The Sinclair Pride Men’s Basketball team feels like this season could be a memorable one.
“Hopefully this year will be a turning point in Sinclair basketball,” said starting point guard Kevin Vest. “We’ve had some good teams in the past, but I feel like this team could be great.”
“I predict a trip to the National Championship tournament,” said Assistant Coach Marcus Stewart.
Stewart said the strengths of the team will be its versatility, length and athleticism.
“Our goal is to get out, run and play some defense,” Stewart said. “We’re going to try to score in the high 90’s, low 100s.”
Stewart expects many of those points to come from the Pride’s six freshman.
“Our freshman have come a long way, and have improved everyday since they got here,” Stewart said. “Especially our bigs from Kentucky: Kevin Williamson and Phillip Hayes.”
Hayes, a 6-foot-9 center, said playing college basketball in Ohio has been an adjustment.
“When I first came in, I didn’t know anyone, so I was kind of uncomfortable playing with them,” Hayes said. “But the more and more we practiced together, the more comfortable I got.”
Stewart said the thing that surprises him most about this team is the camaraderie.
“(The team) gets along real well. A lot of guys come from different parts of the country and the fact that they’ve been here less than a month and have built such good friendships and lifelong relationships is something shocking to me,” Stewart said.
Vest said trips to the Veterans Association to watch football with veterans and participating in the Muscle Dystrophy Association telethon have helped unify the team.
As the only returning sophomore that played any games last year, Vest said he will take on a bigger leadership role and is excited to see how the team plays in a scrimmage against Fairmont State College on Oct. 31.
“The way people play in games is always different than the way they play in practice,” Vest said. “(The scrimmage) is about finding out who the game time players are and who the practice players are.”
Stewart said the Nov. 14 game against Mott Community College is one he has circled on his calendar.
“(Mott) has won three out of the last six national titles. They’re a team that is kind of a measuring stick for our level of basketball,” Stewart said. “If we can go up there and get a win, that would definitely establish Sinclair as a power to be reckoned with.”