TRENTON --- The air is filled with the sound of balls bouncing on hardwood and the swish of players connecting on shots. Basketball is officially back at Jones Senior High School.
Coach Jason Barker is beginning his second season at the helm for a Trojans squad that finished 8-15 last year.
Barker characterized last season as one of missed opportunities.
“We had a couple of guys get hurt,” he said, “and then we had some new guys move into the county and trying to get them all to play together. I feel like if we could have had them together for a whole year, they could have been really good together.”
Going into this year, Barker said the team is going to be smaller in terms of height, with junior Edward Frost being the tallest player on the team at 6-foot-4. He said this will be Frost’s first year playing varsity and helping him adjust will be important.
Barker said the team will be led by guards K.D. McCall and Glen White, who will play on a roster with several players getting their first action in a varsity setting. The head coach said he expects some growing pains this year but is optimistic about the Trojans’ chances.
“You are going to have guys getting used to playing new positions,” he said, “you are going to have guys getting used to playing varsity. We are going to have some growing pains, but I feel like this group can come together and be pretty good.”
Barker cited the lack of size on the team as both strength and a weakness.
“Even though we are undersized,” he said “I think we are going to play good team ball and be good defensively. I think we are going to be able to put some pressure on guys to create steals and fast-break points.”
Forming on-court chemistry will also be significant for Jones Senior.
“Getting them used to each other is going to be a key,” Barker said. “Most of these guys are team-first guys, so it’s a little easier to build chemistry in those situations.”
Barker said McCall will be a big part of maintaining the team-first culture.
“K.D. is a team-first leader,” he said. “If there is a shot there for him to take, he’s going to take it. But if one of his teammates has a better opportunity, he’s going to give it to his teammates.”
The Trojans open up the 2013-14 campaign on the road against Greene Central High School on Tuesday.
Noah Clark can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Noah.Clark@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @nclark763.