ASHWAUBENON, Wis.–
Four years. 129 games.
That’s what it’s been for four Green Bay Phoenix men’s basketball players to turn the program completely around, and it’s been a pretty entertaining ride.
Senior guards Keifer Sykes and Josh Humphrey and forward Greg Mays were the first three signees for head coach Brian Wardle after he took over in 2010. Sykes and Mays have been centerpieces for the program since they came in 2011. Josh Humphrey has not seen a lot of court time, but head coach Brian Wardle still described his as a “centerpiece” in the locker room and when it comes to voice. Forward Alfonzo McKinnie was a transfer, but Wardle described him as, “the perfect fit for our program” after he may have played his final game on his home court.
Keifer Sykes has been the centerpiece of this program since his freshman year, being a solid starter in the rotation in most of the 128 games that he’s played. Sykes is the second score player to score 2,000 points in Green Bay Phoenix history, and stands behind only Tony Bennett in the all-time scoring rankings. Sykes has 2,038 points on his career following his regular season senior campaign, while Bennett has 2,285.
Greg Mays has been a solid piece since his freshman year too, starting most of the games since his sophomore campaign. He scored a career high of 26 points against Virginia his junior year, who ended up being the second-ranked team in the nation come tournament time. That record stood until ten days prior to Senior Night, when he scored 34 points against Detroit, including a Resch Center record of 24 in the first half.
The two leading scorers for the Phoenix both knew it could very well be the last time they play in the Resch Center, so they made the most of it against a team that beat them earlier in the season. They combined for 42 points, each scoring 21.
Brian Wardle pulled the duo from the floor with about one minute remaining. The crowd rose to their feet as the emotions flew wild on the sidelines.
When describing what was going through his mind, Mays said, “It’s over, really. That’s the first thing I thought, it really hit me then that I may never play here again. We went out right and got the W and that’s important.”
Sykes was emotional, grateful, and a little shaken up at the podium, for obvious reasons. When I asked Sykes what was going through his mind, he said, “I just had a great time. All the games we played, all the shows we’ve put on, watching Greg score 34 the other week, all the battles we’ve been through since freshman year to now, how much we’ve grown and improved and just cherish that moment with all the fans that came here today and giving us that extra energy that has helped us turn this program around. For me, just cherishing that moment.”
The Phoenix had just beaten a team by 20 points that beat them when they were on the road last month. That was being forgotten because of the emotions. Oakland just lost to Green Bay and Green Bay won the second seed for the Horizon League tournament next weekend. Because, you know, that was important too. Reflecting was something that needed to be done, and the Phoenix have time to do that, because they have until next Saturday to prepare for whomever they may play.
The Green Bay Phoenix men’s basketball team was the first team I covered. I went and sat down in this arena well over a year ago and watched this freak of nature named Keifer Sykes and this tall dude that could shoot threes named Alec Brown play. Alec Brown was drafted by the Phoenix Suns this past summer, and Sykes will almost definitely also get his name called by Adam Silver this summer. It’s cool to surround yourself with these type of players. It’s cool to watch college basketball and the passion that surrounds it. It’s cool to get personal with college students who double as heroes on a basketball team.
The Phoenix play at Valparaiso next Saturday, but their opponent is yet to be determined.
~Alex Strouf (@LetsGoAlex)
All Wisconsin Athletics 
wonderful tribute to the Phoenix Seniors. Well done and I found it moving, Time marches on and you described that very well. Thanks for your ability to write so well,