NPAR | 11
OTHERHOOD
Center : Zach Babut and Sean Price have been friends since grade school . Despite playing for rival teams in high school , the duo has remained true to their friendship . / Photo Provided by Jo-Ann Irving
Below : North Port senior Bryson Thieme tips off against Port Charlotte rival senior Sean Price during a recent varsity basketball game . The Pirates defeated the Bobcats 52-41 . / NPAR photo by Tami Garcia
While playing for North Port Youth Basketball , the Babuts told Price about a talented opposing player that they needed to watch out for . That player turned out to be Oliver . Price and Oliver later played together on an AAU team . They developed their friendship hanging out before practice and traveling to tournaments together .
When Price , whose father played basketball for the Pirates , decided to attend Port Charlotte , it did not diminish their friendship . Price said that he still sees Oliver and the Babuts regularly , and that they are connected through social media even though they are at different schools .
Their paths will likely diverge further after graduation . Though he has yet to decide on a school , Price has several offers to play D-I basketball . His friends are happy for him .
“ I ’ ve seen all the work Sean has put in over the years , and it ’ s been amazing to see how he ’ s grown as a player and even more as a person ,” Zach Babut said .