By Chris Parker
Eminence boys basketball went 17-8 and won a district title last season.
If the Redwings are to repeat, they will need new players to step up.
“Youth and inexperience will be one of our biggest weaknesses,” Eminence head coach Casey Yardley said. “We will only return six points from last year’s district championship team. We graduated four really impactful players off last year’s team, and it is definitely going to be a process to get all these guys acclimated to the varsity level.”
Yardley will lean on the tradition of Eminence basketball as they team looks to the present and future.
“Something we are excited about at Eminence is the future,” Yardley said. “The class that just graduated won over 65 games in their tenure and was a huge part of our program the last four years. Our young guys have put in a ton of work to keep our tradition alive. We are a completely different type of team than I’ve ever had, and we are excited to work and grow together to make us the best version we can be.”
Two seniors do return in Logan Sullivan and Morgan Ipock.
Sullivan, a guard, averaged 4.1 points and 2 rebounds per game as a junior.
“Logan is a great set shooter when he gets his feet under him,” Yardley said. “He’s a hard worker with a varsity-ready build and has been part of our program since fourth grade. With a young team this season, we’ll lean on the varsity experience he gained last year and his physicality to help steady our group.”
Ipock contributed 2.7 points per game last season.
“Morgan can be a great playmaker when he plays within himself,” Yardley said. “He has a knack for knocking down shots and brings a playmaking ability that helps both himself and his teammates score. We really need him to take the next step to being an all-around player if we want to be successful this year, and we believe he will.”
Jr Robinson (junior wing), Bradyn Vincent (junior guard), Weston Mays (sophomore guard), Eli Hyatt (senior center), Brendon Barnes (freshman guard), Mason Foster (freshman guard/forward), Jett Spurgin (freshman point guard) and Joseph Robinson (freshman guard) are all looking for varsity time this season.
Yardley on Jr Robinson: “Jr Robinson is our most athletic player. He plays above the rim and can really disrupt people defensively. He will be a big part of us competing athletically every night.”
Yardley on Vincent: “Bradyn is another player who we will rely on physically and athletically. He is a good anticipator defensively and can score on all three levels.”
Yardley on Mays: “Weston is a natural born ball handler with the ability to be a great passer as well. He is a player that can really take a step this year and help to set the foundation for us going forward.”
Yardley on Hyatt: “Eli is our biggest and strongest player. When we play teams with real size we may rely on him to anchor our defense in the middle of the paint.”
Yardley on Barnes: “Brendon is going to step in and make an immediate impact. He can really shoot the basketball from three and has a high basketball IQ.”
Yardley on Foster: “Mason may be our most all-around skilled player. He can score at all three levels and will have to anchor our defense most nights. He too will have to make an immediate impact for us to compete night in and night out.”
Yardley on Spurgin: “Jett may be our most gritty and competitive player. He is a true point guard who we will rely on to get everyone involved and get us into everything we will do offensively when he is on the floor. Like our other freshman, he will be relied on immediately to help us compete.”
Yardley on Joseph Robinson: “Joseph is a high-motor guy who is a great defender. He can really dog people on the defensive end and is working to improve his game offensively every day.”
This year’s team may by inexperienced, but they will be able to stretch defenses with shooting.
“We will have the ability to really shoot the basketball this year,” Yardley said. “Almost every player we put on the floor should be able to knock down an open shot. When shots are falling offensively, this may be the most offensively talented team we have seen at Eminence in a long time. I hope our depth will also be a key for us. We have not had this type of depth in a long time. I hope to be eight players deep and they all be able to contribute.”
Eminence opens the season Nov. 29 against Bunker in the Current River Challenge.
“We have a great basketball tradition at Eminence,” Yardley said. “We pride ourselves on competing every night with whoever we are playing. We are going to try and get better every night this year and hopefully will be playing our best basketball at the right time.”
