Despite inexperience, Huskies aiming high
When Hewitt-Trussville High School throws the ball into the paint this season, chances are a familiar face will be catching it.
But the guard making that pass will likely be a face unfamiliar to those who watched the Huskies’ varsity boys basketball team last season.
Hewitt-Trussville head coach Jeff Baker essentially has three experienced varsity players returning to the fold for the 2020-21 season, and all three are forwards. Carter Hollis, Cole Trest and Tyler Pickett are back, but they will be playing alongside an almost entirely new collection of guards.
“We’re young,” Baker said. “Not just young in terms of grade level, but young in terms of experience. We lost six seniors, five which played a lot, and we were really guard heavy.”
Adding to the challenge of piecing things together with a new team is the fact all three of those post players are on the football team, meaning they were not even with the basketball team until after the season began.
Despite all of that, Baker likes what the Huskies have this winter. In his third season at the helm, he said he believes the program is on the right track.
“I like the culture of what we’re building here, and I feel like in year three you’re starting to see more of that in terms of our attitude, our work ethic and our players are really getting better,” he said.
Last season, Hewitt-Trussville struggled to a 12-19 record but did win a pair of Class 7A, Area 6 games. The Huskies went winless in area play in Baker’s first season but notched victories over Spain Park and Vestavia Hills last winter. Hewitt-Trussville fell in the area tournament to Spain Park, a team that went on to the regional final.
“It was a weird season. We had some really good moments, some really good wins,” Baker said. “We took a step forward. We were competitive in a really tough area. There were some bright points even though it didn’t finish the way we wanted to.”
Over Baker’s first two seasons, the Huskies have compiled a 22-33 record, but their average margin of defeat is merely six points. The program is close, but Baker believes it is time to take that next step in its development.
“You’re proving you can compete, now you’ve got to have a winning mindset, you’ve got to expect to win,” he said. “I don’t think we’re far, we’ve just got to keep showing up, working hard and believing in ourselves.”
On the perimeter, Baker mentioned senior Brelyn Turner as a player likely to make big strides in his game this season. Turner was the leading scorer for the junior varsity team a season ago. Sophomores Ray Rolley and Emeka Anwah have bright futures and are going to be looked to for significant contributions beginning this season. Jaggerd Moore is another JV player moving up who will add athleticism and toughness.
Rounding out the varsity roster are Dawson Blount, Tim Brisco, Ryan Harper, Hopkins Long and David Moore.
“We play a tough schedule, but at the same time, if they get in there and get their experience, you’re really going to see us improve throughout the year,” Baker said.