From Rochester to the NBA, it's no surprise that Thomas Bryant's memories of Upstate New York are centered around basketball.

"It was just a lot of memories dealing with basketball, dealing with a lot of teammates and coaches that I think about every day since I've left New York until now," said Bryant.

He says he's still in touch with anyone, and everyone, that helped shape his game.

"I still talk to people from time to time, from my old coaches from Bishop Kearney, to my old AAU coaches, to friends, to guys I went to school with that I don't remember until they say something then I remember them just like that," Bryant said. "It's just crazy sometimes the guys that you remember and talk to from Rochester N.Y. Either they helped you win a state title or they helped your time there."

As a sophomore, Bryant led Kearney to a state title before leaving the following year for prep school. The way he remembers it, that championship run began in the Class AA quarterfinals with the Kings taking down state-ranked Fairport in front of a sold-out crowd.

"I remember that game; we beat Fairport at their house, and that was a heck of a game too," said Bryant. "I remember when we won that game I was like 'Oh yeah, we could really win this thing now, we got past Fairport, we could really win this.' "

Bryant spent two years at Indiana and was drafted in the second round by the Utah Jazz. He was traded to the Lakers before being claimed off waivers by the Wizards last summer. With Washington, Bryant is averaging more than 19 minutes per game, scoring a season-high 31 points against the Suns. He also hit a game-winner against the Knicks back in January.

"I try to prepare myself each and every day," said Bryant. "Whether I'm playing, not playing, starting, not starting, I try to prepare myself for each and everything."

Bryant hopes to set an example for other young players in the Greater Rochester area.

"The main message I want to give to them is to always keep working, no matter if it's sports, school, anything that you're doing, just always keep working and strive to be the best that you can at it," said Bryant. "Always believe in yourself as well, because no one is going to believe in you like you can."