By Chris Parker
Clever boys basketball posted its first winning season since 2020 going 14-11 last season.
The Blue Jays will look to keep that momentum going this season.
“I would like to see this program keep taking steps in the right direction,” Clever head coach Sean Price said. “We have exceeded many people’s expectations the past two seasons and we have to continue doing the things that put us in that position. If we continue to show up, work hard and take pride in what we are doing we will take the next step in the right direction.”
Senior guard Lucas Peebles returns after earning second-team all-conference honors last season.
“Lucas brings experience to the team,” Price said. “He has started or played varsity since he was a ninth grader. He has the ability to score at all three levels and is a great competitor. We look for Lucas to continue being a leader for us and growing his game on both ends of the floor. I have high expectations for him this year and I look forward to watching him meet those expectations.”
Fellow senior Eli Bussard also returns at forward.
“Eli is another guy with a lot of varsity experience,” Price said. “Eli brings the ability to shoot and attack the basket. He has led our team in charges taken the past two seasons and is a guy that can really be a lockdown defender when he is focused. We are going to ask Eli to expand his game and take it to the next level this season. We are also going to ask him to be a leader on both ends of the floor.”
Juniors Kendall Piper (guard), Braxtyn Myers (guard), Coleson Cupit (guard) and Brayden Flood (post) give Price four more upperclassmen returning.
Price on Piper: “Kendall has also played a lot of varsity basketball. As a ninth grader, Kendall was a key starter at the beginning of the season, which gave him a lot of experience early. Kendall had a great summer of basketball and has worked hard at expanding his game. Kendall has always been a great defender for us, but this year we are going to ask Kendall to be more aggressive on the offensive end of the floor. Kendall is a great teammate and is someone that works hard at being a good basketball player.”
Price on Myers: “Braxtyn played a lot of minutes for us as a sophomore. He is a player that guards really well and is getting more confident as a scorer. He has worked hard on his game this summer and we look for him to take a big step forward during his junior year.”
Price on Cupit: “Coleson saw his varsity minutes grow towards the end of the season due to injury of other players. Coleson took full advantage of his opportunities and proved that he deserved to be playing. He is a gym rat and does everything he is asked. Coleson will be a leader for us this season and someone we rely on to be our point guard and floor general.”
Price on Flood: “Brayden played a key role for us last season off the bench. He is someone that can guard all five positions and someone that can rebound and be a physical presence for us. We are going to ask him to continue to do those things but also be a capable scorer for us this year.”
Senior Brayden Baker and junior Evan Verch are newcomers to watch.
“Brayden had a great summer for us. He knows how to play the game and seems to always be in the right spot at the right time. If he comes in and continues to work then he can carve out a spot in the rotation,” Price said. “Evan is another guy that keeps getting better. He had a really good end of the summer and has had a great pre-season. He has the ability to shoot the basketball and when he learns to play hard at all times he will be someone that can make it hard to take him off the floor.”
Price wants to see his experienced team become better on the defensive end.
“I believe the biggest strength of this team is our experience. We return eight guys that have played varsity basketball at some point and have helped us win games. I believe we have a group that will compete and has a drive to be successful,” Price said. “We have to continue to be a defensive first team. A team that takes pride in getting stops and rebounds.”
Clever travels to Aurora for a jamboree with the host and Crane before opening the season on Nov. 25 at Houston.
“I want to see our guys continue to buy into being a hard-working team that is willing to put the team first,” Price said. “I want us to take the next step in being a complete team. If we can enjoy the process of showing up every day and working hard, then the wins and losses will take care of themselves.”
