Early in his career at Burrell, Brandon Coury was on a team that won just one game. By his senior year, however, Coury helped the Buccaneers reach the state playoffs. Now a senior at Seton Hill, Coury has slowly but surely emerged as a contributor for the Griffins. He’s in the spotlight for this edition of the Westmoreland Alum Q&A.

During Coury’s freshman campaign at Burrell in 2018-19, the Bucs achieved a mark of 5-14 overall, including 4-8 in the section, failing to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

The next year, Coury cracked the starting lineup, but Burrell sputtered to a mark of 1-20, including 1-11 in section play.

The program made significant strides the following season, as Coury helped Burrell reach a mark of 9-10 overall, including 5-6 in the section. Burrell entered the open postseason tournament, but the Bucs fell to Central Valley in the WPIAL Class 4A first round.

As a senior in 2021-22, Coury produced nearly 22 points per game. His play propelled the Buccaneers to a record of 14-10, including 9-3 in the section. Consequently, Burrell qualified for the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs, and defeated Elizabeth Forward in the first round. Although the Bucs fell to Montour in the quarterfinals, they advanced to the PIAA tournament, where they lost to Fairview.

Following his graduation, Coury opted to continue on the hardwood at Seton Hill University. Joining the Griffins for the 2022-23 season, Coury played sparingly, appearing in nine contests and averaging 0.6 points and 0.1 rebounds per contest. Collectively, the Griffins went 16-13 overall that campaign, including 11-11 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The Griffs made the conference tournament, but came up short against California University of Pennsylvania in the opening round.

Coury redshirted the next season, as SHU posted an identical record to the previous year, this time falling to Slippery Rock University in the PSAC Tournament.

Last season, Coury participated in 20 games, posting 2.2 points and 1.2 boards per game, while racking up 13 assists and nine steals. Seton Hill went 16-14 overall, including 8-12 in the PSAC. Back in the conference tournament, SHU bested Edinboro University in the opening round, but lost against Cal U in the quarterfinals.

So far this campaign, Coury has played in both games, averaging 6.5 points and 1.5 rebounds, while compiling a couple of assists and a steal. The Griffins notched a pair of wins at the MEC/PSAC Challenge.

Brandon set aside time to respond to questions about his growth during his time at Seton Hill, the best player he faced during his time at Burrell, and what rule he’d change for college basketball.

Q: What do you envision for your role this season?

A: I think my role is going to be a guy who has to do a little bit of everything to help the team win; that consists of making threes, driving closeouts, playing solid defense, and being a low turnover guy, since I will be playing off the ball primarily.

Q: What is an underrated aspect of your game?

A: An underrated part of my game is my ability to drive the basketball, because most people just say I am a shooter and it gets overlooked.

Q: How have you grown as a player during your time at Seton Hill?

A: I have grown a lot as a player in about every aspect of the game since I have gotten to Seton Hill. I have improved a lot at moving without the ball and spacing. Also, I have gotten way better defensively, and that is just from practicing against other college players all the time. My shot has improved a ton since being here, as well.

Q: What team and individual goals have you set for this season?

A: For team goals, I think the ultimate goal is to win the PSAC championship and make the national tournament. A side one I have set is to crack 20 wins for the first time ever as a program. An individual goal for myself is to just play confident and aggressive every time I am on the court. I don't really like to set "stat" goals for myself before the year, or even any game.

Q: What are the best qualities of head coach Ben Wilkins?

A: Coach Wilkins has taught me so much about the game of basketball since my freshman year. He just knows the game so well and it really helped me improve. Also, which I believe is more important, I have learned a lot of life values through basketball, and he does that intentionally. So, I would say his best quality is really caring about how we will be as men after the ball stops bouncing.

Q: What led to your decision to attend Seton Hill?

A: I really did not decide I was definitely going to play basketball in college until really late in my senior season. So, my recruiting was pretty dry, but I always knew Seton Hill was a good academic school, and also somewhat close to home. A coach I trained with, Ron McNabb, connected with Coach Wilkins and I loved my visit, and was offered and accepted later that day.

Q: What is your major and ideal future profession?

A: My major is exercise science, and my ideal profession is to be a medical device sales rep.

Q: What has been your most enjoyable college course?

A: My most enjoyable college course is probably my senior synthesis class for exercise science, and I am currently taking it now. I really enjoy it because I get to work with a client, with my partner, and help her with getting a consistent exercise routine. Another class I really enjoyed was black and white photography, and I suggest any student at Seton Hill to take it.

Q: What was your fondest high school memory at Burrell?

A: My favorite memory at Burrell was just getting to hang out with my friends every day, and especially my senior year Yearbook class. Basketball wise, though, it was definitely our home playoff win against Elizabeth Forward my senior year.

Q: Who was the best player you faced in high school?

A: The best player I faced in high school had to be Adou Thiero. It was just a summer league game, but he was just on a different level than most players then.

Q: Do you still follow Burrell athletics or WPIAL basketball?

A: Of course, and I have to shout out my sister, Mikayla, and her soccer team, which recently made it to the state championship game. They were the No. 8 seed in the WPIAL and made it that far, and I hope that helps Burrell get more respect in all sports when it comes to rankings for playoffs. I also try to make it to at least a couple Burrell basketball games each year, and I still have a great relationship with my coaches there. WPIAL wise, I try to keep up with the basketball players who I played against in high school. I always root for WPIAL guys who play after high school at any level.

Q: What is one rule you'd change about college basketball?

A: I really hate flopping, so I would advocate for more of a penalty on that. I love how there is a review system and coaches are able to challenge calls this year, though.

Q: To which movie or TV show can you recite nearly every line?

A: I love The Office - it is my favorite TV show of all time and I can recall most episodes really well, especially up until Michael Scott leaves.

Q: If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: My mom cooks a great Shrimp Scampi, so I have to say that - 10/10 meal.

Q: If you were stranded on an island with one teammate, who would you choose? Why?

A: I have to go with my roommate and best friend up here, Noah Wright. I think we would find a way off the island somehow, but if not, I know we would make it a fun time trying to.