LEWISTON — Kyle Philbrook has spent enough time on the training table for any five men’s basketball players.

Bates College coaches and fans would extend the hand of forgiveness, no questions asked, if Philbrook looked out for No. 1 and shied away from contact.

You don’t have to know much about Philbrook’s background or watch many minutes of his career highlight film to know that he’d never forgive himself for exercising such restraint.

“In high school I took a lot of charges,” Philbrook said. “Obviously scoring isn’t really what I’m here to do. There are a lot of guys here who can score the ball. I figure I’ve got to do something else to help this team out. Stepping up defensively is what I have to do.”

And so you’ll find the 6-foot, 175-pound junior guard from Auburn setting his feet and turning himself into a bowling pin at the expense of an opponent six inches taller and 50 pounds more burly.

Or sliding belly-first across the Alumni Gym floor, stopping on a dime to grab a bouncing ball and gain a needful possession in the tense, closing minutes of a conference game.

Once the high school headliner, Philbrook has developed at Bates into the whatever-it-takes leader every team needs.

“He just makes big plays,” Bates coach Jon Furbush said. “It’s been a 3-pointer sometimes. It’s been a big steal or a loose ball. On defense one of the points of emphasis is taking charges, and he sacrifices his body. He’s made a lot of big plays at critical times.”

Philbrook led the Bobcats with 19 steals headed into this weekend’s crucial NESCAC road series with Colby and Bowdoin.

A starting guard in 15 of Bates’ first 17 games, Philbrook is one of five Bobcats with 30 or more assists. Contrary to his stature, he’s the third-leading shot blocker on the team.

That production has increased even as Furbush carefully manages Philbrook’s playing time (16 minutes per game) due to chronic foot problems.

“I’ve always had bad ankles. I have electronic (braces) on right now,” Philbrook said prior to a practice last week. “This year I’ve been healthy thus far. I landed on my wrist a couple games ago, but the trainer has been helping me out and I’ve been icing it. It’s been nice to be healthy for a change. I haven’t been healthy for a whole season in a while.”

Philbrook brought a multi-generational pedigree across the bridge from Edward Little High School to his new hoop home.

His grandfather, Malcolm Philbrook, was one of the founders of Hoop Camp in Casco.

During his career at EL, Philbrook was part of both an undefeated regular season in 2007 and a trip to the Eastern Maine final in 2008.

Younger brother James headlined back-to-back Eastern Maine championship teams. Cousins Bo and Quin Leary anchor another highly-ranked Red Eddies squad this winter. Sister Kelly is a junior on the girls’ team.

But like any other Division III recruit, Philbrook discovered that the road to the starting lineup could be as long as it is painful.

“It’s definitely a transition going from Maine high school basketball to the NESCAC,” said Furbush, a South Portland High School graduate who played four years at Bates. “Probably some things he used to do on offense are more difficult at this level.

“He knows how to play. He knows where to be. He never is in the wrong spot. He puts himself in position to be successful. It’s been fun to watch him develop just in this year.”

Philbrook’s 3-point shooting prowess hasn’t disappeared. Wednesday night at Saint Joseph’s College, he nailed one from beyond arc to punctuate a 12-2 run in the first four minutes of a 65-50 victory.

More often than not when Philbrook is on the floor, however, it means that someone in the opposite colored jersey needs to be silenced.

“Coach usually tells me if the other team has a sharp shooter, he just says that’s my assignment,” Philbrook said. “I know what I have to do and that’s guard him.”

In addition to his feet and hands, Philbrook’s mouth has become a weapon for the Bobcats.

Not in a New York Jets sort of way, either.

“His communication has stepped up. Keeping guys positive,” Furbush said. “If there’s a little adversity he’s the first to say, ‘We’re fine. Next play, next play.’ I used to feel like I had to coach him every possession. Now I just let him go. He gets it.”

The victory at St. Joe’s was sorely needed for Bates (9-8), which had lost seven of eight games after winning at that same clip to start the season.

Bates’ short road trip also afforded Philbrook a rare opportunity for any college athlete: Playing against his brother. James Philbrook is a freshman at St. Joe’s.

“It was definitely different. The only other time might have been in the summertime that I played against him,” Kyle said. “It was kind of neat. I actually picked up my one and only foul against him. They called a reach on me.”

Naturally, a full complement of family and friends witnessed the sibling showdown.

That support is another benefit of playing close to home. Of course, with kids, grandkids, nephews and cousins playing on four different teams in the region, keeping track of it all is a burden to somebody.

“I think it’s my grandfather who actually made a spreadsheet of all the home games for St. Joe’s, Edward Little and Bates,” Philbrook said. “They have everybody’s games mapped out so they know where they’re going to be.”

When they’re watching the Bobcats, there’s never a question where Kyle Philbrook will be.

The right place at the right time, with a dynamic disregard for his own safety.

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