Flyers Begin Preparations for Another National Title Pursuit
In his 37th season as a basketball coach, the excitement of a first official day of practice never gets old for Mike Apple.
The preseason got underway on Thursday for a Sandhills Community College men's team that will be seeking a fifth consecutive trip to the NJCAA national tournament to be held in Herkimer, NY in March.
Twenty-three players, including 13 returnees were expected to be participating in the workout at The Hangar.
"I'm absolutely excited," said Apple whose teams have compiled a record of 279-80, including national titles in 2012 and 2020, in his 11 years as the head coach of the Flyers. "I didn't sleep well the last two days in anticipation. It's a long season that goes into March and there's a little sense of 'here we go again'.
Hopes are high as a result of a talented group of returnees and a strong recruiting class. Nine players who saw action in the national tournament held in Rockford, IL last March, including the team's leading scorers Bryan Quiller (16.8 ppg) and third team All-American Joey McMullin (14.4) are in that group.
Last season's squad overcame multiple injuries to players along with other adversities to produce a late-season 13-game winning streak on the way to a record of 26-9 and a No. 10 ranking in the final regular- season national poll.
"It was a trying year," Apple said. "I was really pleased with our guys for all the adversity they had to overcome to make it to the national tournament. They showed a lot of grit and determination.
"While we had a tough time on the court, we had a great time off the court. Alon (Hanani) was a first team Academic All-American with a 4.0 GPA and our team GPA of 3.04 was the best we've ever had at Sandhills."
After defeating Prince George's CC for the district title in Largo, MD, the Flyers bowed out of the national tournament after losing their first two games in Illinois.
"That wasn't fun, going all that way to lose by 30," McMullin said, recalling the team's 77-49 first round loss to Joliet (IL). "That first loss really left a sour taste in our mouths.
"This year we want to make some noise and finish a lot better than we did last year."
Also returning from the Region 10 and district championship squad are forwards Zac Sledge and Isaiah Nelson, and guards Kendall Wooldridge, Chris Hunter, Alon Hanani, Jordan Coleman, Sam Stoltz and LeNijel Robinson.
Talli Price, a guard, and forwards Jaquan Thurman and Jamal Williams are back after practicing with the team as red-shirts last season.
Stoltz led the team in made threes last season. The product of Pinecrest High School feels the newcomers to the team are ready for what's ahead.
"There's a lot of talent in the new guys," he said. "They all pay attention to what the coaches say and we are all willing to work together as a team."
The first-year Flyers include guards Chad Kinch (Southern Durham), Jamori McDougald (Overhills), Patrick Reaves (Scotland County), Angel Bowie (Lumberton), Mike Fee (Providence Grove) and Tre' Williams (Westover). The forwards are Ayden Gittens (Overhills), Antonio Leslie (Alonso, FL), Kenston Skipper (Lumberton) and Jesse Walters (transfer from Guilford College).
Gittens, a 6-foot-6 forward was a standout at Overhills High School, possessing a strong inside and outside game. He is also impressed by what he has seen so far after participating in summer workouts.
"Everybody has a great attitude about practice and everybody has the same goal," he said.
Assistant coaches Tramaine Pride, Daquain Towns and Markell Lotharp were all members of Apple's 2012 title team.
Pride feels that what makes this group of players special is the blending of the old and the new.
"The young guys are really challenging the older guys and pushing them to sharpen their skills," he said. "And we'll be better for it."
Pre-season play gets underway with a scrimmage at Louisburg College on October 8. The first home scrimmage is at 6 p.m. on October 12 with Hines Prep providing the opposition.
The Flyers open the regular season, hosting Lenior Community College on November 2. In addition to the Flyers, the Division III Region 10 Conference includes Central Carolina CC and Mountain Gateway CC.
A 30-game regular-season schedule includes 19 home games. Twelve games on the schedule are against Division I and II opponents.
"We had a great recruiting season and on top of that we have 13 guys back," Apple said. "We have a lot of depth and a lot of guys that understand what we're looking for early in the season.
"What we tell our guys is that we want to play for a national championship. That's something Sandhills has afforded us the opportunity to do with all the things they provide for us."
C. Bergmann