All former athletes share one thought after their playing days have past them by.
Nearly every, if not all, players dream of one more game, one more bus ride with teammates and that adrenaline rush from intense competition with their brothers or sisters.
Former Beckley sharpshooter Bryce Radford is now living out that dream back at Indiana University (Pa.).
“I am having the time of my life. I was in the real world for 8-10 months, working 9-5, working extra because you are 24 years old and buying your first house. All of that stressful stuff,” Radford said. “So, to get to come back and be a college student again where all you worry about is playing basketball is a blessing.”
As a senior for the Flying Eagles, Radford averaged 21.7 points per game, made 76 shots from 3-point range and set the single game scoring record for Beckley with 50 points against national power First Love Christian.
Following a red-shirt season at IUP, he helped led the Crimson Hawks to the NCAA DII Final Four in the 2021-22 season.
A year later he returned home to Beckley where he played for WVU Tech averaging nearly 14 points per game including a 41-point effort against Indian University East.
When he walked off the floor in his final game for the Golden Bears, Radford thought it was the last collegiate basketball game of his career.
That was until he received a phone call just over a month ago from Dante Lombardi, the son of legendary IUP head coach Joe Lombardi.
At that point, Radford admitted he was really not interested in playing basketball again.
“I was in Florida visiting a friend and I turned on the IUP game. They were playing Point Park that (WVU) Tech plays all the time. I literally said to my group of friends, I couldn’t even imagine still being at IUP,” Radford said. “I worked so hard when I was in high school and in college the first time. When I got done with it, I didn’t even want to play pickup. My passion had changed to being the trainer and not the trainee.”
The younger Lombardi changed that feeling and rekindled the fire inside one of the best to every don a Beckley jersey.
“I couldn’t fathom it. I had bought a house, I had a full-time job starting my training business and all this stuff. Dante said since I have another year of eligibility, this IUP team needed me. I sent back a bunch of laughing faces,” Radford said. “Obviously I didn’t think he was serious, but he asked me what it would take to have me back. I had been on the couch. I had been training people and I hadn’t played. But, he kind of got my passion going again.”
A call from coach Lombardi with the offer of a full scholarship was just something Radford could not pass up.
“I had some loose ends to tie up closing on my first house, but then I got in my car and went straight there,” Radford said. “My boss, Brian Helton has been so supportive by letting me be here and working remote. I have practice and I have workouts. I have more treatment than I could every imagine because I am not 18 anymore, but it has been awesome and it really has been a blessing to get to do this.”
Naturally, having not played in a while, Radford had to get a crash course in conditioning prior to heading north.
“When I posted the picture on Facebook that I was going back, everybody was excited for me, but they didn’t see the work that went in before I posted the picture,” Radford said. “My first couple workouts, I threw-up. My dad (Shady Spring boys basketball assistant head coach Shawn Radford) worked me out twice a day for a week straight. I had him and (Shady Spring boys basketball head coach) Ronnie Olson on the sideline motivating me because he is a great motivator, but I threw-up four or five times the first couple of workouts.”
His first game back was on the road at East Stroudsburg inside Koehler Fieldhouse and as could be expected, it did not go well.
“That was the most miserable game of Bryce Radford’s life,” the former Beckley standout said. “The worst first game ever. The team was nationally ranked in their press. They guard you 94 feet and they are up in your face. I knew that it would be like that, but you need a couple of games to get your feet under you.”
“I had two basketball practices before starting that game,” Radford went on to say. “I was 0-for-4 (from behind the arc), zero points, a couple fouls and a couple of turnovers. It was awful. I started cramping with like eight minutes left in the game. I finally get a shot off, and I kid you not, it was probably the worst air-ball I have ever shot in my whole life. It was short and nowhere near the goal. My body wasn’t ready for it and my legs were on so much fire. It was miserable.”
Four days later, back on his old home-court against Shepherd University at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex, the real Bryce Radford put on a storybook show for the fans.
“That was a fun game. It was first time back in the KCAC. IUP has a lot of older fans that are die-hard IUP fans,” Radford explained. “They love the basketball team. It was like that my first time there. To be able to do that and share it with them was great.”
Radford poured in an IUP career high 28 points and was red-hot from behind the arc nailing eight of his 11 attempts that night.
The long range bomber tied a school record for 3-pointers that night matching John Sanow (1987), Geoff Evans (2001) and none other than Dante Lombardi (2019).
“Dante was the point guard before I got here and he trains me every day that I am up here,” Radford said. “He was the inspiration for my own training business. To be in the same sentence with him is super cool.”
It was also a night that came after some soul searching following a tough first game back in the Hawks uniform.
“I didn’t see it coming. It was all the good Lord above. I was praying to him so hard after the first game,” Radford said. “It was Lord, show me why I am here. You worked this whole deal out for me and I need you to show me why I am here because I am miserable right now.”
While admitting miserable may be a little more harsh than the true reality, Radford explained that his short time away from the game helped him put the game and life in better perspective.
“I had a guy look at me the other day in a game and tell me I didn’t even look like I should be out there. I said. you’re right, I should be working,” Radford said, laughing. “I have nothing to lose. I am smiling whether I go 0-for-8 or make 8-of-11. I am having a blast with it and I having been trying to make it contagious to the guys on this team. I know how much they will miss things like sitting in the locker room and talking. Hopefully I give them another type of perspective.”
“I never in a million years dreamed this would happen,” Radford continued. “This opportunity is like no other. This team is nationally recognized and the coach is in the Hall of Fame. I knew when I was 40, I would regret it if I didn’t go back because millions of kids that play basketball would cut their right arm off for this opportunity.”
Another big benefit is the young players that he now trains will also get to see their trainer in live game action.
“I have over 100 clients in my training business. I am so blessed to have my training business,” Radford said. “I always talked about how my game-mode was and how I worked. It is cool for them to come and see me in that mode.”
Radford and IUP are back in action Wednesday, Jan. 17 when they travel to Pitt-Johnstown.
