TO SUM IT UP, CODY HAS BEEN A WELCOME RE-ADDITION

At 6’ 7” Cody Sum is hard to miss on a basketball court, in a school hallway, or about anywhere.

However, after going to Booneville schools for a couple of years after a move from Alma, Sum was absolutely missed last year as his family had moved – to Alaska, to fish, from Kodiak island.

But this year Sum is happily back in royal purple and old gold.

“It wasn’t for me. I missed my friends and basketball here,” Sum said. “Basketball up there wasn’t the best.”

It was a completely different approach from what Sum was accustomed.

“It was mainly (shooting for) 3 points. They had me on the 3-point line and not inside where I could dominate,” said Sum.

Through 13 games for the Bearcats this season Sum has not attempted a 3-point shot and, he said, fishing is simply not an interest.

Still, it took a lot of convincing for his parents, Sum says, to come back. He also says it was not purely basketball motivated, but also academics.

His schedule at BHS includes a second year of Spanish, pre-calculus/trigonometry, business applications, AP language, and pre-AP chemistry.

Obviously head coach Ronnie Denton was more than happy with the news of Sum’s return to a class loaded with basketball talent.

“Cody is a very talented young man. Since I talked him into playing his eighth grade year he has really dedicated himself to getting better,” said Denton. “It was a big loss when he moved last year right before the season and we are so glad his family decided to come back.”

The only Bearcat to start every game this season Sum is averaging 13.1 points, 8-4 rebounds, a steal, and 1.8 blocked shots per game.

“He has continued to work on his game and fell in love with the game of basketball,” Denton said. “Cody is a great young man and still very raw when it comes to basketball. We are very glad to get him back and he is having a great season.”

Four times Sum has hit double digits in rebounds, including 20 at Two Rivers last week, and he has scored 20 or more points three times with a season high matching 25 at Two Rivers.

Last week during a swing through Yell County’s Two Rivers and Danville he scored 40 points, grabbed 27 rebounds, and blocked four shots.

One of the seven juniors who comprised the Bearcat roster until football season ended in mid-December, Sum welcomed the addition of players.

“It’s always nice because you can go as hard as you want to, because there will be a sub rested up and waiting,” said Sum.

It also alleviates, at least somewhat, foul issues for the same reason. Consequently Sum has fouled out only once.

Sum is in a class used to basketball success. The Bearcats sit tied with Hackett in first place once the weather allows play to resume. The juniors also won a district title as freshmen, with Sum playing a big part in that.

Among the newcomers are two more juniors meaning nine of the 11 players at Denton’s disposal look to be back next season.

One of those juniors is Nate Smith, who, like Sum, was not here a year ago, and the roster also features a senior who has not played since his freshman year in Dax Goff.

With the conference season under way, Sum says he can feel the excitement.

“It’s most definitely a big thing for Booneville this year for the basketball team,” Sum said.

The lone loss in conference play came in Paris where Sum says, “we just didn’t play hard that game (and) we took out our anger on Cedarville,” the following night.

This week’s weather has postponed a trip to Cossatot River – a makeup date has not been announced – so up next is a trip to Cedarville Friday followed by Hackett at home on January 23, starting a series of six of eight games at home.

Primarily a basketball specialist, though he is considering track, Sum says these days he is either playing or working on basketball, hanging out with his girlfriend, or playing video games.

Sum said he continues to work not only for his high school team but for the future and he is already drawing some interest.

“That’s my overall goal,” Sum said of the possibility of playing on the collegiate level.