By Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

Austin Lavender has grown up around the game he loves.

The Brock junior is the prototypical coach’s kid. He remembers all the trips taken to gyms across the state. He recalls walking down the stairs while his mom was coaching at SMU and watching Hall of Famer Larry Brown lead a practice.

“Whether it was going to games, going to practices, riding on the bus, or flying on the plane with the team, I was always around the game I loved,” Lavender said. “I was fortunate to be able to be around and watch players at the collegiate level and see what it takes to get there.”