ANGOLA, Ind. – Despite having to overcome physical obstacles, Myles Copeland has enjoyed success in earning a starting role for the Trine men's basketball team.
Copeland was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age seven, which gives the sophomore more adversity to deal with than the typical first-year player in a basketball program. Copeland transferred to Trine after spending a year at Siena Heights. In addition to the adjustments that come with joining a new basketball program, Copeland has to keep a close eye on his blood sugar and be extra mindful of keeping healthy for the rigors of class, practice and competition.
"The biggest part is waking up and making sure everything is taken care of so I can practice or play a game," said Copeland. "During practice or games, sometimes my blood sugar will get low and I'll eat something with sugar or drink juice boxes on the bench. I'll usually be good after five or 10 minutes."
Type 1 diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes, is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. Only five percent of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. In Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin.
Despite living with the disease and having to overcome the obstacles associated with it, Copeland says he tries not to let the adversity affect him.
"I always thought it was just another thing that was there," Copeland said. "I just try to take care of myself and play the best that I can."
Copeland received support from his parents, Donna and Howard, and his doctor, who would come to his games and practices to help Copeland learn what he needed to do to manage the disease and compete at a high level. Copeland's sister, Mariah, was later diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and has excelled on the basketball court as well. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for University of Toledo and head coach Tricia Cullop beginning in 2017-18.
While attending St. John's Jesuit High School in Toledo, Ohio, Copeland played for Ed Heintschel, a legendary figure in the Ohio high school coaching ranks. Heintschel, who began his 38th year of coaching this season, ranks fifth in state history with more than 650 career wins. Copeland was part of the school's 2015 district championship team.
Copeland said his experiences in a high-achieving program helped prepare him for the college game.
"Coach Heintschel tries to get people to the next level," Copeland said. "He tries to bump it up and make his practices more like college practices. They were a lot like Trine practices."
When it came time to make a college choice, Copeland says Trine was always at the top of his list because of the school's biomedical engineering program.
"I've always been into science and technology, so I put two-and-two together and decided I wanted to help other people with diabetes," Copeland said. "I don't want them to have to go through the same struggles that I went through."
The fit at Trine wasn't quite right immediately after high school, so Copeland spent a year studying and playing at Siena Heights, a NAIA program in Adrian, Michigan. On the court, he averaged 7.1 points in 18 minutes per game. According to Copeland, the academic fit wasn't quite right at Siena Heights and, with a better financial fit, made the decision to transfer to Trine.
Copeland's early returns on the court have paid big dividends for the Thunder. His 11.3 points per game rank second on the team, as do his 4.9 rebounds per contest. In five starts, his numbers jump to 15.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
After earning an early-season start against Ohio Wesleyan, Copeland was given another opportunity to claim a starting role and ran with it. Over the last four games, he has averaged 15.5 points on a crisp 53.2 percent shooting effort. Included among those performances was his first career double-double, a 21-point, 10-rebound showing in a victory over Ohio Northern.
"Myles is a tremendous basketball talent but it's his impact on the culture of our program that makes him such a great teammate," said Brooks Miller, head coach at Trine. "He understands that he is here to receive a degree from Trine University so he can make a difference in this world and that basketball is just a part of the education that will make his educational experience more valuable than most.
"Our goal for Myles from a basketball standpoint is to help him become a great communicator on the floor and embrace the impact he can have on a game when it comes to defense and rebounding," continued Miller. "If he can continue to improve in those areas he will have an opportunity to help elevate this program to a whole new level."
Looking forward, Copeland says he wants to continue to embrace the roles the coaching staff has for him and help the Thunder towards their goal of winning a MIAA Championship.
"I've always been a driver and last year, I was working on a jump shot and that's coming along," Copeland said. "I still like driving a lot and I think post moves are definitely the best part of my game. I just want to keep doing what Coach Miller and [Assistant] Coach Drew Lehman want me to do. Stepping up vocally is a big part and just trying to give every play my best effort."
Copeland is also working to use his biomedical engineering degree to make a positive impact for those with Type 1 diabetes.
"My ultimate plan would be to have my own engineering firm in researching devices for diabetics, insulin pumps, insulin testers and things like that," said Copeland. "I really want to help other people and mentor them through their struggles of having diabetes and playing sports."
Copeland and the Trine men's basketball team will host MIAA rival Hope tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Hershey Hall. The game is part of the "Free-for-All" doubleheader, which features free admission, giveaways and a half-court shootout for $200. More information on the event can be found HERE.