Winter came on like a fast break and means we're that much closer to everything that the hardwood will include! Every season has it's own flavor but with new additions to the local scene & significant turnover from last year to this one the 2022/2023 season will be a ride all it's own.
In preparation for the first games this edition comes courtesy of coach Derek Hutchinson talking about the first season for Horace boys hoops.
Before looking ahead, what have been the best memories from the last few years as you have laid the foundation for this season & beyond?
"I started with these kids when they were freshman, we have all climbed up the competition ladder together. Throughout that it has been really rewarding to see their continued growth and experience them hitting so many milestones in their development as players and people. There have been a lot of moving parts & obstacles throughout this transition and we have been together through it all. As a result, I think you will see a really cohesive unit that will sell out for each other and feed off each other."
Did your team participate in any camps this past Summer? If so, how did your team benefit from that? Did any players surprise you with what they showed during the workouts?
"We put in a ton of work this summer. We hosted a development program at our school and spent the better part of June & July working with our guys to develop skill and chemistry. Every player made huge gains and it was great to see them come together to achieve personal & team goals. The younger players really made an impression on me this summer. Carter Evanson is a Freshman that is going to turn some heads. He has an incredible feel for the game and the skillset to back it up. Another surprise would be the performance of 8th grader Aiden Green. He played with us in a couple of tournaments and really showed out. Aiden is incredibly skilled and as smooth as they come with the ball in his hand. Another freshman, Kaiden Peterson, had a great summer for us as well. He is a great shooter and really worked hard this summer to develop his dribble drive game."
Have you already had players in the gym working on their game this Fall?
"We’ve had some really good open gym sessions this fall where I saw guys challenging each other and competing hard. One thing that has really impressed me is a group of our players that have chosen to meet up at the wellness almost daily, sometimes at 5am, to work on their craft together. I think any coach would tell you that this is something that will help them through the season as we navigate a really tough EDC and non-conference schedule."
Who are some of the players you anticipate counting on this season & beyond? How have you seen them improve over the years? How might they continue to progress?
"Isaiah Williams and Carvin Fish are poised to have really big seasons for the Hawks. Williams was virtually unstoppable at camp this summer, he has an elite skillset and his athleticism is through the roof. He is a smooth ball handler with a great jumper & is also a lockdown defender that will wreak havoc on opposing guards. Fish is the big man on our roster at 6’5” but don’t let that fool you, he has great footwork and the ability to do damage from outside of the paint or off the dribble drive as well. Carvin is coming off a huge JV season where he averaged 23pts and 13 rebounds as a sophomore."
Are there any others that you think might compliment the main guys? What do they bring to the roster?
"Mike Siffoi is another guy that should have a great year. He is strong, athletic, and lightning quick. At any given time he is most likely the quickest player on the floor for both sides. Mike can shoot the ball with the best of them and led us in 3 pt. % last year. He has developed into a great leader on this team and usually the ringleader of the aforementioned 5AM workouts. Brady Westphal is a grinder, he does many of the little things that please a coach. He makes a ton of hustle plays and is a smart basketball player with great IQ of the game. He can also torch the nets from deep and before you know it he has hit 4 or 5 deep balls in a row. These guys get better and better every time they step on the floor together. I’m excited to see them continue to get a feel for each other’s game and use the exploit other teams."
"Another compliment to our roster is Moustapha (Moose) Diomande. He is long, athletic, has great ball skills and is slippery when attacking the rim. We lack size and his length and ability to crash the glass and pull down boards this year will be vital. Zach Velure is another complimentary player. He has a beautiful shot and is really torching the nets this summer and fall. Zach plays with a high motor and will contribute on the glass and defensive end as well."
To boil it down, what would make the upcoming season a successful one?
"I think our success this season hinges on these players realizing that they can play with anybody and then going out and doing it on a nightly basis. We are young, inexperienced, and undersized, but that will not even come close to matching our fierce competitiveness and determination. These guys are ready to leave it all on the floor and because of that, we will achieve great things."
There's been a lot of talk about the proposed three-class division. Do you have a comment about that?
"The three-class system won’t please everyone but from a competition standpoint it is the right way to go. Change is hard, especially with the rich history of high school athletics in ND, but I think it’s the right move in the long run."
Is there anything else you would like people to know about your program or players?
"The three pillars of our basketball program are Attitude, Effort, and Love. We want our players to keep a positive Attitude, give maximum Effort in all areas of life, and Love people."