Steve Smith's Oak Hill Academy Warriors will log more miles than most college teams this season.
Photo by Randy Sartin
Steve Smith (934-90, 30th year)
2013-14 record: 41-4, No. 4 final national ranking
KEY RETURNERSTony Anderson (6-7, Sr., F)
Rodney Miller (7-0, Jr., C)
Terrence Phillips (5-10, Sr., G)
Khadim Sy (6-9, Jr., C)
IMPACT NEWCOMERSDwayne Bacon (6-6, Sr., G) – Florida State verbal commitment
Andrew Fleming (6-5, Sr., G) – Iowa verbal commitment
Daniel Giddens (6-10, Sr., C) – Ohio State verbal commitment
Joe Hampton (6-7, Jr., F)
Josh Reaves (6-4, Sr., G) – Penn State verbal commitment
Lindell Wigginton (6-1, Jr., G)
WARRIOR STORYLINES* Based on what Smith has seen since he arrived in Mouth of Wilson, Bacon may be underrated at No. 20 in the
247Sports Composite 2015 player rankings. At 6-6 and nearly 210 pounds, the Florida native will spend a lot of time playing the two spot and his new coach is expecting big things. "He's as good as we have had here in a while, maybe since Brandon Jennings," Smith said.
* Smith has a handful of big bodies to man the four and five spots. Senior Giddens and juniors Miller and Sy all go 6-9 or bigger while Hampton (who checks in at over 250 pounds) and Anderson both check in at 6-7. "This is the deepest front line we have had in a long time," Smith said.
* Oak Hill Academy's schedule could include a total of 48 games, pitting the Warriors against teams from at least 13 states and Australia. The perennial power will make trips to Hawaii for the Iolani Classic, California for the Nike Extravaganza and Missouri for the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions.
KEY DATESNov. 4 – at
Quality Education Academy (Winston-Salem, N.C.)Dec. 5 – vs.
White Station (Memphis, Tenn.) at Marshall County Hoopfest
Dec. 6 – vs.
Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.) at Marshall County Hoopfest
Dec. 13 – vs.
Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) at National High School Hoops Festival
Dec. 17-20 – Iolani Classic
Jan. 10 – vs.
Hamilton (Memphis, Tenn.) at Penny Hardaway Hoopfest
Jan. 15-17 – Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions
Jan. 19 – vs.
Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland) at Spalding Hoophall Classic
Jan. 24 – vs.
Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach, Va.)Feb. 6 – vs.
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) at Nike Extravaganza
Feb. 7 – vs.
Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.) at Nike Extravaganza
