By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Forsyth basketball enjoyed a successful campaign last season.
The Panthers posted a 23-5 record, falling to Hollister in the district semifinal.
Heading into his third season at the helm, head coach Kevin Smith will look to rebuild a lineup gutted by six graduated lettermen.
“Our biggest challenge this year will be experience,” Smith said. “Hopefully as the year goes we can keep getting better.”
6-foot-4 senior Drue Coen is the lone returning varsity letterman for the Panthers, after averaging 6.1 points and 3.9 rebounds as a junior.
He will be joined a host of varsity newcomers in 5-foot-10 senior Willis Bearden, 5-foot-9 senior Phoenix Maloney, 5-foot-9 senior Pablo Comer, 6-foot junior Tyler Strahan, 5-foot-9 junior Braxton Gross, 5-foot-8 junior Camerin Stauffer, 6-foot-3 junior Cooper Jenkins, 6-foot junior Cooper Rains, 5-foot-10 junior Wes Meister, 6-foot-3 junior Jerrett Walls, 6-foot-2 sophomore Chris Halbrook and 6-foot sophomore TaMarkus Holmes.
With so many new faces in the lineup, Smith expects roles and leadership to be a work in progress.
“Our leaders will not be decided until we start practice, usually they will show when we start competing together,” Smith said. “I think our depth will be a positive this year, we have several guys that can play, so this will help with good competition for time. As we blend the team we hope our team is playing its best at the end of the year.”
CLICK HERE FOR LINKS TO ALL OF THE WINTER PREVIEWS
Smith also has high expectations for his team as it works to develop quickly during the season.
“I think we could have a solid year, we will be up and down as the season goes,” Smith said. “We just hope we are playing our best basketball at the end of the season. Our shooting needs to improve from last year. We didn’t shoot it as well as I would have liked.”
While the lineup may need to be almost completely overhauled heading into the season, Smith is eager to embark on the challenge.
“I think the biggest x-factor will be the unknown just because we don’t know the rotation we will need to be successful,” Smith said. “This is exciting just because there are so many possibilities.”
Forsyth tips off its season Nov. 21 at home against Marshfield.
