Menwith Hill junior Schuyler Backlar sets sail toward the rim during a recent game. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Wivell)
Menwith Hill junior Schuyler Backlar sets sail toward the rim during a recent game. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Wivell)
Newly minted point guard Schuyler Backlar of Menwith Hill finds the ball in his hands a lot more at his new position. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Wivell)
Menwith Hill quarterback Schuyler Backlar, a former tight end, ran for 835 yards last season. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Wivell)
If there’s one trait that DODDS-Europe requires of its athletes, it’s adaptability. And when it comes to adaptability, no one can top Menwith Hill junior Schuyler Backlar.
A basketball player of considerable ability, Backlar, who performed on the wing but then moved inside to the post last year, played point guard for the first time last weekend for his tiny Division III school. The 6-foot-2, 182-pounder adapted to his new position with consecutive double-doubles against visiting SHAPE on Friday and Saturday, logging just eight turnovers in 63 minutes of playing time which saw him handle the ball almost continuously.
Even though Menwith Hill lost both games to their D-II guests, Mustangs coach Greg DeJardin, who moved Backlar to the point because of the junior’s ball-handling abilities, was more than impressed.
“(Backlar) delivered two dominating performances,” he wrote in a Saturday email. “On Friday, it was on the boards (20 rebounds to accompany is 17 points); on Saturday, it was his shooting (12-of-25 from the floor in a 32-point, 11-rebound effort).”
For Backlar, born in Japan and the son of DODDS parents, the move to the point was business as usual.
“We’re a young team,” he said by telephone on Monday. “Wherever the coach wants me to play, I have to step up into that role.”
The same thing happened in football, where Backlar, a former tight end, stepped in at quarterback for the first time as a sophomore. Last fall, he rushed for 835 yards on 85 carries, scoring 12 touchdowns and passing for four more. He capped his all-conference season by making the DODDS-Europe all-star team at the position.
Springtime called for changes, too. A baseball player of talent, Backlar substituted the only spring game available at Menwith Hill, soccer, for the national pastime. Soccer quickly became a favorite for the striker, who has encouraged his speedy, athletic soccer teammates to come out for basketball. At small schools, you see, manpower is a constant problem.
Backlar also has shown his adaptability in overcoming the disadvantages a small community such as Menwith Hill - where he’s lived for the last nine years - imposes on a young athlete’s development. Quickly outgrowing the limited competition of the local Youth Services, Backlar found another way to improve his basketball skills by forging a tie to the hardwood game with an athletic family.
“Nelson Setzer and his two sons, Scottie (the player Backlar succeeded at quarterback) and Eric, mentored me,” Backlar said. “They knew the game and really helped develop me in basketball.”
And although Backlar finds himself at a school remote from the nexus of top DODDS-Europe competition, don’t bother to waste any sympathy on him. He’s adapted to that situation, too.
“The whole community gets involved here,” Backlar said. “I know everyone in the school by name. Where else can you say that?”
The remoteness increases travel time but that, too, is fine with Backlar.
“I’d rather have fun,” he said. “When we travel, about 20 percent of the school is on the bus with you. We have a great time.”
Backlar, who’ll be back at Menwith Hill next year, said he doesn’t regret not having the chance to hone his skills at a large Stateside school, playing against future Division I performers in each of his sports.
“It’s fun to experience everything about living overseas, living in England,” he said. “We get to travel to Germany for Europeans. You don’t get that in the States.”
It probably helps Backlar’s equanimity about his situation that he presently has no intention of trying his hand at college ball.
“I’m not good enough,” he said.
DeJardin disagrees.
“I coached Division III right out of college,” he said by telephone on Tuesday. “I can see him performing at that level.
DeJardin, however, doesn’t think Backlar’s decision is final.
“He’s off and on about playing in college. Right now, I think he wants to be just fan at a big school and play intramurals. ”
Whatever the future holds, the present suits Backlar just fine.
“I love it here,” he said. “This is where I am, and I’m glad.”
