Saturday’s HCAC game at Earlham. The Spartans are 5-2 in league play after edging Anderson, 84-82, on Wednesday.
Manchester coach Nate Conley, who enjoyed having Logan on board for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, knew the versatile guard was close with his younger sibling, who was a mainstay for the Whiteland program all the way through high school.
Watching them together, on the court and off, has been enjoyable.
“You can definitely tell there’s a chemistry between the two of them,” said Conley, who is in his fourth season. “Having Logan, and knowing the teammate he is, the work ethic he has and the team leader that he is. And then you add Austin, who adds all three components too.
“But they’re very different players. Logan is more of a player who can create for his teammates, and Austin being a little taller, we count on him to guard the other team’s post player.”
The elder Willoughby played the first three games this season, then missed more than a month of action after an injury. He returned with a 10-point performance in a 68-65 victory at Franklin College on Dec. 30, and averages 11.9 points and three rebounds for the season.
As a freshman, he sat out 13 games after sustaining a stress fracture in his left knee. He returned last season to average 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists for a Manchester ball club that finished 16-10.
Willoughby was named first team All-HCAC.
Austin Willoughby has been a factor in all 14 Spartans’ games this season, starting three. He averages 4.8 points and 2.7 boards.
“Off the court, they’re best friends,” Conley said. “I’m not sure we get Austin Willoughby to Manchester unless Logan Willoughby is here. Austin is maybe one of the highest level of recruits we’ve been able to get to Manchester in my four years here.”
Knowing Logan has the remainder of this season and the 2024-25 campaign still ahead of him in terms of athletic eligibility, Austin, 18, appreciates the practices, games, team meetings and road trips he and his older brother get to experience together.
They live in neighboring dorms, and smile and give each other a “What’s up?” when their paths cross on campus.
“We have similar interests. He’s cool with my friends, and I’m cool with his friends,” Austin said. “And Blake Shewmaker from (Greenwood Christian) is here, too, and is actually my roommate. Blake and I have known each other pretty much our whole lives.
“Just getting the opportunity to play basketball with Logan again, I really couldn’t turn that down. It’s been really nice. We put so much time into basketball, this is special to us and to our family.”
