By Chris Parker
Hermitage boys basketball returns two starters from last season’s 17-11 team.
Junior Ashton Sawyer and Justin Weathers are those two returning starters.
Sawyer averaged 7.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2 steals and 1.6 assists per game.
“We will look for Ashton to keep improving and step into more of a leadership role this year as an upperclassman,” Hermitage head coach Zachary Sutt said.
Weathers contributed 4.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
“Justin had a strong year for us last year,” Sutt said. “We will look for him to continue improving on both ends of the floor and put together a strong year.”
Devin Lancaster (senior) and Holten Madden (junior) are a pair of six-foot-four upperclassmen who bring key size.
“Both of these guys add great size to our group,” Sutt said. “We hope to see them keep improving and compete for a varsity role this year.”
Kraig Ballerstein (junior) and Dusty Jones (sophomore) round out the returners.
“I hope these guys keep gaining confidence and improving,” Sutt said. “I am excited for them to compete for a varsity role.”
Brinn Turner, Brayden Franse, Benton Pitts and Esjae Pearson are a quartet of freshmen who will look for varsity time.
“I am excited to have this group of freshmen,” Sutt said. “They are a talented group of kids who have played a lot of ball. They worked hard all summer and are excited to jump in and immediately compete for roles on the varsity level.”
Hermitage opens the regular season on Nov. 21 at Ballard.
“We are excited to get things rolling. The guys had a good off-season, and I think are ready to get back to work,” Sutt said. “This group did a great job competing this summer and really bought into the process and looking at every day as another opportunity to get themselves and the guys around them better. I look forward to getting things started and expect us to compete every night and put together a great year.”
