Staff
Hewitt-Trussville's Rashad Rolley (5)
Hewitt-Trussville’s Rashad Rolley (5) is a third-year starter for the Huskies.
In three seasons, Jeremy Monceaux has guided the Hewitt-Trussville High School boys basketball program from struggling to consistent contention.
Now, the Huskies believe they’re ready to take the next step.
The Huskies are coming off a 20-11 campaign last season and have continually improved each year. Hewitt has finished above .500 every year of Monceaux’s tenure, an impressive ascension. But there is still room to grow.
Two challenges remain. One is out of their hands: competing in Class 7A, Area 6, arguably the toughest grouping in Alabama, with perennial powers Hoover, Vestavia Hills and Oak Mountain standing in the way. The other, Monceaux says, is something they can control, and that is offensive balance.
“Coming into this year, we put a lot of emphasis on offense,” Monceaux said at the preseason Under the Lights Basketball Media Day. “Our Achilles heel the last three years is that we’ve had a hard time putting the ball in the hole. We’ve gotten into big games and played really well with good execution and elite defense, but the ball didn’t go in.”
Under Monceaux, Hewitt-Trussville has consistently been among the top defensive units in the state. This season, the staff is challenging the team to maintain that defensive edge while playing faster and more fluid on offense.
One player expected to help fuel that offensive shift is junior guard Dalton Black, who moves up to the varsity roster after a strong junior varsity season and a standout summer on the AAU circuit.
“He gives us something as a scoring threat that we haven’t had,” Monceaux said. “He can make tough shots, but 7A varsity basketball is a lot different from JV and AAU.”
Youth will play a big role on this team. Sophomores Casey Sears and Tyler Wilson are expected to be key contributors, with Sears providing a presence in the frontcourt, while Wilson adds to the backcourt.
The Huskies also return a core of experienced upperclassmen, including third-year senior starters Rashad Rolley and Colt Wells, along with Ryan Phelps. The mix of veteran leadership and youthful energy gives Monceaux one of his deepest rosters yet.
“Whether we become really good offensively while still not losing our discipline defensively will ultimately determine our success,” Monceaux said. “We feel like we can go nine or 10 deep. There’s a lot of competition in practice and jockeying for minutes.”
Baylor Strange, Demarion Benson, Luke Stodghill, Declan Black, Cash Langston, Aidan Julbert, Pierce Heinzman, Woogie Crawford, Evan Chandler and Caden Ali are among the players expected to contribute to the Huskies this season as well.
“We think the best is yet to come,” Monceaux said. “We have some pretty high expectations for this season.”
