Will Francis may not have been to many basketball practices this fall, but if his basketball coach ever wants to find him, Will is easy to find.
Will’s basketball coach is his father, Brad Francis.
“He’s been my coach ever since I picked up basketball,” the 6-foot-4-inch junior from Harding Academy said. “I wouldn’t want to play for anyone else. Sometimes he can get on to me a little more than other players. He knows it’s going to make me better in the end.
“We butt heads sometimes, but it’s all in the fun of the game. Most of the time it’s fun having him out there coaching me. … It’s a relationship that I love and am glad to have.”
It’s something that Brad Francis is mindful of as well. The longtime coach said he does his best to be fair to Will by not showing him favoritism or by trying not to be harder on him than the other players.
“Sometimes it’s the best part of coaching, and other times it’s the hardest part,” the coach said. “Each year as he’s matured, it’s gotten easier. We both try to figure out when I’m coach and when I’m dad. I think it’s gotten a lot better.”
Even when they aren’t on the court as coach and player, much of their recreational time is centered around sports. They often play basketball at home, watch film together or just spend time playing or watching other sports with the rest of the family. Will is the oldest of three boys.
“One thing, away from the court I try not to coach but just play,” Brad Francis said. “We’re just going to play, and I try to lay my coaching hat someplace else.”
Will’s recreational time is often sparse. Besides playing basketball, he’s the starting quarterback for the Wildcats football team, and he plays baseball as well. The seasons flow one into another, giving him little off-time from sports. But he wouldn’t want it any other way.
“I enjoy every bit of it. I want to be that involved in all three of them. They’re all just a ton of fun,” Will said, though he admitted basketball is his favorite.
He said some people have asked him why he doesn’t focus solely on basketball. He said besides the love of just playing sports, the main reason he doesn’t quit playing the other two sports is simple.
“It’s not about just the game of football and game of baseball. It’s about the relationships I’ve built in those two sports. I couldn’t give those up. It’s not just the games; it’s about the relationships I’ve built with those guys,” he said.
All the time spent on the field or court, whether during games, in practice or on a bus, are important times, Will said.
“You build relationships that will last longer than high school, football, basketball or anything else,” he said.
Brad Francis said he and his wife have always encouraged their children to play whatever sports they’d like to try.
“That’s something we’ve encouraged our kids to do if that’s what they want to do,” he said. “Sometimes when kids specialize so early, it takes the fun out of it for them.”
But there’s no question Will can handle his own on the basketball court. He was an all-state player last season, averaging 15 points, 7 rebounds and about 2 assists a game. Will admits he can’t really jump very high but said his height helps him shoot the 3-pointer well, and he knows how to box out and grab rebounds.
Working on his defense will be an area of focus.
“I’m not as quick as I wish to be, or want to be. Hopefully, working hard will help me catch up. By getting after it, going hard, hopefully it will create turnovers,” he said.
His father said Will has good range and has put about 15 pounds on his frame. He said Will “shoots it awfully well” and understands the mental aspect of the game well enough “to kinda be like a quarterback out there, directing traffic.”
He expects Will to mostly play small forward but can see him posting up more this season. He also hopes to see Will mature more as a court leader this year. He expects Will to draw more attention as a shooter this season, thus meaning Will’s ability to get his teammates involved in the game and not forcing things will be more important.
“That will be the biggest thing. He has a good cast of players around him. Teams will have a hard time taking away one player or one thing,” the coach said.
Will said the team has made it to the quarterfinals of the state tournament the past three years. He hopes to make it further than that this year, with a district and regional championship as well.
Even though Will is playing football, that doesn’t mean he’s not on the court as much as possible to work toward those goals. He said he’s lifting weights almost every day during the week. He’ll also come in after football or go in on the weekends for a couple of hours of court work.
“I’ll be in the gym whenever I can when football isn’t practicing or in team meetings,” he said.