Head coach Chris Sullens has been building a foundation for his WCHS team. He is very straightforward with his team, parents, and community. Anyone who has heard coach Sullens talk about this year’s team, knows he expects to repeat, if not exceed, the success the boys basketball team experienced last year.
Last season, the Warren County High School boys won the district tournament. Their season ended against Cleveland in the region tournament, right before COVID-19 shut down high school basketball.
SEniOR LEADERSHIP
Four seniors return and they are all captains -- Dee Spates, C.J. Taylor, Aiden Cummings, and Dante Elam. There can only be one captain per game and they will rotate that responsibility.
Coach Sullens explained why they are all four captains. Sullens said, “I trust them as much as they trust me. For three straight years, they have done exactly what they have supposed to do. They have earned that by putting the time and effort into the program. At no point in their career did they leave the team. The upperclassmen have to show the underclassmen how it is supposed to be done.”
The guys who help lead the program are the assistant coaches, Adam Wood, Camron Bond, and Stephen Glenn. Guys who have been in the program and return also have a big influence the team.
SENIOR PLAYER
ATTRIBUTES
Dee Spates is the No. 1 point guard in the district, Sullens says. C.J. Taylor plays multiple positions and likes to take clutch shots. Dante Elam is a multiple-position player, moving from shooting guard to point guard. Aiden Cummings is a center who plays a lot of power forward as well.
OTHER PLAYERS
TO WATCH
Kaden Rutledge is a sophomore who coach Sullens expects to have an impact. Rutledge dressed as a freshman last year with the varsity squad, which is rare for a Sullens-coached team.
Kaden Desmaris is a junior who has been improving. Sullens expects Desmaris to help the team in the paint.
Keldric Cox and Tyler Dunn, both juniors, are two players that should help the Pioneers at the guard position. Dunn is a workout warrior that coach Sullens thinks could be competing in cross fit competitions after high school.
Chance Hunter, a junior, should be a good shooter. Hudson O’Connor, also a junior, is another shooter that can contribute.
Coach Sullens says the team has not had practices or scrimmages during the summer, which has led to a lack of separation on the depth chart.
COVID-19 IMPACT
The boys high school team has been affected by COVID-19 contact tracing. Seven-to-eight players have been quarantined at various times. It has limited who is available to practice.
Earlier in the year, the offseason sports were shut down at the end of August and first of September. Last week, the Warren County School System shut down high school and middle school sports for a week.
Hall of Champion games that were scheduled for this week were postponed. The Tuesday night game with Community was moved to Saturday. Friday night’s cancellation with Moore County was not COVID-19 related. Franklin Road Christian has replaced Moore County for a Friday night game at Charlie Dalton Gym.
TEAM PHILIOSOPHY
Coach Sullens attempts to have a position-less team as much as possible. He is looking for players to play multiple positions. Sullens is not trying to lock a player into one particular position.
Coach Sullens explains it this way, “C.J Taylor can play multiple spots on the floor. In today’s times with scouting and things like Hudl, you put 30 games up, and they know that this is the guy who plays the five and puts up 30 points a night. That is easy to defend. Therefore, we want kids who are versatile. That has worked for us the last couple of years.”
For clarification, a one is a point guard, two – shooting guard, three – small forward, four - power forward, five – center.
On offense, Sullens likes motion. He wants to space out the floor and to take the ball hard to the rack. Seventy-five percent of the time, the ball will come back to a particular spot, but there will be a lot of motion. Twenty-five percent of the time, you will see the Pioneers in a particular set offense. The idea will be to get particular guys shots.
On defense, the Pioneers like to show multiple defensive looks including man-to-man to give team fits. If a team has a hot shooter, you will often to see Warren County go into a zone. In a zone, Warren County will give players certain areas on the floor to defend. There will be some variations on what and how to defend.
COACH COMMENTS ABOUT HALL OF CHAMPION
GAMES AND SEASON
Chris Sullens on the start of the season, “Our guys are ready to get back on the floor and compete. This group has high expectations for this year, and while we may not be where we want to be as far as preparation, this group wants to continue to build on previous success.”
“This season’s journey begins Friday and we are very excited to see our guys back inside our house, The Dalt. It is a long way until February and every day is just preparing us for tournament basketball.”
