Russell Branch is a 6’2 point guard from Barnwell, South Carolina. He started to play at a young age as he has a father who was involved with the sport, which made it easy for Branch to fall in love with playing.
“I started playing when I was like two or three since my dad played and coached basketball,” the Grizzly sophomore said.
Before college, Branch struggled to find people who played at his level, especially on his high school team.
“We were terrible,” Branch said. “I grew up in a small town, so there weren’t really like a lot of basketball players who played as good”
Coming out of school though, he was then offered an opportunity Branch couldn't turn up playing college ball.
“It was so good,” the Grizzly guard said. “You worked all your life to get a scholarship, and I was really happy.”
In the start of his college career, Branch was offered to play for Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team, but after a year, he transferred to Butler CC alongside Head Coach Eric Nitsche.
“It’s easy to play here since everyone gets along,” Branch said “The fans are really good here.”
Now that he’s able to play with people who are as passionate as Branch is.
“The competition is a lot better,” Branch said.
Although he has a love for basketball, there's always going to be a hard season or a hard loss, but Branch tries to not let it get the best of him or his team.
“I just got to try to stay positive as much as I can,” Branch said “I don’t like to lose, regardless if I do good or not I’m kind of upset.”
As for his team Branch stays they “try to figure out what we can work on and keep coming together as a team.”
“Basketball has let me go (to) different places and make new connections with new people," Branch said as he talks about how much basketball has changed his life.
As Branch is heading to the end of his career at Butler, it's time to start thinking of what his goals are after he graduates. After community college, the next step is usually a college or university, but for athletes they have a specific route they want to go.
“I do want to go to a division 1 (college) because that is a personal goal that I have set for myself”, Branch said. “Whoever is trying to offer me a good scholarship, probably closer to home though.”