After Justin Kier helped Mason get off to a quick start Friday against Navy with his offense, defense and hustle, he wanted to make a quick getaway for an abbreviated Holiday break. The junior guard's plan, after the 84-63 victory: hop into his Chrysler 300 and make a beeline to Harrisonburg to stay the night with his brother, Rasheed; take Saturday morning to see his high school coach, Chad Edwards, and team at a Spotswood practice; visit with other friends in the area.
The rest of the time before leaving for resumption of practice on Wednesday (12/26) at 6 p.m., Kier (pronounced KY-er) intended to spend with his mother and grandparents plus other family at his grandmother's house in Grottoes. His goal: compress time with family and area friends, who are instrumental in helping him and his brother overcome a tragedy that occurred during their childhood.
"I'll spend as much time with my grandma, mom and family as possible after I see a lot of people," Kier said last week. "It's great. Four days isn't enough. But it's more than enough for us because we don't get many days off. I can't wait. I'm excited."
Kier's visits home during Holiday time bear a resemblance to the end of the movie classic It's a Wonderful Life, where an entire village comes out to help a family. After a tragedy two decades ago, there remains much to be thankful for.
Kier was 7 when his mother, Keley Kier, suffered a heart attack while driving him to a family cookout. She suffered severe brain damage resulting in paralysis, blindness and the inability to speak. Evelyn Kier, Keley's mom and the grandmother of her sons Rasheed and Justin, took over raising the boys.
The community – local schools, teams and the Mill Creek Church of the Brethern – also pitched in with assisting Evelyn including some home improvements that helped Keley leave the hospital to live in Evelyn's home.
"We are indebted to so many people and our grandmother," said Rasheed. "We can not thank them enough for all the things they have helped us with."
When Mason plays, Keley listens to telecasts or live streaming of games.
"My grandma tells me she smiles all game long," Justin said. "Like when I walk into the house when I come home on a visit, she just doesn't stop smiling and stuff.
"It's really hard. She can't talk to me. I've got to remember she's there; she loves to support me and stuff like that. I know if she was well, she would be everywhere. She'd be here (at games) all the time. She would be supporting everything I've done. I just have to keep reminding myself that if she could, she would be there."
Though Keley has never seen Justin play in high school or college, she remains a huge motivation.
"I do everything for my mom, especially on the court," Kier says. "I didn't have to have this talent. With this game I can do things that will help my family in the future. Especially with her.
"Not a lot of people know (the background) and I kind of like it that way. It's kind of a personal thing for me to be able have my own 'why.' People ask all the time, what's your 'why?' Why do you do what you do? She's definitely that big circle in what do I do."
Kier is popular in Grottoes, which has a population of about 2,300, in large part because he starred at nearby Spotswood HS, which went 98-9 during his four varsity years and twice finished second in the state tournament, including going 29-1 his junior season.
In the last three years, Kier has made a new home for himself in Fairfax. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder broke into the starting lineup freshman year as a shooting guard and has 78 career starts. He has reached a new level recently, averaging 17.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.0 apg and 2.6 spg while shooting 55.1%.
He has recorded consecutive double doubles in points/rebounds with 16/11 in a win against JMU an 12/10 against Navy. The stretch also included a career-high 32 points in a loss against Vermont.
After the win against JMU in a contentious game, JMU coach Louis Rowe had a warm post-game hug and compliments for Kier, who grew up 15 miles from the school but was hired too late to recruit Kier, who has season averages of 13.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.2 spg while shooting 52.6% from the field, 35.5% from three-point range and 78.4% from the foul line.
"He's been playing great, not just tonight," Rowe said after Mason's 66-53 victory. "He's driving it, he's shooting it, he's a leader. When they need a play, it's actually him making it, finishing at the rim, playing under control. He's playing really good. That's that older guy leadership."
Mason coach Dave Paulsen values Kier's versatility on offense – with drives, pull-ups and turnarounds balanced by the occasional three-pointer – and his versatility on defense. Kier is strong as an on-ball and off-ball defender plus as a rebounder.
"He's had a good stretch," Paulsen says. "I want him to practice the same way. I've been on him about being over the edge with a sense of urgency in practice. To be an elite defender and an elite offensive player is physically, emotionally and mentally draining. You have to build not only your body but your emotions, your energy to be able to do that. That's what he's capable of doing.
"He can be that Swiss Army Knife guy that impacts the game in a multitude of ways – defensively, offensively. He's got a good feel for the game."
Coaches also feel that Kier has a good feel for people, which makes him an effective leader. He is not a player fixated on individual stats. Asked about his 32-point effort against Vermont, he replied: "It doesn't mean anything. We didn't win."
Kier attributes that unselfish attitude to his grandmother's philosophy and growing up in a supportive community where altruism was more common than selfishness.
"My grandma did a really good job teaching me and my brother: Put other people before yourself and God will follow with what happens with you," he said.
"Me and my brother always were the guys who grew up and had good manners. If someone didn't have enough food, we would allow them to get their food first. All that kind of stuff. It became repetitive throughout my life: It's them before us; God'll take care of us.
"Not everybody has been blessed as we have. It just kind of carried from the home to the court."
Says Paulsen, "What he has been through gives him an innate feel for people. He's got an innate ability to connect with teammates and people."
Kier, a Sport Management major, would love a career in professional basketball. He also has a fascination with marine biology. "In 10 years, who knows what I'll be thinking," he said.
Right now his focus is on the current season. Paulsen, as taken as anyone with Kier's story, won't let the player settle for less than his best.
"My thing with him is, 'Keep your foot on the gas. Do not relax. The last 20 minutes of practice are you going to fight through it when you're a little tired? Are you going to attack every shooting drill? Are you going to attack every closeout? When things are going well in a game, keep your foot on the gas. Don't coast.
"He's making great strides in every aspect of the game. The thing I keep telling him is he's not close to his ceiling. He can continue to get better."
