Geary’s Rylan Peralta-Bates
By Angela Brunk
At Geary High School, junior Rylan Peralta-Bates has already made a name for himself as one of the most dynamic players in the program’s recent history. A class of 2027 guard who can play both point and shooting guard, Peralta-Bates has been a consistent offensive threat since his freshman year, and he’s setting his sights even higher this season.
“One major goal I’m focusing on is reaching 1,000 career points,” Peralta-Bates said.
“Team-wise, I want to win districts and go far into the playoffs.”
Beyond those goals, he’s striving to reach his “full potential” as both a player and a leader for the team. Peralta-Bates’ motivation comes from home. Even when things are hard, Peralta-Bates’ family is there to encourage him and help him keep his head held high.
“My family pushes me to be the very best I can be,” he said.
One person who’s had a lasting impact on Peralta-Bates is Coach Finney, his basketball coach and former English teacher.
“He’s helped me with a lot of personal things and has helped me in becoming the player I’m becoming,” Peralta-Bates said.
That growth has come from years of dedication.
“It’s taken a lot to become the player I am today. Long nights outside practicing in my front yard, all the summer open gyms, and AAU tournaments over the summer,” he explained.
His journey hasn’t been easy. Peralta-Bates has faced setbacks early on due to injuries and COVID interruptions, but perseverance paid off.
“My freshman year was probably my best. I got All-Conference, we won districts, and I finished the year with 478 points.”
Since then, Peralta-Bates has continued to evolve. His sophomore season brought more accolades, including All-Conference, Honorable Mention, and an All-Tournament Team selection at the Cordell Tournament. Over the past summer, he focused heavily on improving his defense and playing faster against tougher competition in out-of-state tournaments. Peralta-Bates’ proudest accomplishments so far include earning Offensive Player of the Year at Geary and a memorable 44-point game in junior high, a preview of what was to come.
Off the court, Peralta-Bates also plays football as a wide receiver and defensive back. Looking to the future, he hopes to continue playing basketball at the college level, but he’s also open to new opportunities.
Coach Howell praised Rylan’s impact, saying, “Rylan has been our leading scorer since his freshman season. One of his best attributes is his relentless effort and drive to become a better player and teammate. Rylan not only is very active on the offensive end of the floor but is also very active on the defensive end as well, leading our team in deflections last season. Rylan has begun to grow as a leader over the past year, pushing his teammates to get the most out of themselves and to become the best version of themselves.”
With his determination, faith in hard work, and relentless drive, Rylan Peralta-Bates is poised to lead Geary basketball to another exciting season.
