Conference: 2A-3
Coach: Ricky Everett
2012-13 record: 14-6 overall; 8-9 in conference
Returning starters: Lorenzo Pryor III, 6-4 junior swing forward, 8 points, 4 rebounds per game; Anthony Neal, 6-3 senior guard; Darrius Warren, 6-4 senior post, 2 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks per game. Everett also mentioned sophomores Keandre Munns and Jalin Brown as up-and-coming players. “These young men (Munns and Jalin) were key for me in the junior high program, and I anticipate them to be jockeying for starting positions this year; they’ll both definitely help us out this year, both inside and out.”
How will you match/exceed your success from last year? Everett said he’s looking to strong defensive performance and team unity to buoy his squad to a winning season. “This year, hopefully we’ll focus a lot on defense, the defensive side. Also, we have a lot of depth this year with players I believe will be able to run the ball some and get our units working together. This year, I think they realize they’re going to have to step up, play as a unit and depend on each other.”
Team strengths: Everett said the Red Devils’ main strengths will be team unity and depth, particularly on the defensive side.
Team weaknesses: Everett said a lack of experience may challenge his team early on, but added that he expects this deficiency to lessen as the season wears on. “We won’t have as much experience as we had last year, but I think that’ll come by the end of the season. I think by the end of the season, we should be very competitive for a state run.”
Games to watch: Everett acknowledged a tough conference all the way around. “We’re in a tough league. We’re on that north side of the conference, you know. You’ve got EPC (East Poinsett County), you’ve got Marked Tree, you’ve got Riverside, you’ve got Rector, and also, Cross County might be tough. So really, we’re going to have to play every single game and not take any of them for granted.”
College prospects: “I think Lorenzo (Pryor III) you know, once he develops — he is a junior — but I think by the time he gets to be a senior, as well as Keandre Munns and Jalin Brown, I think by the time they all get to be seniors, I think they’ll catch a few college eyes.”