Fifth-year guard Tommy Bruner’s excellence on the court started in high school where he was never given the first shot. At Gray Collegiate Academy in South Carolina, he played with talented players from eighth grade to his senior year.
“I know what it feels like to not be the first person in the lineup. At the place I’m in right now, it helps me never to treat people differently,” he said.
A winning tradition is nothing new for Bruner. At his West Columbia high school, he helped lead the team to back-to-back Class AA state titles.
Bruner’s first year of college was at South Carolina Upstate, where he averaged 14 points per game. Bruner stayed there for a second year where he averaged 13.6 per game.
“They were my last offer. Before that, I had a ton of offers but other people were signing and my offers were getting pulled. In the end, I only had one offer left and I had to go,” Bruner said.
From there, Bruner made the switch to the Jacksonville Penguins where he was injured the majority of the season.
“I love the city and the school and the coaches, but I could only play 13 games so that kinda spoiled my time,” he said.
Denver Head Coach Jeff Wulbrun persuaded him to come to DU for the 2022-23 season after his stint with Jacksonville. He instantly made a mark, starting all 32 games last year, averaging 15.9 points per game and finishing the season as the eighth-highest rated player in the Summit League.
“When I got here to Colorado, I saw all the great things that Colorado had to offer. I wish I was here the whole time,” he said.
Now in his fifth year of college basketball, Bruner stands as the highest point scorer in the whole country. He is averaging 26.1 points per game (as of Jan. 28) but the giant accolade isn’t anything new for Bruner. In his senior year of high school he was named the Class AA Player of the Year after averaging 16 points per game.
After two years of basketball at DU, Bruner recently hit a new milestone. In just 52 games he scored 1,000 points, making him the fastest to do so in program history. According to Bruner, this has led to a target on his back when he plays now.
“Everyone is trying to stop me, but it’s an illusion because then it leaves more teammates open,” he said. “Passing is my favorite part of the game because it is easier to score — you give it away and have no pressure to make the shot.”
With big guys in the paint like sophomore seven-footer Isaiah Carr and junior Touko Tainamo staying down low, setting picks and getting open in the paint, Bruner has led the Summit League in assists for the second season in a row.
The court isn’t the only place where Bruner has been successful lately. He started a non-profit, Be Different, with the mission to give toys to kids in need during the holidays.
“It’s not just about the kids and not just about sports. We’re starting a new program called Kids at Heart where we’re building more parks in Colorado and other states,” Bruner said.
The success for Bruner is flowing at an exponential rate. Being the nation’s leading scorer, the conference’s leading passer and the founder of a non-profit foundation is evidence that No. 0 has hit his stride.
“A year ago if you asked me where I’d be today I don’t know what I’d say,” he said. “You gotta keep your mind, whether it’s on or off the court and that’s what you see me doing now being successful on both.”
