Drew Rewards Walk-ons Mills, Heard With Scholarships
1/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Baylor walk-ons John Heard and Austin Mills weren't sure what to think when coach Scott Drew asked them to come to the front of the room after Thursday's scouting report.
"I thought it was to go over some plays. I had no idea what was going on," Mills said.
Then came the news that had to be music to the ears of their parents. Heard and Mills were handed scholarship papers. Their spring semester was paid in full.
"He started talking about both of us, and it didn't even register in my mind," said the 6-5 Heard, a junior from Houston, Texas, who has played a total of 23 minutes in 15 games over the last two seasons. "And then he said we'd like to offer both of you scholarships, and I was just speechless."
Mills, a 6-1 junior from Beverly Hills, Calif., who transferred this year from Pepperdine, said he was shocked.
"It's great to know that you're appreciated," said Mills, who has averaged 1.5 points and 1.5 assists while playing in eight games this season. "It makes you want to work harder. I love going in the gym all hours of the day and just putting in the work."
Both of them wasted no time in putting in calls home.
"My dad and I have spent a lot of time in the gym together, so he was super excited about it," Mills said. "The next was my mom, and she was just so excited. That was the best telling them."
Drew describes Heard as a "great servant" who will help his teammates get better "in any way that he can." While starting point guard Kenny Chery was out with an ankle injury, Mills "helped us win some games," Drew said.
"Both of them were over 3.0 this past semester, great students, high character, and we were able to reward them with scholarships for this semester," Drew said. "The team was really excited to congratulate them and celebrate with them."
Chery said he sees the two of them come in every day and never complain about minutes or playing time.
"They just come in and do exactly what the coaches ask," Chery said. "They stay after games and work out and lift and get extra shots. For me to see something like that yesterday is just a blessing. I'm really happy for those guys and their families. The first thing I said was, 'I'm proud of tyou guys, because you deserve it.'"
