Harding Academy Is 1 Game Away from State
In a year where you’re 24-4 and 9-1 in league play and a top 10 team in the city, it’s kind of hard to be overlooked right? Well, that’s not the case for Harding Academy led by Coach Cedric Anderson. He’s quietly put together a really good program over the last few years now they’re quietly, district and regional champions. The expectations were there but they still had to come together to make it happen and they’ve done just that.
They beat ECS last Friday avenging their only district loss and then beat a really good well coached team in Trinity Christian who had a Mr. Basketball finalist in Kaleb Williams. What made it all possible for them this year? It seems as though they came out of nowhere. I had a chance to see them twice earlier in the season and came away impressed both times. They make perimeter shots and have a few guys who are very capable floor spacers with effective outside shooting.
Sophomore Kodi Brooks can make contested and spot up 3 pointers and Jevin Crochrell has been really good in his first year of varsity basketball. The ability to hit the catch and shoot 3 is a constant threat with him on the floor. He’s been quite the surprising discovery for them this year and he’s going to get better.
They are just one game… one game away from a state tournament appearance and it happened via a collection of guys who play a brand of basketball that Coach Anderson has instilled in them this year.
Why They Can Get There
Fred Martin and Chaziah Curry have been so important for them. Martin is the heart and soul of their team; he makes them go. He’s a leader and shoulders a lot of responsibility for his team when he’s on the floor. Often, he’s guarding the other team’s best offensive player. He always takes on the defense against lead guards. On offense, he pushes pace in transition when that’s there for them. He attacks to find teammates but can also score at the rim off bumps and hit the short pull up. I think he’s really made strides with the jumper and while there is more work to do for him, I think he’s the type of player who will just get better. He’s made a big jump from last year and it shows.
Curry just produces for Harding. At 6’5 6’6, he rebounds bigger than he his and scores around the rim with a physical game but can take you out on the perimeter some with his handle and go make a play. He’s their work horse; he’s going to get a double double in most games just on his motor alone and he’s going to do the small things to help them win. They are different players, him and Martin but each is impactful in ways that are important to winning at this time of the year.
It’s not just about those two. Crochrell and Brooks are big pieces to their success along with 6’2 senior – Sean Taylor, 6’5 junior – James Thompson, 6’2 junior – Anderson Foster and sophomore – Raylon Ivy. Ivy hit a huge dagger 3 in their win over ECS last weekend. Here was the scene, he stood at the wing, rose up and knocked down probably the biggest 3 of the game. Of those players I listed, I only named one senior (Taylor). Taylor is more of a slasher, off the bounce and to the rim than a jump shooter but he can score some for them. The rest are underclassmen so this isn’t just a this year thing, this could be a problem for that league for years. Anderson Foster is more reliant on perimeter shooting with the 3. Martin is only a sophomore and Crochrell is only a 9th grader. Thompson gives them a 5-man presence and some size inside to help Curry rebound and he gives them the physicality they need, and they will need that should they win against a good Goodpasture team on this Saturday coming up.
Keys to Victory: I think they defend well. They can speed you up, help each other defensively and they do a good job of not giving up too many second chance points. They have a solid rotation of guys as well maybe going about 8-9 deep off the bench. The keys for them as they head into the weekend against a really good team, making shots and continuing what they have been doing all year. I love the personality of the team; they don’t get to up or down during games and they seem to like playing together which bodes well for the rest of the way. Their stars will have to be their stars, and I think Martin and Curry are capable of that but others who have played well all year in their roles, must play well too. They have a tough road, but I wouldn’t count this team out.
