By John Miller
When you lose three key players from the previous season, you might think you’re in for a tough year. That doesn’t seem to be the case for the Greenwood Blue Jays.
After graduating key pieces Gavin Litherland, Matt Rowe, and Carson Turner last spring, the team is primed and ready for the upcoming season.
Last year, Litherland was the team’s second leading scorer (10 points/game) and rebounder (6 rebounds/game). Rowe was the starting point guard, and Turner shot 39 percent from 3-point range and was second on the team in assists (2.5 assists/game).
But the focus for the Blue Jays this season isn’t on the players that graduated. It’s on the returning players, which starts with 6-foot-4 senior leader Julius Walker, who averaged 25 points, nine rebounds, and two assists last year for the squad.
“He is a strong all-around player with the ability to play both inside and out,” said Greenwood coach Darren Taylor, who has a 218-111 record in 13 years at the school. “He is receiving interest from several colleges. He’s a tremendous leader and team captain.”
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Certainly, with Walker in the lineup, the Jays feel pretty good about their chances this upcoming season. It doesn’t hurt that they also return another pair of seniors: Garrett Nau and Wesley Bergen.
Last year, Nau averaged 3.2 points and 3 assists, which led the team. Bergen only played in four games last season due to an injury, but was a starter during his sophomore year. “Wes is a great outside shooter and will help fill the void on the board left by graduation,” Taylor said.
Also returning for Greenwood are juniors Joe Brock and Aki Coller, who both gained valuable experience last year as sophomores. “Joe is a hard-nosed, smart player who will definitely help on the boards,” Taylor said. “Aki is a solid point-guard with good quickness and high energy.”
Taylor will also rely on the play of a group of seven newcomers that includes senior Tony Brandt, juniors Don Han, Caleb Haverstick, and Kade Horacek, and sophomores John Sharp, Tate Dukewitz, and Garrett Litherland.
Brandt didn’t play basketball last year, but Taylor believes he can help the team this season.
“Tony is a long athletic type player with good quickness,” he said. “He will be an asset on both ends of the floor.”
Han was the starting point guard on the junior varsity team last year. Taylor hopes he can use that experience to help him contribute on the varsity level.
“We are very excited for the upcoming year,” Taylor said. “We have a senior laden team that has lots of varsity experience. We have good overall team size and depth. Our newcomers should provide immediate help in several facets of the game. The positive attitude that these players have maintained makes it fun.”
