When York Dragons basketball player Brody Choate first stepped onto the court as a freshman, he helped take the Dragons all the way to the state championship. Now, back on the hardwood after a year away, Choate is writing a new chapter: One built on patience, power and a mindset sharpened by baseball.
Choate stepped away from basketball during his sophomore year to focus on the diamond, a decision he said changed the way he approaches every possession.
“[It’s] a lot of mental strength,” Choate said. “Baseball, it’s like when you’re hitting, if you fail seven out of ten times, you’re considered pretty successful, so in basketball, it’s kind of the same thing. You got to have that mental toughness that not everything’s going to go your way.”
That perspective has translated into production. Now in his junior season, Choate is on pace to set career highs in both points and assists, taking on a larger role for a Dragons squad that graduated several players last year.
With those departures, Choate shifted from his usual spot at forward to a guard role, a move that has put the ball in his hands more often and asked him to lead the offense from the perimeter. Choate said he has embraced the change, crediting the weight room for helping him meet the physical demands of the new position.
“I got a little faster, little stronger,” Choate said. “So that definitely helped my performance last year and this year.”
Despite the added responsibility and postseason expectations, Choate says his approach has not changed.
“I don’t really see it as pressure,” Choate said. “I see it as fun. I don’t think of [the postseason] any different from a regular game.”
That steady mindset could be key as York eyes another deep run. Choate is chasing his second trip to the state tournament in just two varsity seasons, hoping to help guide a younger core back to the stage he experienced as a freshman.
When the final buzzer sounds on basketball season, Choate’s focus will shift back to baseball, where he plans to suit up for the Dragons in the spring. But for now, his blend of confidence, conditioning and calm under pressure is helping power York’s push, one possession at a time.