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2022-23 BOYS' BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Youth movement in store for Tiger Cubs in 2022-23 season
Two years of heavy senior class graduation has left Greencastle in a position where it will be building from the bottom up with a large group of freshmen bolstering the roster, several of which will see significant time on the floor during the 2022-23 season.
The Tiger Cubs come in after a 9-15 campaign in 2021-22, finishing 4-6 in WIC play, largely built around a senior class that was feeling its way though its own lack of varsity experience.
While raw in terms of time on the floor, Greencastle head coach Bryce Rector said there was a familiar feel to the group as to one that graduated not too long ago.
“We have a similar team make-up of several years back in 2017-18 where we have several experienced players returning this year and some young players joining them,” Rector said. “Our freshmen have had a great summer and fall and have started off the first week of practice well.
“There is definitely going to be a learning curve for our younger guys, both freshmen and sophomores. The growth throughout the season is going to be fun to watch.”
Cole Hutcheson (12.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg) returns for his senior season as the team’s leading scorer from a year ago with fellow seniors Carson Taylor and Boyd Ensley having seen brief time on the floor as juniors.
“Cole has really had a unique high school experience as his role each year as a varsity player has varied significantly,” Rector said about the senior wing. “What he is asked to do for us to win games this year will be different than last year which was different from his sophomore year.
“He has done a really nice job on the court so far this year in practices being a leader. Along with Cole, we have two other seniors in Carson and Boyd. While they don’t have the same playing time experience in varsity games, they have been a part of our program for four years now and know exactly how things need to be run in order for us to win, so I have been really happy with their leadership as well.”
Drew Hutcheson also saw brief time on the varsity squad and is one of three juniors alongside Josh Fuller and Murilo Van Lieshout on the roster. Sophomore Anthony Adams (4.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg) started several games as a freshman while Jacob Simmerman (1.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg) began to see expanded time as the season went along, both joined by classmates Taygan McRoberts, Treyten Clark and Ian Williamson.
“Jake is healing up very well from his knee injury and has looked solid in practice,” Rector said about Simmerman, who missed several games in the 2022 football season due to the injury. “He had a great summer and has really improved.
“I think some people forget that we return Anthony as a sophomore this season as he was sidelined for about half the season last year with some health issues and he has really put in a lot of work and become a much better basketball player. Taygan and Ian both will have some opportunities as sophomores this year as well.
“Drew, Boyd and Carson are all guys who have been around the program for quite some time and are doing a nice job leading and showing some of our younger guys how you win practices and prepare to win games,” Rector added.
Six freshmen, having won county and conference titles in both seventh and eighth grade, join the squad in Sam Gooch, Connor Sullivan, Nathan Sutherlin, Cody Evans, Owen Sorrels and Ashton Dayhuff.
A diverse blend of players, Rector said there was going to be a lot of changes for the group this year and the challenge for the group would be to align their experiences and expectations having had such strong seasons in the past.
“There’s definitely a unique collection of kids on this team,” Rector said. “Our freshman group is skilled and has won a lot of games in elementary and middle school, but high school is a whole different animal.
“What I really like about them is how hard they work and how well they compete. Several of them are going to be asked to contribute now and in a big way. The rest of our group, while they struggled to win games consistently last year, have been a part of teams that have won consistently in the past.
“Regardless of if we are winning or losing several games in a row at the beginning of the season, I am confident that this team will compete daily in practice and be ready to go for every game,” Rector added.
Of all the changes for Greencastle this season, none may be bigger than the one that comes at the end of the campaign with the Tiger Cubs dropping down to Class 2A for the IHSAA Boys’ Basketball State Tournament.
In a sectional featuring the rest of the county schools, Rector said the schedule had put the team in position to win Class 3A sectionals in the past and was one that would see a young group grow up quickly by the time the Wabash Valley Classic, the Putnam County Classic and sectional play began.
“Honestly, I have not given much thought to us being Class 2A now against Class 3A previously,” Rector noted. “Our schedule hasn’t changed, so we are still going to be playing the same competition throughout the season to prepare us for tournament time as we did when we were in 3A.
“Being in the same sectional as the other county schools will be interesting as you play each other in the county and then will likely have to play one another again in a couple of weeks. I think our sectional is tough; all four county schools will be competitive,
“Southmont returns a lot of really good players and Parke Heritage will be solid,” Rector added. “It will be fun for people to watch Greencastle at the beginning of the year and then see them again come tournament time.
“A lot of growth will happen in that time frame and I think both the county and the sectional will be up for grabs.”