BENTONVILLE — Austin Heard’s transition from junior high to the high school ranks is a little different than those experienced by most basketball players.
It’s no surprise Heard has been a fixture in Bentonville’s starting lineup from the outset. Bentonville boys coach Jason McMahan, however, asked Heard to switch positions and become the Tigers’ point guard instead of a shooting guard.
The 6-foot-1 sophomore accepted the new role and responded in a way McMahan expected.
“Point guard is the hardest position to play,” McMahan said. “It’s more ideal for a sophomore to go down JV street instead of main street because there aren’t as many spotlights on a player. But Austin came over and went to work.
“There’s been a lot of on-the-job training this season, and I appreciate Austin having the mental toughness to go through that. He has really trusted us, and that’s why we’ve seen gradual improvement from him this season.”
Heard didn’t wait for school to start before he did his homework on his new position. His learning process began during the summer.
“I began talking to older players and getting advice from them,” he said. “In AAU ball, I began working on my ball-handling skills because I needed it. I also studied film a lot.
“I know my role as the point guard is to be a leader on the team. I must communicate with my teammates and help them get into the flow of the offense. I have to let them know what we are doing.”
Heard has started all but one of Bentonville’s games and is the Tigers’ second-leading scorer, averaging more than seven points per game. He’s still learning some lessons, particularly when it comes to 7A-West Conference play.
“I expected the high school game to be faster,” he said. “But what surprises me is the size and physical play of some of these guys. There are times when you get pushed and not get fouled in this league.
“I’ve been pretty successful so far. There are times when I have to slow down my game and think before doing stuff, and coach reminds me from time to time to slow down. But things have been pretty good so far.”
McMahan noted Heard has done well in other areas of the game, such as rebounding and his defensive play. What jumps out at McMahan most is Heard’s resilience, especially when things aren’t going as they should.
“Austin never gets defeated out there,” McMahan said. “He just comes back and gets after it. He has the heart of a champion, and he models what we’re trying to do on the court.
“He’s improved his game at a rate that I thought he would, and he’s doing a nice job in every category of the game. And I think he’ll continue to do well down the road.”