Talik Bryant has earned a spot on the “A Team” at Rich- mond’s George Wythe High School.

Whether the challenge is academic or athletic, the gifted senior is likely to ace the test.

Bryant ranks in the top five of his class with a nearly 4.0 GPA, while earning significant college credits in the Early College Academy offered by Reynolds Community College.

He has substantial academic scholarship offers from the likes of Virginia Tech and the College of William & Mary. When he does enroll in college, it will be as at least a sophomore.

On the basketball court, the quick, savvy 5-foot-7 point guard known as “Sweetpea” was one of 11 athletes in Virginia nominated for the McDonald’s All-American team.

That award came in 2020 following Bryant’s junior year under Coach Willard Coker. His senior season on the hardcourt was canceled with all Richmond Public Schools sports because of COVID-19.

“Talik never says much on the court, but he plays hard and he’s tough, despite his size,” Coach Coker said. “He never minded taking a charge for the good of the team.”

Bryant was a two-year starter for the Bulldogs and was in position for a stellar senior season before the pandemic got in the way.

“It’s been difficult. I’ve been playing basketball my whole life,” Bryant said. “This year, I really wanted to be a leader and help a great group of guys to a championship. I hate for it to end like this.”

Bryant said he never let his diminutive stature prevent him from pursuing basketball.

“Being one of the smallest out there, I had to be quicker and more aggressive and do the dirty work, like taking charges.”

Bryant is the son of Chifawn Taylor and Tobias Bryant. He also is the nephew of Wythe Hall of Famer Jerry Lee Morton, a basketball standout at Wythe during the mid-1970s under legendary Coach Bob Booker. Morton has been something of a mentor to his nephew.

“I helped teach Talik how to play basketball, baseball and football, and also tennis and chess,” Morton said.

With the guidance, Bryant went on to win awards in both tennis and chess at the Westover Community Center near George Wythe High School. Looking ahead, Bryant suggested he likely will major in computer science in college and perhaps pursue a walk-on role on the basketball team.

“We’ll see where my journey goes,” he said.