LAUREL HILL – Expectations are high for Laurel Hill School's boys basketball team.
With a blend of youth and experience, the Hoboes could make some noise in an always tough District 1-1A.
Malone High School came out of the district two years ago to win the state championship. Add always tough teams in Paxton and Ponce de Leon, and the seven-team district could be one of Florida's most competitive small-school districts.
Hobo Coach Kent Zessin, who enters his 13th season helming the program, likes who he has on his team.
“We’ve had some good guys come and go,” he said. “At 1A, you are kind of up and down (talent goes in cycles). I think we are kind of on an up-climb right now.
“We have a well-rounded team. We are not guard heavy and we are not post heavy. We have a team that has a lot of interchangeable players.”
Zessin said that out of his roster's 10 players, eight can probably have any position on the court.
“That’s nice for a coach trying to make a lineup,” he said. “There are so many options you (have) if foul trouble should occur. Or even if they are not having a good game — it’s going to keep the intensity up.
“It’s going to create a competitive atmosphere during practices, and it should show on the court (in the game).”
Cameron Gordon and Riese Edge are the team's two seniors. Juniors Bryson Cooper, Lane Alford and T.J. White played valuable minutes as sophomores. Another junior, Dakota Bly, didn’t see as much action on the varsity last year, but he’s stepping up his game.
Sam Durm, a sophomore, led the team in scoring in the season opener against Escambia Charter. Durm is in his first year on the varsity, as is Justin Simmons.
“Sam has done real great so far,” Zessin said. “I’m happy with the way he’s playing.”
Mason Cooper, Bryson’s younger brother, is just in the eighth grade, but stands 6 feet, 3 inches tall, and is expected to have a big role on this year’s team.
“Mason Cooper has a lot of potential and upside,” Zessin said. "He’s the kind of player that is like a sponge that wants to improve and always is asking what he can do to get better.”
Zessin believes having so many interchangeable players is the team's strength.
“Being able to play so many players not only gives you depth at some positions, it gives you depth at several positions,” he said.
“It’s going to be like some of my teams that in the past that loved to get after you defensively and then feed off that and run and score the bucket.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill boys basketball team on the upswing