With an early loss in just the second round of the 2024-25 state playoffs, the boys basketball team is hoping to surpass past achievements this season. The Knights began their season 3-3.
The team’s main goal this season is to make progress in the playoffs, according to senior co-captain Darrion Hadley.
“Our goal is to make a run in the playoffs,” Hadley said. “There is good competition, but it’s definitely possible.”
Going into Region 4-AAAA play, the Knights beat M.L. King 68-45 on Dec. 2, and Creekside 80-61 on Dec. 5, moving them to first in the region at 2-0.
“This was a good start to our region games,” Senior Noel Abraham said. “We didn’t do as well as we wanted to before we started the region games, but those games were to prepare us and help us build team chemistry before we entered region play, which is the most important part of the season other than playoffs.”
Abraham said Pace Academy is the Knights’ primary competition within region play, having been in the same region for the first time last year. Last year, the Knights lost to Pace 77-39 and 71-56 in region play, and finished the region ranked fourth with a record of 9-5.
“Our goal within the region is to beat Pace,” Abraham said. “Pace won our region last year, and they already have Division I players committed, so I definitely think they will be the hardest team in our region this year.”
The Knights graduated six players last year, leaving the team with a couple of returning seniors to lead, as well as a few new and returning juniors.
“I think [the seniors] have a good influence on [the juniors],” head coach Evan Jefferson said. “We have a pretty tight-knit team. The juniors are really buying into what their role is; they don’t really try to overstep. It seems like it falls into place.”
Despite losing valuable players in the previous season, Jefferson still feels confident in the team’s ability,especially with new additions to the team.
“A few of the new juniors had really good off seasons,” Jefferson said. “They played great in the summer, continued in the fall league, and we’re kind of transitioning them to be better players. I think a few of them that will have a great impact and really stood out during pre-season were Lincoln Finley and Chase Presley.”
Hadley plans to help lead the team, focused on modeling for the younger players on the team.
“I try to lead by example,” Hadley said. “Doing what’s right, even the little things, so the young guys can see what’s right”
Finley made varsity this season and has already recognized the leadership on this team.
“All the seniors are really good leaders,” Finley said. “I mean my brother played on the team, but I feel very welcomed this year. I’m really excited to see what we can do, and coach Jefferson is a great coach, too.”
Senior Lawrence Barreau was not able to play in the previous season due to transfer difficulties. Jefferson said he will be a great addition to the team this year, someone no other team will see coming.
“Lawrence, he’s gonna be a nice hidden gem that everyone’s gonna see this year,” Jefferson said. “He’s a very strong player, and I’m excited to see what he does with this team.”
Jefferson said he took a slightly different approach to pre-season training, as he has learned more about the team and the players from his first year coaching at Midtown last season.
“We lifted weights last year, but we did a lot more this year,” Jefferson said. “The conditioning was a lot harder. We did three days a week, and we mixed it up, so it wasn’t all running. We’re giving them something different, trying to give the body a shock treatment.”
Finley agreed. He said the changes in pre-season training had visibly noticeable results.
“I went to pre-season stuff last year, too, but this year it was more helpful,” Finley said. “Once we got back on the court, I felt a lot different. I felt more in shape and comfortable during tryouts and the beginning of practices this season than I did in the summer and fall pre-season leagues.”
Jefferson said with the new additions, the team is expected to thrive with every player contributing.
“Our biggest strength is our depth,” Jefferson said. “We have a lot of depth this year, and we can definitely play 10-12 guys, who are all very physical. Our physicality will also give us a big advantage; we don’t really let anyone push us around.”
Despite an overall strong team, Jefferson believes height was lost in the graduating class; however, it won’t prevent the team from doing what needs to be done.
“We do lack in the height department,” Jefferson said. “We lost some major pieces when it comes to height but what we lack in height we can make up with heart and fight.”
