Hermitage will look to rebound from a seven-win season last year behind junior Matt Horn and a host of players that will have to greatly expand their roles this year.
Horn will be the unquestioned leader for the Hornets this season.
“He knows what you have to do to get the job done. He had a breakout season last year, and I think he surprised many people on what he could do and teams weren’t prepared to stop him,” Hermitage coach Joe Nicholson said. “This year will be interesting because they will know who he is and there will be a lot more pressure on him. Over the past few years we have stressed fundamentals so much in our program that I think that last year it all came together for Matt.”
That breakout year saw Horn average 25.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4 steals and 2.8 assists per game as a sophomore.
“Matt worked hard all summer. He was at everything we had. He puts the time in and does the things when he is in the gym that you have to do to get better. Sometimes you walk in the gym and you see guys throwing up half court shots and doing things that will not help their game at all. Matt is always working on the fundamental things that you have to work on to get better. So many players don’t understand that working on small fundamental things is something a player must do on their own if they want to be successful at the high school level. Matt gets that,” Nicholson said.
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Behind Horn, no player that averaged more than two points per game returns.
Junior Alex Hamilton is a player Nicholson thinks will have a big year in an expanded role this season.
“I believe that Alex Hamilton will step up huge for us this year as a post player,” Nicholson said. “Alex has been working hard on his inside game. His shot is coming along great and he has himself in great shape. Alex is a junior and can rebound as good as any post guy we have had.”
Senior Rory Higgins returns after playing for the first time last season. Sophomore Justin Mitchell saw some starts in his freshman year. Classmates Jaceton Wright and Blake Ball are two more players that could see varsity time this year.
Horn’s younger brother Clay is a freshman this year who will be an impact player this season. Bradley Forrest and Wesley Martin give Nicholson two more freshmen who could be immediate impact players. Wyatt Mooney and Mason Newcomer are two move-in additions.
“We are going to need people to step up and score. I am hoping that we can improve our offensive game and have multiple players getting our points this season and not relying on one person for all of our points,” Nicholson said.
Overall, Nicholson is hoping to see improvement from his team throughout the season.
“My expectations of my team are that when the season is all over and in the books that we are better players both individually and as a team than we were when we started the season,” Nicholson said. “I also want my guys to grow as people, off of the court. I want them to realize that the same principles that will make us successful on the court will make them successful off of the court.”
Hermitage opens the season on Nov. 20 at home against Green Ridge.
