STALEY ON THE COURT
Staley and his basketball teammates are a contender to find themselves in the national rankings this season.
Photo by Dennis Carter
This could be a big year for the Wheeler basketball program. In addition to Staley, the Wildcats – five-time state champions under head coach Doug Lipscomb – feature star 2015 prospects Daniel Giddens and Jaylen Brown.
After going 21-9 in 2012-13 and suffering some growing pains over the past two seasons, Wheeler is primed for a title run and potentially a spot in the preseason national rankings.
"We've grown up together and matured. I just can't wait to get back into the gym and help lead this team," Staley said. "We have two juniors who will probably be McDonald's All-Americans and probably five or six Division I players. We don't want to be the team that had all that talent and didn't get a ring."
Staley will look to better his second-team All State nodfrom last year.
Photo by Dennis Carter
More on Staley's hoops heroics:
* Staley actually may have had more interest from top college basketball programs than he did for football. Auburn, Florida State, Georgetown, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia Tech all extended offers. He is playing this week in Las Vegas with Georgia-based club Southern Stampede.
* His biggest basketball highlight – and perhaps his biggest highlight in any sport – came last season against Etowah when he recorded 40 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists. Nearly all 40 points came on dunks and layups.
* After leading Wheeler to the semifinals as a junior, he was named second team Class AAAAAA All-State by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a first team All-Cobb County selection.
* Staley and Wheeler will compete in the prestigious City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., during the 2013-14 season.
