From the first time Bryan “Koop” Hayes put a basketball in his hands at the MLK Center as a 3-year-old in Gainesville, he knew he’d never love a sport more than hoops.
“It’s just always been my first love,” Hayes said. “Nothing compares to being out there and hanging around your guys. I get such a good feeling on a basketball court. It’s just something that’s a part of me.”
More than a decade later, Hayes is a senior guard at Eastside High School, and that lifelong passion now fuels a season hanging in the balance. The Rams face Lake Weir on Thursday night in the second round of the district playoffs, with their postseason future on the line.
Eastside defeated Lake Weir earlier this season, but Hayes knows this time carries far more weight.
“We just have to play our game and make sure we are the aggressor on defense,” Hayes said. “That’s what’s going to get us through these district playoffs. If we amp up the defense and keep our minds the right way, we can go a long way.”
Now fully healthy after tearing his ACL as a sophomore, Hayes has embraced the urgency of his final high school season. He and his senior teammates made it a priority to change the tone long before the first tipoff.
“We really got after it in the weight room this offseason and made sure we were ready for this year,” Hayes said. “Even mentally, we all have the same goal. Play good defense and score enough to keep winning.”
That approach has paid off. After dropping two straight games in mid-January to Newberry and Buchholz, the Rams regrouped and haven’t lost since, reeling off seven consecutive wins entering Thursday’s matchup.
Hayes credits longtime Eastside head coach “Pop” Williams for helping steady the team after those losses.
“Pop talked us through it,” Hayes said. “He’s seen so many things in his career and just said we need to tighten up. So we came together as a team, and it’s been all about playing hard.”
The journey back to full strength was anything but simple. Hayes spent months rehabbing his ACL, a process that tested his patience and confidence. With help from UF Health athletic trainers and additional work alongside Olympian and Gainesville resident Tim Montgomery, he gradually found his rhythm again.
“Last year was hard,” Hayes said. “I’ve never had to go through something like that. I just had to fight through it and trust the people helping me get back. By the AAU season last summer, I felt right again.”
If Eastside advances past Lake Weir, a potential district championship matchup with North Marion looms. North Marion defeated the Rams twice during the regular season, something Hayes hasn’t forgotten.
“We didn’t play good enough defense in those games,” Hayes said. “We let them get to the line way too many times. We need to stay away from fouling and keep that defensive mindset.”
At 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, Hayes posted a career-high 22 points earlier this season and says he finally feels completely recovered. While his basketball future beyond high school remains undecided, his appreciation for those who helped shape his journey is clear.
“Coach Pop is my guy,” Hayes said. “I owe that man a lot. We haven’t always agreed, but I know he’s got my back. And these fans on the east side, they’ve always stuck behind us. They make playing this game special.”
Each weekly UF Health Athlete of the Week winner is eligible for the UF Health High School Athlete of the Year Scholarship, a $2,500 award presented at the end of the 2025–26 academic year.