Oak Hill Academy will lean on (from left to right) Shelton Mitchell, B.J. Stith, Cody Martin, Rokas Gustys, Caleb Martin and Terrence Phillips this winter.
Photo by Randy Sartin
Steve Smith
2012-13 record: 32-6, No. 8 final Academy Top 10 national ranking
Players to watch: Tony Anderson (6-7, Jr., F),
Rokas Gustys (6-9, Sr., C/F),
Trevor Manual (6-9, Jr., F/C),
Caleb Martin (6-6, Sr., G/F, North Carolina State verbal commitment),
Cody Martin (6-6, Sr., G/F, North Carolina verbal commitment),
Rodney Miller (6-11, So., C),
Shelton Mitchell (6-3, Sr., G, Wake Forest verbal commitment),
Terrence Phillips (5-11, Jr., G),
B.J. Stith (6-5, Sr., G, Virginia verbal commitment),
Khadim Sy (6-9, So., C)
Breaking down the WarriorsSmith was a bit reserved in his outlook for this year's Warriors.
"We should be much improved over last year," Smith said. "Not sure we will be where we were two years ago, but we'll have a chance every night out."
Shelton Mitchell averaged over 20 points per game as a junior for North Carolina 2A runner-up Cuthbertson (Waxhaw).
Photo by Randy Sartin
With a pair of experienced point guards, a wealth of versatile wings and size and length in the paint, the legendary coach might be attempting to disarm future opponents a bit with that rhetoric.
The point guard position is in good hands with Shelton and returner Phillips, the brother of Pistons floor general Brandon Jennings.
"They go after each other," Smith said. "It's good for each of them. We could start either one of them, probably go with Shelton as a senior but Terrence will play a lot."
Stith and the Martin twins – all headed to the ACC – give Oak Hill an embarrassment of riches on the wings. They have experience playing with each other on the club circuit and will be a major matchup problem on most nights.
Gustys, a native of Lithuania, joins touted newcomers Anderson and Manual as options in the post.
Stepping upSmith clearly likes what he sees in Miller, a St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) transfer who is every inch of 6-11 according to the legendary coach.
"When we first saw him he was out of shape and had never lifted weights. I couldn't tell, thought maybe he was a year away," Smith said. "But he is out here working hard and we are excited about him. He's going to be a pro one day."
Key datesDec. 4 – vs.
Carlisle (Martinsville, Va.)Dec. 13 – vs.
Yates (Houston) at Hoophall West
Dec. 14 – vs.
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) at Hoophall West
Dec. 19-23 – Chick-fil-A Classic
Jan. 20 – vs.
Whitney Young (Chicago) at Spalding Hoophall Classic
Jan. 29 – vs.
Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.) at Beckley, W.Va.
Feb. 15 – at
Benedictine (Richmond, Va.)
