News
On a roster filled with former Division I hoops players, brothers Drew and Brett Maras stick out. It's not because of their measurables. After all they are both over 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds.
While their teammates have schools like Arizona and Oregon listed as their college teams, the Maras brothers have, well, nothing.
The last team they played on was in the Breckenridge Recreation Center's men's league.
Now, both brothers, who have called Summit County home for the past three years, will make their professional basketball debuts in a little less than two months for the Oregon Waves of the International Basketball League.
“It's been a long journey,” Brett said.
Another way to describe the journey would be unconventional.
Neither brother played college hoops, and Drew never even played in high school.
Brett played baseball at the University of Iowa, and Drew attended Arizona State University.
After a standout collegiate career on the diamond, Brett was hoping to earn a living in baseball. Unfortunately, it never materialized.
“You can't get too far when you're only throwing about 85,” he said.
So, three years ago, Brett packed up and moved to the mountains where older brother Drew was living and skiing.
They both started playing in the Breck rec league and began to notice a simple fact: They were a heck of a lot better than they used to be.
Both brothers admitted to being “late bloomers” in terms of their physical stature. Drew, 28, now checks in at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, while Brett, 25, is a little taller than 6-7.
With their bodies fully filled out, the brothers decided to train full time for hoops. They regularly put in two workouts a day on top of running drills to improve their skills.
“We improved a lot and wanted to take it to the next level,” Brett said.
So, the brothers started going to some NBA Developmental League tryouts. Recently, both of them attended an IBL tryout in Seattle. And that's where they caught the eye of the Waves.
Brett is considered more of a sharp-shooter and scorer, while Drew is more defensive-oriented.
The Oregon squad wanted both of them.
“We're a package deal, I guess,” Brett said with a laugh.
Playing games across the country and even a few in China, the Maras brothers are certainly going to have a different experience playing than the Breck rec league offered.
“We're excited,” Brett said. “It's definitely going to be a great experience.”
The brothers are hoping to turn the stint in the IBL into a contract for a European team next winter. More than anything, though, they just want to prove they belong at the professional level.
“It's definitely a pro league, and we're just looking forward to having the coaching and the training and schedule,” Brett said. “Hopefully, it can turn into a little more than this.”
While their teammates have schools like Arizona and Oregon listed as their college teams, the Maras brothers have, well, nothing.
The last team they played on was in the Breckenridge Recreation Center's men's league.
Now, both brothers, who have called Summit County home for the past three years, will make their professional basketball debuts in a little less than two months for the Oregon Waves of the International Basketball League.
“It's been a long journey,” Brett said.
Another way to describe the journey would be unconventional.
Neither brother played college hoops, and Drew never even played in high school.
Brett played baseball at the University of Iowa, and Drew attended Arizona State University.
After a standout collegiate career on the diamond, Brett was hoping to earn a living in baseball. Unfortunately, it never materialized.
“You can't get too far when you're only throwing about 85,” he said.
So, three years ago, Brett packed up and moved to the mountains where older brother Drew was living and skiing.
They both started playing in the Breck rec league and began to notice a simple fact: They were a heck of a lot better than they used to be.
Both brothers admitted to being “late bloomers” in terms of their physical stature. Drew, 28, now checks in at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, while Brett, 25, is a little taller than 6-7.
With their bodies fully filled out, the brothers decided to train full time for hoops. They regularly put in two workouts a day on top of running drills to improve their skills.
“We improved a lot and wanted to take it to the next level,” Brett said.
So, the brothers started going to some NBA Developmental League tryouts. Recently, both of them attended an IBL tryout in Seattle. And that's where they caught the eye of the Waves.
Brett is considered more of a sharp-shooter and scorer, while Drew is more defensive-oriented.
The Oregon squad wanted both of them.
“We're a package deal, I guess,” Brett said with a laugh.
Playing games across the country and even a few in China, the Maras brothers are certainly going to have a different experience playing than the Breck rec league offered.
“We're excited,” Brett said. “It's definitely going to be a great experience.”
The brothers are hoping to turn the stint in the IBL into a contract for a European team next winter. More than anything, though, they just want to prove they belong at the professional level.
“It's definitely a pro league, and we're just looking forward to having the coaching and the training and schedule,” Brett said. “Hopefully, it can turn into a little more than this.”
