New talent joins returning talent
If your memory of last year’s Homewood boys basketball season is Malik Cook’s floating shot that was swatted away at the hoop with 8 seconds left, that’s probably a bitter memory.
There isn’t a Patriot fan, player or coach who didn’t believe that was goaltending, robbing the Patriots of a one-point lead against Lee of Huntsville in the Class 6A semifinals and a shot at a state title.
If that’s your only memory, you’re shortchanging a tremendous year for the Patriots, who went 28-8.
Not that it didn’t sting.
“It probably took me a good month to get over it,” Patriots coach Tim Shepler said, “to work it through mentally. But we ended up saying this is going to be a positive in these kids’ lives to realize life doesn’t seem like it’s fair at times, but you have to work through it. That’s when you lean on your spiritual side, and realize to put things in their proper perspective.”
The Patriots are loaded this season.
“We’ve got a bunch of seniors coming back and a lot of experience and feel good about the opportunities that are going to be out there for these guys this year. We lost a very good player in Malik Cook, who is up at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. We’re going to miss him, but I think these guys are ready to step up.”
Depth is not an issue. Shepler has 16 players – someone’s probably going to have to play JV – including six football players who were still in the playoffs as of this writing. He has 10 seniors.
Where last season’s team looked to Cook, this year’s team is more balanced. Practices have been highly competitive as players push for playing time.
Among those expected to step up this season are Austin Patterson, Chris Miller and Peyton Brown. Freshman forward Logan Padgett will be a contributor right away, Shepler said.
“He scored the first nine points in our preseason scrimmage, but then he can turn around and be a freshman real quick. So we understand that. But he’s had a good fall,” Shepler said.
He’s the son of Samford coach Scott Padgett.
Newcomer Trey Jemison, a transfer from Ramsay, could be the biggest surprise. Jemison, a 6-foot-9 power forward, is just a sophomore whose best days are ahead of him. He’s young, but he’s a vocal leader, and with 10 seniors, Shepler doesn’t think leadership will be a problem.
Shepler knows his team will have a target on its back, but he said his squad embraces that. He’s put together another challenging schedule that he thinks will pay off in the long run.
“We feel like our region is very strong, and it’s going to take a lot to get back to Birmingham.”