Summer basketball is a time for coaches to evaluate the talent, especially younger players counted on to step up for departed seniors. Both Kosciusko coaches were pleased with what they saw when their teams hit the court.
“It went well. Kind of what I expected,” said boys coach Eleazarus Greenleaf.
Girls coach Cory Guyton said “I got to see a lot of new faces. We lost six seniors, so we have to figure out who fits where.”
The Lady Whippets finished second in Region 4-4A and reached the second round of the playoffs. But those six departed seniors will be missed.
Guyton said seniors D'naylah Williams and Jamyia Gray and junior Haley Olive will anchor the team. Naja Mays, a senior, and junior Rozlyn Fuller will play a bigger role and incoming freshman Morgan Brown showed that she is ready to contribute.
The Whippets will attempt to rebound after missing the playoffs. “We'll have a very young team with a lot of first-time players,” Greenleaf said. “They had a chance to play so it was a learning experience for them. I got to see what they need to work on going forward and where they need to improve.”
One of the young players who impressed was Ryan Tillman, who will be a sophomore. “He shot the ball very well. He just has to get better with ball handling and defense.”
Incoming freshmen Cory Guyton Jr. and Jaybrer Pierce will also be counted when the season gets underway.
“Those three guys showed me a lot. They showed me that the future is bright,” Greenleaf said.
Two returnees who will see more court time are juniors Andrew Mancell and Jeremi Wilkes. Mancell led the team in blocked shots off the bench.
“It's a rebuilding phase for us and we are going to make the best of it.” Greenleaf said.
