It Is Amazing Watching Players Grow

I know every coach in the world is rated by how many championships they win but I do not know one coach that doesn't enjoy watching players who come to them still in diapers and by the time they leave school have matured into young men or women ready to go out in the world.  If he can add to that joy is watching them become basketball players.

The last two years following the 2012 Rocky Mount 3-A State Championship Rocky Mount had the talent to possibly make long runs and maybe just return for a 3rd possible title under the rein of Mike Gainey.  The Gryphons had the size coming back but needed somebody to handle the ball.  Be the director of the choir.  Three then sophomores were given the shot to lead the orchestra.  What Mike Gainey saw was turnover after turnover and late in games the ball could not find it's way inside to where the Gryphons were dominant.

Thomas Cooper, Kenaz Cooper and Jaequez Jones all got their shots at being the Gryphon general.  There were games in which it looked like one  finally  had hit the cross roads  and was going to win the job.  Then the very next game their ball handling looked like eighth graders.

It is not easy being the floor general for a team that wants to run a 100 miles and hour.  Junior years saw improvement but still nobody stepped up and said follow me.  It is now their senior years  and all three have said follow me.  Regardless of who is on the floor for the Gryphons their lead bouncer of the ball has been sharp handling the round ball. 

Kenaz Cooper who just won the MVP of the Nash County Tournament  has been the most consistent scorer but this year his want to shoot when the game is on the line or drive to the basket and give it to somebody else has helped paved the way for the shorter then normal Gryphons to start out 7-2.  Now it is insert name here Jaequez Jones his want to take the big time shot or drive to the basket or insert name here Thomas Cooper has the want to take the shot of the game or drive to the basket to dish to another scorer.

The Gryphons have been a pleasant surprise to all.  The rapid pace that Mike Gainey desires can be  horrible for a meek not quite sure point guard.  Today the Gryphons back court trio just might be leading the Gryphons to their best ever year handling the ball.  It is common for the Gryphons of the past to post 25-30 turnovers per night.  So far this season in the games I've watched they have not had a 20 Turnover  night and like the championship game the turnover have been ten or less five in the championship game.

Oh how a coach could only wish.  The past two seasons if the Gryphons had gotten the point guard skills they are receiving this year there just might have been a three time defending state champion.  Now the shoe is on the other foot.  Those tall Gryphons are gone.  This team reminds me of the Hickory team who the Gryphons played for the title in 2012.  Their big men were six three /six four but couldn't hang with the taller Gryphons.  This Gryphon bunch looks like that.   Matchups  are everything.  Whenever the Gryphons meet in the future tall teams they had better have point guards to be able to get the ball inside.  The Gryphons have a trio of veteran guards who will hawk you to death and then run right by you when they have the ball.

So far the only team to blemish the Gryphon record was South Central who had a 6'9" center and two forwards over 6'6".  They also had passers good enough to contend  with the feisty Gryphon guards to get the ball inside.  We have all seen all the Nash County schools and none have a giant in the middle.  Fike is off to an 8-1 start and probably is the favorite for the top spot in the Big East.  The Gryphons have three back court ball handlers and ball hawkers that are going to keep the Gryphons in every game despite the size of the other side.