Record all in the family for Renner
By: Marcus Jackson
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:10:21 PM CDT
URBANA – Michael Renner is not like most record-breaking high school basketball players. He doesn't get to the gym at 6 a.m. to work on his ball handling. And he doesn't stay hours after practice to iron out the wrinkles in his jumper.
Being a student at the academically challenging Urbana University High doesn't allow for such habits to develop. But that hasn't stopped the senior from making an assault on the school's all-time scoring record that his older brother Alex holds. Well, for a couple more days at least.
After a 21-point performance in the Illinek's 70-56 win against Paxton-Buckley-Loda on Tuesday night, Michael needs four points to eclipse Alex's mark. That might come as soon as Thursday when Uni hosts Decatur Lutheran at Kenney Gym.
"He probably could have done it tonight, but tonight was just such a team effort," Uni coach Joel Beesley said. "Mikey's all about the team. He knows it'll probably happen on Thursday."
That he will become the Illinek's all-time leading scorer doesn't come as a surprise to anyone who has watched him play during the last four seasons. Renner himself even began kidding with his brother during his freshman season that the record would be his by the time he graduated.
"When I knew my brother was going to break it, that's when I knew I wanted to go for it," Michael Renner said. "When I outscored him my sophomore year, he pretty much knew I'd get to it."
At 6-foot, Renner doesn't have the measurables that college coaches drool over. And he's not going to blow people away with highlight-reel plays.
But he does play a hard, fundamentally sound game that some of the best college and pro players might be able to take a thing or two away from. He hustles back to break up a fast break on defense. He makes the extra pass. And he makes free throws.
"He really just loves the game," Beesley said. "He's just real laid back and a great kid. But he is a terrific athlete and when he gets on the floor he turns it up a notch and is real aggressive."
Ken and Sue Renner are well aware of what their sons have accomplished during their time at Uni, but until Tuesday night the Renners said they haven't even talked about the scoring record. They're proud to see Alex and Michael's names on the top of the list, but they're more proud of what the two have accomplished in the classroom at the ultracompetitive school. Alex is a student at Notre Dame, and Michael, who has a 3.7 grade-point average, hopes to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he wants to play basketball and baseball.
"Academics is what this school's about first of all," Ken Renner said. "I know it's been tough on him, tough on both his brothers, too. It means no Nintendo during the week and doing all your homework until it's done. It's taught them some discipline."
The same effort he puts forth in the classroom can be seen in Michael's basketball game. To play for Beesley, it must.
"He's a great coach," Ken Renner said. "You don't play for Joel Beesley unless you play defense and you hustle and you know all the offensive plays. If you don't do those three things, you're not playing."
It's hard to believe, but breaking the scoring record isn't the thing Renner's most looking forward to this week. His mom and dad are Milwaukee natives, and the whole family is Green Bay Packers fans.
"He's pretty happy right now because of the Packers," Beesley said. "He missed last week's game because we played on Saturday, but he'll be at Lambeau Field on Sunday."
Renner predicts the Packers will win Sunday, but he's not certain they'll hoist the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 3.
"If it's the Patriots, no. If it's the Chargers, then yeah. I think they can beat the Chargers."