By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
West Seattle’s 6’3″ senior guard, Alex Pierce, is optimistic about his team’s potential as they head into the district tournament this week. Pierce and his teammates, who have won five of their last six games, including three consecutive wins, are setting their sights on a trip to the 3A Boys’ State Championships.
Reflecting on his time at West Seattle, Pierce appreciates his team’s chemistry and is optimistic that the bond will help guide them deep into the playoffs.
“I haven’t had any problems during my time here at West Seattle, and I like how our coach treats everybody the same,” Pierce said. “We work well together as a team, and all I would like going forward is to make it deep into the playoffs with my team.”
Pierce, who scored 17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in the game against Chief Sealth that ignited West Seattle’s recent hot streak, said that in addition to the growth of his skills over the years, he has embraced his role within the team and has become a better teammate.
“Over the years, I would say that I have gotten better at communicating on the court and talking to my teammates,” Pierce said.
Despite starting basketball later than many of his peers, Pierce’s natural athleticism helped him quickly adjust to the game. His father, Sam Pierce, a Seattle University basketball legend, recognized his son’s athletic potential long before he ever picked up a basketball.
“Alex is very athletic, and he has always been that way,” Sam said. “When he first started playing soccer, I already noticed he was a good athlete because I played basketball myself.”
Pierce didn’t begin playing basketball until seventh grade but soon found himself competing at both the high school and AAU levels. However, he admits that AAU basketball wasn’t something he fully enjoyed.
“I started a little late with basketball—I would say around seventh grade,” Pierce said. “I play AAU basketball, and the high school and AAU atmospheres are different, but I didn’t really enjoy playing AAU that much.”
Sam has instilled in his son the significance of not just developing as an athlete but also prioritizing his education. He has not only lived but believes that if things don’t go as planned in sports, education can play a crucial role in building a successful future.
“I think he is managing his grades and sports well, but I think he could do better. And that is one thing that student-athletes have to realize, that you need to be able to identify that it is not only sports, but you also have to have a backup plan if sports don’t turn out the way you want them to,” said Sam. “He needs to make sure that he is concentrating on getting an education as well, just for his life. I had to do the same thing when I played at Seattle University. I needed to have something else as a backup plan—to get an education to be able to pursue a lifestyle that I knew I could provide for myself.”
Like many athletes, Pierce has had to battle injuries, particularly ankle issues this season. While setbacks like these can be frustrating, his father admires his perseverance and determination to improve and get back on the court better than he was before.
“He has had a few ankle injuries this year that have slowed him down, and because the team isn’t as strong as it was last year. But I am proud of him for sticking with it, improving his skills, and wanting to be a better player,” said Sam. “Alex just needs to learn how to try to avoid injuries as much as possible by staying healthy to be able to play as perfectly as he can.”
With just a few weeks left in his senior season, Pierce is focused on finishing strong and making the most of his final games in a West Seattle uniform. His father sees his potential and believes that, with continued hard work, Pierce has what it takes to play at the next level.
“I think he is a very good athlete and has a lot of potential to be a great player if he continues to concentrate on staying healthy and working on the things he needs to improve,” Sam said. “Hopefully, after high school, we can identify a college-level opportunity for him, and he can then go pursue his dreams and what he wants to do within the game of basketball.”
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