Seahawks to take care of "unfinished business"

With a wealth of seasoned players back this year, the Seahawks boys basketball program plans to take care of business this year by shooting for a berth in the state championship.

But first they have to take care of some things that aren't finished from last year.

"We left some unfinished business back in Maclay," said coach Fred Drake, now entering his second year at the helm of the program.

With a 17-9 record last year, the Seahawks lost the district championship 39-30 at the Maclay gym last February, and then bowed out of the regionals a week later with a loss at home to Port St. Joe.

Drake is aware of the strengths of Class 2A Region 1, District 4 rivals Jefferson County, Tallahassee Maclay and Tallahassee North Florida Christian, and isn't looking past anybody.

But with three players who last year scored in double-digits back again, and with several fresh Seahawks to plug gaps, the team's fortunes look solid and strong going into the upcoming season.

 "That's on paper," said Drake. "We got to live up to it. My expectations are to win district and make it to the final four in Lakeland, if everyone buys into the system."

A look at this year's squad

Two returning seniors, Deshaun Winfield and Jeremy James, and two new seniors, Alexander Simmons and A.J. Williams, are expected to provide the leadership and maturity so crucial to putting together a winning season.

At 6"4 and 180 pounds, Winfield is coming off a year where he averaged 15 points and nine per game, with two blocks per game.

He'll be supplemented at the post by 6'4", 200-pound Alexander "Zan" Simmons, who didn't play last year.

"I'm looking for Deshaun to give us a presence in the inside, and along with Zan to bang it inside and score from inside," said Drake, who will be helped this year by assistant coach Carlos Hill. "Zan gives more height and that's a presence that was missing inside. That was a problem with Maclay last year; we couldn't match up with their big guys."

Coming off of a season where he averaged nine points, six assists and three steals per game, 5'10" senior James is expected to play at the wing, and perhaps point guard if he adapts to the role.

"He plays aggressive defense. That's the energy guy, to set the tone for the game and to give us those steals on defense," Drake said of James.

Senior Williams will likely be a back-up guard, after having shored up his academic standing and returning to the varsity squad.

The team sports two juniors who both saw plenty of playing time last year, 5'10' Arron Prince, who averaged six points and seven assists per game last year, and 5'11" Austin O'Neal, who averaged 10 points and five assists per game.

"We got to get a true point guard to step up and take control, and make sure the offense is running smoothly, who doesn't make turnovers when teams start pressing us full court, man to man," said Drake. "Last year it showed that we didn't have a true point guard."

He said O'Neal, who can score from the wing, may be called to play point guard fulltime, provided he gives up expectations of amassing a lot of points. "The problem is he wants to score," said Drake.

Three other players round out the juniors, including 6'3 A.J. Arnold, new to the team this year after playing for Carrabelle and then recovering from a shoulder injury; 5'9" Tydron Wynn and 5'9" Brandon Hand.

Drake said Wynn, who played lineman for the Seahawks, "showed a lot of improvement. He showed he can hit a jump shot. He's definitely won his teammates over that he deserves to be on varsity."

Five sophomores are on the varsity roster this year, led by 6'1" Dalin Modican, who was a sixth man last year. "I expect him to play on a regular basis, at wing and post," said Drake. "He's another energy guy, a young version of Jeremy James."

The other sophomores vying for a chance to see plenty of playing time are 6'6" Michael Turner, 6'3" Adam Joseph, 5'10" Marcus Allen and 5'8" Zach Peters.

High hopes for freshman Morris

The team has only one freshman, and he will be a force to be reckoned with, certainly against area competition and perhaps statewide if the Seahawks advance.

At 6'6" and 170 pounds, Carlos Morris has bulked up a little from last year when he averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks per game.

Morris played this summer with the AAU's Team Florida Breakdown and is being eyed by basketball scouts from across the country.

"He's already a Division 1 recruit, they're keeping up with him," said Drake. "He gained a little weight, and has been in the weight room a little bit. He definitely got better. You can tell he worked on penetrating.

"He's already better than last year," said the coach. "He doesn't drop his head and he's actually working on his defense. He's taking it seriously; you can tell the difference that AAU did for him over the summer. He's a quiet kid, but he's a little bit more outspoken this year."

Morris hit for 24 points in the team's second pre-season game Nov. 18 at Sneads against Altha, which the Seahawks won 68-39. James added 11, Winfield 10, Simmons eight, Joseph five, Prince and Arnold each four, and Williams two. Morris and Simmons lead the team with seven rebounds each, while Joseph blocked a shot.

The Seahawks won the first pre-season game Nov. 15 at Sneads, winning 51-40 behind Winfield's 21 points. "Carlos wasn't shooting the ball well," said Drake. "I wondered ‘Did he lose the jump shot in working on attacking the basket?"

Simmons added 15 points, James six, Morris four, Prince three and Joseph two. Joseph, Winfield and Simmons each had nine rebounds, and Winfield added three blocked shots.

Drake said he is looking to the inexperienced players to step up. "I'm hoping that they fit in, that they understand my program and my expectations," he said.

He said the biggest challenges will be filling the point guard slot, improving on rebounding and avoiding unnecessary turnovers.

Drake said now that he knows his players better, he has adapted his coaching style. "I've gotten to know them as a person. Some are sensitive and so I've tried to change up my style to where I'm not so much in their face. I'm trying to calm down from that and let them play.

"They've told me ‘don't do all that fussing and yelling' and so I'm not much criticizing but just letting them play," he said.

The team has a brand-new spacious gym to play in this year, but whether it will help or hurt them is still up in the air, because of how intimidating the cramped confines of "The Matchbox" could be.

"We have only seven home games in the gym," said Drake. "In order to get to state, to be good, you got to win on the road. We got to know how to win the big games in someone else's gym."

Rounding out the junior varsity roster this year are Deandre Robinson, Chance Bufkin, Lakota Humble, Adrian Hendels, AJ Allen, Marquez Williams, Austin Larkin and Makenzie Wilson.