By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
For all the acclaim Caden Wiest has received on the gridiron on his way to committing to Missouri State, Reeds Spring boys basketball coach Austin Kendrick wonders if he’s been overlooked on the hardwood.
With the Wolves having lost to graduation their top three scorers from last season, Kendrick suspects Wiest will figure prominently in their fortunes this season.
“He’s a very underrated basketball player,” Kendrick said. “He is the most coachable kid I have ever been around. He comes in every day and works to make himself and his teammates better. His outside shot has improved a lot and he will be a kid who has the ability to help us stretch the floor with his inside-out game. He is a force on the defensive side of the ball as well and is someone that can get down and guard 1-5.”
Wiest averaged 5.4 points and 3.8 rebounds a game last winter. Those numbers should be on the rise, as should Adidison Abshire’s stats.
Abshire led the Wolves with 66 assists last season.
“Abshire has had a breakout season on the football field this year and I fully expect that to translate over to the hardwood as well,” Kendrick said. “He really came into his own at the end of last year and did a great job running the point down the stretch. He was one of our most consistent kids this summer and did a great job of working on his game and really improved the pace that he plays with. ”
Reeds Spring receives a boost with the addition of Taylor Calzaretta, a transfer from Crane.
“He is a kid that has a very high basketball IQ and one that has a great feel for the game,” Kendrick said “He stepped in and seemed to be pretty seamless with the rest of the guys while on the court over the summer. He has spent the fall playing football which has allowed him to develop better chemistry with all of our guys. We will look for Taylor to have a big impact on the floor. He’s a strong kid that has great touch around the rim and has a strong midrange game. He’s also a good shot blocker/rebounder on the defensive end.”
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Maverick Porter and Evan Hefner will get their first shots at significant playing time.
Porter handled himself well in spot duty at the varsity level last season. He made 5-of-7 3-point attempts.
“Porter has a very smooth game. He stepped in at the end of last year and hit some big shots in big games,” Kendrick said. “We will really look for him to be a big piece of our offense. He can shoot well from range but he’s also a crafty athlete that is able to get into the midrange and or attack the rim. As a sophomore, he could be ready to break out this year.
“Hefner is a springy athlete that has a lot of bounce and athleticism,” Kendrick added. “He’s a smart young man that continues to increase his basketball IQ. He will be the guy that brings energy every practice and every game. I am really looking for Hef’ to step up and play a bigger role this season.”
Jace Bolin and Jayden Turner also will be in Kendrick’s regular rotation.
Kendrick is confident Reeds Spring’s cohesiveness will emerge as a telling strength.
“We may not have the elite shooter that we had last year, but this year we will be much more well-rounded,” Kendrick said. “We have a lot of well-rounded athletes and this group has a true understanding of what we are trying to do both on and off the court. They are a group of kids that are bought into our vision and our mission.
“Our biggest strength this season will be how connected this team is,” he added. “This team truly plays for each other. They care about each other and they want to do well for each other.”
This is Kendrick’s third season at Reeds Spring and he’s happy with the direction of the program.
“We will look to turn the corner,” Kendrick said. “The culture is where we want it and all of the guys understand the expectations. We have a really good mixture of experience and youth, as well as some strong leaders in this group. A group like this makes it fun to show up to the gym every day and work.
“I am not big on guessing wins and losses and I am a firm believer in taking it one game at a time,” he added. “I do believe that we will be able to compete with anyone on our schedule. If we come in every day work and improve throughout the season and compete night in and night out I will be a happy coach.”
