Ladarius Brewer goes up for a dunk after taking a feed from his brother Tyron Brewer during a workout at Meridian High School.

The Brewer brothers were having some fun with a basketball in the Meridian High School gym before class, launching long jumpers and rattling the rim with dunks.

Then older brother Ladarius threw an errant lob pass that 6-foot-6 younger brother Ty, stretching back and to the side as far as he could, caught on his fingertips and slammed home. A couple of spectators grinned and shook their heads. In a game, it’s the kind of spectacle that sets a crowd on fire.

The brothers, both forwards, are a big reason why some basketball watchers see the Wildcats walking away with the 6A  state championship.

Ladarius, a 6-5, 180-pound senior, and one of the state’s top high school players, committed to the University of Texas El Paso in September. Meanwhile, Ty, an 180-pound freshman standout, played on the varsity with his brother as an eighth grader.

The Brewer brothers have played basketball with each other before in city league teams and summer AAU teams. With both their parents having basketball backgrounds, it was only natural for them to follow.

Both said playing with each other on the court this season will be special.

“We feel good about playing with each other because when we are on the court, we know we both got each other’s backs and we know that we can get it done,” Ty said. “Anytime we are out there we feel like we can just do it all.”

Ladarius said his younger brother will make things easier for him.

“He helps me rebound, and I haven’t really had anybody that can help me rebound in the last couple of years, and he does a really good job of doing that and helping me on the boards,” Ladarius said. “And we both stop people defensively. If there are big players, we will stop them.”

To win the state championship, they plan on working hard on defense and sharing the ball. They each have their strengths, but after a moment of thought, the brothers agreed Ladarius was the better shooter and Ty the better defender.

“I have times where I relax more during defense, and he is always in the paint with that,” Ladarius said.

Assistant Coach Tony Tadlock said there’s another reason the brothers make a formidable combination. They love competing.

“They are always challenging each other. Ty doesn’t take that little brother role lightly, so they play hard against each other because they both want to be their own person,” Tadlock said.

This season the team will focus on running more. The faster pace will help the Wildcats beat opposing teams down the court. But they strive for balance, with the shots coming from the inside and outside depending on the play.

“Coach always says work inside out, so throw the ball in. If it’s on defense draw in and then kick it out for the open shot,” Ty said.

Besides winning on the court, the brothers also win in the classroom.

Senior Ladarius has a 3.6 GPA and scored 25 on his ACT. He will graduate in May. As a freshman with a 3.2 GPA, Ty already has college recruiters hot on his trail. His suitors include Ole Miss, UTEP, Louisiana State and Florida Gulf Coast. Even though he already has choices, the freshman said he will continue playing and see what other schools he can attract.

Head Coach Ronald Norman said replacing Ladarius next year will be a challenge.

“When you lose a player of that caliber, he is always going to be missed,” Norman said. “There is always going to be a gap because fans will say, ‘We are used to Ladarius making that shot or that play.’ But we are just going to enjoy the time we have left with him here.”

Annie Mapp is a University of Mississippi student.