“We are 17-1 now. Everyone is getting better individually and, more importantly, getting better as a team—staying together and working together as a single unit on and off the court. It’s really fun to be part of a team where there’s a genuine love for one another. That’s what we have.”
So offers Jay Slone, Head Coach of Prep Men’s Basketball at SPIRE Academy. Midway through the season, you can’t ask for much more than being 17-1. One of the best moments of this season of on-court domination came in a win against Western Reserve. Again, Slone: “We were up 39 points with nine minutes left. We played extremely well. It was also a ton of fun. This win is a perfect example of how this team, gelling the way it has, is making its own magic out there.”
Of course, even though basketball is a team sport, it’s worth calling out individual performances:
On the subject of Sean Register who, in a season of outstanding performances, is having a particularly outstanding season, here are a few stats that get at what he’s been up to this year:
But numbers don’t tell the whole story. “Sean is one of the most down-to-earth kids I’ve ever been around,” says Slone. “He’s reaping the benefits of a decision he made a year ago to approach basketball like a pro. He changed his diet. He cut out sugar. He began to take the weight room seriously and dominated details on the court. It’s now showing with his production, leading our team in scoring and rebounding, shooting an incredible 59% from the floor.”
As for the rest of the season, Men’s Prep is looking to get all six of its seniors committed to play college ball. Slone also wants the team to qualify for Nationals this year. “Morale is high. The coaches love this group and the players love each other. As a team and as individuals, there’s a lot of potential for the present and future, but right now the present is a great place to be.”
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