She's scored more varsity points than Damon Bailey. And you've never heard of her. - IndyStar

Show Caption

She's scored more varsity points than Damon Bailey, and most high school basketball coaches and fans around Indiana have no idea who she is. She's not highly coveted by AAU teams. Forget about college coaches.

Here's what they (and you) have been missing:

Gloria Brewer is a senior for Indianapolis HomeSchool Wildcats, which isn't part of the IHSAA. They don't typically play big schools from Indiana, though it's not for a lack of trying. They don't get to play in the IHSAA state tournament, so she doesn't have a chance to shine on the big stage.

Fab 15: Ranking Indy-area's best teams heading into final weeks of regular season

'We're here. We're ready': Future is now — and bright — for Noblesville

But Brewer, who's been playing varsity basketball since seventh grade, has scored more than 3,000 points (3,147 in 173 total games). She has nearly 1,500 rebounds. Last season, she scored 26 points against Class 2A contender University and 25 against 3A Danville. The Wildcats won both games.

"She's going to pass Damon up here shortly," her dad Dean joked last week. Bailey had 3,134 varsity points, the IHSAA boys record. Brewer surpassed that total Monday by scoring 24 points in a loss to Warren Central. Now, she's chasing Princeton graduate Jackie Young, who holds the all-time IHSAA scoring record with 3,268 (in 107 games).

This season, Brewer is averaging 23.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 6.7 steals per game while shooting 52%. 

Last season, the Wildcats were 30-4 and finished third at Homeschool Nationals.  This year, the Wildcats are 17-1 and figure to make another deep tournament run.

Brewer's days of playing high school basketball are nearly done. It's time to appreciate her while we still can.

"I don't get why more quality Division I schools aren't looking at her," Wildcats coach Scot Rosko said. "I think she's one of the top five players in the state."

She was hitting 3-pointers in second grade

Brewer has always had a natural shooting ability. When she began playing in a youth league in kindergarten, the most points a player could score in a game was 10.

"The first five trips down the floor she'd hit five layups," Dean Brewer said.

That was how it went, every game, until she got to second grade. 

"I remember it like it was yesterday," her dad said. "She came down the court, took a step back and hit a 3. So she scored 11 points as a second grader. She scored 11 points every game."

In fifth grade, she scored 25 points in nine minutes.

In eighth grade, while playing for her first of two seasons for the Indy Trailblazers homeschool program, she scored 23 points in the fourth quarter during the national tournament.

"She's always been a really good shooter," Rosko said. "She works hard. She's the first one out there shooting. She understands the game really well. She understands her body. She's a beast. She's just so strong and has such a low center of gravity and knows how to use her body."

Brewer knows what she's accomplished — she holds nine program records, including the scoring record (for boys and girls). But that's not what matters most.

"I don't really pay attention," she said. "I just go to win games."

Playing the Wildcats is 'a no-win situation'

The Wildcats are in a tough spot. 

When Rosko made the team's schedule this season, he reached out to the top 100 schools in the state trying to schedule a game. Only two agreed (Heritage Christian and Warren Central). The Wildcats added a game late against Northwestern after a cancellation.

"It's a no-win situation for them," Rosko said. "If they beat the homeschool team, well, they beat the homeschool team. If they lose to a homeschool team, it's a big hit to their program. A lot of people aren't willing to take that risk."

Last summer, the Wildcats played the likes of Noblesville and Bedford North Lawrence. Brewer had 33 against Noblesville and 26 against the Stars.

Last season, the Wildcats were 9-3 against IHSAA schools. This season, they have 11 on the schedule. They've won the first six.

The Wildcats program, which began in 1994, has 13 teams between their boys and girls programs, ranging from 10U to varsity. The boys varsity team won the national tournament in 2019.

Rosko was an assistant coach on that team.

"Before we joined the organization, we had no idea what homeschool basketball was about," he said. "I was shocked when I went to the first practice, because we had a really good coach. I think the level of our competitiveness and our practices is up there with any big high school."

The girls usually practice three times each week, often at The Gathering Place in Greenwood. Sometimes, they practice and scrimmage against the boys.

Last year's success at the national tournament was a big step for the girls team. But Rosko admits that even the national tournament doesn't provide the spotlight that comes with playing a big IHSAA school.

"The bigger the school, the more excited they get," he said. "When they do go to a public school, they have to look at it as a huge opportunity."

She's just as good at baseball

Growing up, Gloria Brewer loved to play baseball with the boys. When a travel coach convinced Dean to let his daughter play, she started at shortstop in the first game.

"She was the best player in baseball with the boys," Brewer said. "She's as good at baseball as she is at basketball."

She's won multiple local pitch, hit and run competitions. She's gone to Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds games for her achievements.

"She's kind of a jack of all trades," her dad said.

But regardless of the sport or the level of success, Brewer's demeanor and mentality stays the same. She played just one season of AAU basketball. 

"That's my fault," Dean Brewer said. "I've always said that if you're any good, they'll know where you're at. Back when I was a kid, that was the case. As far as I'm concerned, it costs too much."

Brewer's dad said she "didn't really care for (AAU) that much." Brewer said that games often interfered with church.

She currently has offers to play at Bethel, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and Ohio Christian, as well as interest from a few others.

'She can hit from anywhere on anybody'

Brewer doesn't waste a moment.

As soon as halftime of the Wildcats' game against Heritage Christian begins, she hits the floor with her red, white and blue basketball. She starts shooting inside and works her way out. Layups. Free throws. 3-pointers. And she keeps working her way back.

Soon, she's at the volleyball line. Nothing but net.

Of course, it's not as easy as it looks. She struggles to find her shot early, putting up heavily contested shots. In the third quarter, she puts up a 3-pointer from the right side. She misses badly — but the ball banks off the backboard and falls through the net.

"When she's hot, she can hit from anywhere on anybody," Rosko said.

By the time the Wildcats secured a 64-51 win, Brewer had hit just five of her 14 shots. She still ended up with 22 points, getting to the free throw line 12 times. She also had eight rebounds, six steals and four assists. 

"I just need to keep working and keep getting better," she said after her team won its 15th straight game to open the season. 

Then she added: "And my back's out, so I need to get that put back in."

When you have Brewer's talent, that's a minor detail.

Follow IndyStar trending sports reporter Matthew VanTryon on Twitter @MVanTryon and email him story ideas at matthew.vantryon@indystar.com.