Head Coach Anthony Barnes referred to his State Qualifying 2024 – 2025 Basketball season as ” The Last Dance 💃”, in part to pay homage to the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls.
This year, for Barnes and rising star Isaiah Easter the season will be about ” Unfinished Business “. The group of Student Athletes that led the charge to the State Quarter finals had been playing together forever and a day.
Bryce and Brayden Smoot are starting college at Southwest Virginia Community College, Cody Reece and his baseball ⚾️ skills are on their way to New River Community College, Landon Puckett is set to play Soccer ⚽️ at Bluefield and multi talented Ethan Richardson is headed across the West Virginia border as well
Another challenge for Barnes is to move forward without longtime friend and Co-Pilot, Kris Richardson. Richardson has switched back to coaching Girls Basketball 🏀, ahead of his youngest daughter, Gracie growing in the game that is a Family 👪 tradition.
I try to avoid comparing Student Athletes to others but this one feels a bit like when Alyssa Ervin returned for her Senior season after her teammates graduated 🎓 with their 2 State Championship rings 💍. It was fun for me to write ✍ about the upcoming Senior season and predicting that Marc Motley and Alyssa would make it back to the State Tournament once again.
In life, people talk about the ” It ” factor and Ervin possesses it, in Spades ♠️. I have been along for the ride with Easter since the undersized Freshman climbed into our Cav Man costume at Cavalier Park.
Now, its not like Barnes will have Easter playing one on five this winter. Jason Stockner, a local legend himself in regards to his Hoops playing days, led an impressive group of Junior Varsity players last season. At times, it appeared that Stockner had nine or ten interchangeable players so the competition for a Varsity roster spot will be a true battle.
Barnes is of the same mindset that West Virginia Tech University Baseball ⚾️ Coach Lawrence Nesselrodt and I share, which is ” Leave it Better than you found it”.
If Barnes felt his tank was empty, last year would have been a perfect time to ride off into the Sunset 🌇, with Richardson and his six Seniors.
Barnes is the ultimate Motovational coach and IF Easter can be the floor leader he needs to be…….
Cavalier Basketball 🏀 is coming to a Gym near you !
A.S.P.N on The Hill 