PAXTON — Excitement around Laurel Hill School's boys basketball program is high as the Hoboes get ready to embark on the 2014-15 season.
The Hoboes will have their hands full with defending state champion Malone in District 1-1A, along with rival Paxton.
Laurel Hill Coach Kent Zessin, starting his 12th year with the program, expects his team to be in the mix with the Tigers and Bobcats.
“These guys have been hungry,” he said. “They are a tight-knit team. They’ve grown up playing sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade ball together.
“I’ve watched them grow as young men and into some pretty good basketball players. I think we are well rounded. There’s not one player that just stands out.”
The Hoboes will look to seniors Tee Calloway, Max Smith and Chris Saylor for leadership.
But there’s plenty of talent throughout the team.
Cam Gordon, a junior, can score from the outside. Sophomores Bryson Cooper and T.J. White are athletic and capable of doing everything Zessin asks of them.
“We share the ball well in a high-tempo, fast-pace type game with some ‘Get after them defense all over the court,’ he said. “We are going to be a fun team to watch.
“It’s going to be kind of like the old days with some of those teams I had when I first started coaching. We don’t have the size, but the speed is definitely there.”
At 6-foot-3 Smith is the tallest player on the team, but the Hoboes are anything but small.
“We’ve got five or six players that are 6-2, 6-3,” Zessin said. “We are talking about 1A basketball and I’ll take that all day. If you’ve got the skills, I’ll take that over height.”
The team’s strength will be an ability to pressure the basketball the length of the floor on defense and stretch the floor. He hopes to use that defense to create easy baskets in transition.
On any given night, a different Hobo might lead the team in scoring as Zessin said six or seven players can score from anywhere on the court.
Laurel Hill fans seem to have already noticed this team and Zessin expects the excitement to build.
“The fan base at Laurel Hill seems to be coming out early in the year,” he said. “That will only get larger as they come out to watch a few games and see how we get after it.
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
EmailNews Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Hobo boys basketball coach expects big things from 'hungry' team