Just seconds after the opening tip in Thursday night’s non-league home game against Watsonville, San Benito High senior guard-forward Hyram Miskin whipped a pass from the top of the key to Robbie Skinner, who was streaking to the basket and scored on a layup.
Just like that, the Haybalers were on their way to a ridiculously one-sided 77-29 victory. San Benito improved to 10-1 on the season and hosts a non-league game against Gilroy on Saturday before opening up Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division action at Monterey on Jan. 8.
“I like the way we’re playing right now,” said Miskin, who scored a team-high 16 points against a Watsonville squad that entered the game winless in eight contests. “We’ve got good chemistry, unselfish guys and we’re all pretty happy with our new dribble-drive offense, and our record reflects that.”
Compared to last season, the Balers are playing at a lightning-quick pace. Everything they do is fast, from passing to shooting to playing full-court pressure defense. To give you an idea of just how balanced San Benito is, 13 of the 15 players on the roster scored.
In fact, the Balers didn’t suffer a dropoff in performance when coach David Kaplansky went deep into his bench. Skinner (14 points) and Shraee Harrison (10 points) looked dynamic as they repeatedly attacked the basket with relentless abandon.
Miskin, who is averaging 16 points per game and has been a varsity starter since he was a freshman, has been consistently solid no matter what system the Balers are playing.
Last year the team played a flex-style offense that featured a lot of screening, half-court sets and dumping the ball into the post. This season players on the team have the green light to take their man off the dribble early and often.
The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Miskin possesses a combination of athleticism, length and marksmanship that allow him to excel in a variety of ways. Miskin can shoot over smaller defenders and drive by bigger ones, and he sees the floor with the vision of a point guard.
“Hyram’s court awareness has really opened up this year,” Kaplansky said. “When teams are keying on him, Hyram is able to pick up soft spots in the defense and get us going with the pass. He’s showing a lot more maturity on the court as far as communication and leading the team verbally.”
Miskin was named the Most Valuable Player of the Luis Scattini Palma Tournament, where the Balers showed their mettle in a 69-62 semifinal win over a 9-2 Soquel team and a 61-59 victory over Santa Cruz in the championship game.
Miskin and R.J. Collins scored 22 points each against Soquel, a game in which San Benito outscored the Mariners 44-28 in the second half. Miskin added a team-high 16 in the finals against Santa Cruz, and there was little doubt as to who would be named the tournament’s MVP.
Born in Utah, Miskin lived in Japan for four years starting when he was 2 (his mom, Etsuko, was born and raised in Japan). Miskin’s family then relocated to Park City, Utah, before moving to Hollister six years ago.
For most of his career, Miskin focused mostly on his shooting stroke through pure repetition. But in the last year, Miskin started concentrating on defense and ball-handling, knowing he had to improve those areas in his game to have a better shot of playing at the college level.
Miskin’s motto is simple: Get to the gym early and stay late. His hard work — on and off the court — has paid off in a big way. Miskin has a weighted 4.2 GPA, and he’s looking forward to returning to Utah for his college years.
Kaplansky was proud to point out that last year’s team had a cumulative 3.7 GPA. Miskin has an indefatigable work ethic; in the offseason, he’s busy playing with the AAU Seaside’s Finest, a team that features a lot of the top players from Palma and Seaside.
“I’m always keeping busy with basketball, whether it’s going to a lot of college summer camps or playing on fall traveling teams,” he said. “And wherever there’s a pickup game, I’m pretty much balling.”
Every team with championship aspirations needs a player who remains calm when the game is on the line. Kaplansky said Miskin’s penchant to hit shots at critical moments is a testament to his ability and mental makeup. Last year in the Balers’ 51-48 league title-clinching victory over Palma, Miskin scored eight points in leading the team to championship glory.
Two years ago in a game against Salinas, the Balers were down 22-1 two minutes into the second quarter when Miskin got on a roll and spearheaded a comeback victory.
“When Hyram gets rolling and is having a good shooting day, that’s when we’re at our best,” Kaplansky said. “He really ignites our team and gives our guys a lot of confidence.”
It shows.
