Larry Blyth didn’t begin playing organized basketball until he was in the sixth grade.
Despite the relatively late start into the game, he showed a talent for the sport.
And then his growth spurt hit. While he was never short to begin with, Blyth shot up to about six-foot-five and he added bulk to his wiry frame.
The result was that by Grade 10, instead of dominating against competition his own age, Blyth joined the Walnut Grove Gators senior boys’ basketball team.
“He is physically, for lack of a better word, a specimen,” described Walnut Grove coach George Bergen.
“He looked like a man among boys.”
But with his high school playing days behind him — Blyth is set to graduate from WGSS next month — the next challenge awaits as the 18-year-old has committed to the Western Mustangs basketball program.
He joined the London, Ontario university spurning programs in bigger Canadian centres like the University of Toronto and Montreal’s McGill University.
“Western was simply the right fit for me, academically and athletically,” he explained.
He plans on studying engineering.
“It’s a place I know I will be able to contribute and make an impact right away,” Blyth added.
“I want to play right away.”
Head coach Brad Campbell is enthusiastic about his new recruit.
“He is a versatile forward who can play both inside and outside on the perimeter,” he said in a press release announcing the signing. “Larry plays physical and is a tremendous rebounder and will give us immediate help up front.”
Bergen knows Blyth can be successful at the next level, but cautions it will take hard work and effort.
While he has the prototypical body-type to succeed at the CIS level, Blyth will need to hone his skills instead of relying on his size and strength to overpower his opponent.
“The CIS is just a higher level of play,” Bergen said. “And it is a physical league.”
“I know it is hard work, rebounding and defence that are going to earn me playing time,” Blyth said.
He has watched plenty of Canada West conference games involving Trinity Western and UBC, so he knows just what sort of level of play the CIS brings.
“And I am working hard on being as strong and fast as possible.”
But judging by Blyth’s thirst to learn, it should be no problem.
“When (Larry) listens, his eyes grow a little bigger and his ears perk up,” Bergen said. “That tells you something, he is a good learner.”
“I really pride myself on that,” Blyth said about learning and being coachable. “And having coaches want to work with you and help you.”
Blyth has already received a 64-page document outlining the Mustangs’ workout regimen, which he plans to follow.
His summer will be spent working, working out. playing basketball and spending time with friends before they all head off their separate ways.
He is looking forward to filling whatever role his new team needs, whether that be on the perimeter or in the paint, or as a scorer or a defender.
Blyth relishes whatever opportunity awaits.
“I will do whatever the team needs,” he said. “I just want to contribute.”
He also looks forward to growing into a leadership role, much like he did with the Gators.
His first couple of seasons on the senior team, he let his play do the talking, but especially this year, Blyth became more of a vocal leader.
While opportunity existed to stay close to home, London and Western seemed like the right fit.
“I loved the town,” Blyth said. “It is more of a relaxed place to study and play basketball.
“(And) I loved the feeling I got when I walked into the gym (on campus). It is not a huge arena, but it had a homely feel to it that I can picture myself playing in.”
He also wanted the experience of living away from home.
