Cougar Boys Learning Under New Coach

For the Piedmont Academy varsity boys basketball team, the 2013-2014 season will be one of change.

The Cougars will compete for first-year coach Michael Wilson, who has been busy learning everyone’s strengths and working to get the players in game condition before the Dec. 3 opener against Monsignor Donovan.

“The boys basketball team will look very different this year,” Wilson said.

“I see a high school basketball coach’s role as one who empowers his players to develop and grow skills which will help them be successful after high school. By not allowing the players to learn from mistakes and grow based on their talent set is doing a disservice to them.

“I believe any style of play that will not showcase what our student-athletes are capable of doing is not only unfair to them, but in contradiction with the school’s philosophy of developing mind, body and spirit and also detrimental to he program’s success.”

For the first game, the new coach said Hank Strickland, Mack Brady, Chandler Burrell, Zach Beggs and Britton Bailey are the probable starting five.

Ty Patterson and Michael Edwards are pushing the first five and the competitiveness will serve as a positive to the team as the season progresses, the coach said.

Strickland will be at point guard for the Cougars.

“He is one of the smartest individuals, let alone basketball players, I have ever been around,” Wilson said. “I think a point guard like Hank is vital in order to be able to make quick adjustments during the game and not have to waste time outs to communicate what is needed.”

Burrell, at 6-4, has the ability to create matchup problems for opponents and has been give the green light by his coach to shoot any time he has the basketball.

“He has the skills needed to play at the next level,” Wilson said.

The coach said Beggs is also a strong asset to have in the program as a great shooter who will also create matchup issues.

“Zach can play any position on the court,” Wilson said. “With his shooting, the opponents must defend him on the perimeter but he possesses the skill to drive, shoot off the dribble and is strong enough to be effective in the low post.”

Brady, a freshman, will be in the backcourt for Piedmont and is the team’s most explosive player to the basket, his coach said.

“He is going to be a great basketball player,” Wilson said. “He is creative in his play and smart enough to know what is needed from him. He combines a point guard’s mind with a scorer’s mentality. He’s a scorer in the purest sense and when he gets his feet set from the outside, he can shoot with anyone.”

Bailey is working the high post in the team’s zone and man offensive sets. He is the lone senior on this year’s team and he has impressed his coach and teammates with his leadership ability.

Patterson, a junior, is expected to contribute in 2013-2014 along with freshman Edwards.

Wilson said Chris Cain, Wyatt Galloway and Zach Wilson will be counted on to contribute along with Chris Coogler, Zach Mooney and Zach Sanders.

“Offensively, we will look to push the basketball up the court at every opportunity and get as many attempts as possible,” Wilson said. “I have told my team if they are open they have the green light to shoot. In the half court offense, we will run a lot of screens against both man and zone defenses as we try to get quick attempts.”

Rebounding is a concern for the coach due to his team’s overall lack of height.

“Rebounding comes down to who is willing to work harder and longer in the paint,” Wilson said. “I know I have someone on the team who will do that. If it’s apparent that person is not on the court early in a game, I will find some on the bench. We will not be outworked in the paint or on defense. Those are two areas that everyone can be productive if they are willing to outwork the opponent.”

Being in game condition early in the season is a worry for Wilson, as it is for most basketball coaches.

“Ultimately, I am focused on which five will be on the court at the end of the game, as opposed to who has their name announced before tip-off,” Wilson said.

“I’m emphasizing to the team that it doesn’t matter who starts, but who finishes a game. So many times, teams come from behind late because teams do not know how to finish games. Teams that are able to finish games are able to make good decisions, understand the importance of each possession, commit to always playing good and aggressive defense and to make free throws.”

Focusing on the smaller aspects of a contest is something the players have worked on in the preseason.

Following the opener against Monsignor Donovan, the Cougars will host Gatewood Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

The Middle School Cougars also open their season Dec. 6 against Gatewood at 4:30 p.m.