After last season’s trip to the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA) Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas, the basketball team has been highly motivated in their quest to win it all again this year.
With four returning players who are all hungry for success, Coach JJ Merritt is confident that this squad has what it takes to exceed expectations.
“The four returners that we have were very special last year to our championship team,” Merritt said. “The biggest challenge I think we’ll have is being humble and not complacent because we did win last year and we do have three out of our five starters back.”
It is worth noting that the style of basketball the coaches demand from the team takes a lot of energy and dedication. When asked to define their brand of basketball, this is what the players had to say.
“Toughness, defense, running. We never stop running,” shooting guard Jay’Quan ‘Quan’ Nelson said. “We’re gritty. We like to press, get in your face and just play good basketball,” point guard Jah’Kim ‘JP’ Payne added.
Shooting guard Jay’Quan ‘Quan’ Nelson prepares to make a pass while combo guard Isaiah ‘Zay’ Logan positions himself defensively, illustrating their teamwork and strategy during practice.
When asked about the impact the coaching staff has on their success, the players were keen to emphasize their importance. “Having a coach like coach JJ allows you to be yourself and play the game your way,” Payne said. “He’ll give you confidence, even if you don’t have any,” Nelson added.
Point guard Jah’Kim ‘JP’ Payne demonstrates agility and focus during practice, showcasing his skills as a key player for the Chargers.
The players understand that the road to cutting down another net will not be without its difficulties.
“For me, the biggest challenge is just staying consistent,” Cameron ‘Cam’ Baldwin said. “It is hard bringing 100% energy every day, so I agree that staying focused is the biggest challenge,” combo guard Isaiah ‘Zay’ Logan said. “We’ve got a lot of young guys. The challenge is getting them to be serious and to treat this like an actual job,” Payne added.
Cameron ‘Cam’ Baldwin makes a spectacular dunk during practice, channeling the energy and motivation from last season’s NJCAA Tournament run.
As returning players on a championship-caliber team with high expectations, each of these young men will take on even more responsibility as leaders this season. When asked to share a message for younger players, they offered words of encouragement.
“Stay locked in. If you don’t stay locked in, it’s easy to get knocked off your path,” Payne said. “Don’t get discouraged if you’re not playing enough; just keep working hard. Your time is going to come,” Nelson added.
