2016-17 basketball preview: Mount Vernon Boys

mount-vernon-boys-hadlock

Head Coach: Mike Ray
2015-16 Record: 6-16 – Lost to Stockton in the Class 3, District 12 tournament
Top Players: Jarrett Massie (G, F), Brett Campbell (F, G), Ty Boswell (G), Kyle Bushman (F), Chance Fenton (G), Chase Brashers (F)

By the Mountaineers’ standards, last year was a down year for the basketball program.

Before going 6-16 in 2015-16, Mount Vernon rattled off four-straight winning seasons while recording 20-plus wins in three of those seasons.

“As far as our program is concerned, last year was a tough one for us,” said Mountaineers coach Mike Ray. “We finished the season with only one senior, which was unusual for us as the five previous years we had won our conference. Our younger players are working hard to restore in our program the ideas of being a family, focusing each day on self-improvement as an individual and as a team, and being mentally tough to handle any situation that may arise.”

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE WINTER SPORTS PREVIEWS

This year, they’ll lean on a trio of seniors to bring the program back to prominence. Guard Jarrett Massie, forward Brett Campbell and guard Garrett Hadlock should all contribute in big roles this season.

Massie averaged 15 points per game last year. A star wide receiver on the gridiron, Massie is poised to put in work on the hardwood again this season.

“What he brings to us is firstly leadership on and off the court as he is a tremendous young man who represents our program with class,” Ray said of Massie. “Secondly, on the court he poses matchup issues because he is 6’2” and can play on both the perimeter and in the post and does a good job of recognizing where he can have an advantage. Our expectations for him this year is to become a complete player and be a leader on defense and in rebounding. We will have more depth so his numbers may be less but his overall game and effectiveness will be vastly better.”

Brett Campbell also stands at 6’2” and, like Massie, can also play both the guard and forward positions. However, Campbell’s natural position is in the frontcourt, but he should be able to provide versatility on both ends.

Massie will have a pair of fellow football players alongside him in the backcourt: Hadlock and junior Ty Boswell. They’ll both contribute largely on the defensive end, according to Ray.

“Garrett Hadlock is a 5’11” senior guard who provides us with good defense,” Ray said. “Ty Boswell a 6’1” junior guard who is an excellent athlete and has put in a lot of time on his game and provides us a quality shooter and defender on the wings.”

Mount Vernon may have an impactful tandem of newcomers in the paint this season. Look for juniors Kyle Bushman (6’7”) and Chase Brashers (6’8”) to be a productive set of “twin towers” with an immediate impact on the defensive end.

“Kyle Bushman is coming off injuries last year,” said Coach Ray. “Kyle has put in a lot of work on his game and we believe he is ready to emerge as a player who will be a force for us. He has tremendous skill for a guy with his size… Brashers is a 6’8 junior post who is still developing, but has made great strides in his game and will give us size on defense.”

Related Posts

Loading...