CLOSE-UP : Canyon Player Makes Positive Point With Grades After Mother’s Death

He doesn’t play much. Only about four minutes per game.

As a non-starter for Canyon High’s basketball team, junior Mike Garner waits for next season when he plans on becoming one of Greg Hayes’ starting forwards.

But Garner, a 16-year-old honor student, leads his team in one category. With a 4.4 grade-point average with a course load that includes Latin, chemistry and pre-calculus, Garner is the head of his class.

Between classes, basketball practice and homework, Garner gets little sleep. “I just have to stay up late sometimes and study,” Garner said. “Some subjects I have to work at, but others come easy.”

Life hasn’t come easily for Garner this season. In September his mother died after a long bout with cancer. While mourning her loss, Garner had to hit the books a little bit harder to keep his grades up. But life goes on. That’s the way he wants it.

“The day after the funeral he showed up for practice,” Hayes said. “He wanted to be there.”

Said Garner: “I had to keep doing things. I couldn’t just sit around and think about it.”

Garner’s attitude has impressed his teammates--and his coach.

“He just handled it so admirably,” Hayes said. “And I look up to him for it. I don’t think any of us really knew how sick his mother was because Mike kept up such a positive attitude about it. He’s a quality person.”

“Looking back at it, it was like hell,” Garner said. “But I’m feeling a lot better now.”

Garner plans on pursuing a career in medicine and may become a physician.

“I like medicine and I like sports,” Garner said. “I’d like to become a team doctor because it encompasses all of my interests.”