Upperman Bees guard Ty Cobb said he still remembers when his role on the bench had nothing to do with checking into the game.
Instead, he was a young kid, sitting behind the players, handing out water bottles and soaking in every moment of Upperman basketball.
“It felt like five years ago or so I was eight, nine years old sitting on the bench handing out waters to the guys,” Cobb said. “But now as I got older, time has really flown by, but it’s also been really fun too.”
Those early memories have come full circle for Cobb, who now stands as one of the most accomplished players in Upperman history. As a junior, Cobb has surpassed 2000 career points, reaching the milestone in December during Upperman’s Christmas tournament in Bristol.
“Last year, I got a thousand so I kept scoring the ball and my teammates kept getting me the ball,” Cobb said. “I was shocked I honestly got it at that tournament, I had no idea I was that close at all.”
Despite the milestone and statewide recognition, including leading Upperman to its first TSSAA state championship last season, Cobb said he does not put much stock into the numbers. His focus remains on doing whatever is necessary to help the Bees win each night.
That mindset has carried over into Upperman’s challenging non-district schedule, particularly during holiday tournaments played outside the Upper Cumberland. Cobb said those matchups help prepare both himself and the Bees for the intensity of district and postseason play.
“It’s been really fun,” Cobb said. “We can’t really play much better. It puts us in a position to keep getting better and play against guys that we can’t really simulate in practice so it’s been really good for us and the team.”
Upperman finished 5–2 in Christmas tournament play, using that momentum to lead into district action. Cobb and the Bees began district play with a win against White County on Friday night, continuing a season that has been shaped by growth, experience and the same team-first mentality Cobb learned while handing out water bottles years ago.